Severe disruption on trains from Shotton to Wrexham and Bidston due to a shortage of staff

Arriva Train Wales say there are severe delays this afternoon on services from Shotton to Wrexham and Bidston.

Three services between Bidston and Wrexham, which stop at Shotton Station have been cancelled so far today with more possible as the afternoon wears on.

Over the past few weeks the train operating company has been battling with driver and conductor shortages which has impacted on commuters using services to Shotton.

Recent messages on the Arriva Trains Wales website have varied from ‘operations challenges’ to driver and conductor shortages and at one point an undisclosed ‘operational incident’ message was used when several Wrexham to Bidston services were cancelled.

@ArrivaTW absolute JOKE of an excuse to cancel trains!! Still waiting in Hawarden for road transport!!

— Sam Pritchard (@sdp2012uk) August 23, 2016

Like all UK privatised train companies, Arriva Trains Wales don’t appear to employ enough train drivers and conductors to cover sickness, holidays and other staffing issues meaning some services have had to be cancelled.

Talking specifically about the recent driver shortages a spokesman for ASLEF, the train drivers union told Deeside.com

‘Delays caused by a shortage of drivers are down to the privatised train operating companies which do not recruit enough drivers to provide the service they promise, in their franchise applications, to provide. The train companies want to keep their costs down, and their fares up, to make as much profit as possible.

That’s why they cram in as many commuters as they can during the rush hour. Sadly, the train companies are not in the business of providing a public service but of making as much money as possible. That’s why they fail to recruit the drivers they need. And that’s why they cancel trains – because they do not employ enough men and women to drive their trains.’

Arriva Trains Wales website is currently showing three cancelled services which were due to run via Shotton today, Tuesday 23nd August they are:

15:32 Bidston to Wrexham Central due 16:32

16:30 Wrexham Central to Bidston due 17:31

17:45 Bidston to Wrexham Central due 18:46

As a result replacement bus services will be in operation for these services.

The website is also shows replacement bus services for these services:

19.50 Wrexham General – Bidston. Calling all stations.

20.56 Bidston – Wrexham Central. Calling all station.

Suggesting these are both likely to be cancelled.

As has been the case the situation does change throughout the day and it’s worth keeping an eye on Arriva Trains Wales website if you are using the rail network today.