Welsh Marches line

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Welsh Marches line
Northbound train approaching Craven Arms - geograph.org.uk - 4088005.jpg
An Arriva Trains Wales Class 175 approaching Craven Arms
Overview
Owner Network Rail
Locale
Termini
  • Newport
  • Crewe/Chester
Stations17 (Newport to Crewe) 15 (Newport to Chester)
Service
System National Rail
Technical
Line length84.38 miles (135.80 km)
Number of tracks Double track throughout
Track gauge 4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed60-90mph
Route map
Welsh Marches line.png
(Click to expand)

The Welsh Marches line (Welsh: Llinell y Mers), known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms and thence (by some definitions) to Crewe via Whitchurch. The line thus links the south of Wales to north-west England via the Welsh Marches region, bypassing Birmingham. Through services from south-west Wales, Swansea and Cardiff to Manchester (hourly in each direction) and from Cardiff to Wrexham, Chester, the north coast of Wales and Anglesey (every two hours in each direction) constitute the bulk of passenger operations on the route.

Contents

History

The line that exists today is the amalgamation of two lines, both with influence from the LNWR. The southern section from Newport to Hereford is formed from the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway, while the northern section from Hereford to Shrewsbury is formed from the joint GWR/LNWR Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway. [1] From Shrewsbury north to Crewe, the line runs over the LNWR-owned Crewe and Shrewsbury Railway. [2]

When the two railways arrived in the important market town of Hereford, the LNWR had already built Hereford Barton. The S&HR and the GWR agreed to build the Hereford Barrs Court, which was then also used by the Midland Railway's Hereford, Hay and Brecon Railway. After Hereford Council put pressure on the LNWR, they closed Hereford Barton to passengers, using it as a joint goods depot.

Under the 1960s Beeching Axe, many of the supporting branch lines were closed and the Hereford Barton loop closed. The remaining Hereford station was renamed Hereford Station and retains its Victorian Gothic architecture.

Route

The cities, towns and villages served by the routes are listed below from south to north:

Services

Transport for Wales Rail operates all passenger services on the line. Typically, there is an hourly service from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central, Carmarthen, Milford Haven, calling at principal stations. A service every two hours from Holyhead to Cardiff also uses the Marches line from Shrewsbury southwards. Additionally, local stopping services operate between Crewe and Shrewsbury and services via the Heart of Wales line use the Marches line between Shrewsbury and Craven Arms.

The line is very popular for railtours.

Great Western Railway

While the Marches line does not form any Great Western Railway passenger services, the operator moves its Class 800 (formerly HST) empty rolling stock 05:50 and 06:33 in the morning, and 22:10 and 23:38 at night along the Hereford to Newport section of the line, where stock returns to the Bristol Parkway Stoke Gifford IET Depot.

First Great Western formerly operated a limited service to Abergavenny as an extension of the service from London Paddington to Hereford, but this was withdrawn after just one year due to low usage.

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shrewsbury railway station</span> Grade II listed railway station in Shropshire, England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craven Arms railway station</span> Railway station in Shropshire, England

Craven Arms railway station serves the town of Craven Arms in Shropshire, England. Until 1974 it was known as "Craven Arms and Stokesay", named after the nearby coaching inn and the historic settlement of Stokesay to the south. It is situated at the junction of the Welsh Marches Line and the Heart of Wales Line, 20 miles (32 km) south of Shrewsbury. All passenger trains calling at the station are operated by Transport for Wales, who also manage it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester railway station</span> Railway station in Cheshire, England

Chester railway station is located in Newtown, Chester, England. Services are operated by Avanti West Coast, Merseyrail, Northern and Transport for Wales. From 1875 to 1969, the station was known as Chester General to distinguish it from Chester Northgate. The station's Italianate frontage was designed by the architect Francis Thompson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hereford railway station</span> Railway station in Hereford, Herefordshire, England

Hereford railway station serves the city of Hereford, in Herefordshire, England. Managed by Transport for Wales, it lies on the Welsh Marches Line between Leominster and Abergavenny, is the western terminus of the Cotswold Line and also has an hourly West Midlands Trains service from Birmingham New Street. The station has four platforms for passenger trains and two additional relief lines for goods services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leominster railway station</span> Railway station in Herefordshire, England

Leominster railway station lies on the Welsh Marches Line serving the Herefordshire town of Leominster in England. It is situated 11+14 miles (18.1 km) north of Hereford.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontypool and New Inn railway station</span> Railway station in Torfaen, Wales

Pontypool and New Inn railway station is situated to the south east of Pontypool town centre between the town and the suburb of New Inn, Wales. The station was formerly called Pontypool Road until renamed just Pontypool in 1972 and then to the present name in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abergavenny railway station</span> Grade II listed railway station in south Wales

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Rhyl railway station is on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line and serves the holiday resort of Rhyl, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prestatyn railway station</span> Railway station in Denbighshire, Wales

Prestatyn railway station on the North Wales Coast Line serves the town of Prestatyn in North Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrexham General railway station</span> Railway station in Wrexham, Wales

Wrexham General is the main railway station serving the city of Wrexham, north-east Wales, and one of the two serving the city, alongside Wrexham Central. It is currently operated and mostly served by Transport for Wales, with some additional services provided by Avanti West Coast to London Euston.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holyhead railway station</span> Railway station in Anglesey, Wales

Holyhead railway station serves the Welsh town of Holyhead on Holy Island, Anglesey. The station is the western terminus of the North Wales Coast Line 105+12 miles (170 km) west of Crewe and is managed by Transport for Wales Rail. It connects with the Port of Holyhead ferry terminal. The station is connected to the town centre by a stainless steel pedestrian/cycle bridge named The Celtic Gateway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Severn Bridge Junction</span> Place in Shrewsbury, England

Severn Bridge Junction is the area of railway lines just south east of Shrewsbury railway station, in Shropshire, England. It is controlled by a mechanical interlocked signal box of the same name, which is the largest operational mechanical signal box in the world. The Network Rail signalling area code is 'SBJ.'

The Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway was an English railway company that built a standard gauge line between those places. It opened its main line in 1853.

The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was a railway company formed to connect the places in its name. When it sought Parliamentary authorisation, it was denied the southern section, and obliged to use the Monmouthshire Railway between Pontypool and Newport.

The Crewe and Shrewsbury Railway was a railway company which was previously owned by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR), built to connect Crewe with the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway which was jointly owned with GWR.

References

  1. Cryer 2014, p. 26.
  2. Cryer 2014, p. 28.

Sources

Further reading

52°5′14″N2°41′23″W / 52.08722°N 2.68972°W / 52.08722; -2.68972