From: Subject: Mid Cheshire Rail Report No.67 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:00:00 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.mcrua.org.uk/mcrr67.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 Mid Cheshire Rail Report No.67

MID CHESHIRE
RAIL REPORT

ISSUE No. 67             =  =20         SPRING 2006      =   =20        ON-LINE EDITION

The Newsletter of the Mid-Cheshire Rail Users Association, the = Voice for=20 Users of the Manchester-Stockport-Altrincham-Knutsford-Northwich-Chester = and=20 Crewe-Winsford-Hartford-Liverpool Lines.

Visit our website at www.mcrua.org.uk.

FREE LOCAL RAIL TRAVEL FOR GM CONCESSIONARY PASS HOLDERS FROM 1ST = APRIL=20

MCRUA is very pleased to report that GMPTE concessionary pass holders = will=20 enjoy free travel on local rail and Metrolink services after 09.30 on = Monday to=20 Friday and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 1st = April. The=20 Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority has chosen to fund an = extension=20 of the scheme for free bus travel to also include local rail and = Metrolink=20 services. Anyone who is aged 60 or over or disabled and is also resident = in=20 Greater Manchester will qualify for free off-peak travel. Anyone who is = eligible=20 but does not currently have a concessionary pass can apply for one at = the=20 Travelshop in Altrincham Bus Station. Eligible people will have to carry = their=20 GMPTE concessionary pass with them to qualify for free travel. Before = 09.30 on=20 Monday to Friday GMPTE concessionary pass holders will continue to pay = half fare=20 on local rail and Metrolink services. This is to avoid exacerbating = overcrowding=20 on certain peak hour services (especially Metrolink). If using = Metrolink,=20 concessionary pass holders pay half fare using the =93child single=94 = button if the=20 outward portion of their return journey is before 09.30 (or =93child = return=94 if=20 they plan to return before 09.30). Concessionary pass holders travelling = after=20 09.30 will not have to obtain a free ticket from the Metrolink ticket = machines=20 (those travelling by Arriva bus will be issued with a free ticket). The = free=20 off-peak travel on local rail services only applies to journeys wholly = within=20 the Greater Manchester PTE area (Hale to Manchester Piccadilly in the = case of=20 the mid-Cheshire line). Other GMPTE boundary stations are Glazebrook,=20 Patricroft, Bryn, Orrell, Appley Bridge, Blackrod, Bromley Cross, = Littleborough,=20 Greenfield, Hadfield, Strines, Middlewood, Bramhall, Cheadle Hulme (on = the=20 Manchester-Crewe line) and Manchester Airport.

Regrettably such arrangements will not apply to those aged 60 or over = who are=20 resident in Cheshire. Those who hold a Cheshire concessionary bus pass = will be=20 able to travel free on buses, which start or finish their journeys in = Cheshire=20 between 09.30 and 23.00. The free travel will also take them through to = the=20 destination of the bus if the destination is outside the county, e.g. = Altrincham=20 or Wrexham. The Chester Park and Ride buses will be free for Chester = residents=20 but half fare for those not resident in Chester. Chester sightseeing bus = tours=20 will not be included in the scheme. Half fare will be payable on bus = journeys=20 which begin before 09.30 on Monday to Friday. Those who have opted for a = discounted senior railcard rather than a bus pass will probably have to = continue=20 paying full fare on local buses in Cheshire. Vale Royal residents pay = =A32.50 for=20 their discounted senior railcard but they have to pay the full price for = the=20 railcard (=A320) if they opt for a free bus pass. Some parish and town = councils in=20 Cheshire subsidise senior railcard purchase even further than this.

