Borderlands Line - Wrexham to Bidston Closures

[Krokodil]

The even more crazy system is to run buses instead of trains, don't sell tickets and still pay their drivers and conductors. TFW's losses must be crazy.

Have you seen that TfW have taken to running road coaches, both as crowd busters for full and standing trains (not that a 50 seat coach or two will make much of a dent), and pre-booked for sports fixtures. Such is their confidence in their own train service.

A Mk4 set will however spend all weekend in the carriage sidings at Holyhead.

 

[L401CJF]

It's not even just limited to refugees, any Ukrainian national can use it even if they were resident in the UK long before the war. They just need to flash their passport. Like with the free pensioners and free kids the numbers are supposed to be reported back but unlike the zero fare tickets for the other WAG freebies it all has to be reported manually. I don't know a single guard who bothers.

If the Welsh Government weren't so obsessed with giving everything away for free, they might be able to afford more carriages, which is what passengers really want. Or they could just cut fares for all and boost ridership.

Yes you're completely right, it's hard work trying to explain the change from full network to managed stations only too. So much so I don't bother, you still get loads to /from Manchester Birmingham etc and they don't seem to have any issues getting in or out of those stations.

It is quite ridiculous, lots travelling for work, school runs etc with the Ukraine passports.

 

[parkender102]

Refurbished trains spotted in the train washing shed at Birkenhead North over the weekend. According to National Rail timetable there are a few services running sporadically throughout the day with the rest as replacement buses. One thing I hadn't thought about - the refurbished Tube Trains won't have toilets will they?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Refurbished trains spotted in the train washing shed at Birkenhead North over the weekend. According to National Rail timetable there are a few services running sporadically throughout the day with the rest as replacement buses. One thing I hadn't thought about - the refurbished Tube Trains won't have toilets will they?

They do have an accessible toilet, can't remember if they have a normal one too, but I don't think they do. Good to have the trains back running every 2 hours though.

 

[parkender102]

Confirmed a separate Train and Bus Timetable for the line! Departures from my local station on the Borderlands Line this morning.

 

[DLAYKEGER]

Q

They do have an accessible toilet, can't remember if they have a normal one too, but I don't think they do. Good to have the trains back running every 2 hours though.

Yes accessible toilet at one end, no others elsewhere. no connecting doors between carriages so easy passage along full train. Wifi works, plenty of tip up seats for bikes and wheelchairs

 

[pokemonsuper9]

It's pretty easy to spot the toilet from the outside thanks to the door space it takes up leading to one of the end cars losing a door.

 

[parkender102]

Q

Yes accessible toilet at one end, no others elsewhere. no connecting doors between carriages so easy passage along full train. Wifi works, plenty of tip up seats for bikes and wheelchairs

Excellent - sounds pretty good. Once they eventually get the 2ph service up and running it will be a huge improvement. Unfortunately when I checked the new Timetable for Hawarden Departures and arrivals, the new extra services don't stop there! The new extra services only stop at Buckley and Shotton. Not really a big problem for me as it's just as quick to walk to Buckley Station from my house. But there is less connectivity for Bus users as all the Chester - Mold and Chester - Shotton - Holywell services stop at or near Hawarden Station but not Buckley.

Well a disastrous start - every train today delayed today by 10-20 minutes. Was hoping to travel 16:58 Shotton toward Wrexham later but it's been cancelled:

• This train has been delayed by a problem currently under investigation

Although it's cancelled, the returning Service from Wrexham to Bidston at 17:42 is still listed as running, but without an arriving service from Bidston, I think that one will be cancelled too

 

[parkender102]

Got to ride the new train last week - very impressed. Diesel engines in middle car charge separate Batteries. Very quiet and you would swear you were on a Brand new train, not a refurbished tube train. Spoke to guard / train manager - he said restricted to 2 Hourly Service currently due to having to train drivers on the new trains. Delays caused by new drivers getting used to the new trains but should improve. He reckons the 2 per Hour services should be working come the new timetable change in May. He did mention the extra services would be operated by brand new trains but won't call at all stops.

