Junction/Blaenau Ffestiniog Sunday service disappears

[merlodlliw]

Not sure if this is the correct thread area.

I have noticed in ATW Timetable 4 both printed & electronic versions, The Sunday service is totally omitted for the first time.

I appreciate a bus service runs on Sunday or did (funded by 2 County Councils),
for 40 Sundays, but all trace of this is now left out of the ATW timetable.

A Sunday peak Summer DMU makes 3 journeys or did.

Not a good move for tourists, who want to connect with the narrow Gauge


Bob

 

[Rogercas]

Just checked with Conwy valley Railway website and the sunday timetable shows three return bus journeys from Llandudno to Blaenau.

http://www.conwy.gov.uk/cvr/english/pg_timetable.htm

 

[tom1649]

Has there ever actually been a proper train service on a winter Sunday on this line?

 

[StoneRoad]

historically - not in the winter, but summer sundays are "different"


but I'm not sure about the current situation.......

 

[RichmondCommu]

Surely the Sunday service will resume in the summer?

 

[splashoutradio]

Another oddity I've picked up in the ATV 4 timetable, is the lack of trains stopping at Roman Bridge, between now and late March. I know it's not a particularly well patronised station, but still.

As for Sunday services, the Gwynedd County Council timetable shows 3 busses running until 13 May, and the Conwy County Council timetable shows the message 'Sunday trains commence 20/05/12'

 

[merlodlliw]

I fully appreciate the two County Councils pay for the Sunday rail replacement, they also subsidise the three Sunday Summer Trains.

My point is, for the first time ATW have left out this information from its timetable, which it always printed before, tourists are unlikely to know the names of the Councils or their web sites & presume Sunday travel is a dead day in the valley.

I wonder why ATW have now omitted the information, the bus details were listed in the May 2011 /Dec 2011 timetable & all previous ATW timetables as a tourist aid.

Also the Sunday buses are run by Arriva DB

As for Roman Bridge, its repair work on the Station


Bob

 

[Rogercas]

Sadly for the future of the line, Express Motors have introduced a weekday commercial bus service (X1) between Blaenau and Llandudno running at approximately hourly intervals and taking fractionally less time than the train.

The 'over 60's' free travel is available on this service throughout the year rather than being restricted to winter months on the railway.

To compete, ATW would need to offer an hourly service which with a 75 minute journey time would require three units rather than the present one unit.

Again it is regrettable that the proposal to remove waste slate from Blaenau by rail died once McAlpines sold their interests in slate quarrying. Had that come to fruition the future of the branch would have been assured.

 

[merlodlliw]

Yes it is regrettable, I am also fully aware Network Rail would loose no sleep if the line went.

I have asked Aled Roberts a North Wales listed A.M to find out why ATW have omitted the Sunday service, and raise the issue with Taith.
I am not a constituent of the local elected A.Ms & M/Ps.

And welcome to Rail UK Forms Rogercas

 

[175001]

The 84 bus IS running this winter, looks like ATW made an error whilst publishing the timetable.

Roman Bridge is being rebuilt, I believe to tackle the height of the platform.

The Conwy Valley line is a busy line now following the introduction of free travel for local residents, and since Portillo's visit, and subsequent show, more and more are visiting the line.

Rogercas, the local passes are accepted on the line all year round.

Its my local line, despite me more living in Manchester, and I'm very fond of it

 

[Greenback]

I was surprised how busy the line was when we visited Betws y Coed in 2009. The town was pretty busy as well, which at the time I put down to more stay at home holidays. This was precisely the reason why we were there, as we decided to holiday in Wales that year due to the economy, exchange rates etc.

Although we were there in the Summer, it was early Summer, well before the school holidays, which Iw ould have thought would have brought even more visitors to the area and the line.

We used public transport a lot, and the buses and trains we were on alls eemed very well used. I don't think the future is gloomy!

 

[quarella]

The problem with including times of buses is how long will the information be accurate. If I recall correctly 28 days notice is the requirement for amendments to bus routes to be notified to the traffic commissioners. If the times listed in the railway timetable are changed who is liable if a passenger becomes stranded? The bus operator or the TOC? Traveline has allowed access to up to date bus times around the UK.

 

[merlodlliw]

The problem with including times of buses is how long will the information be accurate. If I recall correctly 28 days notice is the requirement for amendments to bus routes to be notified to the traffic commissioners. If the times listed in the railway timetable are changed who is liable if a passenger becomes stranded? The bus operator or the TOC? Traveline has allowed access to up to date bus times around the UK.

The three Sunday bus times run from September 2011 to May 2012, are funded by both Conwy & Gwynedd County Councils, who incidentally fund the
the three summer trains in between.
I hope this is an oversight by ATW,and wonder if anyone in the North was consulted about attention to detail.

You will also see other bus services in Welsh timetables, funded by ATW/LM & NR,and as all Sunday services in the Conwy Valley are funded by the County Councils & they are responsible for Sunday timetable changes.
Left to ATWs franchise, no Sunday summer trains would run. Nothing would stop ATW putting a link on its timetable website to assist tourists in this instance.

Bob

 

[Greenback]

The problem with including times of buses is how long will the information be accurate. If I recall correctly 28 days notice is the requirement for amendments to bus routes to be notified to the traffic commissioners. If the times listed in the railway timetable are changed who is liable if a passenger becomes stranded? The bus operator or the TOC? Traveline has allowed access to up to date bus times around the UK.

That would be a problem with services that are not sponsored or funded by the local council to run a s asupplement to, or replacement for, rail services.

The services being discussed call at railway stations and accept rail tickets, unlike commercial services, and will normally remain the same throughout the timetable period.

 

[Rogercas]

Rogercas, the local passes are accepted on the line all year round.

Apologies, I stand corrected and you are indeed correct.

I had confused the situation with that on the Cambrian Coast line where seasonal restrictions apply to use of concessionary passes.

However as a word of warning, you need to produce a Gwynedd or Conwy travel pass on the Conwy Valley or a Gwynedd pass on the Cambrian Coast.

Regrettably non local passes are not accepted.

 

[merlodlliw]

That is correct Greenback, the Sunday Conwy Valley bus services except valid rail tickets & call at all Railway Stations on the line,
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Apologies, I stand corrected and you are indeed correct.

I had confused the situation with that on the Cambrian Coast line where seasonal restrictions apply to use of concessionary passes.

However as a word of warning, you need to produce a Gwynedd or Conwy travel pass on the Conwy Valley or a Gwynedd pass on the Cambrian Coast.

Regrettably non local passes are not accepted.

Hello Rogercas , much like the Borderlands Wrexham to Bidston, you need a Wrexham or Flintshire pass to travel free , but only as far as Shotton.This is all year.

Bob
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Just had feedback from my A.Ms office,

ATW say they asked Conwy Council for the bus/rail winter timetable, the information is alleged not to have been returned to ATW.

ATW however admit the timetable info should have been published in the Dec 2011 edition, as the Sunday bus service accepts valid rail tickets.

The Minister in a letter to my A.M said the info was available via the Conwy CC website, but would request ATW to continue to publish bus/rail times it in its timetables.

Note, Conwy & Gwynedd County Councils pay for the year long Sunday services of both Summer Trains & Autumn/Winter/Spring buses on the Line, buses call at all Rail Stations.

 

[merlodlliw]

I have received a copy of Conwy County Councils response today regarding the omission of the rail replacement service, this was sent to my A.M.

If anyone wishes to see the respoince, please PM me, it makes interesting reading.



Bob