Fire checks and more strikes to disrupt trains
TRAIN services in North Wales will be hit this week by ongoing safety checks after three fires and more strike action. Earlier this month Transport for Wales(TfW) withdrew Class 175 trains from service for safety checks.
It followed three incidents in recent weeks which had to be attended by fire crews. One of the incidents took place near Wrexham on a Holyhead to Cardiff service last month.
TfW had hoped to get the trains back into service by last Friday but now say the work is ongoing. This will see routes cancelled with bus replacement services as well as timetables impacted.
There is also strike action at 14 UK train operating companies planned on 16 and 18 March.
This does not include TfW who have agreed a deal with unions - but there will be some changes to TfW’s timetable as a result.
On the fire check work, TfW said: “While it was hoped these units would be back in service by Friday 10 March, safety checks are still on-going and as a result disruption is likely to continue for the remainder of the coming week (w/c 13 March).
“Disruption is likely across the Wales and Borders network, not just on those routes served by the Class 175s, as trains are moved to provide capacity where demand is highest. Customers are asked to check before they travel.
“This includes first and last trains and any ferry connections to ensure sufficient time is allowed.”
North Wales + borders routes affected by Class 175 work:
Chester-Liverpool - service cancelled (Merseyrail ticket acceptance).
Conwy Valley Line - service cancelled (rail replacement).
Wrexham-Bidston Line - service cancelled with rail replacement buses.
West Wales lines - some services to Pembroke Dock (w/c 13/03) cancelled with rail replacement buses.
Cambrian Coast - early morning Barmouth service cancelled, with rail replacement buses.
There are 27 Class 175 trains in the Transport for Wales fleet. They are part of the old fleet rather than new trains.
Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, chief operations officer at TfW, said: “The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our priority and it is important that all the necessary checks and
repairs have been completed on each of our Class 175 trains before being allowed back into service.
“The Class 175s are maintained on our behalf by CAF at their depot in Chester, and while we have this shortage of rolling stock, we are moving trains around the network to try and minimise the impact on the busiest routes. We’re very sorry for any disruption to customers’ journeys while we work to carry out the repairs as quickly as possible.”
Industrial action - March 16 and 18
Some services are also likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators.
Timetable changes:
Services between Chester and Liverpool will not run.
Services will not call at Wilmslow.
Services calling at Stockport set down only towards Manchester, pick up only towards Crewe.
Before 07:00 and after 19:00 - services between North Wales and Manchester will terminate at Chester.
Services on the Marches Line will terminate at Shrewsbury.
Services to Birmingham International will terminate at Birmingham New Street.