From: Subject: Mid Cheshire Rail Report No.68 Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:00:09 -0000 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.mcrua.org.uk/mcrr68.htm X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.5579 Mid Cheshire Rail Report No.68

MID CHESHIRE
RAIL REPORT

No.=20 68            = ;            =        SUMMER=20 2006           &nb= sp;   ON-LINE=20 EDITION

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

Please visit our website at www.mcrua.org.uk.

PASSENGER FOCUS MANAGER TO ADDRESS 2006 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

David Sidebottom, the Passenger Focus Passenger Link Manager for = Northern,=20 Merseyrail and Hull Trains, is to be the guest speaker at the 2006 MCRUA = AGM on=20 Thursday 13th July at 7.30pm. Passenger Focus is the new name for the = Rail=20 Passengers Council, the national, statutory body, which represents rail = users.=20 The venue for the AGM is as usual the Tatton Room at the rear of the = Knutsford=20 Civic Centre adjacent to Knutsford station. The meeting will start with = the=20 formal AGM business after which David will make his presentation, which = will be=20 followed by questions from the floor. Suitable trains to get to the AGM = are the=20 18.24 from Manchester Piccadilly and the 17.57 from Chester. Suitable = return=20 trains are the 21.40 Knutsford to Manchester Piccadilly and the 22.04 to = Chester. Parking is available adjacent to the venue, accessible via = Marcliff=20 Grove, the first side road to the north of Knutsford station. We look = forward to=20 a good turnout of members for this event, which, unlike some previous = AGMs, has=20 been deliberately timed to avoid the World Cup!

CREWE-CHEADLE HULME BACK IN BUSINESS

Users of the mid-Cheshire line should notice a slight reduction in = passenger=20 numbers from Monday 26th June, when a limited passenger train service = resumes on=20 the Crewe-Wilmslow-Cheadle Hulme-Stockport-Manchester line. Those who = have been=20 driving across to Plumley and Northwich to use our service may revert to = using=20 their own local station. Two passenger trains per hour will use the=20 Crewe-Manchester line, an all stations stopping train and the = Cardiff-Manchester=20 train calling only at Wilmslow and Stockport. Network Rail has been = unable to=20 fully commission the new signalling on the Crewe-Cheadle Hulme line = (even though=20 the line has been closed since last December!) and an interim signalling = system=20 has been installed to enable the line to reopen. The junctions at = Wilmslow and=20 Sandbach and the points at Alderley Edge will remain out of use. The = existing=20 Manchester Piccadilly-Manchester Airport-Styal-Wilmslow service will = continue to=20 operate and will be extended to also operate at weekends. The = Manchester-Crewe=20 all stations stopping train will depart from Piccadilly at 58 minutes = past each=20 hour and the Cardiff train will depart at 33 minutes past the hour. A = further=20 (lengthy?) engineering blockade is planned after Christmas to fully = commission=20 the new signalling.

SUMMER AND AUTUMN =93LEAF FALL=93 TIMETABLES

There are very few changes in the summer timetable, which began on = Sunday=20 11th June. The 05.58 from Chester to Piccadilly is once more officially = a=20 connection into the 07.14 from Stockport to London Euston. This is = because the=20 arrival time at Stockport is now 07.09 (rather than 07.10) and the = connection=20 time is therefore now five minutes, which is the official minimum = connection=20 time at Stockport. Thank you to Northern for making this change at = MCRUA=92s=20 suggestion. The 09.31 from Northwich to Blackpool North is retimed to = depart at=20 09.33. From Monday 11th September we again have a =93leaf fall=94 = timetable and most=20 trains are retimed to leave Chester 4 minutes earlier to give them more = time=20 between Chester and Stockport. The 07.31 from Chester is retimed to = depart at=20 07.24. The 09.33 from Northwich to Blackpool North becomes the 09.29 (it = had to=20 be didn=92t it?) and MCRUA will be pressing for Wayfarer tickets to be = valid on=20 this train from Northwich. Cheap day return tickets to Manchester will = be valid=20 on the 09.29 because that fare is a =93B2=94 (valid from 09.15). The new = pocket=20 timetable is enclosed with this newsletter. MCRUA is disappointed that = there is=20 no mention of the popular Duo fares to Chester and Manchester in the = pocket=20 timetable nor are the free Metroshuttle buses from Manchester = Piccadilly=20 station mentioned despite large areas of white space. The all-line = National Rail=20 Timetable is available from W H Smith at Manchester Piccadilly and still = costs=20 =A312. As members may have read, the summer 2007 edition of the =93big = book=94 will be=20 the last to be published in paper form. Regularly updated files will be=20 available on the Internet from next year. The loss of the paper version = is a=20 significant one and will obviously be felt most by the significant = number of=20 rail users without home access to the Internet. Its demise was perhaps=20 inevitable once Train Operating Companies and Network Rail were allowed = to make=20 significant changes to train times (particularly in connection with = engineering=20 work) at shorter notice than the notice required for the publication of = an=20 accurate twice-yearly timetable book.

