THIRTEEN high-speed trains will shuttle thousands of passengers between Chester and London in less than two hours.

And a rail trip to Paris could be completed in little more than four hours by January next year in a link to European capitals through Eurostar.

Virgin Trains are to provide an extra eight trains a day on a direct service to London when its new Virgin High Frequency VHF timetable is launched in January 2009.

After decades of delays, changing trains at Crewe or travelling to Runcorn, Chester passengers will be handed an exclusive direct fleet of Pendolinos and Voyagers which will pull in at Euston Station in less than two hours.

A new 7.10am service will allow Chester’s business classes to arrive in London by 9.10am.

Bob Clough Parker, chairman of the Chester Business Club, said: “This is great news which reflects the business, commercial and tourism potential of Chester.”

Passengers can travel to Paris in little more than four hours, via a two hour trip on the 140mph Pendolino, a five minute walk to St Pancras International Station and completing the journey on the Eurostar.

Most trains from Chester to London will call at Crewe and Milton Keynes Central, with six services on the route also serving stations in North Wales.

Virgin have been persuaded to make the investment after a 35% increase in Cheshire passengers and lobbying from the public and private sectors.

A spokesman said: “We see Chester as a one of our most important destinations in terms of tourism and business.”

Chester MP Christine Russell believes the increased rail coverage taps into a huge market.

She said: “If we want to sustain Chester’s attraction to inward investors, then transport links are absolutely important.”

She added: “£10m of improvements are also under way at Chester station. At the moment people can see the inconvenience but state of the art facilities will vastly improve the experience of passengers at Chester station.”

Ms Russell also pledged to sort Chester station’s shortage of commuter parking facilities by setting up a meeting between stakeholders.