CONCERNS have been raised around the new train services available on the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston.

Since being introduced rail users have expressed their frustration about the trains reliability with some saying the Transport for Wales (TfW) service has provided a “patchy service”.

The Wrexham Leader reported that disruption on the line has been affecting services for the past few weeks, due to maintenance being carried out on the Class 175 trains for TfW.

However, on April 3 the first battery-hybrids in Wales were introduced to the line and hoped to lead to the resumption of some services.

The Class 230 trains have over 120 seats and with a capacity for over 420 customers, with TfW owning five.

READ: Hybrid train introduced on Wrexham to Bidston line

However, rail travellers who use the line have noticed that services on the Class 230 train has also faced disruption in the last week, with TfW saying that “minor technical difficulties” and vandalism were to blame.

Labour MP for Wirral South Alison McGovern told the Globe: “My constituents trying to travel along the Wrexham to Bidston line have raised with me the decreasing reliability along the line, and in January I asked the Secretary of State for Wales directly what was being done. I was told a number of projects were being developed but it’s apparent from the continuing problems that these projects are taking too long to be implemented.

“Why is this part of the railway on the Wirral treated like a poor relation compared to the rest of the network? We have seen investment across Merseyside lead by Steve Rotheram, our Metro Mayor, and we need the same focus here. 

READ: Additional service on Bidston to Wrexham line approved

“I have contacted Transport for Wales to discuss this further and will continue to raise the issue for my constituents, as I have since I was elected in 2010.”

The Wrexham Bidston Rail Users Association (WBRUA) Committee have also voiced their concerns over ongoing issues with the rail service.

A spokesperson for the association said: "Since it took over the Wrexham-Bidston service, TfW has consistently failed to provide accurate and up to date information and the ongoing unreliability of the Wrexham-Bidston service has resulted in many passengers questioning TfW’s ability to run the service.

"The rail replacement bus service for the Wrexham-Bidston line takes twice as long as the train. The ongoing lack of train service forces those who use it to find alternatives (in many cases, their cars) whilst undermining their confidence in rail and is almost certainly impacting on the local economy as well as worsening the congestion on our roads."

Marie Daly, Chief Customer and Culture Officer at Transport for Wales, said: “We understand the frustrations of the Wrexham Bidston Rail Users’ Association and we have met with them to discuss their concerns.

“We have been experiencing issues with capacity across the network due to our Class 175 trains requiring additional maintenance, but with some of these trains already back in service and with the first of the Class 230 trains entering service last week on the Wrexham – Bidston route, we are hopeful service levels will improve in the near future.”