THE TYNESIDER - SATURDAY 13th MAY 2006 by Peter Davies

Our spring 2006 Special Train for MCRUA members and supporters was to = Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Our outward journey took us via the scenic Settle = and=20 Carlisle and Tyne Valley lines and return via the Tyne Valley and West = Coast=20 lines. After several traumas and disappointments prior to the day, the = trip went=20 well, although the weather was noticeably cooler in Newcastle by several = degrees! At least it stopped raining. Thanks must go to the train = passengers for=20 their support, the committee members and helpers both on the day and = beforehand=20 and the train crew for a trouble free journey. Once again, apologies for = those=20 MCRUA members and supporters who were unable to purchase tickets for the = trip=20 due to the popularity of the route and the overwhelming demand. We look = forward=20 to seeing you all on our next trip.

MCRUA=92s AUTUMN SPECIAL TRAIN

Members may be pleased to hear that MCRUA is currently in negotiation = with=20 Northern for the hire of a train for our autumn special train. Northern = have=20 said that rolling stock is available on Sunday 22nd October and we are = currently=20 discussing possible destinations on the Northern network. The train will = consist=20 of two diesel units (hopefully class 156 Supersprinter trains), giving a = total=20 of 292 seats. A booking form will be sent to members when or if details = are=20 finalised. Those on our wider mailing list will be circulated later, = after=20 members have had a reasonable period in which to book (we have learned a = lesson=20 from the Newcastle trip!). If this proposed special train falls through = we will=20 pursue other avenues for an autumn trip.

NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF ALTRINCHAM INTERCHANGE (FoAI)

The protracted reroofing of the main building on platform 1 is = nearing=20 completion and GMPTE have promised that the boarding on platform 1 will = be=20 removed by the week commencing 19th June. FoAI and MCRUA member Judie = Collins is=20 now the Northern station adopter for Altrincham. Judie is responsible = for the=20 window boxes of flowers, which have gone some way towards making = Altrincham=20 Interchange a reasonable place to wait for public transport. Litter and = unruly=20 behaviour however remain significant issues on the main Metrolink = platform. The=20 latest GMPTE scheme for the redevelopment of Altrincham Interchange = includes the=20 retention of the existing main building on platform 1. The scheme would = entail=20 the replacement of the existing footbridge with a new footbridge with = lifts down=20 to each platform. The scheme also provides scope for the opening up of = the space=20 in front of the main building by rearranging the location of the bus = stands.=20 Trafford Borough Council remain committed to the reinstatement of a = cover over=20 platform 1 but funding is an issue. The Railway Heritage Trust, who = helped to=20 fund the refurbishment of the canopy at Northwich station, is a possible = source=20 of funds.

