THERE will be an increase in the number of direct Avanti West Coast services between North Wales and London to six a day each way.

The service was scaled back due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vale of Clwyd MP, Dr James Davies, welcomed the news, having been calling for train services to and from North Wales to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Last month, he praised the announcement by Transport for Wales (TfW) that the new service pattern, introduced on May 22, would "be the same as immediately pre-pandemic" and that "the overall capacity will improve as a result of the introduction of the mark IV fleet (later this year)".

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But he expressed concern that Avanti West Coast services remain less frequent than before the pandemic, and in recent weeks, has been liaising with them to ensure that their services are increased.

He was pleased to have received correspondence from them this week, stating that this will be happening from September 12, when they will be running six direct trains each day in either direction between North Wales and London Euston.

He said: "Given that this is what I have been calling for, I very much welcome this news.

"Rail-users have been greatly inconvenienced by the continued reduced services since COVID restrictions were lifted, so will be extremely pleased to see normal services resume.

"I appreciate the operational challenges that Avanti West Coast, like other rail providers, continue to experience due to the residual impact of COVID-19.

“But it is crucial that after two years of disruption, passengers are provided with a convenient and rapid service which they can rely on."