Welsh Marches line

The Welsh Marches line (in 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.

Welsh Marches line
Crewe
Gresty
Willaston
Newcastle Crossing
Nantwich
Wrenbury
Whitchurch
Prees
Wem
Yorton
Hadnall
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury Abbey
Coleham
Condover
Dorrington
Leebotwood
All Stretton Halt
Church Stretton
Little Stretton Halt
Marshbrook
Wistanstow Halt
Craven Arms
Onibury
Bromfield
Ludlow
Ludlow Tunnel
Ashford Bowdler
Tenbury Railway
Woofferton
Berrington and Eye
Leominster
Ford Bridge
Dinmore
Moreton-on-Lugg
Hereford
Hereford Barton
Tram Inn
St Devereux
Pontrilas
River Monnow
England
Wales
Note: line crosses river three
times and border five times
Pandy
Llanvihangel
Abergavenny Junction
Abergavenny
Penpergwm
Nantyderry
Little Mill Junction
Pontypool and New Inn
Panteg and Griffithstown
Lower Pontnewydd
Cwmbran
Llantarnam
Ponthir
Caerleon
Newport

Welsh Marches line
An Arriva Trains Wales Class 175 approaching Craven Arms
Overview
OwnerNetwork Rail
LocaleWest Midlands (region)
Wales
Herefordshire
Shropshire
Cheshire Newport
Torfaen
Monmouthshire
North West England
TerminiNewport
Crewe/Chester
Stations17 (Newport to Crewe) 15 (Newport to Chester)
Service
TypeHeavy Rail
SystemNational Rail
Technical
Line length84.38 miles (135.80 km)
Number of tracksDouble track throughout
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed60-90mph

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 operate 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.

See also

References

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

Sources

  • Cryer, Geoff (2014). Shropshire Railways. Marlborough: Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-84797-691-8.

Further reading

  • Clark, Rhodri (8–21 October 1997). "The North & West - The jewel in South Wales and West's crown". RAIL. No. 315. EMAP Apex Publications. pp. 40–45. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
  • Allen, David (22 April – 5 May 1998). "Signalling the Marches Line". RAIL. No. 329. EMAP Apex Publications. pp. 34–39. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.

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