Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar, has hit out at Network Rail for blocking plans to improve rail services between North Wales and Manchester Airport.
Arriva Trains Wales announced plans to increase the number of direct trains from North Wales to and from the airport from 17 to 57 weekly, but Network Rail has refused to grant permission to implement the proposals citing 'unmanageable pressure' on train performance and impacts on other rail operators.
Darren said:
“I have been advocating improved rail links to Manchester Airport for a number of years and was delighted before Christmas when Arriva Trains Wales announced that it wants to increase the number of direct trains between north Wales and Manchester Airport from 17 to 57 weekly.
“I am therefore extremely disappointed by the position of Network Rail on this issue which is frustrating progress.
"Having spoken to rail user groups and others in the transport industry I am confident that these additional services could easily be accommodated.
"Arriva Trains Wales has applied for the necessary paths but there is speculation that Network Rail are blocking the plans because they want to reserve lines for new trains from West Yorkshire and Lancashire running over the yet-to-be-built Ordsall Curve - this is unacceptable.
“I have therefore written to Network Rail again demanding a full explanation as to why rail links via a yet to be constructed rail link are being prioritised over those which could be of benefit immediately to my constituents.”