The government has given strict guidelines, stay at home, support the NHS and save lives. Please do not travel unless it is an essential journey. A day trip out on the Cambrian Lines to the Coast is NOT a necessity and is putting people in danger. There is nothing open for you so please stay away. If we all obey the rules set down the restrictions will be over much sooner.

Shrewsbury Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee

TRANSPORT FOR WALES UPDATE – 2^nd April 2020

Some of this will be old news to many of you but as you can appreciate the situation has been changing day-to-day, along with many members of staff changing their work routines/working patterns.

Together with our colleagues in Network Rail, we are endeavouring to provide a vital service for NHS workers and the emergency services, we’re keeping freight trains on track and we’re providing transport for key workers across the country.

We launched a reduced Sunday timetable in response to the evolving situation and in line with industry partners and wider public health advice.

Over the course of the week, advice on travel has become stricter and we are supporting all advice for people to stay at home, and only travel when absolutely essential.

Since Monday 230^th March, further reductions were made to the timetable which included:

• Cambrian line to roughly 1 service every 2 hours.

• Heart of Wales line to one service per day in each direction.

• Cardiff Bay shuttle from 5trains ph to 2trains ph.

• Full removal of Chester to Liverpool services as the route is served by Mersey Rail.

• Reduced services between Crewe and Chester.

We have however introduced a 07:47 Carmarthen to Milford Haven bus service in West Wales which will call additionally at Withy bush Hospital, providing a journey opportunity for NHS Key Workers.

We are reviewing this on a daily basis and further reductions/implementations of services and will be communicated in due course.

We are also contacting all hospitals on our route to ensure our timetable can best meet the needs of key workers and we will continue to monitor and review the situation to ensure we can best suit the needs of key workers

Other than to perform safety-critical duties – e.g. dispatch, platform clearance – conductors will remain in the back cab, with frequent use of the PA System is used to announce to travelling customers how the conductor can be contacted if needed and pass on other supporting advice.

Revenue protection and revenue response officers will now focus on support for our station teams. Gate lines will remain in operation to help customers with social distancing measures in place, but ticket sales are to only be made on the website, app, TVM, or behind a glass window.

Further update to be issued when more news is available.

Updates will appear here on a regular basis for members while there are no meetings due to the Coronavirus situation. All take care.

There will be no face to face meetings until at least 30th June 2020. Please only travel or got out if it is absolutely necessary.

The whole of t he Cambrian Coast Pwllheli to Machynlleth rail services are also a bus replacement service from Monday 6th until Saturday 11th April due toNetwork Rail work at Dovey Junction Etc.

Sunday Timetable – All Transport for Wales services will be running on a Sunday Timetable – there is one addition on the main line which is an ex Machynlleth 0704 arriving Shrewsbury 0816.

Sunday Service on Buses from Monday 30th March in Powys. Check details before travel. Those in rural areas where there bus will no longer run should contact Powys Community Transport.

New travel advice issued 20 March:

A reduced timetable will operate throughout the Transport for Wales rail network starting Monday 23 March 2020. This will operate until further notice.

This means that Sunday service times will be applied seven days a week. Some additional train services may also operate to support selected urban commuter routes.  Train times may be subject to short notice change. The most up-to-date service information will be available on this website, the TfW Rail app and on digital information screens at stations. Please always check before travel.  

Railway station ticket office opening hours will also be amended to reflect these changes in train services. 

NEWS: TFW has announced that from today there will be no on board catering on any trains until further notice.

The joint meeting due to take place on 3rd April 2020 has been cancelled for safety reasons taking into account advice regarding the Coronavirus situation. Members are asked to let the Secretary know of any issues they wish to raise with TFW by 2nd April so that a response can published for everyone.

Minutes of meeting with Welsh Government and Transport for Wales, February 2020 is posted here.

The next meeting of the Shrewsbury Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee is Friday 10th January 2020 at 11.15am in the Machynlleth Bowling Club.

Agenda for January 2020 meeting is posted here.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10th January 2020 are posted here .

Minutes of the November 2019 meeting are posted here

The revised timetable from December 2019 posted here.

The next meeting of the Shrewsbury Aberystwyth Rail Liaison Committee is to be on Friday 22nd November 2019 at 11.15am.  Agenda and details are posted here.

Minutes of the general meeting will be posted here.

Minutes of meeting with Welsh Government (July 2019) are posted here.

Transport for Wales responses to queries are posted here.

The Cambrian Rail Partnership Report is posted here.

The Transport for Wales Report is posted here.

Link to Freight line report is posted here.

The dates of meetings for 2019-2020 are:

Friday 22nd November 2019 (changed from 11th October, Friday 10th January 2020, Friday 15th May 2020 (with Cambrian Cost), Friday 10th July 2020 and Friday 9th October 2020.

All meetings will be held in Machynlleth.