Old Yard Dog
Established Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2011
- Messages
- 1,486
I had my first experience of Transport for Wales on Saturday and it wasn't good. The 0945 from Llandudno to Manchester Airport was only a 2-car class 158 and it was seriously overcrowded with standing room only from Chester onwards. Only a dozen or so free seats were available for the many of us joining there. More people joined at Helsby, Frodsham and Runcorn East and, with Northern on strike, the numbers joining at Warrington BQ, Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows well way above average. Some passengers decided not to travel rather than join the crush. Did it not occur to TfW that this would occur? There were no apologies from the train crew who stayed out of sight throughout.
After finding out that TPE had cancelled some early evening trains from Victoria to Liverpool, I decided to return to the Wirral via Crewe only to find that TfW had cancelled all their short Crewe - Chester workings. I was relieved to find that Virgin were running a 10-car set at 1852 - it was needed.
I was rather sad when ATW lost the franchise and I hope this isn't a sign that TfW will be a poor replacement. Maybe they were stretched as some barmpots allowed a Premier league football match and a rugby union international to take place in Cardiff on the same day?
After finding out that TPE had cancelled some early evening trains from Victoria to Liverpool, I decided to return to the Wirral via Crewe only to find that TfW had cancelled all their short Crewe - Chester workings. I was relieved to find that Virgin were running a 10-car set at 1852 - it was needed.
I was rather sad when ATW lost the franchise and I hope this isn't a sign that TfW will be a poor replacement. Maybe they were stretched as some barmpots allowed a Premier league football match and a rugby union international to take place in Cardiff on the same day?