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Archive: 15 December 2008
Y Gerallt Gymro - a traveller's tale by Eryl Crump
[Eryl Crump, Daily Post
reporter and supporter of our website, was an invited guest on the
first run of the new Holyhead - Cardiff express, and has provided this
report for us. Thanks to everyone else who has sent notes and pictures,
your contributions will appear soon. - Charlie]
The new "faster and more comfortable train service" between North and
South Wales was launched on December 15. 'Y Gerallt Gymro', Arriva
Trains Wales' flagship service between Holyhead and Cardiff, shaves 30
minutes off the journey time and offers business passengers a first
class carriage with restaurant facilities.
Yesterday's service set off on time from Holyhead (above) but delays
between Crewe and Shrewsbury led to the train arriving at Cardiff four
minutes behind schedule. It is being backed by £1.7m of Welsh
Assembly cash and has helped create 10 new jobs - eight train crew at
Holyhead and two Cardiff-based chefs.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones (right, above), one of the first
passengers aboard the inaugural run, suggested the service could soon
be even quicker and run via Wrexham, North Wales' biggest town. For the
time being the train runs via Crewe.
Tucking into a hearty breakfast cooked by the on-train team
(above) in the first class carriage, Mr
Jones said: 'I am delighted to be able to launch this new service
between Holyhead and Cardiff, which will give travellers an attractive
alternative to the car when deciding on how to travel between North and
South Wales. Travellers will be able to complete their journey in less
than four and
a half hours on a mode of transport, in which they can either work, or
relax and enjoy the spectacular Welsh scenery. This new return service
meets our 'One Wales' commitments to reduce
travel time between North and South Wales and encourage sustainable
transport.'
Above, a portrait of the breakfast. Initially, the new service will be
routed via Crewe rather than Wrexham, as Network Rail is currently
unable to offer a train path from Holyhead to Cardiff via Wrexham with
an arrival before 10am. 'I have commissioned Network Rail to carry out
a feasibility study on operating this service through North Wales’s
largest town, Wrexham, but I wanted this service to start as soon as
possible, so in the meantime the service will operate via Crewe,' Mr
Jones added.
Describing the train as an 'experiment' Mr Jones said that if the
service is successful and attracts more custom than the earlier 04:25
or later morning trains - because of the additional catering facilities
- then further vehicles could be added to the consist.
Further express trains could be introduced: Mr Jones wants a
corresponding north-bound morning service and afternoon return sometime
in the future. ATW appear to be planning accordingly with more Mk 2
coaches being refurbished and two more restaurant cars being prepared
for service.
First class is offered on board an Arriva Trains Wales service for the
first time. The vehicle, dubbed an RFM (Restaurant First Modular)
is leased from Cargo-D and is the first version. Refurbished at
Eastleigh to a design created by Resco, the refurbishment is basic but
comfortable. Work had to be completed in less than eight weeks and some
facilities - like power sockets - are not yet available. Mike
Bagshaw, ATW commercial director, said the vehicle would be given a
"mini-refurb" once the other two RFM vehicles had been completed.
He said: 'It is something which is being considered but the (first
class) carriage was refurbished in just eight weeks and by adding the
additional facilities straight away we ran the risk of delays.' However
the seats are comfortable and recline ,and the tables line-up with the
windows. A bulkhead creates a smaller, six-seat cabin in the middle of
the vehicle. This will be available for hire by groups or businesses
who want to hold semi-private meetings during the journey.
On the inaugural these seats were occupied by the Deputy First
Minister, the Presiding Officer of the Welsh Assembly, Lord Dafydd Elis
Thomas (above) and their retinue.
Apart from an array of ATW types there were actually a couple of fare
paying passengers. After the BBC army decamped at Llandudno Junction,
upgrades were offered to standard class passengers. I don't know if
these were at the full £50 supplement rate.
Unlike Virgin Trains' breakfast service ex-Holyhead, breakfast was
available virtually from the start of the journey. A good choice was on
offer and brought to the table by attentive hostesses Tina and Natasha.
Even before the journey started, unlimited tea and coffee was
available.
This continued until at least Newport: I was tea'ed out by then!
Rough track in certain sections made it difficult to drink the hot
beverages. Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones may have to get is
cheque book out if he burns his lip during the next few months.
