Recent content by AlanL

Has anyone heard any news about the WSMR open access application, as the ORR were having a board meeting to discuss it with a decision due late June/Early July? Even it gets the green light its obviously too late for a Dec 26 or even May 27 start.

West Midlands Trains have said that there will be very limited services next Friday and Saturday 22/23 May due to industrial action by the TSSA union. Does anyone know what this is about and if there are on going negotiations?

The Codsall station pub (on the Wolverhampton -Shrewsbury line) is really good, plenty of real ales and an outside area to watch the trains!!

Does anyone know when the next ORR board meeting is to discuss 'open access applications'? I think the WSMR are expecting a decision one way or another in April, as its been 5 months since they submitted this new OA application..

I have not got a copy of the leaflet but there is a picture of it on twitter on the @Wellingtonstat1 twitter feed

Yes, the rail connections at Whitchurch are not very good, but it is much easier and better at Wellington station with the bus station next to the railway station (2 min walk) and three trains an hour to both Birmingham and Shrewsbury. So passengers from Market Drayton will be much better...

A new really useful bus service started on Mon 5th January, the 340 bus service linking Whitchurch (with its railway station) with Market Drayton and onto Wellington (with its bus station adjacent to the railway station). This bus service has an almost hourly service from around 0700 - 1800...

Thanks so much for the links - it will be interesting to see the flows from individual stations.

The individual station ORR data is very interesting and its great that it shows a big increase in most areas. Does anyone know if the individual passenger flows for a particular station are available and how we can access the information?

The Telford Steam railway have sent a message to all members to say that their long term plans to extend their line to Ironbridge have been stopped, as the rail line from Madeley Jnt to Buildwas (owned by NR) has now been leased to another company who are proposing to create a 'very light rail'...

The Shrewsbury MP is quoted as saying that the ORR decision on the WSMR open access application will be decided very soon, probably next week and she seems optimistic that it will get the go-ahead, but that's just her view and there will be very detailed negotiations going on behind the scenes...

A quick update is that the MP for Shrewsbury has today written a letter to the ORR/Dft/Treasury supporting the WSMR and she has 'indicated' that she thinks the ORR is likely to make decision on the WSMR very soon, possibly as early as next week - it will be interesting to see the outcome!

There is a Victorian post box (still in use) at Wellington station in the wall by the ticket office.

The Wrexham Shropshire and Midlands Railway are 'hopeful' of getting the go-ahead soon for their open access plans and Alstom are very involved in the plans and will be looking to be using the 6 remaining stored 221s for their services from Wrexham to Euston. However, nothing is yet confirmed!

There was severe flooding last November which damaged the points motors and they are waiting to be repaired, There is a line closure on June 1st which 'maybe' for the points repairs?