Wrexham General railway station

Wrexham General railway station (Wrecsam Cyffredinol) is a main line railway station and the main railway station serving Wrexham, north-east Wales. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but services are also provided by Virgin Trains who operate a service to London Euston. Until January 2011 Wrexham & Shropshire also operated from here to London Marylebone.

It is the busiest station in North Wales followed by Bangor and Rhyl. The station was first opened in 1846, later becoming part of the GWR network and expanded in 1912. It is one of three railway stations in the central area of the town, one now part of General, named Wrexham Exchange, the other being Wrexham Central. It is the main hub for inter-city services in the area, and as a result 77.7% of all rail journeys (2006/07) in Wrexham County Borough start or end at the station. It is also a major hub for inter-city services in North Wales.

Until the early 1980s what is now platform 4 of Wrexham General, serving the Wrexham Central – Bidston service, was a separate station: Wrexham Exchange.

History
In 1846 the first steam trains began the Railway Age in Wrexham. The line was originally called The North Wales Mineral Railway This was backed by local businessmen, among whom the developer of the steel works at Brymbo, Henry Robertson, is well known. There have been two railway station buildings on the site: the original was built by the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway in Jacobean style with Dutch gable pediments. The architect for that station was Mr Thomas Penson of Wrexham, who also designed the Shrewsbury and Gobowen stations. It was built on the edge of Wrexham, a town which at the time was heavily industrialised and had many coal mines and steelworks to attract the railway companies.

The second station building was constructed by the GWR in 1912. The company decided the increasing rail traffic needed newer and more efficient facilities, so the station was rebuilt to a standardised GWR 'French Pavilion' design, including ornate crestings on the roof "towers". This station design was unique in that it used stonework from the original building instead of standard red brick. It survived the Beeching cuts of the 1960s as a through route for steel produced in Shotton and wood for the Chirk MDF factory.

In 1997 a wagon on an empty coal train derailed at a nearby level crossing. The train carried on for a mile into Wrexham General where the wagons scraped up the platform, damaging it and the station canopy. This prompted a massive refurbishing, including new canopies, a jetwash of the blackened sandstone buildings, and platform retiling along all main platforms. The out of use bay platform saw no improvements, and retained its 1970s lighting until 2008 when refurbished by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The suffix "General" was used by the Great Western Railway, and later the Western Region of British Railways to differentiate their main stations from others in the area which belonged to other companies. Following the Beeching axe, Wrexham General remains the only "General" station on the National Rail network, whereas other "General" stations (including Shrewsbury General and Chester General, which were simply renamed "Shrewsbury" and "Chester" respectively), lost the suffix or (like Cardiff General, the last station to lose the "General" suffix) were re-dubbed as "Central" stations. Because of the continued presence of two stations serving Wrexham, the other being titled Wrexham Central, the "General" suffix was retained.

Until 1967 Wrexham General was served by GWR, latterly BR Western Region, express services between London Paddington and Birkenhead Woodside which was withdrawn upon the electrification of the West Coast Main Line.

Wrexham Exchange
Now platform four of Wrexham General, Wrexham Exchange was originally a separate railway station opened in May 1866 for the Wrexham, Mold and Connah's Quay Railway (WMCQR). By the time WMCQR had been bought by the Great Central Railway, the line was a through station connecting to the Cambrian Railways Wrexham Central Railway Station. The station changed hands again in 1921 during the Railways Act 1921, to the London and North Eastern Railway, as one of their few stations in Wales.



Recent developments
The station is currently undergoing a renaissance as a number of new services have been introduced. Since 2005 the station has been a stop of the two hourly Cardiff to Holyhead Arriva Trains Wales service. The two hourly Birmingham New Street service has also been extended to Birmingham International and Holyhead.

As of January 2011 the station provides direct services to London on weekdays provided by Virgin Trains (via Chester and Crewe).

Wrexham and Shropshire's operational headquarters and train depot were located in the station.

Planning permission has been granted for further development at the station, to include a new cafe and taxi rank.

It was announced in November 2008 that the Welsh Assembly Government would fund work on rail infrastructure between Wrexham and Chester; this would allow increased express services from north to south Wales on this congested section of the line. This might see the currently single track section to Saltney Junction restored to double track operation, however the results of recent studies into the improvements has revealed a double track solution would be too costly as two structures crossing the A483 road are built to single track standard, and dynamic loops are more realistic.