MANCHESTER SOUTH ENGINEERING WORK

The blockade of the Cheadle Hulme to Crewe line has = regrettably been=20 extended beyond its planned end date of 26th March to Sunday 11th June. = This is=20 said to be due to compatability issues between the new (Italian) Ansaldo = signalling system and the existing rail infrastructure, which have led = to the=20 need for more testing of the signalling. The existing hourly Monday to = Friday=20 only Manchester Piccadilly-Manchester Airport-Styal-Wilmslow train = service will=20 now continue to operate until June and the Manchester-Cardiff service = will=20 continue to operate from Manchester Oxford Road station and run to Crewe = via,=20 and stopping at, Warrington Bank Quay until the June timetable change. = The few=20 Virgin West Coast Manchester-London and vice versa services, which = normally call=20 at Wilmslow, will continue to operate via Macclesfield or will only = operate=20 between Crewe and Euston. Weekend engineering blockades may take place = at=20 Stockport in June and July to commission the reinstated pointwork = at the=20 north end of the station.

CHANGE OF PLAN WITH THE MAY SPECIAL TRAIN

The association=92s spring special train on Saturday 13th May will = not now be=20 running to Cardiff via the Heart of Wales line. This was due to the = possibility=20 (now certainty) of the FA Cup Final being held in Cardiff on that date. = As=20 members will have seen in an earlier mailing, the new destination for = 13th May=20 is Newcastle via the scenic Settle & Carlisle line. Thank you very = much for=20 your support for this train, which is now fully booked with a waiting = list.=20 Tickets will be sent out as soon as we have the final timings from = Network Rail,=20 which will probably be around a week before the day. We have had a lucky = escape=20 as an engineering blockade is due to start on the Settle & Carlisle = line at=20 20.40 on 13th May!

TWO OTHER SPECIAL TRAINS FROM THE MID-CHESHIRE LINE

Two other special trains will be picking up passengers on the = mid-Cheshire=20 line in the near future. Both have been diverted over the line due to=20 engineering work on other routes. On Easter Monday, 17th April, Green = Express will be calling at Altrincham at 08.42 with their day = excursion from=20 Llandudno Junction to York and circular tour York-Scarborough-York via = Selby,=20 Bridlington and Malton. Full details and a booking form can be obtained = by=20 ringing 01723-891400. This train also picks up at Chester. On Saturday = 29th=20 April Compass Railtours will be picking up at Altrincham (08.15 = approx.)=20 and Knutsford (08.30 approx.) with their day excursion from Preston to = Cardiff=20 via the scenic Heart of Wales line, which will be hauled by two class 47 = diesel=20 locomotives. Further details can be obtained from = www.compasstours.cjb.net or on=20 0151-722-1147 between 10am and 6pm on Monday to Friday. This train also = picks up=20 at Chorley, Bolton, Manchester Victoria, Denton (a rare southbound = train!) and=20 Stockport.

NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ALTRINCHAM INTERCHANGE (FoAI)

As many members will know, work has still not started on the = provision of a=20 cover on the platform 1 canopy at Altrincham station. The FoAI will = continue to=20 maintain the pressure on this issue. GMPTE is talking to Trafford = Council about=20 two possible options for the canopy. Scaffolding has appeared around the = main=20 building at Altrincham but we understand that this is for the renewal of = the=20 roof of the building. The next meeting of the FoAI is on Tuesday 16th = May at the=20 usual venue of the Altrincham Baptist Church on Hale Road, starting at = 7.30pm.=20 All MCRUA members are welcome to attend.

NEWS FROM HARTFORD AND WINSFORD

The Department for Transport will be consulting on the specification = for the=20 West Midlands franchise in the summer and MCRUA will use the opportunity = to=20 press for an improved service at Hartford and Winsford. The next meeting = of=20 MCRUA=92s Hartford and Winsford Sub-Committee is at the Red Lion, 277 = Chester=20 Road, Hartford, on Thursday 6th April, starting at 7.45pm. All MCRUA = members are=20 welcome to attend.

THE WEBSITE =96 ITS REAPPEARANCE and FUTURE by Arthur Sancto

The MCRUA website, domain name www.mcrua.org.uk, has now made its=20 reappearance on the internet. The late Robin Polack set up the website = in 2001=20 and maintained it until his untimely death last August when I agreed to = take=20 responsibility for it. He made it a useful and popular facility for the=20 Association and for people enquiring about the mid Cheshire line. We are = immensely indebted to him for all he did.

