Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has written to Transport for Wales (TfW) to raise local concerns regarding rail service timetable changes which have removed a number of direct services to and from Pensarn.  

While Darren has welcomed some of the changes announced this week, he is disappointed that residents living in Abergele and Pensarn, and surrounding areas, have been negatively impacted.

From May, no trains, except very early morning and very late night ones, will be stopping at Pensarn from Manchester, Birmingham, Crewe, Cardiff, Bangor or Holyhead.

Commenting, Darren said:

“Once again, services to and from Pensarn station have been downgraded.  

“This is a well-used station, frequented by rail-users not only from Pensarn, but also the whole of Abergele and surrounding areas. It is also one of the most disabled friendly and an important visitor destination.  

“It is therefore extremely disappointing that the Pensarn stop has been removed from the Manchester line and put on the new Llandudno to Liverpool line.   

“This means that those who travel to and from this station will no longer have any direct trains to Manchester and Manchester Airport, or to Bangor/Holyhead.

“Residents have contacted me to express concern that the journey time from Manchester is increased by 40 minutes when the changes come into force in May, so people will have change at Rhyl and wait 40 minutes for the train from Liverpool to then go to Pensarn.

“The new timetable changes mean that unless you are going to Llandudno or Liverpool you have no direct trains and really poor connections.

“As one local resident said, 'the May timetable changes are a disaster for Abergele residents'.

“It really is not on so I have made representations to Transport for Wales asking them to address these issues."

He added:

“We are continually being told to get out of our cars and use public transport more, but unless there are reliable, fast rail services available, this simply won’t happen.  

“I have called on TfW to review their new timetable and return the direct services to Pensarn.”