Can anyone advise on Crewe and Chester patterns and routes please?
Ta
Both depots are on the same 4 day week pattern described above. At present, Chester have 2 night turns but they're about to lose 1 of them, and Crewe also have 1.
Chester has 3 links. The links were changed a little lately so I'm not sure exactly what routes the new starters do, but on the traction side it's 150, 158 and 175 (one of the senior links adds 153s). Between all the links (nobody signs everything) the routes are:
Chester - Holyhead/Liverpool
Chester - Shrewsbury - Crewe - Chester triangle
Shrewsbury - Birmingham International (via Stour lines and some sign via Bescot)
Crewe - Stafford - Wolverhampton
Chester - Manchester Piccadilly (via Warrington and Northwich)
Manchester Piccadilly - Manchester Airport
Chester - Liverpool
Wrexham - Bidston
Chester Alsthom depot
Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate sidings
Crewe has 2 links. The work and routes are virtually the same, the only difference being the senior link sign 67/DVT and Canton Depot.
Otherwise, everybody signs 150,153,158,175.
Routes are Crewe - Manchester 4 ways (direct, via Styal, via Stoke, via Warrington)
Crewe - Shrewsbury - Chester - Crewe triangle
Shrewsbury - Cardiff
Shrewsbury - Birmingham International (via Stour lines only)
Crewe - Stafford - Wolverhampton
Arriva Train care Crewe depot
Crewe Electric depot.
Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate sidings.