Station usage data 2016 – 2017
CASPA has obtained data for the usage of stations in the period 2016 – 2017. This is based on ticket count, rather than passenger count. The headlines are a 17% increase at Nantwich and a 10% increase at Whitchurch. No surprise to regular users! We will endevour to get some more up to date data. The full data is given below on the link.
Rolling stock indications
We are working to better understand the plans from Transport for Wales for the new or upgraded rolling stock on our lines. We already know that the class 175 trains used on the Cardiff Manchester routes are to be refurbished and branded, and will continue for some years until the delivery of new stock.The uncertainty remains about what will happen to the class 150 and 153 trains that are used on the Heart of Wales line, and are integrated with our daily shuttle Shrewsbury to Crewe services. When will these be replaced and with what? We are aware that 12 […]
Railfuture public meeting Saturday 12th October
Railfuture are holding a public meeting at the Gateway (just a few minutes walk from Shrewsbury Station, SY1 1NB) at 1.15pm to discuss rail in Shropshire. The speakers are: Daniel Kawczymski, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham Lee Robinson, Development Director, Transport for Wales Peter Sargant Head of Rail Development, West Midlands Rail Executive John Allcock, Chair of Wrexham and Bidston Rail User Group All are welcome – FREE ADMISSION Free Tea, Coffee & Light Refreshments (courtesy of Railfuture) Please register your intention to attend athttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/shropshire-rail-a-forgotten-county-tickets-68009555411 Further details are here, Railfuture is the UK’s leading independent organisation campaigning for better rail […]
TfW news for our area
Transport for Wales have a web page that gives their latest update on plans. For us the area is Borders and this below is what they are saying today. The headline is the new trains to replace the 175s in 2023, but otherwise, there are not any exciting promises for us, and notably nothing about the replacements for the clapped out 150 and 153 sets. The Association has plenty to do. You can view the TfW site here. What it means for the Borders As part of our commitment to the Borders, we will: Introduce new two and three-car new […]
July Meeting
The more significant items discussed included the repainting of the stations (TfW black replacing Arriva blue) and the reduction of the parking spaces at Wrenbury. There is only room for two or three cars at Wrenbury, but because the slope from the Crewe bound platform is too steep for wheelchairs the ramp is being extended into the car parking space. The parish council have suggested that the slope could be made easier and shorter by using the platform end slope, but in spite of TfW having a considerable budget for car parking improvements they have so far refused to consider […]
Who we are
CASPA is the passenger association covering the stations of Crewe to Shrewsbury including the intermediate stations at Nantwich, Wrenbury, Whitchurch, Prees, Wem and Yorton. The Association aims to promote, encourage and improve the use of the rail services in this route. The Association is open to all members of the public, and we welcome new members at any time. We meet regularly for meetings in Shrewsbury and also with Transport for Wales to share our views on necessary changes and improvements to rail services and stations along the line.
TfW timetable 19 May to 14 Dec 2019
TfW’s timetable for the line is available here The significant changes from TfW’s advice are Timetable 2 2117 Cardiff Central – Chester – will no longer run beyond Chester and terminate at Crewe (Monday to Friday) 2030 Manchester Piccadilly – Cardiff Central – will terminate at Crewe and connect into the 2055 from Chester to Cardiff at Crewe (Monday to Friday) 2055 Chester – Crewe – will be extended through to Cardiff Central calling all stations (Monday to Friday) 2309 Shrewsbury – Cardiff Central –will also call at Pontypool & New Inn. (Monday to Friday) 1502 Carmarthen – Manchester Piccadilly […]
New ticket machines?
Transport for Wales has signed a £1.9 million contract with multinational information equipment and service company, Fujitsu. This is to upgrade ticket office machines and mobile handsets across the their network. The machines are to be smart enabled so staff can add season tickets to customer smart cards, allowing rail passengers the option of using more robust and secure paperless tickets as well as making the overall process much easier for customers and staff. Train and station staff handsets will be also replaced with Fujitsu’s STARmobile technology, enabling staff to provide passengers with improved travel information on board trains, so that passengers […]
Sunday services
We understand that TfW have asked Network Rail for their agreement to improve Sunday services with additional trains. If NR agree, these could be in place in late 2019. CASPA has campaigned for this for many years. Update: we are delighted to see that TfW are to provide additional Sunday services from the December 2019 timetable.
Website changes
We are planning changes to the website format over the coming weeks. We will be looking for up to date pictures of all of the stations and the trains.