Railways

[SteveH]

Steam buffs launch fresh bid for multi-million-pound railway project in Eryri
A new station and track extension are planned in the hope of boosting local tourism

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/steam-buffs-launch-fresh-bid-29008149

[SteveH]

A very glamorous train will be making a rare visit to Hull before whisking passengers away on an adventure to northern Wales.

The 1930s Pullman-style Northern Belle will take passengers on a luxurious journey to an award-winning whisky distillery in Llandudno. The trip on the vintage train, which was once part of the Orient Express group, sold out in record time, despite tickets costing almost £500 each.

But that does include a champagne brunch during the journey to Llandudno, followed by a gourmet six-course dinner with wine on the way home. The train sets out from Hull at 7.10am on Saturday, July 20, before picking up more passengers at York and Leeds.

cont https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/rare-chance-see-britains-poshest-9394350?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[Ian]

My wife and I went on that train on the recent run to Carlisle and back.  Pricey but excellent service, although the food isn't that wonderful.

[SteveH]

Newly elected North Wales Labour MPs have blasted the reliability of train services, after their first journey to take their seats in the House of Commons, was cancelled.

The politicians took to social media platform X – formerly Twitter – to complain as they travelled to London ahead of the Parliament sitting on Tuesday for the first time since the General Election.

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-north-wales-mps-first-29495827

[SteveH]

A LUXURY train from the 1960s is passing through North Wales stations next week.

The Midland Pullman is embarking on a tour on Tuesday (July 16) which will see it travel from Holyhead on Anglesey down to Paignton in Devon.

With tickets costing around £195 or more, the journey will take around eight hours from boarding at Holyhead to disembarking.

It will be departing Holyhead at 5am and will be stopping at Bangor (5.40am), Llandudno Junction (5.55am), Rhyl (6.15am), Flint (6.30am) and Chester (6.50am) along the way.

cont https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/24445479.mildland-pullman-pass-north-wales-next-week/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Virgin Trains responds after calls to bring back North Wales service
The North Wales Business Council is calling on Sir Richard Branson to launch an “open access” rail path

Business leaders want Sir Richard Branson to come to the rescue after an investigation revealed over 20% of direct trains between North Wales and London get cancelled.

The North Wales Business Council is calling on the legendary entrepreneur to launch an “open access” rail path on the route operated by Avanti West Coast.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/virgin-trains-responds-after-calls-29554574

[SteveH]

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has cast further doubts over the £1bn plan to electrify the north Wales rail mainline, stating she “suspects the money isn’t there".

The new Labour UK government is reviewing all infrastructure plans, including rail projects, amid a major spending review prompted by a £22bn gap in public finances.

The north Wales electrification plan was a key part of the previous Conservative government’s transport proposals.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c80xkd2nqkeo

[Cambrian]

Good old BBC!  Illustrate an item on North Wales coast main line with a picture of a diesel entering Roman Bridge!

Seriously though, the current West Coast operator has invested significantly in procuring the new class 805 train formations which are bi-mode specifically for the Euston - Holyhead route so they can run eastwards beyond Crewe using overhead power rather than diesel traction for the whole journey.  This may beg the question whether any real purpose would be served by overhead electrification of the coast line and the attendant capital and maintenance costs.  TfW seem to have no plans for electric traction of any sort in this area so the electrification would only benefit the relatively poor West Coast service beyond Crewe westwards. 

[SteveH]

Planned Wrexham-London train service can 'benefit whole of North Wales'
The first trains could depart in next summer, getting passengers from Wrexham to London Euston in three hours

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/planned-wrexham-london-train-service-29682825

[Hugo]

Eerie abandoned railway on North Wales beach swallowed by the sand
Traces of the old railway remain and finding them has become an 'adventure in the dunes
I saw Weatherman Walking on TV recently when he was doing the Fairbourne to Penmaenpool walk.      He had a ride in the narrow gauge railway but I didn't know that the line to the ferry going to Barmouth was no longer in operation

https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/eerie-abandoned-railway-north-wales-29705956

[SteveH]

I received a first-class train ticket on a Welsh train as birthday present and you won't believe how badly it went

A day out on Wales' premier rail service? Maybe not

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/received-first-class-train-ticket-29815556?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

A major improvement to train services in North Wales has been confirmed. The Welsh Government has announced major plans to improve services on the North Wales mainline.

The plans will see the number of train services increase by 50%. The plans will see changes to four level crossings, consequently paving the way for speedier travel and augmenting line capacity by 40%.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/millions-spent-major-improvement-train-29825271?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589