North Wales & Aberystwyth specials

[merlodlliw]

Lots of pics in this weeks http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm

of the many steam specials out last week & Sunday this week, also yellow Cambrian tour traction

Bob

 

[Intermodal]

Great report as usual Bob, I am a regular reader of (your?) this page, and it is always informative and an insightful going on into the railway news of North Wales. I especially like when little bits on the Llangollen Railway (often by George Jones) are featured.

Andrew

 

[merlodlliw]

Great report as usual Bob, I am a regular reader of (your?) this page, and it is always informative and an insightful going on into the railway news of North Wales. I especially like when little bits on the Llangollen Railway (often by George Jones) are featured.

Andrew

Yes Charlie Hume who runs North Wales Rail website, as a hobby, is unmatched in any bother region, we are lucky to have a weekly edition. Experts like George as you mention and others do the items proud, I like the input from real Rail employees, who know what is occurring on the ground floor,not the media hike put out by Seniors at the TOC.

Bob

 

[Gareth Marston]

Can anyone verify the accuracy of this report which has been submitted to our newsletter?

Thanks. Gareth

Cheshire Cat Tours: Aberystwyth to Durham

Based on a news item, and a letter (by Brian Tomlins of Llanon), in the Cambrian News of 1st September.
On the 18th August Cheshire Cat tours ran an excursion from Aberystwyth and Cambrian line stations to Durham. Loading of the train was good: 200 from Aberystwyth and 450 leaving Shrewsbury. The train left Aberystwyth at 0540: it reached Shrewsbury at 0830 - a journey time of 2 hours 50 minutes. It has been reported that one of the two class 97s failed before the climb up Talerddig - leaving the other engine to climb with 12 coaches and the failed engine in tow. As a result the train was one hour late at both York and Durham. However, it had been arranged that the return from Durham would be rescheduled for one hour later. It departed from Durham at 1620, but was subject to delays as a result of being juggled between service trains on the East Coast line to York.
It arrived in Shrewsbury at 2030. Here it was held for 45 minutes while the service train from Aberystwyth arrived, unloaded and reloaded for return to Aberystwyth. It then had to wait until the service train arrived at Newtown. On arrival at Machynlleth it was held further, as the service train had just left, and therefore it would have to wait until it returned. Arrival at Aberystwyth (scheduled at 2315) wasn’t until 0109. During the hour long stop at Machynlleth passengers on the train were denied the use of any toilets, either on the train as it was stopped at a station, or in the station, as they were locked closed.
Both the correspondent, and an un-named passenger, criticised Network Rail for their handling of the schedule, in giving priority to service trains. Brian Tomlins also commented on the performance, or lack of it, of the ERTMS signalling system. In contrast, both were full of praise for the tour company and the crew on the train.
The locos and stock ran to Aberystwyth the previous day, and were stabled overnight in the loop; they also stayed there after returning, leaving on the morning of Friday the 19th.

 

[The Planner]

Both the correspondent, and an un-named passenger, criticised Network Rail for their handling of the schedule, in giving priority to service trains. Brian Tomlins also commented on the performance, or lack of it, of the ERTMS signalling system. In contrast, both were full of praise for the tour company and the crew on the train.

Sorry, but I disagree, the service trains should get priority if the tour was late. Tours have no contractural rights and fit in where they can. Im not sure what the criticism about ERTMS is about, as the same situation of them waiting for the service train would still have occured if it was RETB signalling.

 

[junglejames]

Theres not much more NR could have done here. Everybody knows service trains get priority. However, how long did the ATW service wait in Shrewsbury before heading back to Aberystwyth? Anymore than 10/15mins and you could say the charter could have been let out before. However any less, and its obvious the charter is going to be made to wait until the ATW service has left again.

 

[The Informer]

Can anyone verify the accuracy of this report which has been submitted to our newsletter?

Thanks. Gareth

Cheshire Cat Tours: Aberystwyth to Durham

Based on a news item, and a letter (by Brian Tomlins of Llanon), in the Cambrian News of 1st September.
On the 18th August Cheshire Cat tours ran an excursion from Aberystwyth and Cambrian line stations to Durham. Loading of the train was good: 200 from Aberystwyth and 450 leaving Shrewsbury. The train left Aberystwyth at 0540: it reached Shrewsbury at 0830 - a journey time of 2 hours 50 minutes. It has been reported that one of the two class 97s failed before the climb up Talerddig - leaving the other engine to climb with 12 coaches and the failed engine in tow. As a result the train was one hour late at both York and Durham. However, it had been arranged that the return from Durham would be rescheduled for one hour later. It departed from Durham at 1620, but was subject to delays as a result of being juggled between service trains on the East Coast line to York.
It arrived in Shrewsbury at 2030. Here it was held for 45 minutes while the service train from Aberystwyth arrived, unloaded and reloaded for return to Aberystwyth. It then had to wait until the service train arrived at Newtown. On arrival at Machynlleth it was held further, as the service train had just left, and therefore it would have to wait until it returned. Arrival at Aberystwyth (scheduled at 2315) wasn’t until 0109. During the hour long stop at Machynlleth passengers on the train were denied the use of any toilets, either on the train as it was stopped at a station, or in the station, as they were locked closed.
Both the correspondent, and an un-named passenger, criticised Network Rail for their handling of the schedule, in giving priority to service trains. Brian Tomlins also commented on the performance, or lack of it, of the ERTMS signalling system. In contrast, both were full of praise for the tour company and the crew on the train.
The locos and stock ran to Aberystwyth the previous day, and were stabled overnight in the loop; they also stayed there after returning, leaving on the morning of Friday the 19th.

What's his problem? 19 hours out and about with a 37 (97), some people would pay good money for that!!!!

 

[Gareth Marston]

Thanks for the comments guys - some of it just doesn't ring true such as ATW trains turning around at Shrewsbury - they don't but is the allegation of late running true?

 

[Tracky]

The last train from Aber is booked to arrive at Shrewsbury at 2128 on its way to Birmingham and the last departure to Aberystwyth is booked to depart from Shrewsbury at 2142 having run in from Birmingham.

It looks like the charter arrived at Shrewsbury that little bit late to be allowed onto the single line to cross the Birmingham train at Welshpool and so was held at Shrewsbury for both trains. A not unreasonable move considering passengers may be waiting on cold platforms at dark and lonely unmanned stations for the service trains and there would be connections at Shrewsbury for the Aber-Brum service.

The delay was then extended because the line from Mach to Aber has no passenger loops and so the aber train had to get there and back before the charter could run through.

 

[The Planner]

What about Dovey ?

 

[Tracky]

Is there a loop on the aber side of dovey? Dont know... Not that it would have saved more than a few mins...

 

[tirphil]

Thanks for the comments guys - some of it just doesn't ring true such as ATW trains turning around at Shrewsbury - they don't but is the allegation of late running true?

Correct. The trains almost always do not turn back at Shrewsbury but the driver always does. It is the same driver for both the 2128 arrival and the 2142 departure.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Is there a loop on the aber side of dovey? Dont know... Not that it would have saved more than a few mins...

yes been there rusting for 2 plus years since they reinstalled it. Would have saved c12 mins if used.

 

[merlodlliw]

some more pics of the yellow perils in this weeks .http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htm

Pulling Statesman Rail excursion from Peterborough to Aberystwyth on Saturday 10 September