Personal Experience with Wrexham and Shrops

[merlodlliw]

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The rolling stock is at the stage where it now needs refurbishment
On the set I was on, the FO had numerous faults :
no working vestibule doors
one of the toilet seats was missing
the lights in the other toilet were not working
numerous Virgin Trains safety signs
The TSO was in general good condition, but the seat trims were clearly worn and the carpet was heavily stained
The RFM had a panel missing off the galley walkway, most of the seats would not recline and had parts missing, and again the seat trims were badly worn
The seat I was in would not recline, so I swapped to the seat at the table opposite, it also would not recline but the trim was in better condition

Andy Pandy will not be amused at your excellent account,;ook forward to the
full version, lets us know when its up

 

[rail-britain]

This was completed today, 67015 was the locomotive
I can see why people are asking when the "new" coaches are due, the RFM was showing it's age with signs of wear and tear, including many parts missing

I am on the 07:08 Chester - Cardiff ATW 1st class today
You can clearly see the difference between a basic RFM that needs a refurb (WSR) and one that has been prepared fully for public use (ATW)
It's not perfect, there are still some missing pieces of trim in the ATW one, but all the seats recline and the toilet trim is most unusual!

 

[merlodlliw]

I am on the 07:08 Chester - Cardiff ATW 1st class today
You can clearly see the difference between a basic RFM that needs a refurb (WSR) and one that has been prepared fully for public use (ATW)
It's not perfect, there are still some missing pieces of trim in the ATW one, but all the seats recline and the toilet trim is most unusual!

How many in first class? did the train empty almost at Crewe & refill there, as seems to have been the pattern when I used it. Its also a shame or should I say scandal that the loco & stock
remain at Holyhead all Sat & Sunday empty, when down the coast there is chronic overcrowding
this time of year as ATW can not cope with its two car DMUs.

 

[rail-britain]

The on board staff work Holyhead - Cardiff - Holyhead, hence why the train is not used at weekends
Today there were three of us in First Class...
One from Holyhead to Newport, the other two from Chester to Cardiff

Standard was busy between Chester and Crewe, but as you say it empties out there, probably half the train load of passengers get off
As a result it would be very quiet at weekends, and to use the set in the south would mean running it virtually empty for positioning

However, the catering staff are kept well busy serving hot food to Standard passengers!
The prices are quite keen too, and they had plenty of stock to cope

 

[merlodlliw]

The on board staff work Holyhead - Cardiff - Holyhead, hence why the train is not used at weekends
Today there were three of us in First Class...
One from Holyhead to Newport, the other two from Chester to Cardiff

Standard was busy between Chester and Crewe, but as you say it empties out there, probably half the train load of passengers get off
As a result it would be very quiet at weekends, and to use the set in the south would mean running it virtually empty for positioning

However, the catering staff are kept well busy serving hot food to Standard passengers!
The prices are quite keen too, and they had plenty of stock to cope

Thanks for the info rail britain, it enforces what I have seen, few in first
and many use it as a semi fast to Crewe,

my point about weekends was, use the dam stock around North Wales say to
Manchester as a relief, I would not expect it to do the Cardiff run Sat/Sun
its just the fact it stands at Holyhead empty for over 50 hours in summer
and at Rhyl where I used to live,but visit,we have 2 coach 158s with standing room only arriving at Rhyl on the Birmingham run,many are left behind and are
turned off rail travel. This also applies to some 175 stock.

I appreciate Gerald of Wales, or better known to us as the WAG express is a political idea(One Wales Express), but politics aside use the stock where its wanted at weekends,not lie idle in a siding at Holyhead between 2100 Fri
and 0500 on Monday, it need not have first facilities(already used once
on a Saturday via Wrexham) when it went to Canton for urgent service)

The population of North Wales increases by over a million June to Sept
with almost the same stock as used on a winter Sunday, to me this is mad.

The Chefs (2 on rota) for the WAG, are Cardiff based, I presume Mondays
Chef travels up on Sunday?

My Opinion

 

[rail-britain]

You could argue the same for any such rolling stock seen in depots at weekends then...
To use the coaching stock on another route would require more paperwork, and it's not worth it
I do agree that on Saturday it could probably make two runs between Holyhead and Crewe (limited stop) and a futher one on Sunday, but there is more to consider than just the idea of running it...
Staff availability
Loco run round / refuelling
Path availability

 

[merlodlliw]

You could argue the same for any such rolling stock seen in depots at weekends then...
To use the coaching stock on another route would require more paperwork, and it's not worth it
I do agree that on Saturday it could probably make two runs between Holyhead and Crewe (limited stop) and a futher one on Sunday, but there is more to consider than just the idea of running it...
Staff availability
Loco run round / refuelling
Path availability

Yes lots of things to consider, but there is a difference,this stock is bankrolled by WAG, who underwrite its losses, and has the railways in Wales are semi devolved, IE we have a Minister of Trains who invented this service M/F
at a cost of £7600 subsidy a day for one round trip,North Wales relies
on tourism like never before in a recession, so it would seem a good idea
to use this stock to shift passengers at the W/E, which at the moment suffer chronic overcrowding with two coach DMUs full to capacity when they arrive at Rhyl & Prestatyn It would not be rocket science to use this stock for other reasons than politics.

 

[williamn]

I'm not sure this has anything to do with W&S...

 

[thefab444]

No, indeed, but every thread with Merloddywoo in will turn into a WAG/ATW bash and a WSMR frothfest. We're getting used to it by now.