NEWS FROM HARTFORD AND WINSFORD

The 10.46 Hartford to London Euston service continues to operate in = the=20 summer timetable. The Department for Transport (DfT) has now published = its=20 consultation document on the new West Midlands franchise, essentially = the=20 western half of the Central Trains franchise plus Silverlink County. The = new=20 franchise is scheduled to start on 11th November 2007. The consultation = document=20 is available on the DfT website at=20 http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_rai= lways_611835.pdf=20 and the closing date for comments is 7th August. The document proposes = an hourly=20 Birmingham-Liverpool service operated by class 350 electric trains and = calling=20 at both Winsford and Hartford. This would provide Winsford with a better = level=20 of service than at present and is therefore to be welcomed. The hourly = service=20 would be the only service between Birmingham and Liverpool (currently = there are=20 two trains per hour in some hours). There would not be a = Birmingham-Preston West=20 Midlands service (which potentially could have served Hartford) as the = class 350=20 trains are to be used instead on a new hourly = Birmingham-Macclesfield-Manchester=20 service. There is a proposed London Euston-Crewe hourly semi-fast = service to=20 serve stations in the Trent Valley. This could potentially be extended = to=20 Liverpool via Hartford if paths can be found and there is a viable = business case=20 for such an extension. MCRUA will be commenting on these proposals to = the DfT.=20 Members are of course also free to send in their own views in a personal = capacity. The existing station building at Hartford housing the booking = office=20 has apparently been condemned and staff are to be moved into a temporary = building in the fairly near future.

TRAIN SERVICE PERFORMANCE IS GOOD - WE=92RE WORKING TO MAKE IT EVEN = BETTER! by=20 MCRUA Quality Improvement Team (QIT) member, John Oates

I am writing this on 4 June. I know it=92s tempting fate to state = this, but=20 apart from a few little niggles, the performance of the trains on our = line is=20 currently good and better than it has been for some years in the summer. = The=20 reliability target of 99% of trains to run is being exceeded. The = punctuality=20 target of 91% of trains to arrive at their destination within 5 minutes = of their=20 planned arrival time is almost being reached. We=92re striving to get = there and a=20 number of recent events are helping this. As many of you know, the = signalling=20 system between Mickle Trafford and Mouldsworth was replaced in the = second week=20 of May, leading to the closure of Mouldsworth signalbox. The old system = is one=20 of the 4 or 5 things on the line that have been a real problem for = punctuality=20 over the years, since it was very unreliable whenever there were any = forms of=20 electrical and other storms around, causing the track circuits to fail = over the=20 single line, leading to trains being delayed. The replacement system, = based on=20 axle counters, should be much more reliable. It came in on time on 22 = May, and=20 as far as we can detect has worked without a hitch since. Well done to = Network=20 Rail and their contractors!

At the same time, Network Rail took the decision to relay the very = old track=20 in platforms 5 & 6 at Chester. The track in platform 6 has been = causing=20 difficulties for years with it being so uneven. This has led to problems = coupling units up, since the couplers were often too out of line and = more=20 recently there have been track circuit failures in platform 6 causing = late=20 departures. The signallers had got round this by using platform 5, but = that in=20 itself was causing delays for our line since trains cannot arrive into = platform=20 5 at the same time as trains from the North Wales Coast arrive into = platform 4.=20 This was meaning our trains were getting in late, often therefore = leading to=20 late departures from Chester. John Kitchen tells me that some of the old = track=20 dated back to the LNWR, in other words around 1920 or before! It=92s = certainly=20 served us well. The new track is superb, new rail and concrete sleepers=20 appearing to be leftovers from larger jobs and we=92re back to using = platform 6=20 for most departures. Again, well done Network Rail!

Also, there has been a long-running ESR (Emergency Speed Restriction) = at=20 Cheadle Village on the Northenden single track section. Being single = line, this=20 has been affecting trains in both directions. This was removed by 22 = May, so=20 we=92re back to normal there, too. And lastly, the Cheadle Hulme to = Crewe railway=20 line remains shut due to the new signalling not working correctly, = meaning there=20 are less trains through Stockport than normal. This helps by reducing = the=20 congestion between Stockport and Piccadilly. It looks like this is going = to=20 continue to help us for some time! We really feel for the poor people in = Handforth, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Chelford, Holmes Chapel, Goostrey, = Sandbach=20 and surrounding areas consigned to slow buses and traffic jams. = Supposedly this=20 returns to normal on 11 June, but since the signalling system still = doesn=92t work=20 correctly, it won=92t, though there is going to be a better interim = service until=20 it=92s fixed. Now, if this had been on a main line in London & the = South=20 East=85..

