NHS staff can travel for free on Transport for Wales services but reduced rail timetables begin today

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales

This article is old - Published: Monday, Mar 23rd, 2020

Transport for Wales (TfW) has introduced a reduced timetable throughout the rail network starting from today, Monday 23 March.

The emergency timetable has been introduced in response to the coronavirus crisis and will operate until further notice.

It means that Sunday service times will be applied seven days a week.

Some additional train services will also operate to support selected urban commuter routes.

Train times may be subject to short notice change, TfW says.

Railway station ticket office opening hours will also be amended to reflect these changes in train services.

Wrexham Bidston Rail User Association said it is “extremely concerned” that the timetable implanted today on the Wrexham-Bidston line fails to deliver a service which supports essential travel for keyworkers

“This timetable has been implemented without any local consideration or consultation.” A WBRUA spokesman said.

“The primary concern is that the first train is more than two hours later than what the normal service would be.

Besides essential workers, those children who still need to get to school in Neston, Hawarden, Hope and Wrexham and would normally take the first train have been abandoned. ”

A spokesperson from Transport for Wales said: “At Transport for Wales our primary focus is keeping our colleagues and customers safe, and keep key workers moving.

“From Monday 23 March, Transport for Wales will provide all NHS workers free travel to and from work until 30th April on production of their NHS ID.

“Key workers are reminded that a reduced timetable will operate throughout the Transport for Wales rail network also starting Monday 23rd March until further notice.

“We are doing all we can to keep vital services running, so that emergency service staff who are using our trains and key workers are to travel in safety with confidence.”

Arriva bus services in Flintshire have also been reduced from today.

Arriva said: “In light of the government’s latest advice and recommendations, as well as school closures, we can confirm as of Monday 23rd March, sadly, we have had to reduce the frequency of some services.

However, we will still be operating our key routes to ensure customers can continue to access critical services, and we are continuing to tailor our service changes in line with ongoing advice from the government and public health bodies.”

The timetable below gives “an outline of the times of first and last buses and the approximate frequencies through the day.

We are working very hard to get full amended timetables available.” Arriva has said.

Service Number	From – To	Day	First bus	Last bus	Approx Daytime Frequency in minutes
3	Chester to Broughton	Monday to Friday	0530	1930	60
		Saturday	0530	1930	60
		Sunday	NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICE
G3	Blacon to Sealand	Monday to Friday	0700	1800	30
		Saturday	0700	1800	30
		Sunday	NO SERVICE
4	Chester to Mold	Monday to Friday	0600	2000	60
		Saturday	0600	2000	60
		Sunday	NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICE
X4	Chester to Mold	Monday to Friday	0630	2130	60
10	Chester to Connahs Quay	Monday to Friday	0700	2200	30
		Saturday	0700	2200	30
		Sunday	NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICE
10A	Chester to Connahs Quay	Monday to Friday	NO SERVICE
		Saturday	NO SERVICE
		Sunday	NO SERVICE
11	Rhyl – Chester	Monday to Friday	0530	2100	60
		Saturday	0530	2100	60
		Sunday	NORMAL SUNDAY SERVICE
15	Chester to Saughull	Monday to Friday	NO SERVICE
		Saturday	NO SERVICE
		Sunday	NO SERVICE