Standard class passengers enjoy upgraded catering facilities too. The
ex-Virgin Trains vehicle has an old-fashioned buffet counter and drinks
and hot, freshly prepared bacon rolls were on handed out
complimentarily on the inaugural.
One of the hostesses was employed by Virgin until three weeks ago. Tina
Recourt was unsure whether VT would renew her temporary contract so
jumped at the chance to join ATW. Diane Griffiths was
cooking lunches for 80 school children until a few weeks ago. Now she
is serving coffee and bacon rolls to hungry rail passengers
instead. She was one of four hostesses aboard the Gerallt Gymro
train yesterday.
Diane and the other hostesses have a six-hour layover at Cardiff on
their working day. Although they headed for the shops on 15 December
they have already planned healthier trips to the gym and a sauna in the
next few weeks.
The Mk2 standard class vehicles have been refurbished with fresh
interiors and seat covers, but the same seats and luggage racks which
saw service on trains from Rhymney to Cardiff. ATW hope the train will
be popular with tourists in the summer. The 'Gerallt Gymro' will
operate weekdays only, but the trains could be used on additional
services during special events.
The train set off from Holyhead on time and kept to time until east of
Colwyn Bay. Arrival at Rhyl was three minutes down, four minutes by
Flint and departure was five minutes late at Chester. Arrival at Crewe
was into Platform 12 and departure was just one minute down. Quite a
few passengers got off here - some more got on.
A delayed Northern Train (? - its what they said) caused the Gerallt
Gymro to come to a halt in the countryside north of Shrewsbury.
Arrival and departure from the Shropshire hub city was 12 minutes down.
It runs non-stop between Shrewsbury and Newport - at 91 minutes one of
the longest runs, in terms of running time, by a service train in the
UK (I stand to be corrected). It made up some time up but a slow pass
through the platform road at Hereford elicited the reply that the
centre roads were even slower!
The train was seven minutes down at Newport and four down (by my
reckoning) at Cardiff (above.)
The St Athan band struck up when the train pulled in, playing seasonal
songs. There were short speeches by politicians and ATW big-wigs but I
headed elsewhere.
The return journey from Cardiff sets off at 16.17 and makes additional
stops at Cwmbran and Abergavenny northbound. It arrives at Holyhead at
20.49 - 4hr 32min or six minutes longer than the southbound journey. A
three course dinner [with meat, fish and vegetarian main course
options] is served to first class passengers on the northbound trip.
I ducked out and headed to Rhoose and Cardiff International Airport on
the 14.41 train. A free bus link took me from the station to the
terminal building. The oppressive and in many respects totally
irrelevant security checks added 40 minutes to the journey.
The subsidised air service departs two minutes earlier at 16:15 and
arrives at Anglesey Airport at 17:20. In practice it is usually
quicker, as the flight allows for a longer distance than that normally
taken. On 15 December, departure was at 16:15 and arrival was at 17:02.
A slightly late-running No.4 Arriva Bus waited for any passengers. I
was therefore at Holyhead station again at 17:30 - 2hr 49min from
station to station, and was home before 6pm.
Incidentally, Y Gerallt Gymro is not the only loco-hauled service at
Cardiff in the new timetable. First Great Western operate
Taunton-Cardiff twice on weekdays, with four Mk2s topped and tailed by
EWS Class 67s.
The first lineside picture we received
57 315 at Bangor ...
06:00, 2ºC ... no tripod, no breakfast ... brrrrrr!
... "it's worth it" - 'Y Gerallt Gymro' arrived on time on its
first public run ... very smart. Picture by Richard Fleckney.
The day before...
Here are some pictures taken by Corrie
at Holyhead on 14 December in
daylight, while the train was stabled.
The train apparently will be stabled at this location between runs and
at weekends to enable connection to the electrical supply
connection points. This view is from the new Celtic Gateway bridge.
Photography of the whole train was difficult as from platform 1 it is
partially obscured by the washing plant; and from the road side an 8ft
wall and security fence don't help the photographer. This is brake
standard open coach 9521. Note the 'go-faster stripes.'
57 314 is one of two locos now
in this livery.
57 315 is the other.
Of interest but not clear from this picture is the classification
marking 'First Class' mid-way on the bodyside of the Restaurant Car,
which is the only Mk3 vehicle in the train, the others are Mk2 vintage.
Rather large logo... which is on the left-hand end (as you look at
it) of both sides.
Portrait of 57 315. That darker blue has something of the British Rail
about it...