THE NORTH WALES COAST RAILWAY NOTICE BOARD

Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru Bwrdd hysbyseb

This site is dedicated to all our regular contributors and supporters, and especially the rail staff of North Wales.

Edition of 09 August 2003

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Wrong sort of everything

Being a hot summer Saturday on 9 August (so hot that your compiler stayed at home, wisely as it turned out)  trains were 'absolutely packed' going down the Coast, but the Class 175s decided not to play ball. The failures started at 06:00 at Chester, with the 06:40 to Crewe cancelled and the return train to Llandudno starting at Chester 30 minutes late.

However, First North Western realised for once (how many times have we suggested this?) that they have four spare coaches at Holyhead every Saturday, and 1G95 06:45 Holyhead - Birmingham ran with 47 732 Restormel and eight coaches, double the booked amount.  Unfortunately, all this came to nothing when Virgin 1D87 07:45 Euston-Holyhead, with 47 782, only got as far as Prestatyn (due 11:30) where it failed with a brake fault. Prestatyn on an August Saturday is not the best place to leave a train ... soon stuck behind it were a Llandudno (175/0), a Holyhead (158+156), an empty stock to Llandudno Junction for the Blaenau (150 134), and 47 732 on the 10:21 Birmingham - Holyhead, whilst held at Chester were the 11:17 Manchester - Llandudno and the 12:30 Crewe - Holyhead.

The Virgin train was cancelled at Prestatyn, with all 200+ passengers turfed off, and ran empty at 5mph to Rhyl where it would have been put in the loop.  The loco sent to get 47 782 and its stock was also a first for the Coast, 57 311 Parker, which passed Chester at 13:50 to join the queue! Dave Bramley's pictures show the offending loco and train being dragged back empty through Chester by 57 311 heading for Crewe in the afternoon. Notice that the Class 47 has been run round to the east end of the train at some stage. Incidentally (not that it would have made much difference), for the second week we have to ask why Virgin is hiring Class 47s from EWS rather than using its own locos for this important train, especially when it has given up some perfectly good locos to Freightliner? Presumably to save the trouble of getting a loco to Crewe.

The afternoon Holyhead - London was, of course cancelled and disruptions echoed through the day. The National Rail website appears never to have been told about any of this fiasco, although it did faithfully record the hot air balloon which landed on the Severn Beach branch earlier in the morning and stopped a couple of trains... elsewhere the 17.50 London Euston to Birmingham failed at Kings Langley blocking the line out of London and causing a 134 minute delay, and the Bolton - Southport and Wigan - Kirkby services had to be given up altogether and replaced by buses. We can only sympathise with all the passengers who were treated in this way on a boiling hot day, and with the station and train staff who we are certain will have had to deal with both irate and unwell passengers while not feeling too well themselves. It really does seem that our railway system is in the throes of sinking will all hands while the Strategic Rail Authority re-arranges the deck chairs. - 9 August

37 798 on 6F59 from Arpley to Dee Marsh passing Hawarden Bridge on 6 August. (Tim E. Rogers)

Gala at Rhyl

Why not go along to the Rhyl Miniature Railway's Gala Weekend on 9-10 August, which features visiting steam locos, refreshments, and various attarctions on the marine lake?  Not to mention the George Formby Society! The railway does not run on many Saturdays, so this a good chance for visitors who find Sunday travel difficult.  The RSR is af course alongside the Coast line, to reach it on foot go down from Rhyl station to the sea front and turn left. - 8 August

47 760 Ribblehead Viaduct basks in the sun at Holyhead, 4 August (John Lewis)

Pathfinder Tours announce that their charter train to North Wales which was advertised to run on Saturday 9 August has been cancelled due to a low number of bookings. 'It is hoped to run a similar itinerary in the period April to June 2004' says their website. The class 50-hauled excursion from Reading to Shrewsbury and Chester with Llangollen option, planned for 16 August, is still available.

