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WSMR Struggling?
- Thread starter Chris B
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Wrexham and Shropshire are steadily building momentum on the weekday services, and with the ongoing WCML Engineering Work they're making a killing at weekends with most trains full and standing on arrival at, and departure from, Marylebone, primarily with passengers from Telford and Shrewsbury.
Cheers,
Barry
Cheers,
Barry
I wonder how many are travelling on WSMR-specific tickets though? Because their take via the Rail Settlement Plan won't be sufficient to cover the income in their buisiness plan.
Snapper
Established Member
WSMR are in it for the long-haul. A lot of their marketing has had to be put on hold until their own stock is ready. This has affected passenger numbers. But they are determined to grow the business. And they have sound backers.
And, unlike certain other parties we could mention, they've actually got sufficient (temporary) stock to operate the full advertised service (though it has been known for the trains to be spun at Banbury in the event of late running), albeit with an eclectic set of formations, from the advertised 2 SOs + RFM, to 2 FOs + RFM, and SO + FO + RFM.
Cheers,
Barry
glynn80
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I travelled on the 1217 on Saturday and it was nearly full and standing in Standard Class, I'd say approximately 1/2 of Coach B was filled with reservations signalling WSMR specific tickets meaning 1/4 of Standard Class using WSMR specific tickets which isn't too bad seeing as they would be getting 100% of the revenue on those tickets compared with an ORCATS % on the Any Permitted tickets.
As a side not also their buffet is THE best I have sampled in all areas. I had a Sausage sandwich and Fanta. The Sausage sandwich was brilliant and was not a bland supermarket sausage but was properly seasoned and tasted delicious, this was served on a china plate with knifes and forks (not really necessary for my sandwich but nice anyway) and the best bit the price of only £2.00, even in my local cafe it is £2.20 for the same and with on train food this is brilliant value. The Fanta was reasonable also at 99p which was 30p cheaper than in the WH Smith at the station!
As a side not also their buffet is THE best I have sampled in all areas. I had a Sausage sandwich and Fanta. The Sausage sandwich was brilliant and was not a bland supermarket sausage but was properly seasoned and tasted delicious, this was served on a china plate with knifes and forks (not really necessary for my sandwich but nice anyway) and the best bit the price of only £2.00, even in my local cafe it is £2.20 for the same and with on train food this is brilliant value. The Fanta was reasonable also at 99p which was 30p cheaper than in the WH Smith at the station!
Galvanize
Member
I tried WSMR myself the other week, because i was bored at home 
So caught the 1317 from Marylebone, to Tame Bridge parkway and back. To be fair the train wasn't full and standing, but it wasn't totally empty! Quite relaxing really, passing along the scenic chiltern mainline in a comfortable mark 3 coach, instead of hurtling along the busy WCML where there is a more hurried rush, on a cramped sweaty pendo
I was a bit fraustrated by the long 60mph section beyond Risborough, to Bicester, though this is no way WSMR's fault. If NR can raise it to 90mph at least, then it will improve journey times a bit. The catering let me down sadly, as they'd run out of any decent hot food I'll spare them the negative comment, until i do get to try it out, which i hope will be good, as most other people have given it positive comments! 
After an hour or so in Tame Bridge Parkway (the most random station!), caught the 1645 back, which turned up about 8 minutes down, and was formed of the FOx2 and RFM set. Quite a lovely run back down to London in the declassified FC accomodation, we were stopped at B'ham international for nearly 15 minutes, to let a Pendo, then a Crosscountry service bound for Bomo ahead of us!
At Banbury, I noticed the boss Andy Hamilton standing on the platform. Just before departure, someone boarded the train at the set down only location, but the guard noticed them, and walked through the train to evict them!
"Excuse me Madam, you can't board this train!"
"Why not?"
"It is set down only i'm afraid. Says so on the board!"
"But it's going to London Marylebone right?
"Yes but you cannot board it, there is a Marylebone train in 4 minutes from the same platform! Sorry!"
So caught the 1317 from Marylebone, to Tame Bridge parkway and back. To be fair the train wasn't full and standing, but it wasn't totally empty! Quite relaxing really, passing along the scenic chiltern mainline in a comfortable mark 3 coach, instead of hurtling along the busy WCML where there is a more hurried rush, on a cramped sweaty pendo
I was a bit fraustrated by the long 60mph section beyond Risborough, to Bicester, though this is no way WSMR's fault. If NR can raise it to 90mph at least, then it will improve journey times a bit. The catering let me down sadly, as they'd run out of any decent hot food
I'll spare them the negative comment, until i do get to try it out, which i hope will be good, as most other people have given it positive comments! After an hour or so in Tame Bridge Parkway (the most random station!), caught the 1645 back, which turned up about 8 minutes down, and was formed of the FOx2 and RFM set. Quite a lovely run back down to London in the declassified FC accomodation, we were stopped at B'ham international for nearly 15 minutes, to let a Pendo, then a Crosscountry service bound for Bomo ahead of us!
