Trains are making our lives hell(Wrexham Residents)

[185]

Trees are the answer. They may be nature's answer to causing braking hell in autumn for drivers, but are also an excellent noise and sight barrier.

Virgin should not be allowed to pull the plug on this service after slaughtering the competition.

 

[All Line Rover]

The same for me with people who complain about train horns. The horns are sounded for a reason. We don't just do it because they sound fun :roll:

I've often seen Virgin drivers sound their horn to people waving on the platform, or to fellow Virgin drivers. Perhaps even XC drivers?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Virgin should not be allowed to pull the plug on this service after slaughtering the competition.

They are allowed to plug on this service whenever they like, and in my opinion they should end the service. It is heavily underused - the rolling stock would be much more useful elsewhere.

I really don't think WSMR failed because of the "direct" Virgin service, that hangs around at Chester for 20 minutes or so - longer than if you change trains! :roll:

 

[Minilad]

I've often seen Virgin drivers sound their horn to people waving on the platform, or to fellow Virgin drivers. Perhaps even XC drivers?

Then maybe you should send in a strongly worded letter of complaint reporting the driver for inappropriate use of the warning horn

 

[MidnightFlyer]

“Sometimes I feel like going out to the train drivers and telling them to move but you never see anyone.

It really annoys me when I see comments like this.

 

[All Line Rover]

Then maybe you should send in a strongly worded letter of complaint reporting the driver for inappropriate use of the warning horn

Erm... no. And when did I say that my letters of complaint were "strongly worded?"

 

[Minilad]

Erm... no. And when did I say that my letters of complaint were "strongly worded?"

My artistic licence for added effect. I am training to become a Daily Mail Journalist

 

[headshot119]

Snip

I really don't think WSMR failed because of the "direct" Virgin service, that hangs around at Chester for 20 minutes or so - longer than if you change trains! :roll:

It's no faster if you change trains at all.

You leave Wrexham General at 07:00 arrive Chester 07:16. Then depart Chester at 07:35.

Explain to me please how that's different to leaving Wrexham at 08:00 and changing at Chester onto the 08:35 From Chester to Euston?

 

[All Line Rover]

It's no faster if you change trains at all.

You leave Wrexham General at 07:00 arrive Chester 07:16. Then depart Chester at 07:35.

Explain to me please how that's different to leaving Wrexham at 08:00 and changing at Chester onto the 08:35 From Chester to Euston?

Option 1:

• Wrexham [07:00] to Chester [07:16] - WAIT 19 MINUTES - Chester [07:35] to London [09:38]
• Total journey time: 2h 38m

Option 2:

• Wrexham [08:02] to Chester [08:19]
• Chester [08:35] to London [10:38]
• Total journey time: 2h 36m (less)

Option 3:

• Wrexham [09:00] to Chester [09:17]
• Chester [09:35] to London [11:38]
• Total journey time: 2h 38m (same)

The same pattern continues throughout the day, with the majority of journeys being 2h 36m. Since it takes the same time or less to change trains at Chester (a very simply feat), what is the need for a direct service, which normally carts around fresh air? :roll:

(On the return journey, the 18:10 direct train takes 2h 28m, whereas the 17:10 takes 2h 24m and the 19:10 takes 2h 27m. All the benefits of having a direct service are clearly evident there! :roll

 

[90019]

Trees are the answer. They may be nature's answer to causing braking hell in autumn for drivers, but are also an excellent noise and sight barrier.

Despite what most people think, trees are actually a pretty crap sound barrier.

 

[headshot119]

(On the return journey, the 18:10 direct train takes 2h 28m, whereas the 17:10 takes 2h 24m and the 19:10 takes 2h 27m. All the benefits of having a direct service are clearly evident there! :roll

The return service is always going to take longer to factor in the split at Chester.

Have you ever traveled on 1D25/1R24. Although it may take around thirty passengers onwards from Wrexham, both sets are extremely busy past Crewe.

As a resident of Wrexham I'd much rather retain the direct services than lose it, even if it does take the same time as changing at Chester, though saves me the inconvenience of lugging my luggage from platform 2 or 3 to platform 4.

You can also say that not many people use the Holyhead portion until Chester.

 

[All Line Rover]

The return service is always going to take longer to factor in the split at Chester.

Have you ever traveled on 1D25/1R24. Although it may take around thirty passengers onwards from Wrexham, both sets are extremely busy past Crewe.

As a resident of Wrexham I'd much rather retain the direct services than lose it, even if it does take the same time as changing at Chester, though saves me the inconvenience of lugging my luggage from platform 2 or 3 to platform 4.

You can also say that not many people use the Holyhead portion until Chester.

Having travelled on the 18:10 many, many times, the Holyhead portion has always been much busier than the Wrexham portion. Just one set would be enough for all passengers between London and Crewe/Chester.

Some other, "single-set" services are much busier, such as the [09:35] from Chester to London. Don't be surprised if Virgin pull the plug on the Wrexham service - I certainly won't be.

