Cambrian hourly service consultation

[merlodlliw]

The problem is, who do you pay to look after it when the station is unmanned? It all costs money!

And TBH how many people are going to use it anyway? There are plenty of places to wait not that far away.

I suppose I am looking at other statutory services that are locked up around 10pm, How many will use it,a good question,perhaps a lot in the June/August peak holiday season. This time of year I would agree not many in the evening.
Its one of those quirks, money is found for the capitol expense, but nothing for anyone to run it. My local Lead Mines centre in Minera had well over a £1million spent on it a few years ago, now the excellent buildings are shut since 2010 due to Wrexham Council having no money to run it,an aside I know, but funding thrown away like many others.

 

[The Informer]

And TBH how many people are going to use it anyway? There are plenty of places to wait not that far away.

Exactly, who would sit in a boring waiting room when you can sip on a pint next door!

 

[Llanigraham]

Exactly, who would sit in a boring waiting room when you can sip on a pint next door!

Exactly!

 

[merlodlliw]

Exactly, who would sit in a boring waiting room when you can sip on a pint next door!

Thats an interesting thought, but not for under 18s,always makes me smile when I go passed Spoons in Wrexham before 8am and see a full breakfast with a pint taken by a few,but thats how it was in stagecoach days, I mean real stagecoaches.

 

[Rhydgaled]

who would sit in a boring waiting room when you can sip on a pint next door!

Someone who carries their own food and (non-alcoholic) drink with them? Or isn't hungry/thirsty and doesn't want to have to pay money for a drink they don't want in order to stay out of the cold.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Someone who carries their own food and (non-alcoholic) drink with them? Or isn't hungry/thirsty and doesn't want to have to pay money for a drink they don't want in order to stay out of the cold.

On balance there are a lot more people who would choose a waiting room over Spoons , though I'm a pint man I an see the other argument.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I suppose I am looking at other statutory services that are locked up around 10pm, How many will use it,a good question,perhaps a lot in the June/August peak holiday season. This time of year I would agree not many in the evening.
Its one of those quirks, money is found for the capitol expense, but nothing for anyone to run it. My local Lead Mines centre in Minera had well over a £1million spent on it a few years ago, now the excellent buildings are shut since 2010 due to Wrexham Council having no money to run it,an aside I know, but funding thrown away like many others.

Bit like building extra passing loops and not using them for 6 years

 

[merlodlliw]

Any members in Aberyswyth today Saturday? The local line user group is holding its meeting and I am sure would welcome visitors.

Heres the agenda, of course its an election year.

Apologies*for*Absence.*
2) Daniel*Thompson.*Green*Party*Candidate*for*Ceredigion
3) Huw*Thomas,*Labour*Party*Candidate*for*Ceredigion
4) a)*Minutes*of*Meeting*held*@*Caersws,*3rd*February2015
**** b)*Matters*Arising
5) May*Timetable
6) Franchise*Consultation
7) AOB
(To*include*comment*about*the*Welshpool*'Bus)

Venue Cambrian Hotel,start 1145. I understand its near the Railway Station.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

On balance there are a lot more people who would choose a waiting room over Spoons , though I'm a pint man I an see the other argument.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Bit like building extra passing loops and not using them for 6 years

Yes its very similar, but to me the Minera Lead Mines centre,which I might add with substantial railways going back over a hundred years,is a beautiful building
now just rotting, inside were pictures of the railways in the area,including GWR who ran passenger trains & lime freight,I pass it daily.
below is a link which may be of interest, BTW I live within a few feet of the quarry boundary, http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/features/minera/index.shtml

 

[The Informer]

Someone who carries their own food and (non-alcoholic) drink with them? Or isn't hungry/thirsty and doesn't want to have to pay money for a drink they don't want in order to stay out of the cold.

Oh you mean an anorak?
Oops i forgot about the parker jacket wearing, flask hugging fraternity!

 

[merlodlliw]

Oh you mean an anorak?
Oops i forgot about the parker jacket wearing, flask hugging fraternity!

An endangered species

 

[Gareth Marston]

RTT is showing the early morning from Barmouth as joining up with the 0730 ex Aber at Machynlleth after the tt change. Not terminating as reported on this thread.

 

[PHILIPE]

RTT is showing the early morning from Barmouth as joining up with the 0730 ex Aber at Machynlleth after the tt change. Not terminating as reported on this thread.

There are still some loose ends in this jigsaw so may still be tidying up to do.
I did say don't take what I was saying was gospel.

 

[merlodlliw]

All the consultation with customers? and stakeholders for the May timetable ended on Friday, so any errors should have been pointed out to ATW for amendment.