It was the Association=92s wish to keep the existing familiar domain = name.=20 Unfortunately, the formalities of the registration transfer took longer = than=20 anticipated, thus its long time off-line, but I am happy to say it is = now=20 reregistered in MCRUA=92s name.

The task of rebuilding the site has now started. The time that the = website=20 has been non operational inevitably means that some of the information = has=20 become dated. The decision was therefore taken to largely reconstruct = the site=20 in a form, which will eventually make it more amenable to being = presented on=20 different platforms including mobile phones. At the same time, the = opportunity=20 is being taken to revise the organisation of the pages. So some = features, for=20 example back issues of our newsletter the Mid Cheshire Rail Report, will = take a=20 little time to reappear and will probably be in a section of their own. = Others=20 are like =91Places on the Line=92, which is presently back on-line, but = is to be=20 revised and updated to include pictures. Hopefully the result will be a = site,=20 which is both attractive and easy to navigate around.

I hope you will enjoy visiting www.mcrua.org.uk and find it useful. = One=20 property of websites is that they can appear differently, depending on = the type=20 of web browser, e.g. Internet Explorer, or computer, PC or Apple Mac, = being=20 used. What I am saying is, if the website does not appear correctly, = please=20 don=92t suffer in silence. It may not be your fault. Please get in touch = and I=20 will try to correct the problem. Happy surfing!

PERFORMANCE MUCH IMPROVED AFTER =93LEAF FALL=94, BUT STILL A FEW = DIFFICULTIES,=20 by MCRUA Quality Improvement Team (QIT) member, John Oates

I am writing this on 5 March and just after our latest QIT meeting on = 1=20 March. The official leaf fall season up to 8 December went much better = than in=20 the recent past and we were all congratulating ourselves. However, = Mother Nature=20 got the better of us with a late autumn and the following 3 weeks were = very=20 poor, the leaves coming off the trees much later than can be remembered. = By then=20 the Rail Head Treatment Train (RHTT) was no longer running and it was = only by=20 Christmas that things returned to normal. This was a problem nationally, = though=20 particularly bad on our line between Mouldsworth and Delamere and also = around=20 Cuddington. The solution for this coming year is that the official = =93leaf fall=20 season=94 is being extended by 2 weeks and the RHTTs will remain = available=20 thereafter until they really are needed no more. So, hopefully, this = should sort=20 this.

On our line we also have a problem on Mondays, with no RHTT having = run since=20 Friday due to lack of availability of EWS drivers at weekends. It looks = like in=20 2006 we will also have a solution to this, since the Mersey RHTT (an MPV = for=20 those in the know) looks like it is to be diagrammed to run up and down = our line=20 at slow speed very early on Monday mornings. This is yet to be = confirmed, but if=20 it is, should really help Mondays. The service since January has been = good apart=20 from some minor hiccups, with most trains arriving within 5 minutes of = scheduled=20 time. Punctuality in the period up to mid-February was 87.9%, which is = very good=20 for the time of year and close to the target of 91% and reliability = [percentage=20 of trains run =96 Ed] is 99.1%, just ahead of the 99% target.

The main problem still appears to be loss of time in train running = between=20 Stockport and Piccadilly. This is concerning, since at present with the = Cheadle=20 Hulme to Crewe blockade (recently extended for a few more months) there = are=20 fewer trains on the line, but this is still happening. A minor timetable = change=20 should improve this a little bit from mid-March, with our trains out of = the=20 peaks being scheduled to leave Stockport two minutes earlier. A = longer-term fix=20 is planned from December 2007 with the Resilient Timetable Strategy, = though=20 Northern Rail is trying to get this brought in a year earlier. In my = last report=20 I mentioned reliability problems with the St Annes to Greenbank service = and the=20 associated return working from Northwich to Blackpool North. I mentioned = the=20 train crew schedules were to be reviewed and if necessary, amended. This = has=20 happened and amendments have been made. I am pleased to state the result = is this=20 train has become much more reliable and is now number 24 in our list of = 40 worst=20 performing trains, as opposed to being close to the top. A great = result!