 

[headshot119]

Having travelled on the 18:10 many, many times, the Holyhead portion has always been much busier than the Wrexham portion. Just one set would be enough for all passengers between London and Crewe/Chester.

Some other, "single-set" services are much busier, such as the [09:35] from Chester to London. Don't be surprised if Virgin pull the plug on the Wrexham service - I certainly won't be.

Quiet till Chester when it packs out bringing people to Wrexham :roll:

 

[rich.davies]

Wouldnt it be better for virgin to wait a platform 3 at general? Its about the same length.

 

[headshot119]

You can't access the single line to Chester from any platform other than platform 2 at Wrexham General.

Platform 3 and 4 head out towards Bidston, and there is no signal to allow a Chester bound departure from Platform 1.

As well as that the 06:31 to Bidston departs from platform 3.

 

[Pumbaa]

Having travelled on the 18:10 many, many times, the Holyhead portion has always been much busier than the Wrexham portion. Just one set would be enough for all passengers between London and Crewe/Chester.

I have also travelled on the 1810 'many many times' and I completely disagree with everything you've written.

 

[headshot119]

I have also travelled on the 1810 'many many times' and I completely disagree with everything you've written.

I'm glad I'm not the only one.

 

[All Line Rover]

I have also travelled on the 1810 'many many times' and I completely disagree with everything you've written.

What do you consider to be "busy?"

Packed to the rafters, no seats available, Standard AND First Class overflowing, and so busy after Milton Keynes that people cannot physically board the train? The 09:35 is like that. The 18:10 is nowhere near like that. The Wrexham bound part of the 18:10 has had only 1-3 people in First Class every time I've travelled on it. The 09:35 has in excess of 80 people in First Class every time I travel on it (after Milton Keynes, although it is still very busy before that).

 

[headshot119]

And what would the 07:35 of off Chester be like if it wasn't formed of two sets?

 

[Barrett M95]

There are lots of places we used to have to sound the horn that have now been removed from the rule book. Tunnels is one.

That one is still in the TGV/High speed line rule book. There used to be one for use of horn as you passed a train on LGV, but that was removed a few years back. Many SNCF drivers still do it though. Old habits I guess...

 

[All Line Rover]

And what would the 07:35 of off Chester be like if it wasn't formed of two sets?

If it was formed of just one set, it would be busy, but there would still be more seats than people. (At least it isn't the first Chester to London service.) You can't expect a peak train to be at 50% capacity, just so that everyone in Standard Class can get two seats to themselves!

The [09:35] is the first Off-Peak train for Wrexham, Chester, Crewe AND Liverpool and Runcorn. It's no wonder it's always so packed!

 

[headshot119]

If it was formed of just one set, it would be busy, but there would still be more seats than people. (At least it isn't the first Chester to London service.) You can't expect a peak train to be at 50% capacity, just so that everyone in Standard Class can get two seats to themselves!

The [09:35] is the first Off-Peak train for Wrexham, Chester, Crewe AND Liverpool and Runcorn. It's no wonder it's always so packed!

I don't think everyone in standard would have two seats to themselves if they reduced it to a 5 car set on the 07:35. However I believe it's acceptable for someone in first class to ask members of staff to move so they can have a table of four to themselves?

And I believe the 09:33 of off Crewe is an Off peak train, so the 09:35 isn't the first off peak train from Crewe.

 

[All Line Rover]

I don't think everyone in standard would have two seats to themselves if they reduced it to a 5 car set on the 07:35. However I believe it's acceptable for someone in first class to ask members of staff to move so they can have a table of four to themselves?

And I believe the 09:33 of off Crewe is an Off peak train, so the 09:35 isn't the first off peak train from Crewe.

On a Pendolino - which has 145 First Class seats - I believe it is acceptable for a First Class ticket holder to expect a table of four to themselves in an empty carriage. However I don't see the relevance to this particular thread, so I will not discuss that matter any further. I don't expect a table of four to myself when travelling on a Super Voyager, which has just 26 First Class seats.

The [09:33] from Crewe is a London Midland train. The first "Off-Peak" London Midland train is the [07:33] from Crewe, which shows just how slow they are!

The first Off-Peak VT train used to be the [09:29], but this was changed in 2009/2010 to the [09:56] ([09:35] from Chester). A clever move there from Virgin to shove all of the Off-Peak ticket holders from Crewe onto a Super Voyager instead of a Pendolino! :roll:

 

[schwa]

Even for the seasoned rail enthusiast, I'm sure the idling sound of a Voyager outside your window every morning would soon become annoying.

It's a shame the said Voyager isn't rake of MK2 coaches with those IC seats everyone gets moist over. Can of worms officially opened.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

And what would the 07:35 of off Chester be like if it wasn't formed of two sets?

I caught the 0735 today as it happens.
The psychology of boarding is interesting.
The Wrexham portion arrives first, with a decent load (though most get off), and the early Crewe/Euston passengers pile on.
A bit later the busier Holyhead portion turns up, but does not collect many new passengers because most of them have already got on the "Wrexham" unit.
There's an exodus at Crewe, but replaced by more suits and laptops to make a busy train. Both units packed out from Rugby.