In June 2011, construction began on the increased access for disabled people to platform four. The existing footbridge between platforms three and four was removed in preparation for the construction of a new footbridge which includes a lift on Platform four. This will negate the use of the road bridge for disabled access to platform four. The new bridge has been built to modern standards but in a style sympathising with the rest of the station design.

The footbridge was installed in a record 12 hours and a timelapse video was shot of the event.

Services
Wrexham General benefits from Inter-City services towards Holyhead, Birmingham International, Cardiff Central, London Euston and a Sundays-only service to Manchester Piccadilly.

The station is also situated on the Borderlands Line, providing local services towards Deeside and Merseyside for connections to Liverpool Central.

Main weekday services

 * Borderlands Line: Wrexham Central to Bidston - mostly operated by Class 150 diesel multiple units.


 * Cardiff-Holyhead: Cardiff Central to Holyhead via Newport, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Chester, Llandudno Junction and Bangor with some southbound services continuing to Maesteg - mostly operated by Class 175 diesel multiple units.


 * Birmingham-Holyhead: Birmingham International to Holyhead via Wolverhampton, Telford Central and Shrewsbury - mostly operated by Class 158 diesel multiple units.


 * Cardiff-Holyhead (Premier Service): Cardiff Central to Holyhead via Newport, Shrewsbury, Chester, Llandudno Junction and Bangor (one service in each direction on weekdays) - this service commenced in early May 2011 using 175 DMUs and was expected to run as a loco hauled service from December 2011 leasing Class 67, Driving Van Trailer and Mark 3 coach sets, however it continues to be operated by Class 175 diesel multiple units as of April 2012.

Other services

 * Birmingham-Warrington: Birmingham International to Warrington Bank Quay via Chester and Runcorn East (one evening service on weekdays northbound only) - operated by a variety of diesel multiple units.


 * Chester/Shrewsbury (Shuttle Service): including Chester to Wrexham General or Shrewsbury to Wrexham General. (these services operate in early morning/late evening as to transfer rolling stock between mainline and Borderlands line services and to allow passengers from Gobowen, Chirk and Ruabon to connect with mainline services at Wrexham) - mostly operated by Class 150 diesel multiple units

Virgin Trains
It is unclear whether further services will be introduced now the open-access operator Wrexham and Shropshire has withdrawn services.
 * Virgin Trains operate one daily service which departs at 07:00 to London Euston trains always call at Chester and Crewe then either Rugby or Milton Keynes Central and finally arriving at London Euston at 09:38. At Chester, this service attaches to the 05:53 service from Holyhead, which will then depart as a combined service at 07:35. This service is operated by Class 221 SuperVoyager units.

Normal Service Pattern
Arriva Trains Wales


 * 1tph to Bidston via Shotton (Platform 3 or 4)
 * 1tph to Wrexham Central (Platform 4)
 * 1tph to Chester with:
 * 1tph extending to Holyhead (Platform 2)
 * 1tph to Shrewsbury, with:
 * 1tph travelling via Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen (Platforms 1, 3, 5 or 6)
 * 1tp2h continuing to Cardiff Central with some extending to Maesteg or Carmarthen (Platforms 1, 3, 5 or 6)
 * 1tp2h continuing to Birmingham International via Birmingham New Street (Platform 1, 3, 5 or 6)
 * 1tpd Premier express service to Cardiff Central (Platform 1)
 * 1tpd Premier express service to Holyhead (Platform 2)

Virgin Trains (Mon-Fri only)


 * 1tpd to London Euston via Crewe (Platform 2)

Evenings and Sundays
In the evenings and Sundays there is a slightly different pattern of service, all operated by Arriva Trains Wales


 * 1tp2h to Bidston
 * 1tp2h to Wrexham Central
 * 1tph to Shrewsbury with 1tp2h extending to Wolverhampton and Birmingham and 2tpd to Hereford and South Wales
 * 1tph to Chester with 1tp2h extending to Warrington Bank Quay or Manchester Piccadilly and a small number to Holyhead

