A BUSINESS group has warned that poor rail infrastructure will prevent north Wales’ economy “from reaching its full potential”.

The North Wales Economic Ambition Board made the comment after welcoming the findings of a report commissioned by the Welsh Affairs Committee into the Wales and Borders rail franchise, including the Cambrian Line which serves Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

The report makes a number of recommendations for improvements to services across the area ahead of a bid for the new Wales and Borders rail franchise, which will be awarded in the autumn of 2018.

The Wales and Borders rail franchise report emphasised that many of the problems of the current arrangements were due to the fact that the 15-year franchise awarded in 2003 made no allowance for passenger growth or provision for additional trains over the period.

Whilst the service has met standards in terms of punctuality, customer satisfaction has fallen due to increased passenger numbers on ageing trains.

North Wales Economic Ambition Board chairman, councillor Dilwyn Roberts said: “The residents and businesses of north Wales deserve a better rail service.

“Without better rail services, the north Wales economy simply won’t be in a position to realise its full potential. As the North Wales Economic Ambition Board highlighted in our evidence to the Welsh Affairs Committee, there is a clear need for new trains on Wales’ rail network.

The four companies battling it out for the new contract are Abellio, Arriva, KeolisAmey and MTR.

Read the full story in this Thursday’s north editions of the Cambrian News