I also mentioned last time the increase in unit failures causing = train=20 cancellations and forecast that this could well continue into spring = 2006 whilst=20 the heavy maintenance programme was worked through. Unit failures have = become=20 far less common since January. Many of you will have seen the green 142s = running=20 on the line, brought over from the eastern side of the Pennines. These = have=20 certainly helped, and their more comfortable seating and having heating = that=20 actually works has been much appreciated, though the lesser number of = seats has=20 led to a lot of standing in the morning peaks between Knutsford and = Altrincham=20 and vice versa. However, there is a related benefit to all this = standing. The=20 conductor cannot get past the rear doors to sell tickets due to the = volume of=20 passengers, so a lot of people have been travelling for free!! Lastly, = we are=20 still having difficulty on those occasions where replacement buses are = required.=20 For those affected, we apologise, but fear not, we=92re working on it = and may just=20 sort it yet! The QIT continues to be vigilant and next meets towards the = end of=20 April.

MID-CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP REPORT by John Kitchen

NEWS FROM THE LINE

Lostock Gralam station is to benefit from =A3150,000 of = =93Section 106=94=20 money arising from the development of the nearby =93Lostock Triangle=94 = site.=20 Section 106 money is money obtained from developers to improve public = transport=20 links to their development. We look forward to the money being put to = good use.=20 A new bus service, the 2A from Northwich Town Centre to Gadbrook = Park,=20 has been launched. The bus stops on Middlewich Road, a short walk from = Northwich=20 station. It would be even better if the bus stopped immediately outside = the=20 station! As mentioned above, Network Rail now hopes to complete the=20 Mouldsworth resignalling scheme by the end of May. The scheme, = which will=20 see the abolition of Mouldsworth signal box, replaces the existing track = circuits on the single line between Mouldsworth and Mickle Trafford with = axle=20 counters, which will hopefully prove to be more reliable. There is a = particular=20 issue with the current track circuits being vulnerable to showing = occupied after=20 being struck by lightning. This means that a pilotman has to be found to = accompany trains on the single line to ensure that only one train is on = the=20 single line at any time. Mouldsworth station is not currently a request = stop for=20 a reason connected with the resignalling scheme. The Autoslot ticket = machine is=20 to be removed from Navigation Road station. Very few passengers = use the=20 machine and its main use these days is to enable passengers to find out = what the=20 fare is for a given journey. This will of course not be an issue for = those aged=20 60 and over from 1st April! Trafford Council has given planning = permission for=20 the temporary ice rink on part of the Oakfield Road car park behind the=20 Chester-bound platform at Altrincham and construction work should = begin=20 later this year. An evening and Sunday service is to be provided on the = 263 bus=20 route between Altrincham and Manchester from 23rd April following the = award of a=20 Government grant.=20

CHESTER STATION IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

Arriva Trains Wales, the operator of Chester station, is to spend = =A31.25=20 million on a new booking office and travel information centre, new shops = and=20 retail outlets, an improved customer information system and CCTV and a = ticket=20 barrier entry system to improve security at the station. The full = package of=20 improvements to the Grade II listed station will cost in the region of = =A36=20 million and includes the proposed remodelling and upgrading of Station = Square=20 outside the station by Cheshire County Council and station maintenance = projects=20 by Network Rail. Building Design Partnership has been appointed to = progress the=20 scheme through to a planning application incorporating comments from = members of=20 the public. MCRUA has made its views known including the need for the = booking=20 office to remain in a prominent position.

