Class 175 Corrosion Repairs

10th May 2016

The removal of Class 175 "Coradia" Trains from north Wales to Manchester services has had a detrimental affect on the quality of services provided along the North Cheshire line with Class 150/156 Units which are not suitable for long distance inter - urban travel being used in place of the Class 175 units on Llandudno/Bangor/Holyhead to Manchester & Manchester Airport services.

Charlie Hulme, who runs an online noticeboard on the North Wales coast railway, said: “The corrosion affects window frames, stump pillars and solebars; it is believed to be the first significant corrosion in a  post-privatisation diesel multiple unit fleet; ATW expects the repairs to be completed by September. It’s fortunate that all the Arriva Class 150 units, which are being pressed into service on long-distance routes, have refurbished interiors.”

However the NCRUG is concerned as passengers have to pay a premium on fares for the use of Class 175's, in the north of the ATW franchise and with the reduction in their availability this anomaly becomes of even more concern; fares for travel over equivalent distances in south Wales and north Wales and the north of England are much higher north of Chester. eg Bridgend to Cardiff £4.90 as against Chester to Runcorn East £7.80. Similarly the fare with Virgin via Crewe from Manchester to Chester is £12.60 and with ATW £16.70. However passengers should be aware that the Virgin fare cannot be used on ATW services.

Here is the link to the ATW story on the train issue:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/fears-overcrowding-delays-arriva-trains-11309877
 

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