Perhaps extra service capacity would be better
The copy was rushed out to the media in North Wales following Local AMs question about losing a direct Llandudno/Manchester early morning service used by some of his constituents for travel to work in Warrington & Manchester.
Reporters on two local dailies questioned ATW about losing the service which,I understand put ATW media dept into a flap when they realised the axing had been spotted before the Dec 2014 consultative timetable due out in late August/September would be released to stakeholders, by then it would be too late to reverse the axing of the service,or get the loco hauled to start at Llandudno.
I agree extra service capacity on the loco hauled,not extra services.
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From todays Daily Post. Friday 18th July
Written by Steve Bagnall, staff reporter
A morning commuter train from Llandudno to Manchester could be axed to ease congestion on a South Wales service.
Lib Dem AM Aled Roberts claims proposed timetables by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) show the 6.34am direct service is set to disappear in December.
He said the carriages used will be sent to bolster a South Wales service to Manchester at the expense of the north.
It would also mean anyone trying to commute to Manchester would have to set off about an hour earlier in the morning.
Although the train operator insists there are plans for a direct service to get to Manchester from the North Wales coast by 9am, Mr Roberts said he had seen no details of any such connection.
ATW is also considering cancelling the 7.49am from Wrexham to Birmingham when a new timetable is issued in May 2015, he said.
The row follows the announcement of a £1.2m deal between the Department for Transport and Arriva Trains Wales for new rail services between North Wales and Manchester Piccadilly.
Under the plans announced by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin this week, the train operator will run an additional locomotive and four carriages on the route – meaning “at least 2,450 extra seats across the morning and evening peaks every week”.
Mr Roberts launched a scathing attack on the plans.
He said: “Despite calls from many politicians in North Wales for more cross border services, Arriva Trains Wales are planning to cut our services, making it even harder for people to find work outside North Wales.
“Such a dramatic change calls into question how serious Arriva Trains Wales are about generating commuter traffic.”
Mr Roberts added: “These proposals by ATW beg the question: who is looking after the interests of North Wales’s rail commuters?
“The Llandudno train to Manchester may be used to form a new service from South Wales to Manchester and the Wrexham train will probably be used on a new Aberystwyth service.
“If current plans within Arriva Trains Wales are maintained there will be no direct train service from either Wrexham or Llandudno that will get you to Manchester before 9am once the proposed new timetables come into force in December.”
An ATW spokesman said: “The new December timetable is still under development and has yet to be agreed by Network Rail and our key stakeholders.
"We will listen to the feedback from our stakeholders once we have issued a proposed timetable as part of the consultation process.
“However, we can confirm that we are planning to run a direct service from the North Wales coast to arrive in Manchester before 9am and we are planning to add extra capacity to our services in this area too.”
The reporter tells me, he asked for details about the proposed direct train from Llandudno to arrive in Manchester before 0900. however ATW Media dept
told him this would appear in the Dec 2014 consultative timetable due late August/Sept, but refused to give the reporter any details.
Im now guessing the loco Hauled may start at Llandudno running all stations to Manchester.