 

[Pumbaa]

No, indeed, but every thread with Merloddywoo in will turn into a WAG/ATW bash and a WSMR frothfest. We're getting used to it by now.

Oh if only the Rep buttons still existed

 

[tbtc]

use the dam stock around North Wales say to
Manchester as a relief,

First of all, there won't be any spare paths into Manchester.

Secondly, you'd need to train enough staff to work 57s over those lines (assuming they are cleared to run it)

Thirdly, running round in Manchester etc

Fourthly, as the stock is based in Holyhead, it'd be running at the wrong times for the tourists (ideally you'd want it to leave Manchester in the morning and back to Manchester in the evening)

The best solution would be if the Llandudno service was run by Northern (as per the old FNW franchise), meaning they'd have spare DMUs to attach to summer weekend - attaching portions at Warrington to/from Liverpool/ Preston etc (as previously discussed). ATW don't have spare DMUs at the weekend (in the same way)

Off topic, I know, sorry!

 

[merlodlliw]

The best solution would be if the Llandudno service was run by Northern (as per the old FNW franchise), meaning they'd have spare DMUs to attach to summer weekend - attaching portions at Warrington to/from Liverpool/ Preston etc (as previously discussed). ATW don't have spare DMUs at the weekend (in the same way)

Off topic, I know, sorry![/QUOTE]

Not at all of topic TBTC , anything that overcomes overcrowding is welcome, and thanks to rail britain for such good, well written reports of North East Wales 2 loco hauled 1st class services.

 

[TDK]

The best solution would be if the Llandudno service was run by Northern (as per the old FNW franchise), meaning they'd have spare DMUs to attach to summer weekend - attaching portions at Warrington to/from Liverpool/ Preston etc (as previously discussed). ATW don't have spare DMUs at the weekend (in the same way)

Off topic, I know, sorry!

Not at all of topic TBTC , anything that overcomes overcrowding is welcome, and thanks to rail britain for such good, well written reports of North East Wales 2 loco hauled 1st class services.[/QUOTE]


But the title of this thread is "Personal experience with Wrexham & Shropshire" what has the ATW WAG express go to do with it?

 

[rail-britain]

Someone earlier was replying and comparing the loco hauled services of WSR and ATW
The main issue raised was the poor standard of the coaching stock used by WSR, compare that to what ATW are using
Main part of the conversation is that ATW only use the loco hauled service to supplement north - south primary route at peak times, so why not use it at weekends?

As with all such "new start" services, as soon as other rolling stock becomes available then that will be used, at least the basic service is up and running, and so long as customers know the service isn't quite up to speed yet they won't complain
However, ATW appeared to have learned from previous such services and have launched this service with stock that won't need refurbishing or replacement for at least a year

With regards to WSR, they have plans to increase the length of their trains, when passenger loadings increase
The main issue I can see here is the guard having to do a lot of work between Wrexham and Birmingham, as these stations are very close together, however if a DMU is used then that job will be made much easier

 

[TDK]

Someone earlier was replying and comparing the loco hauled services of WSR and ATW
The main issue raised was the poor standard of the coaching stock used by WSR, compare that to what ATW are using
Main part of the conversation is that ATW only use the loco hauled service to supplement north - south primary route at peak times, so why not use it at weekends?

As with all such "new start" services, as soon as other rolling stock becomes available then that will be used, at least the basic service is up and running, and so long as customers know the service isn't quite up to speed yet they won't complain
However, ATW appeared to have learned from previous such services and have launched this service with stock that won't need refurbishing or replacement for at least a year

With regards to WSR, they have plans to increase the length of their trains, when passenger loadings increase
The main issue I can see here is the guard having to do a lot of work between Wrexham and Birmingham, as these stations are very close together, however if a DMU is used then that job will be made much easier

I cannot really see the dfference between a DMU and Mk coaches in fact the gangways on Mk 3's are wider than most DMU's. The only thing is the doors and WSMR stewards and in some cases the driver assists on closing doors left open by passengers. WSMR don't go to Birmingham as they are not permitted to pick up at any of the main Birmingham stations

 

[rail-britain]

I know WSR don't serve stations in Birmingham, but from a geographic point of view, there is quite a bit of work for the guard to do between Birmingham and Wrexham
With a busy service that could be an issue, and especially if they do increase the length of their trains as they are allowed to do so

 

[merlodlliw]

I know WSR don't serve stations in Birmingham, but from a geographic point of view, there is quite a bit of work for the guard to do between Birmingham and Wrexham
With a busy service that could be an issue, and especially if they do increase the length of their trains as they are allowed to do so

Thanks rail britain & TDK, they did increase the carriages during whit
week due to extra foreseen demand,and they were needed.

 

[rail-britain]

WSR could currently increase their sets by one coach, as they have two spare FO coaches just outside Marylebone
It's a shame they don't use these instead of the TSO, the set I was on already had one declassified FO (FO-TSO-RFM-DVT)

 

[martyn29]

Can you still do shorter Journeys, I went last time I went Wrexham-Tame bridge parkway FDS and it was valid and I got all the food.

 

[merlodlliw]

From Charlie Hulme who runs the North Wales Rail website.Dated 22 Sept


Seen this?

"From the latest issue of Rail, in an article by Richard Clinnick, features editor: "As RAIL went to press, Chiltern Railways was preparing to announce it has acquired Renaissance Trains' final stake in open access operator Wrexham Shropshire and Marylebone Railway, giving it full control".

Must be the source of those recent rumours about WSMR closing and Chiltern running some of their trains.[/QUOTE]