 

[PHILIPE]

All the consultation with customers? and stakeholders for the May timetable ended on Friday, so any errors should have been pointed out to ATW for amendment.

My posting about the Barmouth was just how I deduced things how they might turn out going on other info (RTT) available. However, if there was no mention of a maintenance unit being used or reduced carriages on others in the consultation document nobody would have picked up on it.

 

[merlodlliw]

removed to infrastructure & stations

 

[Gareth Marston]

Newtown Station Travel have been able to book reservations onto the extra trains this week.

 

[merlodlliw]

Newtown Station Travel have been able to book reservations onto the extra trains this week.

I hope you got the gold star by being first to book

 

[PHILIPE]

BBC Wales have referred to the additional services starting in May and the creation of 20 additional jobs (Machynlleth & Pwllheli traincrew). Something else, I didn't realise is there are also 2 additionals in each direction on a Sunday. These are:-

10 30 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
14 33 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
16 29 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth
18 28 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth (split from 17 09 Birmingham Intl to
Holyhead)

 

[Gareth Marston]

From http://gov.wales/newsroom/transport/2015/150320midwalestrains/?lang=en

Pats on the back all round.....


New trains provide boost to Mid Wales rail services
Transport Minister Edwina Hart has announced details of the new peak hourly trains between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury and extra services on the Heart of Wales rail lines, during a visit to the newly refurbished Aberystwyth train station.
Friday 20 March 2015
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Transport
20 March 2015
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Programme for Government - Growth
Programme for Government - Rural Communities
Mid Wales
The times for the new services, funded by the Welsh Government, have been published in the Arriva Trains Wales timetable due to start from 17 May 2015.

Four additional return services will operate between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury, Mondays - Saturdays, with hourly services for peak morning and afternoon times, leaving Aberystwyth at 06.30, 08.30, 12.30 and 18.30.

There will also be two new return Sunday services, leaving Aberystwyth at 10.30, 1433 and an improvement to evening services on the Cambrian Coast between Barmouth and Pwllheli (Monday to Saturdays).

On the Heart of Wales line, there will be extra journeys between Llandovery and Gowerton/Swansea and between Llandrindod and Shrewsbury/Crewe offering good morning commuting opportunities on Mondays – Fridays. The new services will create 20 new train crew and depot jobs.

A survey by the Heart of Wales Line Forum found a great demand for new services and the need to adjust timetables to better serve commuters.

The Minister also saw the £3.1m Welsh Government and European-funded refurbishments to Aberystwyth station which included improved access, a new waiting room, canopy and toilets. Network Rail also provided £50,000 towards maintenance work on the station canopy.

Mrs Hart said
These investments demonstrate the Welsh Government’s commitment to investing in public transport, which is a vital way for many people, including some of the most vulnerable in our society, to access jobs and services. The survey by the Heart of Wales Forum clearly demonstrated the benefits to commuters, local businesses, tourism and university students of these additional and improved services.”

Cllr Mansel Williams, Chair of the Aberystwyth – Shrewsbury Railway Liaison Committee and Heart of Wales Line Forum who were responsible for major campaigns over the past two years to secure additional services for both lines said:

“These new services are excellent news for the people of Mid Wales. Both lines provide a vital service for residents, commuters, tourists and students in the area.

“I am delighted the Minister and Arriva Trains have been able to find a way to deliver these additional trains which I am sure will provide a significant boost to the Mid Wales and local economy.

“This is the result of years of discussions that we have had with the Minister which resulted in the committee being tasked with proving the need for a more frequent service. We are delighted that our work has now resulted in developments for this important transport corridor which will mean so much to people, communities, and economy of Mid Wales.

 

[PHILIPE]

Just realised after mention of additional HOWL in the Welsh Government statement, would be additional crews at Carmarthen and Shrewsbury so that should make only 16 traincrew jobs of the 20 mentioned at Machynlleth and Pwllheli

 

[craigybagel]

Not necessarily - the extra crew could be recruited at pretty much any depot, so long as the end result is a Shrewsbury driver, a Shrewsbury or Crewe guard, and a Carmarthen driver and guard are freed up at the end of it to cover the service. There is a lot of shuffling around of diagrams taking place to cover it.

 

[merlodlliw]

BBC Wales have referred to the additional services starting in May and the creation of 20 additional jobs (Machynlleth & Pwllheli traincrew). Something else, I didn't realise is there are also 2 additionals in each direction on a Sunday. These are:-

10 30 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
14 33 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
16 29 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth
18 28 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth (split from 17 09 Birmingham Intl to
Holyhead)

Yes four additional Sunday services are part of the trial from WG funding. I recall a few years ago there were no Sunday rail Services,The only way
from Shrewsbury to Aber was by bus.

