TFW Cuts at Ruabon, Chirk, Gobowen

[headshot119]

A petition has been set up here in regards to cuts at Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen in the December 2019 timetable change.

This was launched after a news story was picked up here.

Plans by Transport for Wales to amend the timetable for the Chester to Shrewsbury Line would lead to a reduction in the number of trains calling at stations on that route the Rail Partnership was informed. The changes proposed to the Chester – Wrexham – Shrewsbury rail timetable from December 2019 by Transport for Wales have been condemned as unacceptable.

IF WE GET A BAD SETTLEMENT, WE’LL HAVE TO LOOK AT FURTHER CUTS. HAVE YOUR SAY…

Despite any consultation, the hourly service on the line is being reduced in order to accommodate the introduction of a loco hauled service between Cardiff and Holyhead. The result means that the 0925 from Shrewsbury to Chester would no longer operate and passengers would be forced to wait up to two hours for a train north. The 0925 service is particularly important as it is the first off peak train giving access to cheaper off peak fares for the longer journeys. On its return journey the 14.20 service south from Chester will again not stop at all stations. Passengers again would be forced to wait for the following service with a wait of up to two hours.

Cllr David A. Bithell lead member for Place – Environment and Transport at Wrexham CBC and Chair of the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership said, ‘When we learnt of this proposal we immediately wrote to the Minister Ken Skates and asked for assurances that the base line hourly service on this line would be maintained for all our stations. This new franchise, managed by Transport for Wales, is less than 12 months old and we are promised new improved service levels and yet we are expected to accept a reduced service pattern from December’. He added ‘The hourly service was delivered as part of the Arriva Trains Wales franchise and has been well supported by passengers. This is the base line service that must not be compromised and we are shocked that such a proposal could be considered’.

“The service pattern proposed is as follows:”
Northbound

NEW EXPRESS SERVICE – Depart Cardiff 0702; Shrewsbury 09.01; Wrexham 09.30; Chester 09.52; Holyhead arrive 11.17.

SERVICE TO BE WITHDRAWN – Depart Cardiff 07.21; Shrewsbury 09.25; Gobowen 09.43; Chirk 09.48; Ruabon 09.55; Wrexham 10.01; Chester 10.20; Holyhead arrive 12.23.

No departure from Shrewsbury for intermediate stations between 08.25 and 10.25.

Southbound

NEW EXPRESS SERVICE – Depart Holyhead 11.34; Chester 13.16; Wrexham 13.31; Ruabon 13.39; Chirk 13.46; Gobowen 13.51; Shrewsbury 14.17; Cardiff arrive 16.15.

The existing service to Birmingham International departing Chester at 13.30 and stopping at all stations to Shrewsbury would be unaltered.

SERVICE TO BE WITHDRAWN – Depart Holyhead 12.32; Chester 14.20; Wrexham 14.34; Ruabon 14.41; Chirk 14.48; Gobowen 14.53; Shrewsbury 15.15; Cardiff arrive 17.16 (continues to Maesteg).

No departure from Chester for intermediate stations between 13.30 and 15.36. Both of those trains to Birmingham International. No through service to Cardiff until 16.21 from Chester.

It does seem like a very poorly thought out move I have to say.

I did wonder if it's temporary till May 2020 when all of the MK4 stock is in service, and it's partly issue around introducing slam doors onto stations that haven't had them since the demise of WSMR.

 

[krus_aragon]

I did wonder if it's temporary till May 2020 when all of the MK4 stock is in service, and it's partly issue around introducing slam doors onto stations that haven't had them since the demise of WSMR.

In the longer term, once the Civitys arrive, there'll be an hourly Shrewsbury-Liverpool service that could pick up these kind of stops. That still leaves an awkward gap in the meantime...

 

[headshot119]

In the longer term, once the Civitys arrive, there'll be an hourly Shrewsbury-Liverpool service that could pick up these kind of stops. That still leaves an awkward gap in the meantime...

Well indeed, it just seems like such an own goal to cut them in the mean time, the lines had a fairly regular hourly service for as long as I can remember.

 

[PHILIPE]

I don't think the Timetable is complete yet due to late alterations involving the Mark III and Mark IV stock working and adjustments to some Holyhead services.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Well indeed, it just seems like such an own goal to cut them in the mean time, the lines had a fairly regular hourly service for as long as I can remember.

Only since ATW's standard pattern timetable in 2004 which introduced the Holyhead-Cardiff services.
Before that, for nigh on 40 years since the line was down-graded in 1967, the Chester-Shrewsbury line, including Wrexham, just had the 2-hourly Chester-Wolverhampton service (eventually extended to Birmingham).

 

[rich.davies]

Originally put in the wrong thread

The Wrexham Leader are reporting that busses are to replace trains-

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/1...e-trains-chirk-ruabon-part-timetable-changes/

"BUSSES are set to run in place of trains in Wrexham as part of timetable changes.

