Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has written to Arriva Trains Wales calling for it to review its proposals to axe its early morning service from Llandudno to Manchester.
Commuters claim that proposed timetables by the company show the 6.34am direct service is set to disappear. Arriva trains have said they will run a service to arrive in Manchester before 9am, but North Wales rail users fear this will be the current direct 5.46am service, meaning an almost hour earlier start each day.
All changes to services will be available in the consultative timetable for December, due out usually October, but commuters are concerned that by this time all decisions with Network Rail on timings will have been finalised and it will be too late for stakeholders to request any major change.
In his letter to Arriva trains, which has also been sent to Transport Minister Edwina Hart AM, Mr Isherwood said;
“As a concerned constituent has stated ‘For the sake of those who travel to work from North Wales to the North West of England on a daily basis, Arriva Trains should inform us now of their intentions to assist people to get to work, many to Manchester arriving before 9am on a direct train.’
“Their letter adds: ‘“The Welsh Government’s Cardiff based rail unit must be fully aware of the axing of this important travel to work train from North Wales, for it was Welsh Government who gave permission for Arriva Trains to run two test trials from Chester to Manchester on June 8th, using the WG open access loco hauled Premier Express stock.
“It is simply not good enough for Arriva Trains who run The Wales and Borders railway service on behalf of WG to state all changes to services will be available in the consultative timetable for December, due out usually October. By this time all decisions with Network Rail for timings will have been finalised and too late for stakeholders to request any major change.”
The constituent also raises concerns that the carriages from the 6.34am Llandudno to Manchester service will be sent to bolster a South Wales service to Manchester at the expense of the north.
Mr Isherwood said: “Their letter states ‘It is also no secret in the railway world, that the three coach class 175 will transfer to Manchester/South Wales working, to replace a two car 175 service. As for the axing of the busy 0747 class 158 two coach train direct service from Wrexham to Birmingham, this train is intended to go on the Cambrians new hourly timetable commencing May 2015.
‘It is also ironic with the partial redoubling of the line from Saltney to Rossett opening for service as from May 2015, costing £44million and paid for by WG, on this very same day in May 2015 the line Chester to Shrewsbury via Wrexham is due to lose two direct morning services, namely 0700 Shrewsbury all stations to Wrexham and the 0747 Direct travel to work service Wrexham to Birmingham. I am not aware of any rail services in South Wales being axed to provide rolling stock for other areas.”
Mr Isherwood has urged both Arriva Trains Wales and the Transport Minister to respond to the concerns raised.