On the Voyagers idling at Watery Lane, don't the DB coal trains for Penyffordd run round in this siding? And the local ATW Bidston units starting from Chester?

Maybe the redoubling project will put in a northbound starter signal on P1 at Wrexham General to avoid run-rounds, or maybe a connection from P3 to/from Chester.
Considering it's been updated several times, the layout at Wrexham is still very restricted.
Even trains parked in the new bays have to reverse in Watery Lane to reach P2/3 and vv.

 

[Drsatan]

Couldn't a shore supply be provided at the sidings in question so that heating can be provided to Voyagers without having to keep the engine running? I've read somewhere that at New North Road sidings near Exeter St Davids there are several power points to allow heating and auxillary power to be provided for 159s and HSTs stabled there without having to keep their respective engines ticking over.

Some people unfortunately have the idea that if they live next door to a railway line they won't hear too much noise. In 2003 when the Romsey to Eastleigh line was reopened to passenger trains a few irate locals wrote to the Romsey Advertiser complaining that the Turbostars SWT were using made too much noise, ignoring of course, the noise produced by other trains on the route, and that passenger trains used the line until 1969.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Yes I know its the old problem, a townie moving to the Country complains about the cock crowing, and did you not know there was a railway line a few feet away when you bought the house.

There's a lot of that attitude about, and Environmental Health Officers recognise that syndrome very quickly.
There's one sleepy country town I work where the very professional Resident's Association are very good at complaining ('cos they're not really country people but townies who've heard about country life on the Archers).
What they don't realise is that back n those dreamy sunny years before they arrived, the town centre was hammering with steam mills, foundrys, two railway lines and the A1 road right through the middle. Its quiter now that ever it was!
Still, its good fun complaining in Council Meetings to your Councillor-neighbour, isn't it?

They'll get used to it.

 

[All Line Rover]

There's an exodus at Crewe, but replaced by more suits and laptops to make a busy train. Both units packed out from Rugby.

The Rugby problem could be easily solved by stopping one or two extra trains at Rugby on the EBW route. With 3tph (all Pendolino's, I must add!), there is plenty of spare capacity compared to the London to Chester/North Wales route.

 

[bengolding]

Having travelled on the 18:10 many, many times, the Holyhead portion has always been much busier than the Wrexham portion. Just one set would be enough for all passengers between London and Crewe/Chester

You're talking complete rubbish! I used the 18:10 twice last week and I found that both sets were very busy on departure from Euston with many getting on at MKC. And yes, I travelled First Class in the rear train with only a handful of vacant seats after MKC. A double set is definitely needed to cater for the large daily commuter flow direct to Nuneaton.

Perhaps you only use the service from Crewe when it quietens down. I noticed at Coventry that the 11:51 Euston was a double Voyager, where a single Voyager is wholly sufficient. And for your info, All Line Rover, one First Class carriage was devoid of any passengers.

 

[merlodlliw]

Chaps. I put the story up for your interest, not sure if the VT arrives at 0645,or if there is a path at that time from Chester, anyhow I know it used to arrive at around 0530 or so, it did idle for a long time & got peoples backs up, that said the VT does have 5 engines running, as for smell, last week the temp in Wrexham was over 22c at dawn, no wind and as diesel fume is heavier than air, the fume drifts, not always in a straight up to heaven , Im also not aware the voyagers have carbon catchers, and yes the local rag will exaggerate, that said, will anyone in the trade answer what will happen to the two franchise routes VT took over from ATW, if VT move out.

Down 150 from Shrewsbury ex 0610 to Wrexham,arrives platform 3 0649 then works 0710 General to Central thence 0728 to Bidston

Up 150 comes off last hourly service from Bidston, parks up in Bay for an hour or so, engines running, then moves to platform 3 for connection to Shrewsbury for passengers off the VT from Euston.

Will ATW want to take them back & have they got the stock, bit of a stumbling block for VT who only arrived in Wrexham due to W/S.

Bob

 

[All Line Rover]

You're talking complete rubbish! I used the 18:10 twice last week and I found that both sets were very busy on departure from Euston with many getting on at MKC. And yes, I travelled First Class in the rear train with only a handful of vacant seats after MKC. A double set is definitely needed to cater for the large daily commuter flow direct to Nuneaton.

Perhaps you only use the service from Crewe when it quietens down. I noticed at Coventry that the 11:51 Euston was a double Voyager, where a single Voyager is wholly sufficient. And for your info, All Line Rover, one First Class carriage was devoid of any passengers.

No, I only travel on it between Euston and Crewe. A number of times Virgin have been short of a First Class host, so all of the First Class passengers move into one train. Each and every time there have still been plenty of seats available.

I only consider a train to be "packed" once every last seat is taken, and from my experience, a number of other services have a far better case for being "doubled-up."

If the Milton Keynes and Nuneaton passengers are causing capacity issues, Virgin should add a few extra stops to the London to Manchester services instead (like the 19.40).