We have heard that that Wales and Borders will be again be running a loco-hauled train to Aberystwyth in conjuction with another one of those Jewish conferences. The outward working is 11 August, departing Wolverhamton 15.13 with no booked stops to Aberystwyth. The return run is on Monday 17 August - no times yet. Traction will be Class 37/0, and as we understand it the train will be available to ordinary ticket holders. Note: Other sources tell us this train is not running - clatrification welcome!

Here's a statement from the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) regarding the forthcoming opening of the Rhyd Ddu extension to public traffic: 'With all this in mind, a completion programme has been compiled for the work and statutory approvals process. Assuming the Railway Inspectorate are able to complete their evaluation of the Railway and satisfactorily conclude the approvals process within the proposed time frame, we will open the extension to Rhyd Ddu to the public on Monday 18 August. That is about a week after we had hoped, but we believe opening can realistically be achieved by that date.' There's an interesting unofficial website called www.bargepower.co.uk covering this railway.

Thanks to David White, George Jones and John Savage for this info.. - 5 August

47 357 is seen dropping ballast at Penyclip viaduct, west of Penmaenmawr on the 3rd May 1992. Much more at www.penmorfa.com. - 5 August

47 782 calls at Bangor with the 07:45 London - Holyhead on 2 August. Why has Freightliner got some of Virgin 47s  if Virgin then has to hire locos from EWS?

 47 839 departs from Bangor with the 10:21 Birmingham - Holyhead on 2 August. - 5 August

Here's some spin on the franchise news from the Daily Post of 2 August, an article written by Eryl Crump:

'Train operator Arriva is set to take over most rail services in Wales. The SRA named the company as the preferred bidder for the new service. Company bosses immediately promised new trains, more services and a new ticketing system. Arriva chief executive Bob Davies said: "We are very pleased with the announcement and look forward to working with the Welsh Assembly, the SRA and other stake holders to deliver high quality rail services for Wales and the border counties."

'The long awaited announcement was also welcomed by rail watchdogs. Clive Williams of the Rail Passengers Committee for Wales said: "There is a vast untapped customer base out there ready, willing and an able to use the trains. But poor punctuality, below standard stations, overcrowding, inadequate rolling stock and many other problems deter these passengers from getting on the train. Much has already been done but this new franchise should provide sufficient impetus for long term investment in creating a better service."

.Arriva, which will be responsible for operating all local and regional trains services in Wales, could take over the 15 year franchise by the end of the year from current operators Wales & Borders Trains and First North Western. Inter-city services to London from North Wales, currently operated by Virgin, are not affected by the new franchise. Mr Williams said the RPC would be watching the new franchise holder to see what improvements were being made to stations in Wales. Anglesey MP Albert Owen also called on the new train operator to upgrade basic station facilities as a top priority. He said: "There have been little real investment in North Wales stations in recent years, with basic amenities such as information areas, modern toilets and wash areas being allowed to deteriorate."

.SRA Chairman Richard Bowker said: "The specification of the new franchise has been designed to encourage more people to use rail and places a strong emphasis on local accountability and management." Arriva saw off competition from National Express, Serco/NS and GB Railways. Under the new franchise Arriva will introduce 7 new trains from Dec 2004 to replace loco hauled rolling stock. It will also bring in integrated train/bus tickets for through services. Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said: "This is good news for railways in Wales as a single operating company will be able to pursue a much more integrated approach to planning our rail transport system."

.Welsh Assembly Transport Minister Andrew Davies said: "We have been working very closely with the SRA and the 15 year franchise comes with the promise that existing services will be maintained and provision for the service enhancements." Arriva plc is one of the UK's largest bus operators running a fleet of 6000 buses throughout the UK as well as an urban and inter-city rail network across the north of England. It operates around 1400 trains each day employing 30,000 staff and managing nearly 250 stations. It currently has the Arriva Trains Northern rail franchise but will hand over the route to FirstGroup shortly having lost out in another bidding round. Arriva also recently lost the Merseyrail franchise.'

Thanks to George Jones for help with this item. - 5 August

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