In my last report I mentioned that we were still having difficulty on = those=20 occasions where replacement buses are required. Those operated during = the day in=20 connection with the Mouldsworth resignalling ran well. However, the = occasional=20 evening bus substitutions continue most of the time not to operate to = plan and=20 cause users grief. We have had meetings at a high level to work towards = a=20 long-term fix for this. The next meeting is on 16 June involving the = main=20 York-based manager in charge from Northern Rail, the main bus = contractor, John=20 Kitchen and myself. We=92re making no promises, but we don=92t intend to = give up!=20 The QIT continues to closely monitor the service and next meets on 21 = June.=20 Meanwhile, please continue to feed your train performance experiences, = good and=20 bad to me at the email address on the back. In this latter respect, a = user from=20 Plumley (not a member) recently emailed Northern Rail to say that having = been a=20 life-long car driver, he had started using the service just over a year = ago to=20 commute to part-time voluntary work he is doing in Manchester. He wrote = to say=20 how reliable the service was, that in a year it had never let him down, = his=20 experience with us was much better than he had expected and =93Thank = You=94. It=92s=20 little unsolicited things like this that make it worth all the hard = work.

MID-CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP REPORT by John Kitchen

NEWS FROM THE LINE

As mentioned above Mouldsworth signal box has been abolished. = The box,=20 a Cheshire Lines Committee type 1a box of 1894 still with its original = 34-lever=20 frame, signalled its last trains on Saturday 13th May. At the time of = writing=20 the box was still standing minus its nameboard. It took an eight-day = complete=20 blockade of the line between Greenbank and Mickle Trafford to commission = the new=20 signalling on this section of line. At least this time trains from = Manchester=20 ran through to Greenbank and started back from there in service rather = than=20 terminating at Northwich and running empty to Greenbank to reverse as on = a=20 previous occasion. Thank you Northern for listening and for acting upon = our=20 suggestion. Thank you also to the Northwich Guardian for printing our = press=20 release about the blockade. The usual bus shuttles will be operating = from=20 Knutsford, Northwich and Hartford stations to the Cheshire Show = at Tabley=20 on Tuesday and Wednesday 20 and 21 June and from Altrincham and = Knutsford to the=20 RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park from Wednesday 19th to Sunday 23rd = July.=20 The free shuttle buses to the RHS Flower Show depart from Altrincham bus = station=20 and from the Knutsford entrance to Tatton Park at the far end of King = Street=20 from the station. Members are informed that they can use the barrow = crossing at=20 the east end of Northwich station to cross the line if they do = not wish=20 to use the footbridge or are unable to do so. It is obviously necessary = to keep=20 a good lookout for trains while using the crossing. There was an = unfortunate=20 recent prosecution by British Transport Police of a male member of the = public=20 for using the crossing. He was accompanying his female partner who was = pushing a=20 buggy with a child inside and the police took the view that he should = have used=20 the footbridge. MCRUA regrets this prosecution (in the event the man = concerned=20 only had to pay costs) and we hope that it is not repeated. John Kitchen = is=20 currently endeavouring to have the signs at the end of each platform = changed=20 round so that it is clear that the crossing can be used by the public. = Currently=20 =93Do not Trespass on the Railway=94 is before =93Beware of Trains=94. = Navigation=20 Road level crossing has been named by Network Rail as one of the = five=20 most-abused crossings in its LNW region.

