Wrexham/Chester - London service ?

[48111]

Sometime around 2004/05, there was a campaign beginning in the Chester/Wrexham area for a reintroduction of through services to London and it was suggested in some circles that the operator CHILTERN would be ideal to operate the service as it was a well managed company.As at the time (2004/05) it was 40 years since the withdrawal of the Paddington to Birkenhead services.
So did the Chester/Wrexham service to London ever get under way, is it running now ?

48111

[Dave Rowland]

Yes indeed. A service began within the last couple of years with a direct service between Wrexham General and London Maryleobone, operated by Wrexham & Shropshire. Initially run with a class 67 diesel at either end of 3-4 coaches, it now runs with a DVT (driving van trailer, formerly used on the WCML) at one end, and a single class 67 at the other. The locos (most) have their own silver livery. There are currently several trains in both directions every day, although a couple of trains were dropped earlier this year.
Regards, Dave.

[reflector]

By all accounts, an excellent, if not the speediest, service which I really must try.

To me, if we are to have a privatised railway, these are the just the sort of companies which ought to be encouraged. Far better to have these small operators, prepared to try something new and innovative than the giants like National Express and First whose only objective is to try to make lots and lots of money..............and then don't want to know when it all goes wrong.

[48111]

Absolutely reflector, I could not agree more mate.
A lot of the problem on todays railway as far as I can see, is these big concerns get contracts to run services on whichevr lines and then "milk" the public for all they can get and at the same time ruin the service.

I did read in an article somewhere, that VIRGIN, actually stopped the on train catering at one time except for First class passengers...is that correct ? If so that is disgusting, they should not be allowed to get away with that at all.
48111

[Flamboyant Trains]

Virgin did close down the catering later on an evening on their former XC routes, but certainly not on the West Coast.

[swisstrains]

Originally Posted by Flamboyant Trains

Virgin did close down the catering later on an evening on their former XC routes, but certainly not on the West Coast.

A couple of weeks ago I was on an early evening London-bound VT Pendolino when a message was broadcast to say that the buffet would be closing in 15 minutes............................At the time the train was still north of Preston

[martin adamson]

Was the service a non-stop to Euston? Sounds like the VT staff decided to finish for the evening early if there were no other stops for the service, so technically all passengers were able to be served.

Was once on a GNER with about an hour left of the journey, the staff were not serving any first class passengers, instead putting out the cutlery for the next journey down south...hang on, were still here .

[SalopianGrowler]

Originally Posted by Dave Rowland

Yes indeed. A service began within the last couple of years with a direct service between Wrexham General and London Maryleobone, operated by Wrexham & Shropshire. Initially run with a class 67 diesel at either end of 3-4 coaches, it now runs with a DVT (driving van trailer, formerly used on the WCML) at one end, and a single class 67 at the other. The locos (most) have their own silver livery. There are currently several trains in both directions every day, although a couple of trains were dropped earlier this year.
Regards, Dave.

To add to that, they are getting their own stock once it is ready, which will have wi-fi and laptop sockets at every seat, aswell as a refurbished interior and a nice new livery.

The coaches completion is currently running about a year late though.

[swisstrains]

Originally Posted by David A Hicks

Was the service a non-stop to Euston? Sounds like the VT staff decided to finish for the evening early if there were no other stops for the service, so technically all passengers were able to be served..........................

After Preston there were still the Wigan and Warrington stops. Even if it had been non-stop who want's to drink coffee that has been poured out for more than two hours? The insulated cups aren't THAT good

[Midland Compound]

Originally Posted by swisstrains

After Preston there were still the Wigan and Warrington stops. Even if it had been non-stop who want's to drink coffee that has been poured out for more than two hours? The insulated cups aren't THAT good

Sometimes there is a crew change at Preston, so maybe the buffet, err shop, reopened later ?