Stop Shunting Wrexham-Bidston Schedule - Burnham (Eleanor Burnham )

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Eleanor Burnham <info@eburnham.org.uk>

Stop Shunting Wrexham-Bidston Schedule - Burnham

June 19, 2007 3:50 PM

Eleanor Burnham, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, has called for an urgent Assembly debate on cuts to services on the Wrexham-Bidston rail line.

Ms Burnham's comments come in the wake of Arriva Trains Wales proposals to cut the current service from Wrexham to Bidston, shunting back to hourly trains to a 90 minute service during the autumn. The reason for these changes is the "leaf-fall" season, with leaves on the line slowing down trains and reducing traction on the line.

Ms Burnham said: "The Wrexham - Bidston line has been a longstanding bone of contention for many of us in North Wales. The most recent proposals by Arriva Trains Wales to slash the current hourly service back to one train every 90 minutes during the autumn are in my view unacceptable.

"'Leaf-fall' season may be around the corner in North Wales, but these cuts point to wider issues surrounding the general performance of our rolling stock and the upgrading and electrification of the line which continue to trundle on.

"I want the minister to give us the chance to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding this service in the Siambr.

"Arriva Trains Wales have received a financial subsidy from the Welsh Assembly Government which has allowed them to upgrade their old 153 trains to 150 sprinter units. These units cope significantly better with low adhesion issues caused by leaves on the line and have far better traction control.

"I am concerned that Arriva Trains Wales may be cutting their service on the Wrexham - Bidston route to avoid penalties for late trains, rather than paying attention to actual passenger numbers on the service, which have increased since the introduction of the new 153 units.

"An open discussion of this issue aswell as the ongoing development of line here in Cardiff Bay could help get things moving in the right direction up in North Wales."

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