FREIGHT NEWS

We have received confirmation that the line from Skelton Junction=20 (Timperley) to Partington is to reopen despite the deletion of the = Trafford=20 Interchange freight scheme from the Trafford Council Unitary Development = Plan.=20 Vegetation clearance on the line, which has not seen use since October = 1993, was=20 due to start in mid-February followed by fencing work, the relaying of = the track=20 and signalling work. Two trains of styrene monomer are to run daily from = Immingham (Humberside), provisionally starting in November and hauled by = EWS=20 class 66 locomotives. The Peak Forest-Bletchley stone train and = its=20 return empties, normally routed via the mid-Cheshire line, have been = diverted to=20 run via Macclesfield for the duration of the Crewe-Cheadle Hulme = blockade.=20 Fiddlers Ferry Power Station between Warrington and Widnes is to = be=20 fitted with Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) equipment to prolong its = life. FGD=20 removes 94% of the sulphur dioxide emissions from power station flue = gases. The=20 fitting of FGD may lead to limestone being conveyed by rail to the power = station. MCRUA member Mike Honeyman has written an article on the rail = freight=20 traffic in connection with the Northwich salt mine stabilisation = scheme=20 for Rail Express magazine and the article should appear in the issue, = which is=20 due out at the end of March.

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT REVIEW OF THE NORTHERN FRANCHISE

Details of this review are still awaited but we understand that the=20 Government has stepped back from any station or route closures to avoid = the=20 significant political fallout that these would bring. The review is = likely to=20 only recommend some fare increases to narrow the gap between costs and = income in=20 the Northern franchise. The very reasonable off-peak fares in PTE areas = would=20 seem to be a target for such increases.

2006 SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL

A subscription renewal form is enclosed with this newsletter for = those=20 members (the vast majority) who have not yet renewed their subscription = for=20 2006. There has been a slight increase in the subscription rates to =A35 = for=20 individuals, =A37 for families and =A314 for corporate members. We hope = that members=20 think that this small increase is reasonable and that their subscription = still=20 represents value for money.

MCRUA COMMITTEE

Whilst as an Association, we are possibly known best for our = involvement with=20 the operation of excursions and the steam day, we also want to persuade=20 government that a well run mid-Cheshire line with a good service will = make an=20 important contribution to the well being of the places it serves. Thus = the=20 committee is at present considering how it can promote the aims of the=20 Association better. These are for improved rail services in the mid = Cheshire and=20 south west Manchester areas, and greater usage of local rail services. = It would=20 therefore help the committee us very much if you could outline what you = believe=20 you could do to assist our work in furthering these aims. Please contact = the=20 Secretary, Arthur Sancto (contact details on back page), if you feel = that you=20 could make a contribution to the work of the committee. Our immediate = need is=20 for a Treasurer. The job is not onerous and only entails keeping basic = accounts=20 and writing cheques.

MIDDLEWICH CAMPAIGN REPORT

The Steering Group, which has been set up to progress the reopening = scheme,=20 continues to meet. We have received some useful advice from the Railway=20 Consultancy, which has also helped MCRUA in the past, on the issue of = how many=20 daily users would be needed for the scheme to be viable. There has been = much=20 engineering activity at Middlewich recently. The track on the passing = loop has=20 been relaid and a significant amount of work has been carried out in = connection=20 with the resignalling of the area under the Sandbach-Wilmslow = resignalling=20 scheme. This presumably means that control of signalling in the = Middlewich area=20 may be transferred from Greenbank signal box to the Manchester South = signalling=20 centre at Stockport.

METROLINK NEWS

Fifteen trams are to be fitted with internal CCTV following a = successful=20 trial in one vehicle. MCRUA welcomes this move. There was supposed to = have been=20 a Metrolink fare increase as from Monday 6th March. However this has now = been=20 delayed by 6 to 8 weeks. Many singles will become the same price as = off-peak=20 returns. As an example Navigation Road to Altrincham will be =A31.40 = single!=20 Altrincham to Manchester City Zone will be =A33.50 single. The later = services on=20 Christmas Eve were quiet but those on New Year=92s Eve were well used. = Work is=20 continuing on the upgrade scheme for the existing Metrolink system and = the eight=20 additional trams for the Bury and Altrincham lines are now on order. = They are=20 due to enter service in early 2008. A planning application has been = submitted=20 for lighting and CCTV columns in the long-awaited extended car park at=20 Navigation Road station. The metrolinkonline shop in Piccadilly Gardens = adjacent=20 to the GMPTE Travelshop has still not opened.

