MEMBER of the Senedd for Monmouth, Peter Fox, has welcomed proposals to increase train services in England.

Following a meeting with the Magor Action Group on Rail over the summer, Mr Fox raised a query with the Department for Transport about restrictions on services operated into England and Wales.

The DfT advised the restriction in question had been lifted, and the Welsh Government were able to submit proposals to operate additional trains. The Monmouth MS wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales to ask if they had any such plans.

In a reply received from the Cabinet Secretary, they were able to confirm that Transport for Wales to being operating servicers to Bristol from next year, subject to DfT approval and capacity availability from Network Rail.

Mr Fox has since responded to the Welsh Government, providing his support for the proposals to operate additional services into England, whilst highlighting the important work of the previous UK Conservatives Government, whose commitment to progressing the new ‘Burns’ stations has set the stage for further improvements in the area.

Local MS for Monmouth, Peter Fox, said: “This is certainly a welcome step in improving rail access for my constituents in and around Chepstow, and fro those living in Severnside.

“We hear constantly of the desire by Welsh Government to get people out of their cars, and onto public transport, but in rural areas, that isn’t possible at the moment due to a lack of services.

“These proposals, if accepted, will go a long way to making those improvements for locals, whilst also acting as a hopeful precursor to the ‘Burns’ stations being delivered.

“None of this would have been possible without the work of the previous UK Conservative Government, who laid the foundations for the current work being done.”