Good train services by the London & North Western Railway Co. between the North Wales Coast and Manchester Exchange encouraged affluent Manchester businessmen to establish their homes on the coast and commute daily to their work in the city. In this way the Manchester men could emulate the life style of many of their London counterparts. The ‘Llandudno to Manchester Club Train’ was the fastest service on the line and those who purchased first class season tickets had the added incentive of being able to apply to join the travelling club. This was similar in many ways to a city gentlemen’s club and closely regulated by its members who had the right to exclude all undesirable travelling companions. [Similar facilities were enjoyed on the Manchester to Blackpool and Manchester to Windermere Club Trains]. These novel services stood the test of time and the 1st World War but not the 2nd World War.

The service started in the early years of the 20th century and the London & North Western Railway and its successor the London Midland & Scottish provided special saloon cars dedicated to the use of first class season ticket holders. The saloons were serviced by an attendant who would ensure that a member’s favourite armchair was kept free for that individual’s use. Members enjoyed the benefits of newspapers and a range of refreshments en route to and from Manchester.  During the inter-war years two massive smooth riding twelve-wheeled bogie saloons as used on the London – Liverpool Atlantic Boat Trains were provided for the Llandudno Club service. These cars were the equals of the Pullman Cars then in use on the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway.

The train started from Llandudno at 7:48 am and picked up at the Junction, Colwyn Bay, Abergele, Rhyl and Prestatyn. It called at Chester and Warrington and reached Manchester Exchange after two hours and nine minutes at 9:57 am.  The return service left Manchester Exchange at 4:30 pm and with the same stops reached Llandudno at 6:38 pm.  On both outward and return journeys the average speed (including station stops) was over 40 m.p.h.  The train continued to run throughout the war but without the club saloons and to a slower timetable.  After the war the service returned to a faster schedule but the club saloons were not re-introduced.  Liverpool and Birkenhead also had through commuter trains from Llandudno in the inter-war period and through to the 1950’s.

These express services, which were also available to third class passengers, did much to establish the North Wales Coast as a suitable residential area for Lancashire and Cheshire businessmen and traders.  The club car facilities encouraged the bankers and the captains of industry and commerce to set down domestic roots in North Wales, to the great benefit of their families and also of the local economy.

Services in 1936 very similar to the post war services of 1947 were regarded as good. Today, war or not, we would regard them as poor. Today we have many more trains and, despite public opinion, they are, on the whole, much faster than in the days of steam.

Today, the Arriva Trains Wales hourly Llandudno to Manchester Piccadilly air-conditioned service averages two hours and ten minutes from Llandudno and two hours from Llandudno Junction.   Liverpool (45 minutes from Chester) and Birkenhead (35 minutes from Chester) have a half-hourly connecting electric train service to and from Chester now reached in about an hour by the excellent air-conditioned services from Llandudno and Llandudno Junction. 


London is now provided with greatly improved train services via Crewe, where connections are available to many other parts of the kingdom. Indeed, the North Wales Coast trains are now faster and more frequent than at any previous time – please see the tables below.  In steam days, it was only on Summer Saturdays and Bank Holidays with very many extra trains that Llandudno Station was thronged with many passengers.