FARES NEWS

Duo fares on the mid-Cheshire line are now available from = 09.30 rather=20 than 10.00. This means that they can now be used on the 09.51 Altrincham = to=20 Chester service on Monday to Friday. The Mid-Cheshire PM Return = fares are=20 now available from Northwich station booking office from 12 noon to 2pm = and from=20 the cyber cafe in the zone from 12 noon to 5pm (Monday to Friday only). = The GM=20 Rail Ranger and Evening Ranger fares were increased to =A32.90 and = =A31.45=20 respectively from January. Two new Northern Rail Ranger tickets have = been=20 introduced but sadly they have not yet been advertised to any great = extent. The=20 Mills & Markets Day Ranger is valid on Northern, TPE and = Virgin=20 services in the area bounded by Manchester Piccadilly, Bolton, = Clitheroe, Colne,=20 Halifax, Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester Victoria. The ticket costs = =A311.50 for=20 adults, =A35.75 for children and =A37.60 for railcard holders. It can be = used after=20 08.45 on Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays. = The=20 Fylde Coast Day Ranger is valid on Northern services in the area = bounded=20 by Preston, Blackpool South and Blckpool North. The ticket also includes = the=20 entire Blackpool Transport Bus and Tram network. It costs =A39.90 for = adults,=20 =A34.95 for children and =A36.55 for railcard holders and is also valid = after 08.45=20 on Monday to Friday and all day at weekends and on Bank Holidays. There = is now a=20 4 in 8 (4 days in 8) variant of the Freedom of the North West Rover = ticket. The=20 4 in 8 ticket costs =A350 for adults, =A325 for children and =A333 for = railcard=20 holders and is valid after 08.45 on Monday to Friday. Midland = Mainline=20 now has a =A36 advance purchase single fare from Manchester to London St = Pancras=20 via Sheffield, which is valid on the Sheffield-St Pancras service and on = connecting services from Manchester. Seat reservations are compulsory = with this=20 ticket. There is a serious threat to the regulation of Saver = tickets. The=20 Train Operating Companies are pressing for the freedom to increase these = fares=20 without regulatory limits. Virgin Trains has pledged to retain walk-on = fares=20 whatever happens. Currently Saver tickets account for around 80% of = their=20 off-peak business. The Special Day Return fares to Liverpool from = Manchester and Hale/Altrincham have been discontinued. National Fares = Manuals=20 can now be purchased at the Ian Allan bookshop on Piccadilly approach,=20 Manchester. The current issue is no. 92.

LOCAL RAIL NEWS

A new road bridge is being built over the Skelton Junction to = Partington line=20 to provide a link from Sinderland Road into the new Stamford Brook = housing=20 development. Euxton (pronounced =93Exton=94) Junction, where the line = from=20 Manchester joins the West Coast Main Line south of Preston is now again = double=20 track on the Manchester line. This should improve train performance on = this=20 line. The new class 185 trains for Trans-Pennine Express are entering = service.=20 The first service to be operated by the new trains was due to be the = 06.21=20 Manchester Piccadilly to Hull on Tuesday 14th March. Six Trans-Pennine = Express=20 class 158 trains are transferring to Northern to bolster peak hour = services=20 around Leeds from December 2006. It is to be hoped that further class = 158s will=20 be made available to Northern to ease overcrowding on services in the = Manchester=20 area. In a welcome move, Virgin Cross Country is to provide daily = through=20 Manchester-Plymouth and Paignton-Manchester services from the June = timetable=20 change. The Liverpool-Norwich service and some Trans-Pennine Express = services=20 may serve the new Liverpool South Parkway station (formerly Allerton = station)=20 from the December 2006 timetable change.

BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE by David Miller

Last year, British Transport Police invited members of the public to = join a=20 Citizens=92 Panel. The aim was to improve communication between BTP and = the=20 travelling public by means of consultations and a Community Forum = meeting. I=20 joined the forum on behalf of MCRUA and there may be other MCRUA members = who=20 have joined in an individual capacity =96 we don=92t actually know. = There does not=20 seem to be a limit on membership so if you would like to join, please = write to=20 Sara Kleinschmit, Strategic Planning and Policy Co-ordination Unit, = British=20 Transport Police, 15, Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SY, phone = 02078308611,=20 e-mail sara.kleinschmit@btp.pnn.police.uk. There are also reply-paid = postcards=20 available at stations, etc. The North Western Area Panel held its first = Forum on=20 1 March in Manchester. This was very well attended, with members from = all over=20 the North West, some travelling quite long distances to be there, and a=20 significant number belonging to rail user groups. Chief Superintendent = Martyn=20 Ripley gave an introduction to his operations in the North Western Area, = which=20 covers roughly the area west of the Pennines to the Welsh border and = from=20 Carlisle to just north of Stafford. Questions and discussion followed. = Two=20 particular topics emerged. One was that, with limited manpower, BTP rely = a lot=20 on the public as their eyes and ears. While serious crime takes = priority, there=20 is opportunity for improving the reporting and response to =93low = level=94 crime=20 (e.g. vandalism, regular intimidating behaviour). With low level = problems, it is=20 difficult to respond immediately and catch those responsible, but BTP do = analyse=20 the information they receive so that they can target areas and = individuals for=20 best effect. It is therefore important for the public to report low = level crime,=20 but not to think that nothing is being done just because there is not an = immediate police presence. Non=96emergency calls can be made to Crime = Stoppers on=20 0800 555 111, BT Police nationally on 0800 40 50 40, or locally on 0161 = 228=20 5685. The other matter is how the panel should operate in future, as an = annual=20 forum was too big and infrequent to deal with individual issues. Smaller = groups=20 meeting more frequently round the North West might be more effective but = would=20 need to co-ordinate with all the other similar activities of local = councils,=20 county police forums, rail user groups, etc. BTP will be working on = this, so=20 =93watch this space=94.

AERPS COACH TRIP TO LOCOMOTION AND THE BOWES MUSEUM

The Altrincham Electric Railway Preservation Society is running a = coach trip=20 from Northwich, Lostock Gralam, Knutsford, Altrincham, Sale and = Stretford to=20 Locomotion, the new outbase of the National Railway Museum at Shildon, = County=20 Durham, and the renowned Bowes Museum near Barnard Castle on Sunday 23rd = April.=20 Details can be obtained from David Walton on 0161-928-9394.

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

The following people have joined MCRUA since the previous issue of = the=20 newsletter was published:

Mr Matthew Simon Lomas, = Handforth 
Mr F=20 Harold Beattie, Barnwood, Gloucester
Mr Keith Pennyfather, Alderley=20 Edge
Mr John Weightman, Timperley

Mr & Mrs A Kirk, = formerly of=20 Hale, have resigned from MCRUA due to moving to Devon.

LES OULTRAM

We record the sad loss on 7th January of Les Oultram of Davenham, who = was one=20 of our longest serving members. For several years he assisted MCRUA as = Station=20 Representative for Greenbank, Cuddington and Delamere. The Llangollen = Railway=20 also benefited from his interest and he regularly walked and checked the = full=20 track. He was an engrossing storyteller and had extensive knowledge of = steam=20 operation and local goods traffic on our line.     John=20 Hill

