Keolis/Amey to take over Wales and Borders

[anamyd]

Yes, you're right, I think anamyd was. Me, I was too busy being pleased with myself because I'd realised that you can just make out an Arriva logo at the top of the sign and then noticed the incorrectly altered bit at the bottom.

Well here at Aberystwyth the TfW logo has been applied to the station name signs so badly that it almost says "Transport for Wales - a DB company"

 

[atraindriver]

Well here at Aberystwyth the TfW logo has been applied to the station name signs so badly that it almost says "Transport for Wales - a DB company"

Perhaps they know something we don't?

 

[sw1ller]

Exactly Although GWR is still First really. I'm surprised there are still traces of FGW branding in more places than I'd expect by now, unless they're "expecting" their franchise to be extended...

Speaking of remnants of First.... I noticed 175107 has the purple trim still on the inside. Is this the only train in the uk riding round with 3 different companies colour schemes still showing??

(175107 is the new liveried train, just in case there’s still someone on here that hasn’t seen a pic of it yet)

 

[berneyarms]

http://tfw.gov.wales/news-events/ne...ales-almost-here-what-does-it-mean-passengers



Has anyone seen this "railmap"? It's apparently been published, but where?
Maybe this press release is a bit premature and this "railmap" will be on the new website next week.

I suspect it’s the pdf document linked to on this page....

http://tfw.gov.wales/whats-happening-timeline

 

[6Gtraincrew]

I suspect it’s the pdf document linked to on this page....

http://tfw.gov.wales/whats-happening-timeline

Nope, there is another one which I've seen pictures of in an article but the resolution is so low you can't read the text.

 

[Cardiff123]

View attachment 53624 View attachment 53625

Nope, there is another one which I've seen pictures of in an article but the resolution is so low you can't read the text.

The text and resolution of those pictures isn't any better. Where are those pictures from?

This document was in a news article just after the full details of Keolis Amey's plans were announced.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

They were in an article on thewave website. Don't know if we're allowed to link to other websites, so I won't.

I just posted the pictures to show people what it looks like. I know it can't be read.

 

[krus_aragon]

Using my x-ray vision, and flicking from the Welsh to the English to double-check, those images read:
2018
Brand launch
Stations deep clean and refurbishment of trains begins
2019
More capacity on Valley lines through the introduction of additional refurbished trains
Smart ticketing and Delay Repay 15 launched
No more "Pacers" in Wales
2020
New ticket initiatives with better fares for 16-18 year olds
2021
Brand new trains on the Cambrian, Marches and North Wales lines and the West Midlands Corridor
Wrexham to Bidston service doubled by 2022
2022
4 trains an hour to the heads of the Valleys and improvements across Wales, as part of (...?)
(...?) service between Manchester Airport and Bangor by 2023
2023
Brand new trains between Penarth and Rhymney
2024
New stations at Cardiff Bay and Loudoun Square
Introduction of a new first clas service from Swansea to Manchester (...?)
2025

 

[Gareth Marston]

This might be a bit clearer but TfW are only giving year of introduction not month!

 

[pdeaves]

This might be a bit clearer but TfW are only giving year of introduction not month!

I note from the image, on the bottom line it says "new station at the Flourish and Loudoun Square". Is this intended to be one station with a 'double barrelled' name, or is it two sites? Where is it/are they, please?

 

[CapitalStar378]

Loudon Square station will be halfway down Bute Street, The Flourish will be opposite the Wales Millennium Centre in the bay. I'm assuming that the present Cardiff Bay station will close.

 

[krus_aragon]

I note from the image, on the bottom line it says "new station at the Flourish and Loudoun Square". Is this intended to be one station with a 'double barrelled' name, or is it two sites? Where is it/are they, please?

The Flourish is the new terminal at the Bay, replacing the current Cardiff Bay station. Loudoun square is to be anew station roughly half way between Queen St and Cardif Bay.

 

[CardiffKid]

Loudon Square station will be halfway down Bute Street, The Flourish will be opposite the Wales Millennium Centre in the bay. I'm assuming that the present Cardiff Bay station will close.

Correct. There'll be two stations south of Queen Street on that line.

It has been noted though that no one knows where/what "The Flourish" is and it's been suggested that it could be called Cardiff Bay

 

[pdeaves]

Loudon Square station will be halfway down Bute Street, The Flourish will be opposite the Wales Millennium Centre in the bay. I'm assuming that the present Cardiff Bay station will close.

Thanks (and to the others that responded).

 

[PR1Berske]

Correct. There'll be two stations south of Queen Street on that line.

It has been noted though that no one knows where/what "The Flourish" is and it's been suggested that it could be called Cardiff Bay

I have wondered from the moment it was announced where the heck, what the heck, or why the heck "The Flourish" was so I'm glad in a way to see that it's a marketing invention!

 

[geoffk]

A bit surprised that the two ATW services wholly in England, Crewe - Chester and Crewe - Shrewsbury stoppers, were not transferred to an "English" TOC (Northern and WMT respectively). This might improve the chances of getting a station at, say, Beeston Castle & Tarporley. Is the management of Chester station moving to Northern?

