A group promoting rail travel on rural
routes has criticised the withdrawal of £10,000 funding by Arriva
Trains Wales (ATW) as "ridiculous". The
Chester-Shrewsbury
Rail Partnership (CSRP) has helped promote and develop rail
services to and from north east Wales. ATW said funds were being
diverted elsewhere because of the "success of the line". CSRP said it
was wrong to cut funding because the scheme had done well. Chairman
Mansel Williams said the group, which works with local authorities,
rail users and others, had been highly successful. He said the
cut would not leave the group "high and dry", and most of its funding
came from the Wrexham, Cheshire and Shropshire councils.
Mr Williams, a Shropshire councillor, added: "We have this incredible
statement from them [ATW] that it's 'job done'. "But it's absolutely
not job done. We're developing all the time. The
Chester-Shrewsbury Rail Partnership has been a success story we can all
be very proud of. It's better for Wales, better for the Welsh
Marches, better for the north west of England - why are they doing it?
ATW said the funding was set up to provide additional marketing and
promotional support for rural lines with limited services. It said it
was grateful to the rail partnership for supporting and promoting the
development of services, and added: "Because of the success of the line
and the fact that it has a prosperous future, Arriva Trains Wales will
be diverting the funding to other routes where further improvements and
support will aid their future development." The company said it
would continue working with the partnership and is "looking at options
to further develop facilities and services on this line".