merlodlliw
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Subject: ABERYSWTYTH TO LONDON PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO ORR
MEDIA RELEASE
4 September 2009
PROPOSAL FOR NEW DIRECT ABERYSTWYTH LONDON SERVICE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF RAIL REGULATION
Arriva Trains Wales has today 4 September submitted its formal proposal for a new direct train service between Aberystwyth and London Marylebone to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
Subject to approval by the ORR the new service will extend two daily direct trains to and from Aberystwyth to London, via Shrewsbury restoring a link to Britains capital withdrawn by British Rail in 1991.
Should the proposal be approved, the new service is expected to be introduced, following completion of new track and signalling work on the Cambrian Line.
The service will be operated using Arriva Trains Wales Class 158 fleet of trains, refurbishment specifications for which are currently being developed.
Since the announcement of Arrivas plans for the new service there has been significant consultation to canvas local views and opinions, with the vast majority supporting the proposal.
Mike Bagshaw, Commercial Director for Arriva Trains Wales said: Following the successful introduction of a new, more reliable Cambrian Line timetable last December, market research and our own knowledge of the local market has shown that there is a strong customer demand for a comfortable and reasonably priced direct service between mid Wales and London.
Weve received overwhelming support from stakeholders and passengers for this new service and we want to expand our network to serve new markets, creating new travel opportunities for rail passengers. The restoration of this link through Shropshire would bring significant benefits to the local economy.
This view is shared by Lembit Opik, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire who said: My only real concerns about a direct service from Mid-Wales to London were the reliability of the service, the quality of the rolling stock and whether their new service would harm the existing Wrexham to Marylebone service.
However, following a number of meetings and discussions with Arriva trains, they have offered solutions to all three of these issues - by improving the carriages and timing their own trains not to directly compete with what's there already.
Certainly, it seems an anomaly that, here in the 21st century, Ceredigion and Montgomeryshire lack a direct link with the British capital. Arriva are set to put that right, and that's got to be good for the region."
Ends
Subject: ABERYSWTYTH TO LONDON PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO ORR
MEDIA RELEASE
4 September 2009
PROPOSAL FOR NEW DIRECT ABERYSTWYTH LONDON SERVICE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF RAIL REGULATION
Arriva Trains Wales has today 4 September submitted its formal proposal for a new direct train service between Aberystwyth and London Marylebone to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR).
Subject to approval by the ORR the new service will extend two daily direct trains to and from Aberystwyth to London, via Shrewsbury restoring a link to Britains capital withdrawn by British Rail in 1991.
Should the proposal be approved, the new service is expected to be introduced, following completion of new track and signalling work on the Cambrian Line.
The service will be operated using Arriva Trains Wales Class 158 fleet of trains, refurbishment specifications for which are currently being developed.
Since the announcement of Arrivas plans for the new service there has been significant consultation to canvas local views and opinions, with the vast majority supporting the proposal.
Mike Bagshaw, Commercial Director for Arriva Trains Wales said: Following the successful introduction of a new, more reliable Cambrian Line timetable last December, market research and our own knowledge of the local market has shown that there is a strong customer demand for a comfortable and reasonably priced direct service between mid Wales and London.
Weve received overwhelming support from stakeholders and passengers for this new service and we want to expand our network to serve new markets, creating new travel opportunities for rail passengers. The restoration of this link through Shropshire would bring significant benefits to the local economy.
This view is shared by Lembit Opik, Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire who said: My only real concerns about a direct service from Mid-Wales to London were the reliability of the service, the quality of the rolling stock and whether their new service would harm the existing Wrexham to Marylebone service.
However, following a number of meetings and discussions with Arriva trains, they have offered solutions to all three of these issues - by improving the carriages and timing their own trains not to directly compete with what's there already.
Certainly, it seems an anomaly that, here in the 21st century, Ceredigion and Montgomeryshire lack a direct link with the British capital. Arriva are set to put that right, and that's got to be good for the region."
Ends