WSMR to operate as part of Chiltern

[splitfare]

"Rail firm Wrexham & Shropshire has today announced that direct services between Wrexham, Shropshire and London will, from the New Year, be operated by [Chiltern Railways] a company owned by its largest shareholder, DB."

http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/news-item.php?id=75

 

[steve099]

Interesting that Wrexham & Shropshire will retain its own brand identity. I didn't expect that upon clicking the link. And the first statistic I've seen related to passenger numbers: "Market for travel between Wrexham, Shropshire and London [has grown] by 68%".

This will be good; I imagine we may see an increase in carriage lengths and service frequencies on the basis that the service will operate as an express Chiltern service from Leamington Spa and Banbury to London.

 

[paul1609]

I reckon its more likely all but the peak morning service to London and Evening return will be a Chiltern 168 extended to Wrexham or Shrewsbury and the loco stock will either be used on other Chiltern routes or perhaps even a loco hauled service in wales!

 

[Pumbaa]

The phrase I told you so springs to mind.

 

[jonhewes]

I imagine that this takeover has been in the pipeline for quite a while, probably not long after WSMR services started running.

I'd be very surprised if WSMR timetabled chiltern stock into their services. This would not keep or uphold the WSMR brand name.

Additionally, I doubt that the 67s, coaches and DVTs currently in WSMR Livery will be used on Chiltern Services - DB already have an operational Chiltern DVT.

It will be interesting to see nevertheless!

 

[tbtc]

I reckon its more likely all but the peak morning service to London and Evening return will be a Chiltern 168 extended to Wrexham or Shrewsbury and the loco stock will either be used on other Chiltern routes or perhaps even a loco hauled service in wales!

Sounds about right to me; the integration makes a lot of sense, WMSR can have it's loco hauled stock on the busy two journeies, but there's much more potential to slow down some of the other paths by intergrating them with existing Chiltern services

 

[fgwrich]

I imagine that this takeover has been in the pipeline for quite a while, probably not long after WSMR services started running.

I'd be very surprised if WSMR timetabled chiltern stock into their services. This would not keep or uphold the WSMR brand name.

Additionally, I doubt that the 67s, coaches and DVTs currently in WSMR Livery will be used on Chiltern Services - DB already have an operational Chiltern DVT.

It will be interesting to see nevertheless!

Agreed, and afterall, i guess it makes better buisiness sense for DB as they do provide the locos and DVT for the Wrexham services and DB owned Chiltern...

rich

 

[emoaconr]

It does make a lot of sense for this sort of integration. As mentioned, perhaps it'll see an re-introduction of full Marylebone - Wrexham daytime services, which were cut short at Shrewsbury earlier this year, if it made sense to use a 168 unit.

With Chiltern having access to key stations, would they be able to integrate their paths with WSMR and include more stops? Or is that an unlikely option seeing as its an Intercity service anyway?

 

[Proud Salopian]

Oh this is so sound - Shrewsbury now to be on the Chiltern network! 8)

Now all we need is for the network to extend workings up the SVR to Bridgnorth! (Don't rule it out...)

 

[tbtc]

With Chiltern having access to key stations, would they be able to integrate their paths with WSMR and include more stops? Or is that an unlikely option seeing as its an Intercity service anyway?

In the way that the Regulator were proposing one hourly path from Kings Cross to Doncaster to be shared between Hull Trains and Grand Central, maybe Chiltern could have an hourly path from Marylebone to Warwick which either runs to Stratford or Shrewsbury/ Wrexham (depending on the hour) - the passengers from Leamington/ Wycombe etc could be enough to make additional (or reinstated) WMSR paths profitable, as would the cheaper costs of just running a DMU off peak.

In fact, this could be a spoiler to stop ATW :roll:

 

[tsubaki]

Given that DB already owned a lot of WSMR anyway, is this that much of a change?

 

[Waddon]

I reckon its more likely all but the peak morning service to London and Evening return will be a Chiltern 168 extended to Wrexham or Shrewsbury

I wouldn't mind this, as long as they could somehow stick a MK 3 buffet car into the middle of the 168 set!

 

[williamn]

I'm not convinced by these 168 rumours. To introduce them would undermine Wrexham and Shropshires 'offering'. These currently places emphasis on high quality travel environment, buffet service, full catering in first. It makes sense to trade on these qualities as clearly they can't compete on speed.

Introducing some services operated by 168 would undermine this, and make it much harder to articulate to the public why they should travel by WSMR, and therefore make it harder to successfully market the service.

However I guess there is scope for peak loco hauled services to now operate under the WSMR banner, with less busy ones operated by Chiltern on a 168. Have to say though that such a long journey on a 168 isn't very appealing.

 

[First class]

Hopefully this now means that there is FULL PRIV provision for these services.

 

[Royston Vasey]

Ah, so this explains why WSMR only painted their Mk3s in that boring plain white undercoat! Chiltern livery is gonna go on top!

 

[jopsuk]

other than the rake they had painted in full WSMR grey/silver (to match the DVTs and locos)?

 

[Royston Vasey]

other than the rake they had painted in full WSMR grey/silver (to match the DVTs and locos)?

That's the rake I'm facetiously referring to!

 

[merlodlliw]

We were party to this news on Monday 21st Sept,after W/S staff had been briefed, its all good news for W/S staff/commuters in Wrexham & Salop. And puts paid to the profits of doom.

 

[tbtc]

its all good news for W/S staff/commuters in Wrexham & Salop

...and any local 168 enthuisiasts

 

[bengley]

I'm not convinced by these 168 rumours. To introduce them would undermine Wrexham and Shropshires 'offering'. These currently places emphasis on high quality travel environment, buffet service, full catering in first. It makes sense to trade on these qualities as clearly they can't compete on speed.

Introducing some services operated by 168 would undermine this, and make it much harder to articulate to the public why they should travel by WSMR, and therefore make it harder to successfully market the service.

However I guess there is scope for peak loco hauled services to now operate under the WSMR banner, with less busy ones operated by Chiltern on a 168. Have to say though that such a long journey on a 168 isn't very appealing.

168s are very comfortable.

 

[Proud Salopian]

...and any local 168 enthuisiasts

All 0 of them.

Keep the mark 3s and class 67s!!

 

[2030720310]

I prefer loco-hauled but I have 2 say I honestly believe the 168s are the most comfortable units on the network at the moment.

 

[yorkie]

Hopefully this now means that there is FULL PRIV provision for these services.

Has anyone been denied the use of PRIV facilities on WSMR though? Although they are not obliged to accept them, they do accept them. Many people can verify this.

 

[glynn80]

Has anyone been denied the use of PRIV facilities on WSMR though? Although they are not obliged to accept them, they do accept them. Many people can verify this.

Privilege facilities on WSMR are officially accepted, this has been confirmed by WSMR in various places, most notably in an edition of Railnews.

 

[First class]

Not been refused- however, being able to get a PRIV discount on the £53 SOR, as opposed to the Any Permitted £201 one is quite some difference!

£13.25 Priv WSMR Only
£50.25 Any Permitted

 

[thefab444]

I hope Merlodywoo hasn't got his knickers in a twist.

Seeing as they are "becoming" part of Chiltern, what's the chance they pull out of Wrexham? :P