FREIGHT NEWS

Vegetation clearance has taken place on the Skelton Junction to = Partington=20 line but there is as yet no sign of the promised relaying of the track. = The new=20 bridge over the line from Sinderland Road into the new Stamford Brook = housing=20 development is nearing completion. The bridge allows for the = reinstatement of=20 double track on the railway and also looks as if there is sufficient = clearance=20 for electrification! This is presumably standard for any new bridge = built over a=20 railway line. The Lafarge stone traffic to Northenden has clearly not = run for a=20 significant period, judging by the amount of rust on the headshunt at = Skelton=20 Junction. Kemira fertilisers (formerly UKF) at Helsby is said to = be=20 reverting to using rail for the transport of its products from a date in = 2006.=20 The factory is served by a branch off the Helsby-Hooton line at Helsby = West=20 Cheshire Junction. The Olive Mount Chord from Olive Mount = Junction to=20 Edge Lane Junction, which provided a direct link between Liverpool Docks = and the=20 Earlestown/Warrington/Manchester direction is scheduled to be reinstated = by=20 December 2008. This will avoid the need for Freightliner and coal trains = to and=20 from the docks to have to run round (reverse) at Edge Hill station, = which causes=20 congestion in that area. The chord has been out of use since a signal = box fire=20 at Edge Lane Junction in the 1980s.

GOOD NEWS ON THE WEST COAST MAIN LINE (WCML)

The DfT has recently published a Progress Report on the WCML. The = report=20 hails the growth in passenger numbers since the introduction of the = 125mph=20 timetable in December 2004. Further improvements are planned for = December 2008=20 including three trains per hour between Manchester and London Euston (2 = via=20 Stoke and one via Wilmslow and Crewe) and an hourly service between = London=20 Euston and Chester. MCRUA will be lobbying to try to ensure that the = three=20 trains per hour service from Manchester to Euston does not lead to = further=20 curtailment of our services on the busy section between Stockport and=20 Piccadilly.

CONSULTATION THE NEW CROSS COUNTRY FRANCHISE

The DfT has started consultation on the New Cross Country franchise, = which=20 will start on 11th November 2007. The closing date for the receipt of = comments=20 is 7th August and the document is available on the Web at=20 http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_railways/documents/page/dft_rai= lways_611834.pdf.=20 Proposals which affect the North West are:
=95   Transfer = of the=20 Manchester-Glasgow and Edinburgh service to Trans-Pennine Express from = 2009 and=20 provision of a through service from Manchester Airport to Glasgow and = Edinburgh=20 (at the expense of through services from Manchester Airport to = Windermere).
=95=20    An hourly Manchester-Birmingham-Bristol service via = Wilmslow and=20 Crewe.
=95    The possible transfer of = Birmingham-Glasgow/Edinburgh=20 services to the West Coast franchise.
=95    The ending of = Cross=20 Country services to Gatwick Airport and Brighton.
=95    A = new hourly=20 semi-fast Birmingham-Manchester service via Macclesfield operated by = class 350=20 electric trains, running in the path of and replacing the existing=20 Macclesfield-Manchester stopping train and also serving Congleton and = Stone.

DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT REVIEW OF THE NORTHERN FRANCHISE

As predicted, the DfT Review of the Northern franchise did not = recommend any=20 service reductions or withdrawals. The review discovered that Northern = was being=20 run in a cost-effective way (surprise, surprise) and that any service=20 withdrawals would lead to minimal savings. Thank goodness that common = sense has=20 prevailed on this issue but where is the strategy to cater for the 10% = plus=20 growth in passenger numbers on many routes in the Northern franchise? =

METROLINK NEWS

There is to be a six to eight week blockade of the Metrolink = Altrincham line=20 in July and August 2007 so that certain sections of track can be relaid. = The=20 blockade has been deliberately timed to coincide with the school summer = holidays=20 and a replacement bus service will operate for the duration of the = blockade. The=20 blockade will no doubt lead to overcrowding on mid-Cheshire line = services=20 between Altrincham and Manchester as Northern will probably not have the = resources to strengthen services by the addition of extra coaches. = Greater=20 Manchester Police will cease to police the Metrolink system as from 1st = October.=20 Serco Metrolink is looking to introduce a Station Adoption scheme = similar to the=20 scheme currently operated by Northern. This will hopefully provide free = travel=20 on Metrolink for those who adopt stations.