At Banbury, I noticed the boss Andy Hamilton standing on the platform. Just before departure, someone boarded the train at the set down only location, but the guard noticed them, and walked through the train to evict them!
"Excuse me Madam, you can't board this train!"
"Why not?"
"It is set down only i'm afraid. Says so on the board!"
"But it's going to London Marylebone right?
"Yes but you cannot board it, there is a Marylebone train in 4 minutes from the same platform! Sorry!"
To be honest, it would probably be best if it wasn't advertised on the boards at all, and an announcement made stating that it isn't in public use, or something along those lines.
The Planner
Veteran Member
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Unlikely it will get to 90, the embankments just cant handle heavy locos. 75 is more likely. WSMR are actually way under their contracted journey time anyway, I think its as high as 4 hr 25 or 30.
Cov - Leamington doing that, XCs and Freightliners make it difficult to path anything down there.
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Galvanize
Member
Ahh, 75mph seems alright i suppose. Seeing as the need for a 2nd 67 on the rear will soon be dropped once the DVTs are ready, i suppose that removes some strain from the embankments?
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I think you will find the service calls at a few stations on the way, I think the majority of the passengers get on at Gobowen, Shrewsbury, Wellington and Telford.
It shouldn't be advertised at all. Certainly the Banbury and Wolverhampton calls are marked up in the TSDB as pick up/set down only (as appropriate), and those at Birmingham International/New Street (for pathing reasons) as Not Advertised.
Cheers,
Barry
Galvanize
Member
Or have the board simply say "Terminates here" as i believe they do at watford Junction for Pendo services!
Sorry, but that's completely false assumptions - these services appear in the National Timetable and can therefore be booked on by using any nationally-available ticket! A reservation could be any ticket, not just their own....
Eh? Risborough to Bicerster North is cleared for 100mph clubmans - so it must be the locos that WSMR use which are restricted, not the line itself.
The poster hasn't been to Banbury & stood on the platform - the southbound WSMR trains do NOT appear on the departure boards, nor are they advertised by any announcements. The occasional 'stand clear, this train is not for boarding' is not made often enough, possibly.
The line has a restricted speed for locos.
AlexS
Established Member
This for a line that used to have King locomotives thrashing along it on 14 and 15 coach express trains. Another BR neglect story I feel.
The train should in theory be shown on arrivals boards - at Wolverhampton it says 'Not for public use - this is the service from Wrexham General' on the scrolling platform boards.
The train should in theory be shown on arrivals boards - at Wolverhampton it says 'Not for public use - this is the service from Wrexham General' on the scrolling platform boards.
Indeed - Banbury doesn't have any....
glynn80
Established Member
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Yes I do realise they are bookable in RJIS but it is probably a small % that actually do decide to get a reservation with their tickets, only an assumption of course but I'd say one pretty correct in general.
Where on earth do you get that premise from?
With the advent of online booking, where you get reservations by default, I would heartily suggest that it isa ctually just the opposite!
btw - in the current issue of the RailStaff newspaper, it states that WSMRs next project isfor Liverpool - Glasgow trains.
David
Established Member
If he's talking about non-AP fares, then he's right. You don't automatically get a reservation with them, even if booking online.
will1337
Member
I don't quite seem to understand the pricing policy. The Advance tickets appear to be more expensive than Savers on a few journeys and not a great deal less Wrexham - London. The difference in Saver prices to London of Wrexham and Telford also appear to be more than the price of a Saver between the two places.
glynn80
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I believe on the Elgar style tickets you got an automatic reservation and so if you book online and get the tickets posted you would get a reservation. But if you ToD and collect at the station on a non-AP ticket you wouldn't get an automatic reservation.
Galvanize
Member
Really? I used it when going up to and from Tame Bridge, and the staff had no problem whatsoever with it! I am confused (dot com)
will1337
Member
It's also valid back within a month and you can get one through from your station if in London, unlike with their fares. Splitting at TAB can make it cheaper still.
he said is validReally? I used it when going up to and from Tame Bridge, and the staff had no problem whatsoever with it! I am confused (dot com)
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