Trains from Liverpool direct to North Wales have restarted for the first time in over 40 years.
Monday’s reopening of the Halton Curve line allows commuters to take a line from Lime Street station through to Wrexham on a multi-destination route.
Stops on the way include Liverpool South Parkway, Runcorn, Frodsham, Helsby and Chester in a move expected to lead to 250,000 extra customers annually.
Passengers previously had to change at Bidston or Chester to reach Liverpool from the Wrexham train and vice versa after direct services ceased in the 1970s.
Ken Skates, the Welsh Government Transport Minister, was on board the first Wrexham-bound service at 6.35am and was joined at Lime Street by Steve Rotheram, Liverpool’s Metro Mayor.
Mr Rotheram said: “One of the Combined Authority’s key priorities is the delivery of major improvements in connectivity for our area and this is an example of us achieving that through new links into North Wales and Cheshire.
“The Halton Curve is one of many ambitious rail schemes across the Liverpool City Region that have been delivered by the Combined Authority, working together in partnership with a number of organisations.
“This is only the start of realising the benefits that re-opening the Curve will bring and the future plans for services linking the city region with Cardiff and the North Wales coast can only benefit us further.”