FARES NEWS

In a correction to the previous newsletter, those aged 60 or above = who are=20 resident within the Borough of Macclesfield can have both a free bus = pass and a=20 discounted senior railcard, for which they have to pay =A315. The = Wayfarer=20 ticket increased in price to =A38.40 for adults, =A34.20 for concessions = and =A316.80=20 for groups from the end of April. The Weekend Adult version has been = abolished=20 and Wayfarer tickets are no longer available from post offices. The = GM Rail=20 Ranger increased in price to =A33 (=A31.50 for children) and the = Evening=20 Ranger went up to =A31.50 from 7th May. The GM Day Saver = Train and Bus=20 is now =A34.50, the Day Saver Train and Metrolink is =A35.50 and the Day = Saver=20 Train, Bus and Merolink is =A37.00. The Megatrain concept has = been extended=20 to certain Virgin Cross Country routes. Single fares in the range from = =A31 to =A310=20 plus a 50p booking fee are now available on most services from = Manchester to=20 Glasgow and Edinburgh. Bookings opened on 1st June with travel available = from=20 Monday 3rd July. Bookings are unfortunately only available over the = Internet at=20 www.megatrain.com. Virgin Trains has also amended its range of = fares as=20 from 11th June. The minimum fare on Virgin Value Advance tickets is = removed for=20 passengers with a valid railcard (since January 2004 a minimum fare of = =A310 has=20 applied). This gives passengers with railcards a better deal on shorter = length=20 journeys. The Weekender fare has been abolished. A new level of Advance = Standard=20 has been introduced to encourage travellers to move away from the very = busy=20 services immediately after the end of the Saver restrictions onto the = more=20 lightly loaded services within the Saver restrictions period. This third = tier of=20 Advance Standard fares is priced lower than the other two levels, around = half=20 the price of a Saver ticket for a single journey. They can be purchased = up to=20 18.00 on the day before travel, subject to availability. National = Fares=20 Manuals are now also available from TSO (formerly HMSO) in Princess = Street,=20 Manchester (across the road from the Town Hall).

ROVER AND RANGER TICKETS

A wide range of Rover and Ranger tickets remains available although = publicity=20 for these tickets has become very hard to come by since rail = privatisation.=20 Hence the reason for providing details here. National Fares Manuals = contain=20 details of these tickets and the following information is gleaned from = issue 93=20 (11th June to 9th September). Details of Rover and Ranger tickets are = available=20 on the National Rail website at:=20 www.nationalrail.co.uk/promotions/rangers_and_rovers.html. Tickets can = be=20 purchased from any booking office equipped with an APTIS ticket machine = or its=20 equivalent (i.e. locally from Manchester Piccadilly, Stockport, = Altrincham,=20 Knutsford, Northwich and Chester).

ALL-LINE RAIL ROVER

The All-Line Rail Rover allows unlimited travel on all National Rail = services=20 for 7 or 14 consecutive days. It is valid for travel on the Caledonian = sleeper=20 seated coach or in a berth on payment of the appropriate supplement. It = is not=20 available for travel on Eurostar, Heathrow Connect between Hayes &=20 Harlington and Heathrow, London Underground, private railways, tram = systems or=20 on shipping services. Standard Class, 7 days =A3375.00, First Class 7 = days=20 =A3565.00, Standard Class 14 days =A3565.00, First Class 14 Days = =A3860.00. A one=20 third discount applies to children and holders of Young Persons = (Standard Class=20 only), Senior and Disabled Persons Railcards. This discount applies to = most=20 Rover tickets. Rover tickets are not issued more than three days in=20 advance. The following Rover tickets are available for travel on all = operators=92 services:

NORTHERN ENGLAND (AND PARTS OF WALES)
North Country - 4 in = 8 Days,=20 =A365 (=A342.90 Railcard, =A332.50 Child)
Coast and Peaks - 4 in 8 = Days, =A350=20 (=A333.00 Railcard, =A325 Child)
The Coast and Peaks Rover = covers the=20 area bounded by Holyhead, Llandudno, Blaenau Ffestiniog, West Kirby, New = Brighton, Liverpool, Wigan, Manchester Victoria, Warrington, Manchester=20 Piccadilly, Glossop, Sheffield, Buxton, Matlock (via Stoke and Derby), = Tamworth,=20 Crewe, Shrewsbury, Telford Central (via Shrewsbury only) and Wrexham = (both=20 Shrewsbury-Chester and Wrexham-Bidston).
North East - 4 in 8 = Days,=20 =A365 (=A342.90 Railcard, =A332.50 Child)
North East - 7 Days, =A375 = (=A349.50=20 Railcard, =A337.50 Child)
North West - 4 in 8 Days, =A350 (=A333.00 = Railcard, =A325=20 Child)
North West - 7 Days, =A360 (=A339.60 Railcard, =A330 Child) =
The=20 Freedom of the North West Rover covers the area bounded by West Kirby, = New=20 Brighton, Shotton, Chester, Stockport, Manchester Piccadilly, = Stalybridge,=20 Leeds, Carlisle, Hexham, Lockerbie, Dumfries, Workington, Morecambe, = Blackpool,=20 (both stations), Southport and Warrington Bank Quay. All the above = tickets are=20 not valid before 08.45 on Monday to Friday.

