Virgin Trains' Chief Operating Officer Chris Gibb has announced that Wrexham will join the Virgin Trains network later this year.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the All-Party Rail in Wales Parliamentary Group, held at the House of Commons, Chris Gibb confirmed plans to run the Wrexham-London Euston service from December, 2008, subjectto the completion of the West Coast Route Modernisation work.

The Virgin Trains service will run on Mondays-Fridays with a departure around 07.00 from Wrexham. The return journey will leave London at 18.10. Journey time between Wrexham and London will be around two-and-a half-hours.

The service is being introduced on a trial basis, and more services on weekdays and weekends have not been ruled out if it is successful.

Chris Gibb added: "The service would be operated by modified Super Voyager trains, with a first class service which is comparable to that provided on our Pendolino trains." He added; "The Wrexham trains will run at 125mph with tilt operational over the West Coast Main Line between Crewe and London.

Plans to introduce the through service have been welcomed by Wrexham MP Ian Lucas who said: "This is a tremendous vote of confidence in Wrexham".

The operation of this through train has been made possible through the allocation of a fleet of diesel Super Voyager trains to Virgin Trains, which will be used on the new hourly London to Chester service. The Wrexham train will be an extension of one of the Chester services.

Chris Gibb, as Managing Director of the Wales & Borders train operator, prior to joining Virgin in 2003, was responsible for reintroducing direct trains between Wrexham and Cardiff in partnership with the Welsh Assembly Government. He is particularly pleased that he is now able to add London to the capital cities served direct from Wrexham, and looks forward to again providing a service to the people of Wrexham.