A Local Rail user group is launching a campaign to protect a train service which it believes to be under threat. The Shrewsbury to Chester Rail Users Association (SCRUA), which has represented the travelling public using the line since 1986 understands that the current franchise holder, Arriva Trains Wales, is investigating plans to axe the 0747 Wrexham to Birmingham rail service from the timetable from May 2015. Also facing the chop is understood to be the 0700 from Shrewsbury which arrives in Wrexham at 0739.
The 0747 from Wrexham calls at Ruabon, Chirk, and Gobowen and provides an important direct service for commuters and students from NE Wales to the West Midlands and Birmingham Airport. It is very busy train. Records show that there has always been a train to Birmingham at around the same time, even in Great Western days when it ran to Paddington!
What has been suggested is that the Holyhead to Cardiff ‘Premier’ express service, which currently runs non-stop between Wrexham and Shrewsbury, should stop additionally at Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen. But it runs 15 minutes earlier (currently 07.32 from Wrexham) and passengers for the Birmingham line would face inconvenience and delay to their journeys through having to change at Shrewsbury.
SCRUA chairman John Mattocks believes this will act as a deterrent to rail use. He says: "this is bad news if you are one of the many commuters who use the service to get to work in Telford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham, as this would mean an earlier start, and would necessitate a change at Shrewsbury, all factors which might make the rail option less attractive and force commuters onto the road"
Additional services, backed by Welsh Government, are being provided for the Cambrian and Heart of Wales Lines from next May, a move which SCRUA totally supports, however it is concerned that services are being strengthened elsewhere to the detriment of passengers between Chester and Shrewsbury. The group believes that additional or strengthened services must be properly funded and extra trains brought in. There should be no cut in services especially as May 2015 will see the opening of the re-doubled track north of Wrexham, funded by the Welsh Government at a cost of over £40 million to help improve services on the line.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
January 28, 2015
January 25, 2015
We are approaching 500 signatures. Keep the momentum going until we hit this milestone.
Reached 100 supporters
January 22, 2015
224 Comments
It is not acceptable to the population of North Wales to loose any Train services at all. As many rail users have no other means of Travel.I have just had an operation,at The Queen Elizabeth Hostpital Birmingham,without the early Train from Wrexham my wife and I would have found it very difficult to meet appointment
This train is needed so people can get to work on time. Please don't stop it. I know at least several people who will have to either move or lose their jobs if this service is cut.
A vitally important service at a vital time, and one I and many others use on a regular basis. The proposal to replace with a service 15 minutes earlier is unviable and highly inconvenient.
We should have more train services linking Wales to major cities not less. The extensive road works in the Wrexham area are causing a lot of disruption for commuters - the removal of this service would add to the frustration and cause more chaos on our roads.
This is the only train which will get me DIRECT to the airport in time for a flight to Toulouse. I'm a pensioner and would find lugging a suitcase from platform to platform a real struggle. My Dad at 93 lives out there so my trips are on a regular basis. PLEASE please don't make any changes to this service
Woulld have a negative effect on the local economy if closed
Keep our Rail Services please
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A Local Rail user group is launching a campaign to protect a train service which it believes to be under threat. The Shrewsbury to Chester Rail Users Association (SCRUA), which has represented the travelling public using the line since 1986 understands that the current franchise holder, Arriva Trains Wales, is investigating plans to axe the 0747 Wrexham to Birmingham rail service from the timetable from May 2015. Also facing the chop is understood to be the 0700 from Shrewsbury which arrives in Wrexham at 0739.
The 0747 from Wrexham calls at Ruabon, Chirk, and Gobowen and provides an important direct service for commuters and students from NE Wales to the West Midlands and Birmingham Airport. It is very busy train. Records show that there has always been a train to Birmingham at around the same time, even in Great Western days when it ran to Paddington!
What has been suggested is that the Holyhead to Cardiff ‘Premier’ express service, which currently runs non-stop between Wrexham and Shrewsbury, should stop additionally at Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen. But it runs 15 minutes earlier (currently 07.32 from Wrexham) and passengers for the Birmingham line would face inconvenience and delay to their journeys through having to change at Shrewsbury.
SCRUA chairman John Mattocks believes this will act as a deterrent to rail use. He says: "this is bad news if you are one of the many commuters who use the service to get to work in Telford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham, as this would mean an earlier start, and would necessitate a change at Shrewsbury, all factors which might make the rail option less attractive and force commuters onto the road"
Additional services, backed by Welsh Government, are being provided for the Cambrian and Heart of Wales Lines from next May, a move which SCRUA totally supports, however it is concerned that services are being strengthened elsewhere to the detriment of passengers between Chester and Shrewsbury. The group believes that additional or strengthened services must be properly funded and extra trains brought in. There should be no cut in services especially as May 2015 will see the opening of the re-doubled track north of Wrexham, funded by the Welsh Government at a cost of over £40 million to help improve services on the line.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
January 28, 2015
January 25, 2015
We are approaching 500 signatures. Keep the momentum going until we hit this milestone.
Reached 100 supporters
January 22, 2015
224 Comments
I rely upon this service to allow me to undertake my daily commute from Ruabon to Birmingham. Scrapping this service would be lunacy, especially in light of recent figures that show the number of passengers using this station has increased.
It is not acceptable to the population of North Wales to loose any Train services at all. As many rail users have no other means of Travel.I have just had an operation,at The Queen Elizabeth Hostpital Birmingham,without the early Train from Wrexham my wife and I would have found it very difficult to meet appointment
This train is needed so people can get to work on time. Please don't stop it. I know at least several people who will have to either move or lose their jobs if this service is cut.
A vitally important service at a vital time, and one I and many others use on a regular basis. The proposal to replace with a service 15 minutes earlier is unviable and highly inconvenient.
We should have more train services linking Wales to major cities not less. The extensive road works in the Wrexham area are causing a lot of disruption for commuters - the removal of this service would add to the frustration and cause more chaos on our roads.
This is the only train which will get me DIRECT to the airport in time for a flight to Toulouse. I'm a pensioner and would find lugging a suitcase from platform to platform a real struggle. My Dad at 93 lives out there so my trips are on a regular basis. PLEASE please don't make any changes to this service
Woulld have a negative effect on the local economy if closed
Keep our Rail Services please
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I rely upon this service to allow me to undertake my daily commute from Ruabon to Birmingham. Scrapping this service would be lunacy, especially in light of recent figures that show the number of passengers using this station has increased.