Wrexham & Shropshire - their rise and fall (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

Does that leave room for the DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) Arriva Aberystwyth to Marylebone service?

Isn't that now something of a moot point? As I understand things, unless there have been subsequent and substantive developments the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) comprehensively nixed Arriva's proposal for Aberystwyth-London services in March, decision letter sent to Arriva here.

[willc]

Don't think so, as Chiltern/W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator))/DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) were extremely vocal opponents of the idea, but wouldn't be were something similar be suggested in future as they are now in common ownership with ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) (which some might say was a subsequent and substantive development), leaving only Virgin and LM^▸ (London Midland - recent franchise) to complain about revenue abstraction, which from my reading of the decision letter was the killer issue in ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about)'s eyes, highlighted at point 50.

[welshman]

Yes I know the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) said no Cambrian Coast Express but that was partly because of potential revenue theft from W & S.  Since the whole lot is in the control of DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about) now you could see how the arguments might change.

[ChrisB]

I understand that they have.

The latest Track Access Application on the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) website for W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)) requests continued permission for full access calls at Banbury & Leamington until May 2011 only

When I challenged Chiltern at a recent Passenger Board meeting about this, there were some embarrassed faces spluttering about the ORR suggesting that they (DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)) were to look at other DB synergies - this being explained as a possible Aberystwyth - MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)) service (possibly as a synergy with W&S, I understood)

So a ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) gfeeder from Aberystwyth into a W&S service at Shrewsbury, with that service (run by ATW maybe?) running through (able to stop at both Birmingham New Street and International!) as well as Banbury / Leramington (PU^▸ (stops to Pick Up only)/SD) into MYB....

Watch this space, I reckon.

[anthony215]

Havent had confirmation of this yet, but word is flying around that wrexham & shropshire have gone out of business and their last trains will be running this friday.  there is a test message on their website so is suspect that there will be something there soon, speaking to some people on other forums, this does sadly seem to be true which is a shame.

used them back in november and i have to say it was the best train journye i have ever had, other operators shoudl learn. hopefully chiltern will take over the services, especially the peak hour services.

so anybody who has yet to travel on them i suggest you look at doing asap.

[inspector_blakey]

I really hope that the rumours aren't correct. Not sure about the structure of the DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)/Chiltern/W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator))/Arriva conglomeration but I had thought that W&S was owned by DB, in which case I'd be surprised if it had gone out of business per se, but I guess they may well find themselves up a gum tree if DB has withdrawn its funding support.

[anthony215]

Sadly it is looking to be very true an annocement is expected later today

[Mookiemoo]

just got an email confirming it

[Mookiemoo]

http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/news-item.php?id=131

Wrexham & Shropshire railway to cease operations on Friday 28th January 2011.

It is with great regret that we announce that Wrexham & Shropshire will stop operating trains on Friday 28th January.   
This very difficult decision has been taken following a full review of all possible alternatives, in which it was concluded that the business, which operates with no public subsidy, would not provide a return on investment.
 
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your loyal and continued support. Without your assistance, our award winning service would not have been possible. We are very sorry that we have not been able to sustain it.
 
Until Friday 28th January trains will operate normally. The last train will be the 1830 from London Marylebone.
 
From Saturday 29th January, all Wrexham & Shropshire tickets already purchased will be valid on alternative routes into London Euston operated by Arriva Trains Wales, London Midland and Virgin Trains, and London Marylebone by Chiltern Railways.
 
If you have already purchased a Wrexham & Shropshire ticket for travel after 28th January, please click here for alternative travel arrangements.
 
If you have not yet booked a ticket for forthcoming travel, please be aware that you will need to book to travel with alternative train operators. You can book tickets for travel with other train companies via our sister company Chiltern Railways ^ please click here.
 
Our customer service centre will remain open to provide customer support. To contact them, email info@wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk or telephone 0845 260 5200.
 
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you, our customers, for your loyal support.



Edited to tidy up url address and links. bignosemac

[willc]

BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) report at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12284468

A shame for passengers, as standards of service were second to none, and incredibly hard on the staff now left looking for new jobs in the current climate.

[ChrisB]

I really hope that the rumours aren't correct. Not sure about the structure of the DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)/Chiltern/W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator))/Arriva conglomeration but I had thought that W&S was owned by DB, in which case I'd be surprised if it had gone out of business per se, but I guess they may well find themselves up a gum tree if DB has withdrawn its funding support.

Both owned by DB Regio UK^▸ (United Kingdom). Sadly, it looks as though losing the ability to carry the Chiltern rush-hour passengers from Banbury / Leamington was the final straw, and DB pulled the plug quite fast.

[JayMac]

A real shame is this. I just wish I'd known a few days ago. I would've changed my day out plans for today and had one last First Class jolly on W&S^▸ (Wrexham and Shropshire (Open Access Operator)). Instead I'm here in Liverpool and I only got a bacon bap and a coffee in First from Virgin on the Bendyleano from Stafford!

Maybe see if the pennies will stretch to a trip from Shrewsbury to Banbury tomorrow. I think I'll avoid Friday as I imagine it will be a bit of an enthusiast fest that day!

RIP Wrexham & Shropshire. You were an excellent example of how a passenger service should be. Sadly, in the current economic climate unparalleled customer service wasn't enough for the hard nosed German bean counters who became your most recent masters. So long and farewell.

 

[ChrisB]

Now worried about the Banbury / Leamington pax carried on the 1630 / 1830 ex-MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)). Chiltern aren't intending to un any extra trains in those paths to carry these pax - and the 1833 is already full, with the odd standee. The 1633 only has a dozen seats free generally.

And I'm aware that there are no spare units lying around either - I think Banbury / Leamington commuters might be in for rather crowded journeys....

[anthony215]

 i suspect that chiltern will find a use for the stock

[ChrisB]

I do too - the 1636 is already a loco & coaches. I think DB^» (Deutsche Bahn - German State Railway - about)/WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) already own their coaching stock, so use a couple of those WSMR coaches to strengthen the 1636, and then swap it for the 1833 clubman.

Or hire a loco, and together with a strengthed set of WSMR coaches, use in place of the 1833 clubman - which releases the clubman to strenthen another service. At least there will be more space at MYB^▸ (London (Marylebone)) for departing pax at those times....it gets awfully busy & MYB will need to cope with Oxford pax quite soon.