Weekend hourly trains from 2020

The long-awaited weekend hourly service could be introduced to Welshpool as early as the New Year, it has been revealed.

With local train use shooting up following the introduction of the increased weekday service, Town Clerk, Robert Robinson, said he is confident that Transport for Wales (TfW) will be extending it to seven days a week from January.

“There is certainly a demand for it and at the moment we (Town Council) are expecting it by the New Year,” he said.

A meeting will be held with TfW officials in July to update on progress, and also discuss new facilities for the town’s station following a ‘station audit’ that was recently carried out.

Mr Robinson said that he is aware that TfW is trying to ensure the line is always serviced by four carriages following complaints of overcrowding at various times of the day due to only two carriages operating.

“I know they (TfW) are doing what they can to sort the problem by having four carriages on the line whenever possible to and from Shrewsbury, as rail usage is through the roof,” he said.