Welsh Marches Line

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Welsh Marches Line
STRrg HLUECKE
West Coast Main Line
ABZrg HLUECKE
to Manchester
HLUECKE ABZlg
North Wales Coast Line
BHF
Crewe
HST
Nantwich
HST
Wrenbury
HST
Whitchurch
HST
Prees
HST
Wem
HST
Yorton
HLUECKE ABZlg
Shrewsbury to Chester Line
BHF
Shrewsbury
WBRÜCKE
River Severn
ABZld HLUECKE
Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line
STR
(Severn Bridge Junction)
HLUECKE ABZrf
Cambrian Line
HST
Church Stretton
eABZrg exHLUECKE
Wenlock Edge Railway
exHLUECKE eABZlg
Bishops Castle Railway
HST
Craven Arms
HLUECKE ABZrf
Heart of Wales Line
eHST
Onibury
HST
Ludlow
eABZlf exHLUECKE
Tenbury & Bewdley Railway
HST
Leominster
HST
Hereford
ABZlf HLUECKE
Cotswold Line
GRENZE
England and Wales Border
HST
Abergavenny
HST
Pontypool & New Inn
HST
Cwmbran
ABZld HLUECKE
Maindee Junction Gloucester to Newport Line
STR
and South Wales Main Line
BHF
Newport
HLUECKE STRrf
South Wales Main Line
The Welsh Marches Line at Craven Arms in Shropshire.
The Welsh Marches Line at Craven Arms in Shropshire.
Steam train approaching Harlescott Crossing near Shrewsbury.
Steam train approaching Harlescott Crossing near Shrewsbury.
A DMU running northwards from Shrewsbury in the direction of Crewe.
A DMU running northwards from Shrewsbury in the direction of Crewe.

The Welsh Marches Line is the railway line from Newport to Shrewsbury via Abergavenny, Hereford, Craven Arms, and then, either to Crewe and Manchester via Whitchurch or alternately via the Shrewsbury and Chester Line to Wrexham and Chester with services continuing to Holyhead. The line in this way links South Wales to northwest England via the Welsh border region of the Welsh Marches, bypassing Birmingham, it is sometimes known as the "North and West route". Most trains to Chester, the North Wales Coast and Holyhead start from Cardiff, while many services to Crewe and Manchester now start from Milford Haven or Carmarthen and also serve Cardiff and sometimes Swansea.

The cities, towns and villages served by the routes are listed below from south to north:

Arriva Trains Wales runs services on the line and many continue to Manchester Piccadilly, via Stockport or else to Holyhead via Wrexham and Chester.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

The line is very popular for railtours, both steam and diesel. During Autumn 2007, 6201 'Princess Elizabeth' visited the route on 2 returns and 1 single run from Bristol to Shrewsbury and Crewe. Also a few railtours hauled by 37s and 47s travelled along the line during the same time of year.