CENTRAL AND EASTERN ENGLAND
Heart of England - 7 Days, = =A372 (=A347.50=20 Railcard)
Heart of England - 3 in 7 Days, =A355 (=A336.30 Railcard). =
The Heart of England Rover covers the area bounded by = Chester, Crewe,=20 Stoke, Matlock, Nottingham, Leicester, Northampton, Oxford, Gloucester,=20 Hereford, Shrewsbury and Wrexham (the whole of the Shrewsbury-Chester = line). The=20 Heart of England Rover is not valid for travel on Virgin Trains direct = services=20 between Birmingham and Cheltenham.
East Midlands - 7 Days, = =A372=20 (=A347.50 Railcard)
East Midlands - 3 in 7 Days, =A355 (=A336.30 = Railcard).=20
The East Midlands Rover covers the area bounded by New Mills = Central,=20 Sheffield, Doncaster, Barton on Humber, Cleethorpes, Lincoln, Skegness,=20 Peterborough, Bedford, Bletchley, Rugby, Coventry, Nuneaton, Stafford = and=20 Stoke.

WALES
Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass - 8 in 15 Days Peak, = =A392.00=20 (=A360.70 Railcard)
Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass - 8 in 15 Days Off = Peak,=20 =A375.00 (=A349.50 Railcard)
Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass - 4 in 8 = Days Peak,=20 =A355.00 (=A336.30 Railcard)
Freedom of Wales Flexi Pass - 4 in 8 = Days Off Peak,=20 =A345.00 (=A329.70 Railcard)
North & Mid-Wales Rover - 7 Days = All dates,=20 =A344.00 (=A329.05 Railcard, =A377.00 Famly)
North & Mid-Wales = Flexi Rover - 3=20 in 7 Days All dates, =A330.00 (=A319.80 Railcard, =A353.00 Family) =
=93Peak=94=20 means 11th June to 17th September. =93Off Peak=94 is from 18th=20 September.

The following are Day Ranger tickets valid on all operators=92 = services except=20 where otherwise stated:
East Midlands Day Ranger - 1 Day, = =A322.50=20 (=A311.25 Child, =A345 Family). Not valid before 09.00 on Monday to = Friday. Valid on=20 Central Trains and Northern services only in the area bounded by Crewe, = Stoke,=20 Derby, Matlock, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Leicester, Peterborough, Grantham,=20 Nottingham, Newark, Lincoln, Worksop (from Nottingham only) and Alfreton = (from=20 Nottingham only).
West Midlands Day Ranger - 1 Day, =A314.20 = (=A37.10=20 Child, =A328.40 Family). Not valid before 09.00 on Monday to Friday. = Valid only on=20 Central Trains, Northern, Silverlink, First Great Western, Chiltern and = Arriva=20 Trains Wales in the area bounded by Crewe, Stoke, Stafford, Gobowen, = Shrewsbury,=20 Telford, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge Town, Hereford, Redditch, Statford = upon=20 Avon, Leamington Spa, Lichfield, Tamworth, Nuneaton, Rugby and = Northampton.=20
Cambrian Coaster Day Ranger - 1 Day, =A37.00 (=A33.50 Child, = =A34.60=20 Railcard). Not valid before 09.15 on Monday to Friday. Covers the area = from=20 Pwllheli to Machynlleth and Aberystwyth.