 

[berneyarms]

BBC Wales have referred to the additional services starting in May and the creation of 20 additional jobs (Machynlleth & Pwllheli traincrew). Something else, I didn't realise is there are also 2 additionals in each direction on a Sunday. These are:-

10 30 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
14 33 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury
16 29 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth
18 28 Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth (split from 17 09 Birmingham Intl to
Holyhead)

Looking at Realtime trains, the 08:45 Summer only Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth service has been advanced to 08:30 and it would appear that the 11:30 service will also now run during the summer months starting at Birmingham International at 09:51. The 11:30 will join up with a 12:32 Machynlleth-Aberystwth service at Aberystwth and return to Shrewsbury at 13:30.

Previously the 08:45 ran May-September and the 11:30 September-May. It will be interesting to see if they both continue into the winter.

There will be extra short services as follows:
18:30 Aberystwyth to Machynlleth
20:30 Aberystwyth to Machynlleth
14:00 Machynlleth to Aberystwyth

Also the 20:08 Birmingham International-Aberystwyth (21:30 from Shrewsbury) appears to split at Aberystwyth and the sets return separately to Machynlleth at 23:20 and 23:32.

No changes to the Cambrian Coast line timetable - stays at three times each way (for the summer at least).

 

[merlodlliw]

Looking at Realtime trains, the 08:45 Summer only Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth service has been advanced to 08:30 and it would appear that the 11:30 service will also now run during the summer months starting at Birmingham International at 09:51. The 11:30 will join up with a 12:32 Machynlleth-Aberystwth service at Aberystwth and return to Shrewsbury at 13:30.

Previously the 08:45 ran May-September and the 11:30 September-May. It will be interesting to see if they both continue into the winter.

There will be extra short services as follows:
18:30 Aberystwyth to Machynlleth
20:30 Aberystwyth to Machynlleth
14:00 Machynlleth to Aberystwyth

Also the 20:08 Birmingham International-Aberystwyth (21:30 from Shrewsbury) appears to split at Aberystwyth and the sets return separately to Machynlleth at 23:20 and 23:32.

No changes to the Cambrian Coast line timetable - stays at three times each way (for the summer at least).

Nothing in the funding for extra Sunday trains on the coast line in winter,so it would appear its the one up and one down,paid for by Gwynedd CC.
Seems a pity with new ATW staff based at Pwllheli able to run them

 

[Gareth Marston]

Nothing in the funding for extra Sunday trains on the coast line in winter,so it would appear its the one up and one down,paid for by Gwynedd CC.
Seems a pity with new ATW staff based at Pwllheli able to run them

It's a significant and welcome leap forward but were still a number of metaphorical and physical carriages short of a fully modern rail service in Mid Wales.

 

[merlodlliw]

It's a significant and welcome leap forward but were still a number of metaphorical and physical carriages short of a fully modern rail service in Mid Wales.

A leap forward yes,but the rest of it will take years to modernise.

 

[Gareth Marston]

A leap forward yes,but the rest of it will take years to modernise.

There are 20 closed stations between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and nine closed connecting lines/branches off of it. Try getting onward public transport to those places off the Cambrian mainline now............

 

[Llanigraham]

There are 20 closed stations between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth and nine closed connecting lines/branches off of it. Try getting onward public transport to those places off the Cambrian mainline now............

True, Gareth, but would we need the Van or Mawddach branches now?

 

[Gareth Marston]

True, Gareth, but would we need the Van or Mawddach branches now?

Well you cant even get a connecting bus to Trefeglwys or Dinas Mawddwy........even Llanidloes is forbidden in the integrated transport desert of Powys.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

It's a significant and welcome leap forward but were still a number of metaphorical and physical carriages short of a fully modern rail service in Mid Wales.

I remember the dark days of the 1970's when we very nearly lost the Cambrian from a washout at Dovey Jct - Ynyslas and the Barmouth Bridge. In those days it took about 20 staff to run a single train to Salop from Aber - hence no Sunday services - the fleet was poor DMU's (often no heat in winter - I recall scraping ice off the inside of a Park Royal set on the 0520 off Aber and the poor guard used his flags for extra insulation in his freezing brakevan) ....


Maybe not right - but a site better than it was ..the railway has survived and is overall , in much better condition.BR did it's bit - the recycling of track off the ECML upgrade to the Cambrian was deemed good news - (a small start in the way up) -

 

[Llanigraham]

Well you cant even get a connecting bus to Trefeglwys or Dinas Mawddwy........even Llanidloes is forbidden in the integrated transport desert of Powys.

And don't I know it!!