The Anonymous Widower

Train Frequency Focus In North Wales Transport Commission’s Interim Recommendations

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Railway Gazette International.

This is the first paragraph.

The North Wales Transport Commission chaired by Lord Burns has published its interim recommendations for the development and delivery of an integrated multi-modal transport system in the region.

The following sections, outline the recommendations for rail services.

Chester Station Improvements

The North Wales Transport Commission (NWTC) supports proposed improvements at Chester station to enable additional services to operate.

This page on Transport for Wales detailed the improvements at Chester station, where this is said.

Transport for Wales is delivering significant improvements to Chester Station. The project primarily focuses on customer improvements within the station, with work to include new branding and signage, a new passenger assist point, cycle stands, roaming mics and hearing loop systems, a new full station CCTV system, toilet refurbishments on the concourse and platforms 4 and 7, a new changing place toilet, customer waiting room upgrade, water refill unit, platform and concourse seating and waste facilities.

New Customer Information Screens will be installed throughout Chester station increasing the train service information available on the platforms and within the station waiting rooms. We’ll also be installing new screens for onward journeys, including bus, and an interactive screen which will be installed on the concourse.  

Improvement works in the concourse also include, repurposing of the ticket office to create a new retail unit for the future, a new rental unit, a new customer service desk with ticket selling facilities, additional ticket vending machines, a repositioned gate line with additional standard and wide aisle gates.  A new quiet room will also be introduced as a place for customers who require a safe, isolated space whilst waiting for their train. 

TfW is working closely with industry partners to minimise disruption during these works for both customers and the local community. Customers are encouraged to plan in extra time to allow for potential disruption during this work. Signage and hoardings will be erected at the station in advance of and throughout, these significant improvement works, and communications will be provided at the station, onboard services and online, to advise of any temporary changes to accommodate the work on site at the station.

Note.

1. It looks a serious level of improvement for customers.
2. The Chester and Wrexham Line was improved in 2017, with full double-tracking and higher maximum speeds.
3. It looks like completion is some time in 2024.

Nothing is said about extra train services.

North Wales Main Line

The NWTC says this about the North Wales Main Line.

On the North Wales Main Line, it says the priority should be service frequency improvements and supporting infrastructure works between Crewe and Llandudno. Improvements to signalling and line capacity from Llandudno to Bangor and Holyhead would require larger scale works, which should be planned so that they are ready to progress as and when funding is available.

I went to Holyhead earlier in the year and more trains would be welcome.

Borderlands Line

The NWTC says this about the Borderlands Line.

Signalling and line capacity improvements are required along the Borderlands Line, the commission believes. A key constraint is the sidings for the Hanson site at Padeswood, where freight trains block the line for up to an hour, and the commission says this needs to be resolved before other work to improve the line can proceed.

There should be investment to reduce journey times and increase service frequencies between Wrexham and Liverpool to significantly increase the attractiveness of the route.

I talked about the freight problem in New Trains Could Be Operating Through Flintshire From May But No Green Light For Two An Hour Service.

This map from OpenRailwayMap shows the track layout at Padeswood site.

I was able to follow a train on Real Time Trains, as it left Padeswood Cement Works.

• It moved to the sidings alongside the Borderlands Line.
• It then joined the Borderlands Line and went Northwards through Buckley, Hawarden, Shotton and Hawarden Bridge stations before stopping in Dee Marsh Sidings.
• The engine then changed ends and brought the train back down the Borderlands Line to Wrexham.
• The train then continued to its destination via Ruabon, Gobowen and Shrewsbury.

This movement doesn’t seem too bad, so has there been some signalling and track improvements?

Shrewsbury And Chester Line

The NWTC says this about the Shrewsbury and Chester Line.

The commission says it has not seen a pressing case for full electrification of the Shrewsbury to Chester line, and the priority should be signalling improvements at Gobowen.

I thought that Shrewsbury and Chester might have been electrified, as it could be used to charge battery-electric going between England and Wales. But it will be some years before Transport for Wales get a battery-electric train strategy together.

On the other hand the two cities are only 42 miles apart, which is in range of battery-electric trains.

Conwy Valley And Cambrian Coast Lines

The NWTC says this about the Conwy Valley Line and the Cambrian Coast Line.

There could be merit in introducing increased frequencies on the Conwy Valley and Cambrian Coast lines during the peak season. Service enhancements and infrastructure improvements such as passing loops may be beneficial, ‘as has happened to similar lines in Devon and Cornwall’, but ’in the immediate future, those communities served by stations along the route should have access to enhanced bus services to reduce dependence on car use’.

This seems like a sensible and non-disruptive plan.

Anglesey Central Railway

The NWTC says this about the Anglesey Central Railway to Amlwch.

NWTC ‘is not persuaded’ that there is a case for opening the line to Amlwch, and says ’more urgent improvements to existing lines and services should take a higher priority’.

The Anglesey Central Railway reopening would appear to be a fairly simple project as the track is mostly already there, so this might be the sort of project, that finds itself moving up the list, if related housing or commercial developments are proposed.

This Google Map shows Amlwch and the surrounding area.

With all the tidal, nuclear and wind energy possibilities in the area, I would never rule out the rail link to Amlwch being restored.

Associated Octel used to have bromine works in Amlwch and more details can be found in this web site.

I’ve worked in chemical works with chlorine, fluorine and bromine and my advice is be very careful with them.

Criccieth And Bangor

NWTC says this about reopening the route between Criccieth and Bangor.

NWTC ‘is not persuaded’ that there is a case for opening the line between Criccieth and Bangor, and says ’more urgent improvements to existing lines and services should take a higher priority’.

This OpenRailwayMap shows the area of the reopening.

Note.

1. The orange line going across the top of the map is North Wales Coast Line between Chester in the East and the Port of Holyhead on Anglesey.
2. Towards the North-East corner of the map, Bangor station is indicated by the blue lettering.
3. The Menai Strait runs between the Welsh mainland and the Island of Anglesey.
4. The important town of Caernarfon can be picked out.
5. The orange line at the bottom of the map is the Cambrian Line, which connects to Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth.
6. This line terminates at Pwllheli on the Lleyn Peninsular in the South-West corner of the map.

A dotted line indicates a disused railway between the Southern coast of the peninsular and Bangor via Caernarfon, which I assume is the railway that has been proposed for reinstatement.

It could be a valuable addition to the railways of North Wales and could help to promote tourism.

Station And Other Improvements On The Borderlands Line

This is said about station and other improvements on the Borderlands Line.

The commission supports a new station at Deeside Industrial Park, and enhancements at Shotton to improve connectivity between the high and low-level platforms.

It says frequency enhancements should be prioritised over new stations, and fleet improvements should facilitate the frequency enhancements. It endorses the proposed use of Merseyrail’s Class 777 battery-electric trainsets on the Borderlands Line.

I feel that the Class 777 trains, which could travel under Liverpool are a shoe-in.

Conclusion

North Wales will be getting the railway it need to promote education, employment, leisure and tourism.

June 21, 2023 Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Amlwch, Anglesey, Anglesey Central Railway, Bangor Station, Borderlands Line, Bromine, Chester Station, Class 777 Train, Conwy Valley Line, Holyhead, Liverpool, Llandudno Junction Station, North Wales, North Wales Coast Line, Transport for Wales | 4 Comments