‘Welcome to you Station’ event at Guide Bridge Station – 9th September 10am to 2pm

There is going to be a ‘Welcome to your Station’ event at Guide Bridge Station on 9^th September including:-

* Guided Tours of the Station & Museum
* Heritage Bus
* Model Railways
* Light Refreshments
* Merchandise Stall
* Northern Trains Ltd ‘Whistle the Dog’ Character (tbc)

http://www.semcorp.org.uk/2023/08/10/1222/

Consultations have opened on proposed changes to the way ticket offices operate at the majority of railway stations across England.

Rail Delivery Group has produced a summary of the proposed changes, including a Q&A, here. This states that staffed stations will remain staffed, either directly or through roving mobile teams, more staff will be available overall to provide face-to-face help, and that Passenger Assist activities will not be affected.

Given community rail’s role to provide a voice for communities on local rail services, Community Rail Network is encouraging community rail partnerships and station groups to study the proposals and consider what they mean to passengers and communities in your area(s).

Individual train operators have published plans on how they envisage implementing the proposed changes, and we encourage you to review those plans in detail and engage with them directly. You may already have received details on the proposals from your usual community rail or communications/media contact. If not, check your train operator website for information.

Outside of London, the public consultations on the proposals are being led by Transport Focus, and each train operator has a dedicated e-mail address for responses on this issue, available here. In and around London, contact London TravelWatch here.

Passengers can respond online as to how they might be impacted by changes to their local station here, or send postal responses to the freepost address RTEH-XAGE-BYKZ, Transport Focus, PO Box 5594, Southend on Sea, SS1 9PZ. If people need assistance to provide their feedback, they can also contact Transport Focus by phone on 0300 123 2350.

The proposals affect the 974 stations which have a Department for Transport-controlled train operating company as the lead operator. They exclude stations operated by the Elizabeth Line, London Overground, Merseyrail, North Yorkshire Moors Railway Company, Transport for Wales, TfL, Transport for Greater Manchester, and Transport Scotland.

Please note the consultations have now been extended and all responses must now be received by Friday 1st September.

A full programme of Music Trains for 2023

We are back to a full summer’s programme of Music Trains this year, starting this month. There will be monthly trains from Chester to Plumley (except in June when we go to Knutsford) and more from Altrincham to Chester as well.

We start with Chester to Plumley and the Golden Pheasant on Wednesday 26 April to promote Chester Folk Festival – then each month until October. We will have a Music Train from Altrincham to Chester in June and more Music Trains from Altrincham later in the summer. Plus we can arrange lunchtime Music Trains for groups from Chester to the Railway Inn in Mobberley – as we did for Chester Vision Support last year and are planning for Grosvenor Museum Society in June this year.

There is no charge for the Music Trains from Chester to Plumley or Knutsford, though there is a collection on the way back for the band and you will need a train ticket. There is music on the train both ways and at the pub. No need to book from Chester or intermediate stations – just get on the train. There will be signs on the windows to show you the carriage with the music. Music Trains from Chester leave Chester at 18:56 and the return train arrives back in Chester at 22:38. (This is an earlier return journey than last year as the timetable has changed). You can also get on or off the train at the intermediate stations along the way. For Music Trains from Altrincham to Chester you need to book in advance – more details in the next newsletter.

At the intermediate stations you must buy your ticket from the platform ticket machine or online. At Chester you can buy it from the ticket machine or the ticket office or online. If there isn’t a ticket machine at your station or if the machine isn’t working then you can buy a ticket from the conductor on the train.

It is always possible that train services might be reduced and therefore a small possibility that a Music Train might have to be cancelled at short notice. In that case you would receive an email notification if you are on this mailing list and a note would be put on the Community Rail Partnership website and its social media accounts.

Wednesday 26 April – Chester to Plumley and at the Golden Pheasant

Three bands – Full House, Time Bandits and Kingfisher are playing and singing on the Music Train from Chester and at the Golden Pheasant pub in Plumley. They are promoting Chester Folk Festival (www.chesterfolk.org.uk), to be held at Kelsall from Friday 26 May to Monday 29 May. Full House play a mixture of traditional, contemporary and self-written material on guitar and octave mandola. Time Bandits play Anglo-European folk and renaissance dance music for concerts and ceilidhs. Kingfisher combine American west coast harmonies of the late 60’s, with traditional Celtic ballads, original numbers and the occasional 1970’s pop classic.

