Network Rail and TfW remove dozens of historic speed restrictions on key route
It's hoped the changes will improve journey times between Wales and the North West of England
Network Rail and Transport for Wales are joining forces in a bid to cut journey times between Cardiff and Manchester.
It's as dozens of speed restrictions have been removed for trains on the route.
It's taken three years of collaboration on the Marches Line, with the route called an 'incredibly important' link to the North of Wales and North West of England.
The Class 67 locomotives which haul Mark 4 carriages on TfW’s Premier Service trains had previously seen their speed limited in 40 locations on the line - with 38 of these restrictions now taken away.
It's hoped to improve journey times for everyone travelling between Cardiff, Manchester and Holyhead.
Passengers are already seeing shorter journeys by around 10 minutes between Cardiff and Manchester – thanks to signalling tweaks and new signage.
'Three years of hard work and collaboration'
Network Rail Wales and Borders programme manager Alex Hinshelwood said: “After three years of hard work and collaboration, the line-speed improvement project on the Marches Line has been commissioned.
“This allows all trains between Hereford, Crewe and North Wales to run at the same speed, bringing significant journey time improvements in time for the December 2024 timetable change.
“The top speed on the line hasn’t altered – but now all trains, some of which were previously restricted to a lower speed, are allowed to run at the same top speed.
“When we saw the potential journey-time savings that could be made, we were thrilled to be able to help TfW deliver faster journeys for their passengers by realising the full capability of the railway.
“We are now looking at other locations across the Wales and Borders route where we can make similar line-speed improvements.”
'We are delighted to have agreed these key line-speed improvements'
Transport for Wales planning and performance director Colin Lea said: “Working closely with our partners in Network Rail, we are delighted to have agreed these key line-speed improvements on the Marches line.
“These will initially prove to be a performance boost for us, meaning we can get more customers to where they are travelling to on time. From December, we will also be able to improve journey times on the back of this work, meaning shorter journeys for our customers.
“The Marches route is incredibly important, linking North Wales and the North West of England, to South Wales and services to the Cambrian coast and Birmingham.
“Speed improvements can only be achieved through close collaboration and with safety at the forefront, so this achievement really does show how train operators and Network Rail can work together for the benefit of customers and the economy.”