News and Press Releases
Renaissance Trains is regularly featured in the news and responds to industry consultations. Below are some of the most recent news stories about us.Wrexham & Shropshire to launch service on 28th April
02/04/08Wrexham & Shropshire's new direct train service to London will start on Monday 28 April, offering passengers five trains a day in each direction between stations from Wrexham, through Shropshire and on to London Marylebone.
The announcement comes after the company received its safety certificate and formal operating licence from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
Andy Hamilton, Managing Director at Wrexham & Shropshire, said: "We're delighted to announce that we will be running trains from the end of this month and look forward to welcoming passengers on board."
Wrexham & Shropshire's trains are currently being refitted to exacting standards by a specialist firm in Stoke-on-Trent. The refurbished trains will offer passengers a modern, comfortable travelling environment once completed this summer. In the meantime, to allow leisure and business travellers to take advantage of the new service as soon as possible, the company is hiring trains for use from 28 April for the first few months of operation.
Andy Hamilton continues: "We've had tremendous support for our new rail service and have been working non-stop to get ready for the launch. I'm sure people will support our decision to use good quality hire trains until our own ones are ready – especially as it means we can launch the service earlier."
Wrexham & Shropshire will announce details of its range of value-for-money fares – and how and where people can buy tickets – in the next couple of weeks.
Download the full Wrexham & Shropshire press release. (55KB pdf)
Renaissance Trains looks at the case for restoring direct services between London and Blackpool
30/03/08Renaissance Trains is investigating the financial and economic case for providing direct services between Blackpool and London. One of the options being investigated is to use a route that would potentially stop at Walsall and Liverpool South Parkway. The company believes that the rail industry has overlooked the importance of these destinations and the demand for rail travel between them. Blackpool is no longer merely a town of one short if brightly illuminated season, it is today a centre for business and political conferences, exhibitions a tremendous all year round leisure and holiday destination and enjoys a wider area that has seen great investment in creating an environment that people now seek out for all sorts of sport activity, active or restful holidays, entertainment and business activity.
Renaissance Trains welcomes timing of Deutsche Bahn Acquisition of Laing Rail
21/01/08Renaissance Trains – 50% Joint Venture partners with Laing Rail in WSMR (Holdings) – welcomes today's announcement that Deutsche Bahn (DB) has acquired John Laing plc's rail interests. WSMR is the Holding Company that has recently obtained the approval of the Office of Rail Regulation to become only the third Open Access passenger train operator in the UK. Mike Jones, A Director of Renaissance Trains said: "The change in ownership of Laing Rail is welcomed at this stage in the development of WSMR because it provides certainty".
The new train company, known as Wrexham & Shropshire, is currently hard at work putting in place the arrangements to commence operations in the Spring of this year and the timing of this acquisition will provide fresh impetus to the company's launch. Mr. Jones continued: "DB has an excellent reputation as a highly effective railway operator and we have no doubt that as a partner in developing Wrexham & Shropshire it will bring huge experience to bear. Its ownership of the company from which Wrexham & Shropshire is hiring its locomotives and which is also refurbishing its coaches will help smooth service implementation, building on the excellent relationship Wrexham & Shropshire has already established with its supplier, EWS".
Renaissance Trains now in the train and operations planning phase for Glasgow Trains
06/09/07In accordance with Network Rail's own requirements and procedures, Renaissance Trains has now entered the train and operations planning phase for Glasgow Trains, to develop its application to operate a new service between Glasgow and Nottingham via Leeds, as well as Glasgow to Liverpool and Blackpool direct.
Welsh Assembly Members and Ministers welcome new Wrexham & Shropshire passenger rail services
05/09/07Welsh Assembly Members and Ministers have been very positive about the new rail service from Wrexham to London.
Transport Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said: "This is extremely good news for North-East Wales, which will now gain a new, high-quality rail service linking the region with London. I very much welcome the jobs which will be created directly by the new service – and I believe that the regional economy as a whole will benefit significantly from this new link."
New Wrexham & Shropshire services welcomed in media
04/09/07The newly-announced rail service from Wrexham to London via Shrewsbury, Telford and Tame Bridge Parkway has been given very positive press in the BBC Online, The Times Online and the local press such as The Shropshire Star and Wrexham Evening Leader.
Wrexham & Shropshire gets go-ahead
03/09/07The Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) has today given the go ahead for Wrexham & Shropshire to operate passenger rail services from Wrexham, Shrewsbury, Telford and Tame Bridge Parkway to London.
Wrexham & Shropshire Press release (56kb pdf)
Alternative rail provision gathers steam as Grand Central confirms autumn start
28/05/07An article in The Times Online looks at how open access operators are succeeding in getting new rail services launched.
Support for Wrexham & Shropshire from Welsh Assembly Government
28/03/07The Welsh Assembly Government has written to the Office of Rail Regulation that it is "fully supportive of Wrexham & Shropshire's new application for a track access agreement... "
Wrexham & Shropshire resubmits track access application to ORR
05/03/07Following responses from other train operators, Wrexham & Shropshire has resubmitted its track access application to the Office of Rail Regulation. The consultation period closes on 5th April. The ORR website lists responses from train operators and also Wrexham & Shropshire's original track access application.
Briefing Note on Glasgow Trains service submitted to ORR
18/10/06Renaissance Trains has submitted a briefing note to the ORR regarding the proposed Glasgow Trains service.
Briefing Note on Humber Coast and City Railway submitted to ORR
18/10/06Renaissance Trains has submitted a briefing note to the ORR regarding the proposed Humber Coast and City Railway service.
Renaissance Trains Responds to the Access Consultations Relating to the New Midlands and West Coast franchises
10/09/06Renaissance Trains has responded to the access consultations for the East Midlands, West Midlands, Cross Country and West Coast franchises.