Busses will collect passengers at Shrewsbury going to Chirk and Ruabon during the morning rush hour, with a new Transport for Wales express service from Cardiff to Holyhead not stopping at these stations.

The 9.25am Transport for Wales service from Shrewsbury north along this line will from December 15 no longer run, with the new express service departing Shrewsbury at 9.01am but not stopping at Gobowen, Chirk or Ruabon and departing Wrexham General at 9.30am.

The next service north from Wrexham will be over 90 minutes later at 11.03am.

The Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership claims it has, over the past few months, tried to engage with Transport for Wales over its proposed new timetable for December 2019.

Following a timetable meeting held in Cardiff with other stakeholders Transport for Wales announced it is unable amend the planned December timetable changes for this line.

The partnership says it has been acknowledged that by introducing an express service from Cardiff to Holyhead which would not stop at Chirk and Ruabon, Transport for Wales is in breach of the Train Service Requirement and to mitigate this it is running a bus service in its place.


The timings have now been released and involve a bus service collecting passengers at Shrewsbury for the affected stations and also another bus service which will collect passengers from Chirk and Ruabon and pick up and drop off on the line of route before terminating in Chester for onward rail connections.

Monday to Friday, buses from Shrewsbury Railway Station will run at 9.25am, and stop off at Chirk station at 10.10am and Ruabon Station at 10.30am.

Buses will also run Monday to Friday from Gobowen Railway Station at 9.15am. They will stop at Chirk Station at 9.25am and depart at 9.30, Ruabon Station arriving 9.45am and departing at 9.50am, Wrexham General arriving 10.05am and departing 10.10am and Chester Railway Station arriving 10.40, where the bus terminates."

Could TFW run a stopper service before or after the scheduled express service?

 

[30907]

I assume the last sentence is your question?

The answer is: they could if they had a train and crew to spare at Shrewsbury at 0925. I think it is fairly safe to say that they have neither, whereas buses are very likely to be available at that time of day.
Relaxing the relevant offpeak restrictions to allow people to use the previous train might go down well, though it would not suit everybody.

 

[Class 170101]

Why not run the fast service, non-stop via Crewe instead of the capacity restricted route via Wrexham?

 

[PHILIPE]

How would it call at Wrexham then ?

 

[Class 170101]

It wouldn't. The removed local service can do that.

 

[PHILIPE]

It wouldn't. The removed local service can do that.

Why ? Absolutely pointless in running via Crewe and omitting a stop where there is no need to

 

[30907]

It wouldn't. The removed local service can do that.

There isn't a removed local service, sorry, see #7. There is a retimed and accelerated Cardiff-Holyhead. Or are you saying both the old and the new trains should run?

 

[Class 170101]

There isn't a removed local service, sorry, see #7. There is a retimed and accelerated Cardiff-Holyhead. Or are you saying both the old and the new trains should run?

Yes. The local service via Wrexham, the Cardiff to Holyhead service to divert via Crewe instead of Wrexham.

 

[PHILIPE]

Yes. The local service via Wrexham, the Cardiff to Holyhead service to divert via Crewe instead of Wrexham.

You just don't get it. The original local service which was 0721 Cardiff to Holyhead has been withdrawn as such and replaced by a faster train at 0702 which is calling at Wrexham only along the route between Shrewsbury and Chester.

 

[Camden]

The lesson (for others) to learn is "politics driven decisions results in rubbish railways".

I mean, what is the point of a train that runs direct from Cardiff to Holyhead at all?!

And then, in a vain effort to make the journey time not completely bum numbing, they screw over all the towns inbetween.

All so the Welsh government can cling on to a fantasy of pretending to have a "national railway".

 

[Class 170101]

You just don't get it. The original local service which was 0721 Cardiff to Holyhead has been withdrawn as such and replaced by a faster train at 0702 which is calling at Wrexham only along the route between Shrewsbury and Chester.

Why not run the local via Wrexham as before and the new 07:02 via Crewe?

 

[30907]

Why not run the local via Wrexham as before and the new 07:02 via Crewe?

Because that requires 2 trains not 1, and for most of the journey they would duplicate each other. The problem won't resolve itself until TfW introduce all their new trains and new services, as already mentioned.

Incidentally, the petition talks about a 2-hourly service, not one 2-hour gap in service, so will be perceived (in Cardiff Bay, not just by yours truly!) as misleading.

 

[PHILIPE]

Why not run the local via Wrexham as before and the new 07:02 via Crewe?

Because the 0702 is the original local retimed and speeded up

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Will the buses be shown in journey planners?
Or printed timetables?
Or on-station display posters/screens?

If the hauled set can't stop at stations northbound due to platform lengths, are the platforms longer in the southbound direction? as the service calls at Gobowen etc

 

[PHILIPE]

Will the buses be shown in journey planners?
Or printed timetables?
Or on-station display posters/screens?

