Railwatch 079 - April 1999

Mid Wales and the Border

By Chris Magner

North Cheshire Rail Users Group The work of NCRUG (which includes promoting a fast Liverpool to North Wales service via the Halton Junction to Frodsham Junction link line), has been praised by Mr Brendan O'Friel, chairman of the North West Rail Users' Consultative Committee because of the group's success in working with rail operators and in raising awareness of the train services. Mr O'Friel, speaking at the NCRUG annual meeting, said that he would highlight the group's work as an example to others. Frodsham station buildings are to become a restaurant and the group members are also trying to revamp the station which has more problems than Helsby with vandalism. The NCRUG are suggesting to North Western Trains that they try to run a Hooton-Manchester service as a way of boosting the Ellesmere Port line.

Heart of Wales Line Recent problems with flooding and unit failures have led to travel difficulties by the regular users of the service. One such regular user is a schoolgirl from Hopton Heath who travels to the Shrewsbury High School for Girls. Her punctuality record was not good in November and December because of the weather, freight train failures and unit failures. One evening the 17.33 Shrewsbury to Swansea train was over an hour late in Hopton Heath because of a freight train failure. The late running meant that the young lady missed a concert for which she had paid in advance. Her mother has supplied her with a mobile phone rather than see her stranded at lonely unmanned stations in South Shropshire. Speaking on Radio Shropshire, Chris Gibb from Wales & West, regretted the delays and told listeners that services had improved in January with the morning train arriving early at Shrewsbury on at least 10 days of the month. More attention was being given to units on the route to ensure greater reliability and Hopton Heath should have a press-button information service later in the year when passengers will be able to find out how their train is running. Mr Gibb also said that Wales & West asked freight operator EWS to introduce their new class 66 engines on all freight trains using the North and West line to ensure greater reliability and less delay to the Cardiff to Manchester and Heart of Wales trains. Mr Gibb said that new passenger information facilities had been provided at Church Stretton and Craven Arms with the Heart of Wales line coming on stream later in the year. At least six special passenger workings will use the route this year, most to be formed of HST sets.

Shrewsbury passengers steaming Great efforts have been made in Shropshire to promote a daily Shrewsbury-London through train service. Virgin trains have run a 06.48 Shrewsbury to Euston train since the 25 May last year. Unfortunately reliability fell in January to an all time low. On Monday 18th the train did not run, it failed near Wellington on the l9th causing a two-hour delay whilst a relief loco came from Bescot depot, it did not run on the 20th and also failed at Oxley on the 26th with the train being cancelled at Wolverhampton. All these problems could not have come at a worse time as the civic authorities and business leaders are trying to increase the London service from one to at least two per day each way. Although ageing class 47 locos were to blame, the passengers waiting on trains and unmanned stations in Shropshire were steaming mad with frustration! With reliability like this it is going to take some time to restore public confidence. Central Trains also suffered long delays.

Barmouth Bridge Railtrack has stated that the bridge is currently in a safe condition and investigations are being undertaken. This will determine the level of repairs required to maintain it for future use with work being carried out in 1999. The HMRI and local authority are being kept informed as the matter progresses. Railtrack also state that they have a comprehensive programme of renewals and repairs for the Cambrian Coast Line which will achieve integrity of structure and route continuity, increased line speed for diesel multiple traffic and capability for loco hauled services in future.

The programme, which extends over several years, comprises renewal of structural timber works, renewal of track support longitudinal timbers and enhanced cross bracing for improved torsional integrity.

Shrewsbury-Chester The Shrewsbury to Chester Rail Users Association are not too happy with the latest report on the line's future. The Oscar Faber Line study is, according to the association, a mixture of encouragement and disappointment. Action should be taken to introduce bus services linked to trains with inter ticketing if possible, effective local promotion of services is sought and an increase in the line speed to 75mph. A new station is required at Johnstown between Ruabon and Wrexham as well as an hourly service throughout the day with an increased frequency between Wrexham and Chester. Campaigners for the reopening of both Baschurch and Whittington are disappointed that plans to reopen both stations have been given a lower priority than Johnstown. The new Wrexham Central station was opened to traffic on 23 November to serve the new Island Green shopping centre. Railtrack are to replace the footbridge at Ruabon. Timber traffic to Kronospan at Chirk is on the increase. £1,000 is to be spent on helping a feasibility study into reopening the Gobowen-Oswestry line. It has been estimated to cost up to £l.72million to bring the line up to Railtrack standards for passenger and freight traffic.

Note: contact details (postal and email addresses, along with telephone numbers) in old editions of Railwatch out of date. Click CONTACT US for latest contact details.