 

[krus_aragon]

I have wondered from the moment it was announced where the heck, what the heck, or why the heck "The Flourish" was so I'm glad in a way to see that it's a marketing invention!

The flourish is the name of the road junction at the bottom of Lloyd George Avenue (next to the Milllennium Centre), so blame the (now departed) Cardiff Bay Development Corporation for the name. :/

 

[CardiffKid]

I have wondered from the moment it was announced where the heck, what the heck, or why the heck "The Flourish" was

The Flourish is the name given to the "roundabout" / junction at the bottom of Lloyd George Avenue, just north of the WMC. No idea where the name came from.

The original Metro maps from c2013/2014 showed a potential station called WMC with an extension further south to the BBC Drama Village.

 

[PR1Berske]

The flourish is the name of the road junction at the bottom of Lloyd George Avenue (next to the Milllennium Centre), so blame the (now departed) Cardiff Bay Development Corporation for the name. :/

I await the new signs showing both "Flourish" and "Ffynnu", if my quick Google translate search is accurate :P :P

 

[berneyarms]

This might be a bit clearer but TfW are only giving year of introduction not month!

Quoting months is never wise as slippage can and usually does occur with anything involving public funds - while its vague, leaving targets as years is probably better in the long run.

 

[craigybagel]

A bit surprised that the two ATW services wholly in England, Crewe - Chester and Crewe - Shrewsbury stoppers, were not transferred to an "English" TOC (Northern and WMT respectively). This might improve the chances of getting a station at, say, Beeston Castle & Tarporley. Is the management of Chester station moving to Northern?

It would, as I've pointed out numerous times, cost a fair bit of money, be very awkward to implement, and achieve precisely nothing.

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

What are the chances of Bangor to Manchester Airport direct service by 2022?

Introducing a new 1tph service from Chester to Liverpool Lime Street in May 2019.

Am I the only who thinks it odd for TfW to operate this route.

http://tfw.gov.wales/whats-happening-north-wales

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

No not really as eventually the Liverpool trains will start at Llandudno.

 

[driver_m]

A bit surprised that the two ATW services wholly in England, Crewe - Chester and Crewe - Shrewsbury stoppers, were not transferred to an "English" TOC (Northern and WMT respectively). This might improve the chances of getting a station at, say, Beeston Castle & Tarporley. Is the management of Chester station moving to Northern?

Not odd at all. The work is intertwined with the pure Welsh and cross-border services ran out of Chester depot. Yeah, it could be done, but there's no practical reason to radically alter it. The drivers and guards would still have to sign Crewe and the WCML, the stock still needs that route for booked jobs, diversions etc. So it politically doesn't fit perfectly, but operationally, it's the best way .

 

[craigybagel]

Not odd at all. The work is intertwined with the pure Welsh and cross-border services ran out of Chester depot. Yeah, it could be done, but there's no practical reason to radically alter it. The drivers and guards would still have to sign Crewe and the WCML, the stock still needs that route for booked jobs, diversions etc. So it politically doesn't fit perfectly, but operationally, it's the best way .

5 drivers depots and 6 guards depots for Crewe to Chester, and 4 and 3 respectively for Crewe to Shrewsbury - and in all cases it's just a very efficient use of a part of their day between other duties. And yet people think it makes sense to transfer to TOCs who have no route knowledge of the lines whatsoever - and would have no need of it other then to work these services. And for one of the TOCs suggested, they don't even have a depot within 25 miles!

 

[All Line Rover]

It would, as I've pointed out numerous times, ...achieve precisely nothing.

If the Crewe to Shrewsbury stoppers were managed by an 'English' TOC, they would not have been merged with HOW services south of Shrewsbury, benefiting a handful of passengers (at best) wanting direct services from HOW stations to Crewe, while substantially decreasing reliability and breaking connections at Crewe for the commuters who are the primary users of these stoppers.

 

[craigybagel]

If the Crewe to Shrewsbury stoppers were managed by an 'English' TOC, they would not have been merged with HOW services south of Shrewsbury, benefiting a handful of passengers (at best) wanting direct services from HOW stations to Crewe, while substantially decreasing reliability and breaking connections at Crewe for the commuters who are the primary users of these stoppers.

It's very rare for issues on the HOWL to have a knock on effect with the local - they'll usually turn services around at Shrewsbury instead to mitigate that fact. The extension to Crewe has proved surprisingly popular (people are using it to access London) and the plan seems to be to maintain it Indy the new franchise and the arrival of the 170s in a few years.

In return, if you gave the service to West Midlands, as seems to be the most likely English alternative, you'd likely have much bigger problems during disruption or cancellations. At present, if there are any issues with the local, the next express service picks up the local stops with no quibble. Are TfW really going to extend that courtesy, and mess around with their own timetabling to cope with another TOCs problems?

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

No not really as eventually the Liverpool trains will start at Llandudno.

That makes more sense.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The other irony is that the class 175 rebranding into Transport for Wales colours was done at Chester depot!

 

[krus_aragon]

Maybe we can have a dedicated livery for the cross-border fleet, reading: Transport to/from Wales