If the hauled set can't stop at stations northbound due to platform lengths, are the platforms longer in the southbound direction? as the service calls at Gobowen etc

Not sure about the publicity yet as we will have to wait for TFW. Platform length is not the issue which is to speed the train up.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I assume the last sentence is your question?

The answer is: they could if they had a train and crew to spare at Shrewsbury at 0925. I think it is fairly safe to say that they have neither, whereas buses are very likely to be available at that time of day.
Relaxing the relevant offpeak restrictions to allow people to use the previous train might go down well, though it would not suit everybody.

There's a 158 spare between 0816 and 1033. It appears to arrive and shunt across to platform 5, awaiting the arrival from Aberystwyth two hours later, whence they both proceed on to Birmingham International.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Not sure about the publicity yet as we will have to wait for TFW. Platform length is not the issue which is to speed the train up.

I can only go on TfW's web-site which gives that as the reason, along with a franchise commitment to speed up journeys. I'm going to catch the southbound one from Shrewsbury to Church Stretton in the early evening!

 

[PHILIPE]

I can only go on TfW's web-site which gives that as the reason, along with a franchise commitment to speed up journeys. I'm going to catch the southbound one from Shrewsbury to Church Stretton in the early evening!

Agreed with what the website says but can't understand what station platforms particularly unless the condiitions involve the 1716 ex Cardiff Gerald which it will be working from May after the Mark IVs have been cleared for the Marshes.. Which train were you intending to travel on early evening by the way ? Th 158 you mentioned hasn't got time to really do anything if it were to work a local.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Agreed with what the website says but can't understand what station platforms particularly unless the condiitions involve the 1716 ex Cardiff Gerald which it will be working from May after the Mark IVs have been cleared for the Marshes.. Which train were you intending to travel on early evening by the way ? Th 158 you mentioned hasn't got time to really do anything if it were to work a local.

1V98, 1651 ex Holyhead appears to be loco hauled. As it stands the hauled sets appear to do three trips each day, so they will swap diagrams daily. Obviously what happens in practice will be a different matter. 153+158 combo instead, with the 153 allocated to first class AM's dining saloon!

 

[berneyarms]

1V98, 1651 ex Holyhead appears to be loco hauled. As it stands the hauled sets appear to do three trips each day, so they will swap diagrams daily. Obviously what happens in practice will be a different matter. 153+158 combo instead, with the 153 allocated to first class AM's dining saloon!

Not initially apparently, as the Mark 4 sets have not been cleared along the Marches, and due to one of the Mark 3 sets not having a restaurant car.

It has already been posted on another thread here that the Mark 3 set currently on the North Wales link will be replaced by a Mark 4 set, and instead that Mark 3 set will operate the 07:02 Cardiff Central-Holyhead and the 11:34 Holyhead-Cardiff Central return. The Mark 3 set currently operating the "Gerald" service was stay on the current link.

The 11:24 Cardiff Central-Holyhead and 16:51 Holyhead-Cardiff Central will be DMU operated in the meantime until the Mark 4 sets are cleared (even though pathed as loco hauled).

 

[Phil from Mon]

I mean, what is the point of a train that runs direct from Cardiff to Holyhead at all?!

Lots of people need to do Bangor (and Llandudno Jct) to Cardiff and return, and when (if) the service does accelerate then a lot of those who currently drive will hopefully switch to the train.

 

[PHILIPE]

1V98, 1651 ex Holyhead appears to be loco hauled. As it stands the hauled sets appear to do three trips each day, so they will swap diagrams daily. Obviously what happens in practice will be a different matter. 153+158 combo instead, with the 153 allocated to first class AM's dining saloon!

The reason for my question re your journey seems to have been answered here. 1651 will be DMU until May

 

[Phil from Mon]

... the 153 allocated to first class AM's dining saloon!

Don’t think you have done the evening trip up from Cardiff very often if you think that is the case. I’ve not once seen an AM in it, and leadings have been full or nearly full for months.

 

[30907]

There's a 158 spare between 0816 and 1033. It appears to arrive and shunt across to platform 5, awaiting the arrival from Aberystwyth two hours later, whence they both proceed on to Birmingham International.

Didn't realise that (for some reason I thought it attached to the 0832 Birmingham making it 6 cars), but it's not much use for an 0925 to Chester (or even Wrexham) and back, and an 0840 to Wrexham (which would work) would just duplicate the 0825.

 

[PHILIPE]

Didn't realise that (for some reason I thought it attached to the 0832 Birmingham making it 6 cars), but it's not much use for an 0925 to Chester (or even Wrexham) and back, and an 0840 to Wrexham (which would work) would just duplicate the 0825.

Currently attaches to 0809 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth as the Pwllheli portion