Transport for Wales has introduced the first battery-hybrid trains to the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston yesterday (Monday, April 3), but still do not know when disrupted services will return to normal on the line.

The long-awaited first service operated by one of Transport for Wales’ (TfW) Class 230 trains left Wrexham Central at 07:31, following months of testing and crew training.

This comes after weeks of trains being unable to run along the line, and rail replacement bus services running instead, due to maintenance being carried out on the Class 175 trains.

TfW have said that there may be an updated in the next week on the services.

A spokesperson said: "The continued disruption is due to the shortage of trains because of the issues with our Class 175 trains, that situation is improving but we don’t yet have a date for when normal services will resume on the Wrexham-Bidston route.

“We should get a clearer picture of the train update early next week so we may be able to update further then.”

Despite this, TfW announced that the first battery-hybrid trains, the Class 230s, used in regular passenger service in Wales were introduced to the Borderlands Line this morning.

TfW owns five three-carriage Class 230 trains, which each having over 120 seats and with a capacity for over 420 customers – a significant increase over previous trains.

The metro-style trains, which were repurposed from former London Underground trains, provide a more efficient and environmentally friendly service using diesel and batteries.

With fully accessible toilets, power sockets, electronic passenger information, Wi-Fi, bike racks and air conditioning, the trains are a significant milestone for TfW, as they continue to deliver on their plans to transform rail services throughout Wales and the borders.

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Alexia Course, Transport for Wales’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’re delighted that the first Class 230 train has entered service. With hybrid engines and modern facilities, these trains will significantly improve the customer experience on the Borderlands Line by providing better facilities and increased capacity.

“We’re committed to improving services between North Wales and the Liverpool City Region. We’ve already introduced brand new trains on services between Chester and Liverpool, and we’re planning to increase the frequency of services between Wrexham and Bidston, as well as providing a new direct service between Llandudno and Liverpool via the North Wales coast.”

Commenting on the news, Shadow Transport Minister Natasha Asghar for Welsh Government said: “It is excellent news that TFW’s Class 230’s have finally entered service, albeit four years after they were scheduled to start.

“These trains have been beset with delay after delay, with TFW initially aiming for them to begin service in mid-2019. Labour and TFW must now learn from the mistakes they’ve made with these trains, as this four-year delay is scandalous.

“Regular users of the borderlands line have had to deal with subpar services by TFW for years, more recently many had their services replaced with rail replacement buses as their trains were sent to South Wales.

“We hope the introduction of these trains is the end of this outrageous saga of TFW failure that has plagued rail services in Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham”.