I must add, this is chatter from traincrew according to sources,not from the Company,it may well be various messroom options are being thrown about as the end of the current Wales & Borders franchise nears.
The ATW staff speculation about the hourly December Cambrian had no WG conformation.
As for spare DVTs,some of the ex VTs must be in a rough condition,the ones the Old W/S used needed a lot of refurbishment due to leaks etc,we were told this by the ex CEO of W/S, like any stock if its parked in the open & not used for years, it soon deteriorates.
Just my thoughts.
Yes there's nothing like staff gossip it doesn't quite stack up when you think about it.
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This weekends Montgomeryshire County Times quotes the Secretary of the Line Liaison Committee and Welshpool TC Clerk Robert Robinson as having told Welshpool TC that the hourly service will start no later than May 15 once ATW have recruited drivers. Other detail in the article state sit will be hourly from 6 to 12 (no direction specified but clearly must be UP direction) and the Minister will make announcement by end of March.
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Welshpool TC claim the inside track...
from
http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/131888/hourly-trains-by-may-2015-.aspx
Hourly trains by May 2015?
Published date: 14 March 2014 | Published by: Naomi Penrose
Read more articles by Naomi Penrose Email reporter
MID Wales will have its hourly rail service no later than the end of May 2015 says the secretary of the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee.
Robert Robinson, Welshpool town clerk and secretary of the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee, has revealed the services will be in place on the Cambrian line by next year and released rail timetable details.
There will be a train every hour from 6am until noon, as opposed to the current every other hour service that is in place.
Mr Robinson said: “The hourly services will be in place no later than May 2015. Arriva Train Wales now need to get hold of drivers for that service and then the service will be running.”
Cllr Phil Pritchard has hailed the news as “absolutely tremendous”.
He told the County Times: “This is the single most important matter in the area.
“This will increase Mid Wales’ economy and, even more importantly, Welshpool’s, as it is the gateway to Wales.
“This is fantastic and every praise should go to Robert Robinson and the team, as well as Welshpool Town Council for allowing Robert to take the time to be a part of this, he’s done a great job.”
Last year more than 6,500 people responded to a survey which was conducted by the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee on behalf of the Welsh Government.
Residents in Welshpool and Newtown received a booklet and survey direct to their homes and Newtown and Welshpool High Schools also took part in the survey.
The survey was also conducted while people were travelling on the trains.
Cllr Steve Kaye, leader of the Welshpool Business Forum, said the hourly services will prove extremely beneficial to the young people in the area, as well as local businesses.
He said: “The young people who can’t get to work will now be able to. The young will start earning and achieving, rather than moving away to work.
“We will be able to keep our population and provide for those young people. It will prove beneficial for businesses too as they will have their pick of young people.
“It will also be fantastic for tourism in the area.”
Cllr Kaye also suggested that once the hourly service is in place, trains could carry parcels between towns on the route.
He said: “That would be excellent for businesses in the area, one carriage could be used for luggage for students travelling to and from Aberystwyth University and that carriage could also be used to carry parcels between companies based along the line.”
On Wednesday, March 12, members of the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee’s Cambrian Line Implementation Group met with Minister for Economy, Science and Transport, Edwina Hart.
Ms Hart is due to make an announcement on the hourly service at the end of this month, according to Mr Robinson.
For more news from across the region visit countytimes.co.uk
Farmers get excited too
from
http://www.mywelshpool.co.uk/newsvi...Farmers-concern-over-hourly-rail-service.aspx
Farmers' concern over hourly rail service - created on 13/03/2014
The introduction of an hourly train service would create a huge economic boost to the Welshpool area, but not everyone is happy.
The First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones, has pledged to raise the concerns of local farmers affected by the implementation of an hourly train service on the Cambrian Line with track operator, Network Rail.
The farmers claim that increased rail services will bring more problems for transporting livestock across the track, and they fear that the boundary fence along the length of the track could come under more strain.
The First Minister’s commitment came following a question raised by Montgomeryshire Assembly Member, Russell George, who stated that while the realisation of an hourly train service was vital for the regional economy, there were legitimate concerns among the agricultural community who lived alongside the line.
“I’m pleased that the First Minister has listened to the concerns of affected local farmers,” said Mr George. “While the implementation of an hourly train service on the Cambrian Line is vital for business and tourism, the safety of both people and livestock is paramount.
“Farmers who own parcels of land either side of the mainline have told me that they are concerned that along various sections of the line’s boundary fence, designed to limit access to the line, there are a number of sizeable gaps that is allowing livestock to stray onto the track.
“Also the challenges of getting livestock across the line within a narrow time frame are significant. One farmer told me that it takes him at least half an hour to get his cattle across and that he would need a minimum 40 minute window to allow him to complete the process safely; with a service coming through every hour, this leaves very little room for error.
“I believe Network Rail must work with local farmers to find practical solutions to the movement of farm animals across the track in a safe and timely manner; that could mean building holding pens near track crossings which would fundamentally speed up the movement process.”
If you want to steal 7 or 8 158s from Wales with two additional LHCS diagrams, you'd have to cut alot of services, 'thinning out' would not even begin to describe the extent of the damage. Even axing an hourly service between Holyhead and Chester would only save two units.