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

[whole diary]

[thetrout]

Just had an e-mail from Wrexham and Shropshire that they are to cease trading...!

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.

[tramway]

Apparently so TT. 

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=7913.15

[eightf48544]

Piece on You and Yours with Adrian Shooter.

The main killer seemed to be low passenger numbers and not being able to pick up at Wolverhampton due to a competition blocking clause in Virgin's franchise agreement.

Makes a mockery of privatisation which was supposed to introduce competition.

Wonder whether Virgin will remove their 07:00 Wrexham to Euston put on  as a spoiler.

[willc]

No.

From press release on Virgin wesbite

Chris Gibb also confirmed that Virgin Trains remains committed to Wrexham and will continue to run the current Monday to Friday direct service to London leaving at 07:00 and arriving in London at 09:38) and the return service which leaves London Euston at 18:10 and arrives Wrexham at 20:38. 

[readytostart]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) wil also accept tickets marked WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) Tains Only on it's services between Wolverhampton and Banbury.

[ChrisB]

Are you sure about that? Can you point to anywherte on the web that stes this? As I've seen otherwise, and all press releases and emails have conspicuously omitted XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) as a ticket accepting TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company)

[Ollie]

Seeing as rts works for XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) I assume they have been told to accept them.

[ChrisB]

But not on WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway)-only tickets it doesn't.

[JayMac]

XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) wil also accept tickets marked WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) Tains Only......

Seems pretty clear to me.

[ChrisB]

I don't agree. I've seen specific paperwork that states XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are NOT accepting WSME-only tickets, and wouldn't want anyone to get done for a new ticket.

But odd really, as both WSMR^▸ (Wrexham, Shropshire and Marylebone Railway) and XC are owned ultimately by the same TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).

[JayMac]

Well, despite not seeing any 'paperwork', I'd tend to believe what I'm being told by an XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) Train Manager who works the route. All said and done, it's their train and they have the final say.

[ChrisB]

It's possible that what I saw referred to London tickets not being valid via Reading on XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)).

[laird]

Crosscountry certainly appear from the alternative travel arrangements to be accepting tickets between Birmingham New Street, Leamington Spa and Banbury. I presume in practice this means Wolverhampton would be acceptable, it was probably just ignored because services from the Shrewsbury direction would normally continue to New Street Station.

Virgin are accepting between Birmingham/Wolverhampton and Euston and Chiltern seem to be doing likewise from the brief reading I made.

I wonder how many tickets are left out there, I know there were quite a few non-enthusiasts yesterday who had simply booked to travel on Friday often well before the announcement. Presumably it could be up to 12 weeks before the last of the tickets are used up? I know it was possible to buy tickets at the station yesterday and possibly online.
Having made the decision to travel on the day and knowing that a buy on board policy applied, I went to Banbury and travelled on the last round trip from there to Wrexham General, no ticket checks were made and so I feel somewhat awkward not having had the opportunity to pay them for the fantastic service.

[ChrisB]

I wonder how many tickets are left out there, I know there were quite a few non-enthusiasts yesterday who had simply booked to travel on Friday often well before the announcement. Presumably it could be up to 12 weeks before the last of the tickets are used up?

Yup. I was speaking to a lass on Thursday who's only the previous day just bought her tickets from Shrewsbury - London for the next 10 weeks (3 times a week I think she said) - and also said she wasn't looking forward to Pendolinos again!

I know it was possible to buy tickets at the station yesterday and possibly online.

Online was removed sometime on Wednesday after the press release came out.

[IndustryInsider]

It was unfortunate that it was quite so sudden.  The woman Chris was talking to must feel slightly peeved to say the least!  My parents were looking forward to a trip to Shrewsbury in the spring and could well have brought that forward if a couple of weeks notice had been given.  One of the obvious disadvantages of an Open Access operator.