May 17, 2026 - 232 views
Passengers across the North Wales coast are set to see the biggest rail timetable overhaul in a generation from today, with more trains, new direct services and improved commuter links being introduced by Transport for Wales.
The new timetable, which has now come into effect, increases services along the North Wales Coast Line by around 50 per cent as part of the wider Network North Wales programme.
Among the most significant changes is the extension of the hourly Manchester Airport service beyond Llandudno to Holyhead, improving links between North Wales, north-west England and ferry connections to Ireland.
A new direct hourly service between Liverpool and Llandudno has also been introduced, giving passengers along the coast a direct rail link to Merseyside for the first time in many years.
The timetable redesign also combines the separate hourly Wrexham-Chester and Chester-Crewe services into one through service, creating a direct hourly connection between Wrexham and Crewe.
Meanwhile, the Birmingham to North Wales service, which currently runs every two hours to Holyhead, will now terminate at Llandudno Junction instead. The change is intended to simplify operations and improve reliability across the wider network.
Transport for Wales says a new service pattern will also improve commuting opportunities into Holyhead and Bangor, supporting jobs and economic growth across Anglesey and Gwynedd. As part of the changes, Valley railway station will now become a compulsory stop for all relevant services, giving passengers greater certainty when travelling from the station.
Passengers are also being promised a simpler timetable, with many trains departing at the same time each hour on key routes north and west of Shrewsbury, making journeys easier to plan.
The uplift in services comes alongside infrastructure improvements being delivered by Network Rail, including new footbridges at Prestatyn railway station and Pensarn railway station to replace high-risk level crossings with safer, step-free routes. Additional safety work has also been carried out at crossings including Flint Marsh, Stokyn Lodge and Fishpool Farm ahead of the timetable launch.
The timetable changes also coincide with the rollout of contactless pay-as-you-go ticketing across 15 stations between Wrexham General and Bidston, allowing passengers to tap in and tap out using contactless payment methods.
Ken Skates, former Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, previously described the changes as “generational change” for rail passengers across the region.