The Golden Pheasant has an extensive menu which you can see online. You can order online in advance or when you arrive or. If you order in advance then tell them that you are with the Music Train, so that you are seated in the bar area where you can hear the music and not in the restaurant.

From Chester

Wednesday 17 May – Chester to Plumley with the Deportees

Friday 9 June – Chester to Knutsford– with Nelson Peach

August to October dates to be confirmed – details in the next newsletter.

From Altrincham

Thursday 29 June – Altrincham to Chester and at Alexanders – with Pastry Shoes

August and September details and how to book in the next newsletter.

Groups on Music Trains

Groups are very welcome to join the Music Trains.

If you plan to bring a group of 8 or more people on a Music Train from Chester to Plumley or Knutsford, please contact me in advance about your plans so that we can agree a date or dates. That way we can avoid having too many groups on one evening.

If you plan to bring a group on the Music Trains from Altrincham to Alexanders in Chester then just go ahead and book online with Alexanders. There is a maximum of 45 places available.

We are happy to arrange extra Music Trains for groups of 30 or more people on weekdays. They can be in the daytime or in the evening. The costs are the train ticket and a contribution to the band’s fee – there is no extra charge for arranging the Music Train. Contact me to discuss arrangements and possible dates.

More information Watch the Mid Cheshire rail website (www.midcheshirerail.org.uk) or subscribe to this newsletter for details. Follow MidCheshire CRP on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Between Saturday 18 and Monday 27 February 2023, Network Rail are undertaking major work on the Grade 2 listed bridge which carries the railway across Buxton Road at Whaley Bridge.

This work requires the railway line between Hazel Grove to Buxton to be closed, with buses replacing trains.

[Read more…]

At Guide Bridge Station we have recently taken delivery of an original Mineral Wagon we believe to date to the early/mid 1900’s, the wagon has been purchased by a couple of Volunteers at Guide Bridge Station back end of last year. The plan is to renovate the wagon and have a livery painted to represent the local coal mining industry, on one side of the wagon it will display ‘Ashton Moss Colliery Audenshaw’, and on the other side of the wagon it will display ‘Denton Colliery’. The coal mining industry was once the main industry in both towns of Audenshaw & Denton. Our volunteers have now already started renovating the wagon by replacing the wood panel sides to which wood has been donated to the wagon with thanks to a member of the Facebook group. We have been in contact with the local school who have confirmed that as part of their 2023 curriculum will be learning about the Industrial Revolution, so there are plans for the school to develop a permanent display to go along side the wagon once renovated. The wagon is sitting in the memorial Garden, and we are pleased for the help & support from the local Network Rail team who kindly constructed a plinth for the wagon to sit on, and have kindly received a funding Grant from SEMCoRP to help with the renovation of the wagon.

The Friends of Handforth Station were saddened to hear the news of the death of founder member Barry Burkhill last weekend.

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Calling all Stockport-based creatives and groups: Avanti West Coast,  Network Rail, and Crewe 2 Manchester Community Rail Partnership have launched a community art competition – an exciting opportunity to create one of up to 40 large-scale designs. The pieces installed permanently in the huge recesses of the historic wall on the Edgeley approach of Stockport Railway Station, a busy thoroughfare that has seen little development compared to the main entrance.

Schools, colleges, community groups and individual artists are invited to submit artwork for long term display on the theme of “the view from a train window”. The design should be inspired by landscapes, cityscapes or people and could feature members of the community including community groups, past and present, historical events or features of Stockport, or the destinations along the lines, celebrating the dynamism of the areas. It could even bring together a combination of these themes and in any medium.

The deadline for submissions is 17:00 on November 30th 2022. For landscape inspiration you can find out more about the three partnership areas; Crewe to Manchester, Mid Cheshire and South East Manchester and destinations reached from Stockport, via the link, plus the full guidelines including specs and inspiration at: http://www.crewe2manchesterrail.org.uk/…/edgeley-art…

Supported by Avanti West Coast and Network Rail – South East Manchester, Crewe to Manchester and Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnerships are working together to facilitate this project.

Network Rail are carrying out major upgrades on the West Coast main line between Rugby and Stafford as part of a multimillion pound investment which will mean better journeys for passengers and freight services.

[Read more…]

RMT Union Strike Action

The RMT Union has announced strike action for Avanti West Coast Train Managers on 22 October and 6 November.

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