USB Chargers at most seats, 2+2, 4 seats with a table and transverse seating all available. Bicycles don't have a dedicated storage area but plenty of vestibule space and area where transverse seats tip up should suffice. Accessible Toilet was huge. Love the feeling of space due to having no doors between carriages.

 

[L401CJF]

Got to ride the new train last week - very impressed. Diesel engines in middle car charge separate Batteries. Very quiet and you would swear you were on a Brand new train, not a refurbished tube train. Spoke to guard / train manager - he said restricted to 2 Hourly Service currently due to having to train drivers on the new trains. Delays caused by new drivers getting used to the new trains but should improve. He reckons the 2 per Hour services should be working come the new timetable change in May. He did mention the extra services would be operated by brand new trains but won't call at all stops.

USB Chargers at most seats, 2+2, 4 seats with a table and transverse seating all available. Bicycles don't have a dedicated storage area but plenty of vestibule space and area where transverse seats tip up should suffice. Accessible Toilet was huge. Love the feeling of space due to having no doors between carriages.

As far as I'm aware it's the 1tph service coming back from the May TT change, May was mentioned as a possibility for the 2tph service but havnt heard if that's still the case or not. I was told they're keen to get it started or risk losing the paths. How true that is, I don't know!

The 230s do have a designated bike space however its hardly big, I think its at the opposite end of the train to the toilet, the intended use is the back wheel in the space and front wheel blocking the side facing tube seats. In reality on this line most passengers with bikes are regulars and they all seem to fit their bikes neatly alongside the doors on the side which won't be opened during for most of the journey. More space for them than on a 2car 150 anyway!

 

[parkender102]

Yes I suppose we'll have to wait and see if the 2tph materialises or not.

Regarding Bike Spaces I explained to the guard as it's basically a refurbished Tube Train, I was used to taking my Full Sized Hybrid Bike on the Tube in London whilst working down there over the last 12 years. Usually sat yourself somewhere near the doors holding onto the bike or lean it against the vertical rails by the doors. I used to get a lot of comments saying 'are you allowed to bring a full sized bike on the tube?'. Not a lot of people were aware you can on certain lines anytime before 07:00 and after 19:00. District Line was one that it was allowed and I think Hammersmith and City Line. I think they restrict to the relatively shallow Underground Lines where it's only a short flight of stairs to carry your bike up from the platform and no escalators required. Not allowed on deeper lines but you'd be daft to try and get a bike up from the platform on the Jubilee Line. There is a Bike Tube Map that explains where it's allowed.

 

[185143]

Yes I suppose we'll have to wait and see if the 2tph materialises or not.

Regarding Bike Spaces I explained to the guard as it's basically a refurbished Tube Train, I was used to taking my Full Sized Hybrid Bike on the Tube in London whilst working down there over the last 12 years. Usually sat yourself somewhere near the doors holding onto the bike or lean it against the vertical rails by the doors. I used to get a lot of comments saying 'are you allowed to bring a full sized bike on the tube?'. Not a lot of people were aware you can on certain lines anytime before 07:00 and after 19:00. District Line was one that it was allowed and I think Hammersmith and City Line. I think they restrict to the relatively shallow Underground Lines where it's only a short flight of stairs to carry your bike up from the platform and no escalators required. Not allowed on deeper lines but you'd be daft to try and get a bike up from the platform on the Jubilee Line. There is a Bike Tube Map that explains where it's allowed.

The reason for the restrictions on deep level lines AFAIK are due to bikes being a potential obstruction in the case of evacuation being required, which can only be done through the cab doors when inside tunnels.

Obviously not an issue on the surface or cut and cover lines that don't run in narrow single bore tunnels. I believe bikes are banned on GN services into Moorgate, for the same reason.

 

[Requeststop]

Sounds positive and what the line needs in the future. It remains to be seen what happens over the summer. From what we've experienced from TfW the units will be sent to South Wales Valley line services when they have problems. Fingers Crossed for the Bidston-Wrexham service.

 

[sd0733]

From what we've experienced from TfW the units will be sent to South Wales Valley line services when they have problems. Fingers Crossed for the Bidston-Wrexham service.

Not something that can happen once it's 230s and 197s as neither will work the valleys.