RAIL users are being warned about potential disruption across north Wales this month. 

Transport for Wales (TfW) is advising its customers to check for the latest information before travelling this week as some services will be affected by train shortages and industrial action.

Earlier this month, TfW withdrew a number of its Class 175 trains to allow additional maintenance checks to be carried out following some recent mechanical issues. 

While it was hoped these units would be back in service by Friday, March 10, safety checks are still ongoing and as a result, disruption is likely to continue for the remainder of the coming week (w/c 13 March).

The disruption has led to the Wrexham to Bidston line being replaced by a bus service, which looks likely to continue this week. 

Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Chief Operations Officer at TfW, said: “The safety of our customers and colleagues remains our priority and it is important that all the necessary checks and repairs have been completed on each of our Class 175 trains before being allowed back into service.

"The Class 175s are maintained on our behalf by CAF at their depot in Chester, and while we have this shortage of rolling stock, we are moving trains around the network to try and minimise the impact on the busiest routes.

“We’re very sorry for any disruption to customers’ journeys while we work to carry out the repairs as quickly as possible.”

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In addition to the disruption caused by the safety checks, services are also expected to be suspended due to industrial action. 

Strikes are set to take place on Thursday (March 16) and Saturday (March 18). 

The National Union of Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers (RMT) has announced planned strike action at Network Rail has been suspended.

However, strike action at 14 train operating companies (not including TfW) will still go ahead as planned, which has caused some changes to TfW’s timetable.

Some services are also likely to be extremely busy as a result of the severely-reduced timetable put in place by other operators.

Jan Chaudhry-Van der Velde, Chief Operations Officer at TfW, added: “Strike action at 14 Train Operating Companies will still go ahead as planned. This will include station staff who are responsible for key operational roles such as train dispatch. As a result, we’re not able to provide some services at certain times to stations managed by the affected operators.”

Timetable changes:

  • Services between Chester and Liverpool will not run.
  • Services will not call at Wilmslow.
  • Services calling at Stockport will be set down only towards Manchester and pick up only towards Crewe.
  • Before 09:15 and after 21:15 - services between South Wales and Cheltenham will terminate at Lydney
  • Before 07:00 and after 19:00 - services between North Wales and Manchester will terminate at Chester.
  • Services on the Marches Line will terminate at Shrewsbury.
  • Services to Birmingham International will terminate at Birmingham New Street.