Bring back the locos Rail business is being turned away because the complete Cambrian rail network is out of bounds to locomotive-hauled trains. Neither freight nor loco-hauled specials are allowed, with one or two exceptions, like the royal train! RDS has launched a campaign to Bring Back the Locos. We also want to see temporary speed restrictions removed so Sprinters can operate at their proper speed.
Summer boost There was a big increase in people using the Cambrian line this summer thanks to a promotion by Central Trains. A colour folder has also been issued to launch cheap fares for the winter.
Walk on The Heart of Wales special rambler trains attracted good crowds. The line's development officer Mike Wilson plans to make the line a tourist attraction in its own right, with financial help from local councils. This winter, fares on the line have been slashed by a third from most stations. Chris Gibb of South Wales and West Railway is looking for other ways to boost travel on the route. The 1996-7 season of Wales Rail walks has started using service trains on the routes radiating from Shrewsbury.
Sorry record A record for the number of people travelling on a 153 train was probably set in July when about 170 people boarded the last train from Builth Road during Royal Welsh Show week. No special trains were laid on so the normal single-car 153s had to cope. Thank goodness the crews showed more enterprise than their "superiors" by allowing so many on board. Otherwise many people would have been stranded.
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