Wrexham & Shropshire: Open Access - The One That Got Away
This is the extraordinary story of the service between Wrexham, Shrewsbury and London (Marylebone) that ran between 2008 and 2011, told by the people that ran it, and he people that promoted it. These initiatives have a way of fading into history, but this piece of open access enterprise will not.
To many, Railway Privatisation just sort of 'happened'. This book sets out the history of 'why' and 'how', offering a clear context from insiders of the real struggle to set up the service, despite privatisation 'competition' pledges. It dispels the myth, beloved by some, that it was privatisation that is responsible for the massive increases in volume that have 'saved' the railways and prompted a truly massive investment boom. The book also notes how the Open Access services are now all owned by large groups, and shows that UK railways have been re-nationalised in all but name.
In its short existence Wrexham & Shropshire gained the accolade throughout the UK rail network of providing the best on-train service anywhere. Throughout its existence it was looked upon nervously by giant competitors, and rested uneasily with those in authority, who found it irksome that such an operation with no risk to the taxpayer but outside their control should threaten best-laid plans.
Ringed round with restrictions, and unable to gain either reasonable stops in the West Midlands, or an acceptable journey time, Wrexham & Shropshire still carved out a loyal client base. These were people who delighted in 'proper' service values, where the customers were treated with courtesy and kindness, wonderful food was on-board, and the fares system could be understood by everyone.
Wrexham & Shropshire never made a bean - it was not alone in that - but it was eventually obliged to close, and its assets were redeployed to the excellent Chiltern Mainline service. It was a beacon of quality while it lasted, and ought to have been allowed to succeed.
Here is why it did not.
Hardback with dust jacket, 256 pages, colour illustrations
Condition: Very Good
ISBN: 9780957145610
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