Facilities and further passenger information

 * Self service ticket machines are available
 * Ticket hall with counters for ticket purchase and information points is available
 * A shop and Cafe selling magazines, drinks and simple hot and cold food is available
 * All platforms have monitors showing the next three trains to depart or terminate are in use
 * All platforms have announcements
 * There is a taxi rank at this station
 * Regular buses call at this station
 * There is a large pay and display car park at this station
 * There are three entrances/exits to the station, one via the main ticket hall. Another on platform one near the overpass. The third is located on Mold road, connecting to platform 4
 * Disabled access to whole station
 * Lifts to all platforms via main over pass
 * All regular north and south bound long distance trains have at seat or buffet car catering
 * Waiting rooms are located on the island platforms
 * This station is covered by a roof
 * Regular BTP security checks are carried out throughout this station
 * No passenger trains currently call at platforms 5 and 6, these are just used for the stabling of trains

Layout


Wrexham General comprises six platforms. Two bay platforms at the southern end of Platform 1 have recently been refurbished after decades of disuse. These were used for trains to Barmouth via the Ruabon Barmouth line until the 1960s. They are now used for Wrexham and Shropshire services to London and overnight stabling of trains. Platforms 1 and 2 are on the main Chester to Shrewsbury line, platform 3 being on an island platform opposite 2; and platform 4, until the mid-1980s a separate former Great Central Railway station named Wrexham Exchange, was on the ex-Ellesmere to Bidston line, now the Wrexham to Bidston Borderlands Line. Platform 5, once opposite and on the same route as platform 4, became disused when the line was singled, however in 2008 it has been re-surfaced and is now a private parking space.


 * Platform 1 can accommodate a 10 car train, and is used for long distance southbound intercity passenger services to Shrewsbury, and onwards to Birmingham International (via Telford Central) or Cardiff Central, operated by Arriva Trains Wales, and for services terminating at Wrexham from Chester and London Euston. Due to signalling constraints, trains cannot depart to the north.
 * Platform 2 can accommodate a 10 car train, and is used for regular northbound passenger inter city and regional services to Chester and services onwards to the North Wales Coast line to Holyhead and for services to Manchester Piccadilly via Chester and Runcorn, operated by Arriva Trains Wales. Inter city Services to London Euston (via Chester and Crewe) are also provided on this platform by Virgin Trains. Due to signalling constraints, trains cannot depart to the south.
 * Platform 3 can accommodate a 7 car train, and was used for regular passenger services to London Marylebone via Shrewsbury, Telford Central and Tame Bridge, operated by Wrexham & Shropshire. This platform is now used by a small number of Borderlands Line passenger services (usually the first northbound and last southbound train each day), for services terminating at Wrexham from Shrewsbury and for freight services changing between the Shrewsbury-Chester line and the Borderlands line. This platform is signalled bidirectionally, so trains can depart either south towards Shrewsbury or north towards Bidston, although no services from Shrewsbury currently depart on the Borderlands line and vice versa. In practice this platform is used for trains terminating from either direction.
 * Platform 4 is located outside the main station canopy and is used for regular branch line passenger services northbound to Bidston, and to Wrexham Central in the opposite direction, operated by Arriva Trains Wales. This platform is signalled bidirectionally, so trains can depart either south towards Wrexham Central or north towards Bidston.
 * Platforms 5 and 6 are south facing bay platforms located at the end on platform 1. These are now only used when Platform 3 is unavailable to accommodate south bound trains starting/terminating at Wrexham.

Merseytravel are currently in negotiations with network rail and a number of other companies to upgrade the Halton Curve, a section of the Liverpool branch of the West Coast Mainline which connects to Chester, in order to start direct services to Liverpool Lime Street via Chester and Runcorn.

Infrastructure improvements
On 28 April 2008, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, the Deputy First Minister for Wales opened a new Wrexham Network Rail depot. It consisted of the refurbishment of two terminal bay platforms to the south of the station for overnight stabling of trains and the construction of a crew depot. The development was opened to coincide with the start of services from Wrexham General to London by Wrexham and Shropshire, who utilised the depot until services to London Marylebone stopped in January 2011.

From February 2009 a cafe has opened on the station in formerly empty office space.

On 20 May 2012 it was announced that sections of the North to South Wales line would be upgraded along the Wrexham section of the line to a total of £46 million worth of improvements. These include redoubling the Wrexham – Chester section, and upgrading sections of the line to allow for 90 mph running throughout. This will allow for an increase in traffic between Wrexham and Chester, including further London services and a possibility of regular services to new destinations. One report has suggested extending the hourly First TransPennine Express Hull – Manchester Piccadilly service to Wrexham via Chester, which would provide a direct service to Manchester, Leeds and Hull. Other suggestions include extending the current hourly Chester – Crewe shuttle service south to Wrexham and north to Manchester (via Manchester Airport).