Banbury
New rail link takes to tracks
New passenger train operator Wrexham & Shropshire launches its services linking Oxfordshire with Shropshire and north-east Wales tomorrow.
Five trains a day on weekdays, with a slightly reduced service at weekends, will call at Banbury to pick up northbound passengers and drop off southbound passengers en route between London Marylebone, Telford, Shrewsbury and Wrexham.
Services will also call at Tame Bridge Parkway, near Walsall; Cosford; Wellington; Gobowen, near Oswestry; Chirk; and Ruabon.
Due to rail competition rules, passengers travelling between Banbury and London will not be able to use W&S services.
The firm, which is half-owned by Chiltern Railways' German parent company Deutsche Bahn, operated a full timetable last week, though without carrying passengers, to ensure its trains and crews are ready for the launch.
Managing director Andy Hamilton said: "Being small sets us apart from our competitors. Our team of just over 50 staff are totally focused on running trains on time and meeting our passengers' needs.
"We have received tremendous support from local people and are keen to become an integral part of the communities we serve."
For the first few weeks, the firm will use hired coaches, while it waits for refurbishment work on its own fleet to be completed, but the trains will be powered from the start by specially-liveried Class 67 diesel locomotives hired from freight operator English Welsh & Scottish Railway, which is also owned by Deutsche Bahn.
W&S tickets can be bought at any staffed railway station, by calling 0845 260 5900 or on board the firm's trains.
2:05pm Sunday 27th April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster on 4:25pm Sun 27 Apr 08
"Due to rail competition rules, passengers travelling between Banbury and London will not be able to use W&S services."- I think they actually mean anti-competition rules.
"Due to rail competition rules, passengers travelling between Banbury and London will not be able to use W&S services."- I think they actually mean anti-competition rules.
Posted by: Roger, Oxford on 2:33am Mon 28 Apr 08
" English Welsh & Scottish Railway, which is also owned by Deutsche Bahn. "
No comment.
" English Welsh & Scottish Railway, which is also owned by Deutsche Bahn. "
No comment.
Posted by: Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster on 5:24pm Mon 28 Apr 08
" English Welsh & Scottish Railway, which is also owned by Deutsche Bahn. "
No comment.
Err... it gets worse, I'm afraid, Roger.
EWS was formerly owned by Wisconsin Central of the good old USofA. It was made up of three of the four sectors that BR Railfreight was broken up into just before it was all flogged off and, around the same time that BR was really starting to get its act together.
Never mind, eh?
" English Welsh & Scottish Railway, which is also owned by Deutsche Bahn. "
No comment.
Err... it gets worse, I'm afraid, Roger.
EWS was formerly owned by Wisconsin Central of the good old USofA. It was made up of three of the four sectors that BR Railfreight was broken up into just before it was all flogged off and, around the same time that BR was really starting to get its act together.
Never mind, eh?
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