READERS have been getting in touch to offer their views on what they make of the current standard of transport in north Wales.

Earlier this week, the Leader shared the story of a Wrexham woman who spent four hours travelling the eight miles to and from work via two buses.

North Wales Business Council members have also raised concerns this week over the standard of trains in the region.

The group has called on Sir Richard Branson to come to the rescue after an investigation revealed over 20% of direct trains between North Wales and London get cancelled.

Members are calling on the legendary entrepreneur to launch an “open access” rail path on the route operated by Avanti West Coast.

According to the Business Council, it would be a case of going back to the future because Sir Richard’s Virgin Group successfully ran the service for 20 years before the contract was awarded to Avanti in August 2019.

Since these two stories were published, our readers have been getting in touch to tell us what they think of the current transport services in north Wales. 

Sharon Thomas said: "Our transport system is awful - certain times it is almost impossible to get a bus as even they get overcrowded. The buses to the industrial estate aren’t frequent enough.

"Think the people who organise our transport links should look for inspiration from cities that manage a system that works."

Gareth Jones, from Ruthin, said: "The whole of North Wales' public transport is in crisis, it needs a complete overhaul by people who understand how it should work."

Darrell Hughes, from Wrexham, added: "City in status, village in infrastructure. Mobile signal, public transport all lacking."

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Jacqui Martin told us: "Trying to get a bus into Chester from any village in north-east Flintshire is a nightmare as it seems the way the timetable changed is designed to focus on the Wrexham option so it’s a torturous trip to Broughton Park, then change, and takes over an hour for a six-mile trip.

"As for the ‘they not used enough’ comment try a more reasonable fare structure and suitable times!"

Stephen Drew wrote: "Last time I went to Wrexham for an evening out, the last train home was cancelled with zero warning. Absolute shambles."

Christine Hughes, from Chirk, said: "Public transport in rural areas has been dreadful for over 50 years. I couldn't use it in the late seventies to get me to work and home between Ellesmere and Oswestry. The times were just not compatible and woe betide anyone working shifts. You had no chance. I had to get a motorbike!"

Conrad Anderson said: "Buses into small villages don't run regularly enough, two-per-hour is not acceptable, in my opinion.

"After a certain time it's one-per-hour. Yes, the argument would be they don't get used enough, but if you put a fare cap on like it is in England, it would probably be busier."

Emily Gresham added: "I was stuck in Cefn after work last week. They just cancelled the bus. No warning. I was left stranded and felt really let down. They really don't consider the consequences for people who genuinely rely on public transport."

Claudia Frost said: "I live in Ruabon and commute to Chester by train every day. It’s expensive, and there are a lot of delays - especially in the evening. We need more times and more reliable service for trains, better bus service to get people to the train stations, and lower fares for commuters. If we want to solve the climate crisis we have to make public transportation cheap and easy."

Others argued that, in order for services to be improved, they first needed to be used more often.

Like Jean Jones who said: "People don’t use the buses all ready provided. Many a time I’ve passed a bus in the village and it was empty. The people moaning about the bus service - if you want it, use it. The more people use them, the more service they will get."