LOCAL RAIL NEWS

Virgin Cross Country is providing daily through Manchester-Plymouth = and=20 Paignton-Manchester services as from the June timetable change. There is = an=20 11.24 Piccadilly-Plymouth and a 10.02 Paignton-Piccadilly. The=20 Liverpool-Norwich service is to continue to run as a through = service and=20 will form part of the new East Midlands franchise. The possibility of = alternate=20 services continuing from Ely to Cambridge or Norwich is to be = investigated. If=20 that is not feasible then every train will continue to run to and from = Norwich.=20 The Manchester Airport-Blackpool North service transferred from = Northern=20 to Trans-Pennine Express (TPE) from 11th June. The change makes sense as = the=20 service is inter-worked with TPE=92s Manchester = Airport-Barrow/Windermere service.=20 The Buxton-Blackpool North service remains with Northern. Liverpool = South=20 Parkway station opened with the timetable change on Sunday 11th = June. The=20 station replaces the previous Allerton and Garston stations and there is = a=20 frequent shuttle bus service between the station and Liverpool John = Lennon=20 Airport. Hunts Cross has one train fewer each hour as the train serves = Liverpool=20 South Parkway instead. Fast Liverpool-Manchester services are not yet = calling at=20 Liverpool South Parkway. There is to be a Sunday rail service to = Mossley and=20 Greenfield from the December 2006 timetable change. A third platform = is to=20 be provided at Manchester Airport station in time for the = December 2008=20 timetable change. This will enable additional through services to = operate to and=20 from the Airport and likely contenders are services from Llandudno (via = Chester)=20 or Hull. The Buxton-Manchester service is to be diverted to = Manchester=20 Victoria via Denton-Ashton Moss on Sundays from 30 July to 10 September. =

A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

The following people have joined MCRUA since the previous issue of = the=20 newsletter was published:
Mr Colin Turton, Widnes
Mr Jim Sandles, = Northwich
Mr R K Caukill, Sale
Mr Malcolm Roughley, Bowdon, = Altrincham=20
Former member Brian Brockis from Bucklow Hill near Knutsford died in = May at=20 the age of 88. Alan Wilkinson, author of the Foxline book =93Railways = Across=20 Mid-Cheshire=94, sadly died on 30th September.

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:=20 0800-528-0200 or 0870 602 33 22
Northern Rail Customer Relations: = 0845 600 11=20 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 & NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Andrew = Macfarlane 25=20 Prestbury Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham WA15 8HY. Tel:=20 0161-928-9394

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

MEMBERSHIP=20 SECRETARY & SPECIAL TRAINS
Peter Davies, 53 Acacia Avenue, = Hale,=20 Altrincham, WA15 8QY. Tel: 0161-928-2203.

COMMITTEE=20 MEMBERS
John Allen, 36 Townfields, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 = 8DR.Tel:=20 01565-632437.
John Hill, Glenferry, Plumley Moor Road, Plumley, = Knutsford,=20 Cheshire, WA16 OTR. Tel: 01565-722423.

SUB-COMMITTEES

Middlewich & West Cheshire Sub-Committee, Chairman: Dave = Roberts,=20 5 Whitley Close, Middlewich, CW10 0NQ. Tel: 01606-833404 (home), = 07900-194975=20 (mobile).
Hartford & Winsford Sub-Committee Chairman: = Andrew=20 Macfarlane (details above).
MCRUA QIT REPRESENTATIVE
John = Oates=20 =94Swallowfield", Slade Lane, Mobberley, Knutsford, WA16 7QN. Tel: = 01565-873059=20 (home), 07860-513309 (mobile).
MID CHESHIRE COMMUNITY RAIL = PARTNERSHIP=20 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=20 subscription renewals to Peter Davies, 53 Acacia Avenue, Hale, = Altrincham, WA15=20 8QY.=20
_________________________________________________________________________= __________=20 Name ________________________________________________=20
Address_______________________________________________=20
_______________________________________________=20
__________________________Postcode_______________
Family/Individua= l*=20       New Member/Renewal*
* Please delete as = appropriate=20

06/06