MID-CHESHIRE LINE PEOPLE

We say farewell to Roy Norton, one of the railmen based on = platform 4=20 at Altrincham, who retired at the end of December. Roy was the = longest-serving=20 employee on the line with well over 40 years=92 service and he will be = remembered=20 particularly for his efforts (usually successful) to sort out = replacement buses=20 and taxis when things went wrong. He previously worked at Stretford = station=20 before moving to Altrincham. MCRUA presented Roy with a book, = =93European=20 Airlines=94 by John K Morton, to mark his retirement. We also say = farewell to=20 Chris Kimberley, who is leaving the job of Commercial Director = with=20 Northern to go to a similar job at Serco group level and Denise = Lennox,=20 who is leaving GMPTE to join the Rail Division of National Express. = Trafford=20 councillor Ken Davies from Timperley has sadly died. He was a = member of=20 the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority. We welcome = Jamie=20 Ross, who is the new Area Director (West) of Northern, based in = Manchester.=20 We also welcome David Sidebottom, the new Passenger Link Manager = (PLM)=20 for the Northern, Merseyrail and Hull Trains franchises for Passenger = Focus (the=20 new name for the Rail Passengers=92 Council) and Julie Warburton, = PLM for=20 Virgin West Coast for Passenger Focus.

DISCLAIMER

Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the = views of=20 the MCRUA committee.

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS

National Rail Enquiries - 08457 48 49 50 (24 hours a day)
The = Trainline=20 (bookings by telephone) - 08457 222 333
Freephone number to report = crime on=20 the railway - 0800 40 50 40
Northern Rail Train Running Information - = 0800-528-0200 or 0870 602 33 22
Northern Rail Customer Relations - = 0845 600=20 11 59
Passenger Focus (complaints appeals) - 08453 022 = 022
Helpline for=20 Manchester Piccadilly station - 0845 0000 033
GMPTE Bus, Rail and = Metrolink=20 Enquiries - 0161 228 7811 (08.00 to 20.00)
Metrolink Enquiries - 0161 = 205=20 2000
Cheshire Traveline (bus and rail enquiries) - 01244 602666 = (08.00 to=20 20.00)
Merseyside PTE Public Transport Enquiry Line - 0151-236-7676 = (08.00 to=20 20.00)
National Public Transport Enquiry Line - 0870 608 2 608

YOUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN, ACTING TREASURER & NEWSLETTER EDITOR = =96
Andrew=20 Macfarlane, 25 Prestbury Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 8HY. =
Tel:=20 0161-928-9394

SECRETARY & WEBMASTER - Arthur Sancto,
8 = Roxby Way,=20 Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 9AX.
Tel: 01565-651209.

MEMBERSHIP=20 SECRETARY & SPECIAL TRAINS - Peter Davies,
53 Acacia Avenue, = Hale,=20 Altrincham, WA15 8QY. Tel: 0161-928-2203.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
John = Allen,=20 36 Townfields, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 8DR. Tel: 01565-632437.
John = Hill,=20 Glenferry, Plumley Moor Road, Plumley, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 OTR. = Tel:=20 01565-722423.

SUB-COMMITTEES

Middlewich & West Cheshire Sub-Committee Chairman: Dave Roberts, = 5=20 Whitley Close, Middlewich, CW10 0NQ. Tel: 01606-833404 (home), = 07900-194975=20 (mobile).
Hartford & Winsford Sub-Committee: Chairman: Andrew = Macfarlane=20 (details above).

MCRUA QIT REPRESENTATIVE

John Oates =94Swallowfield", Slade Lane, Mobberley, Knutsford, WA16 = 7QN.=20
Tel: 01565-873059 (home), 07860-513309 (mobile).

MID CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP OFFICER

John Kitchen
Mobile number: 07909-872667

Membership of the association costs =A35 for individuals, =A37 for = families and=20 =A314 for corporate bodies. If you wish to join please return the form = below to=20 MCRUA, 25 Prestbury Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 8HY. Please make = cheques=20 payable to "Mid Cheshire Rail Users Association". Please send any = subscription=20 renewals to Peter Davies, 53 Acacia Avenue, Hale, Altrincham, WA15 = 8QY.

Name=20 ________________________________________________
Address______________= _________________________________
____________________________________= ___________
Family/Individual*;New=20 Member/Renewal* - * Please delete as=20 appropriate

__________________________Postcode_______________
0= 3/06=20

Transcribed by Arthur Sancto into this formal on 4th April = 2006.=20