Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones has given the go-ahead for a new return train service between Holyhead and Cardiff, which is expected to cut journey times by at least half an hour.

The service, which is expected to be operational by December, will see people travelling from Bangor to Cardiff complete their journeys in under four hours – but there will be no stops in Wrexham or Flintshire.

A Welsh Assembly Government statement said that initially the new service would be routed via Crewe rather than Wrexham, as Network Rail is currently unable to offer a train path from Holyhead to Cardiff via Wrexham, with an arrival before 10am.

While the time difference between the two routes is minimal, just three minutes, the Assembly Government believes the new link should, in time, serve Wrexham.

Community leaders in Flint, which is home to the county's busiest train station, have called for the possibility of a separate direct service from their town to Cardiff to be examined.

Cllr Ian Roberts, leader of Flint Town Council, said: "We have written to our AM, Sandy Mewies, to ask her to raise the possibility of a direct link between Flint and Cardiff being looked at.

"It would be a great service for us to have in Flint and we have also asked Mrs Mewies to suggest that if a service were to be set up, seats could be reserved for school and college groups who want to visit the Assembly in Cardiff."

Mr Jones made assurances that the Assembly will be looking at ways to connect Wrexham to the south as soon as possible.

"I have decided to start the new service as soon as possible, with the service going via Crewe, than wait for a train path through Wrexham, which may not be available for some time," he said.

"I emphasise that this service is the first of its kind – not the last.

"We intend to keep it under review and seek the earliest opportunity for further development, including routing via Wrexham and examining the business case for an early south-to-north return service."