RAIL passengers heading for Wirral are dumped off prematurely-terminated trains in North Wales, according to the Wrexham-Birkenhead Rail Users’ Association.

Such part-cancellations are always followed by another one southbound with no train running back from Bidston to Shotton, says the group.

Now the group is calling on readers to sign a petiton demanding a new service.

“Shotton turnarounds have happened dozens of times since Arriva Trains Wales took over the service,” said WBRUA chairman Malcolm Wright.

“It is no joke for passengers waiting further north at stations with no staff, no public address, no live information displays and no toilets.

“At least the passengers ejected at Shotton are aware of what has happened.”

The cancellations are imposed because the Wrexham - Bidston journey is nearly 60 minutes long, with an hourly timetable operated by just two train units. The action group say that allows no time at the termini to recover from even minor delays.

In a recent document, Government-sponsored rail watchdog Passenger Focus wrote of the mid-Wirral route that “operating it with the barest minimum of resources is almost a plan for failure.”

Mr Wright said: “Previous franchisees would deploy back-up trains to recover the timetable if necessary, but ATW seem to think that it is cheaper simply to dump or strand their passengers.

“It is especially frustrating because it prevents us publicising some great new fare deals and journey opportunities from the line.”

Another development has been the launch of a new Marylebone rail service from Wrexham, giving some hope to people in Heswall, Neston and Upton that they may get their own through service to London too.

“The new trains from Wrexham are not as fast or frequent as Virgin’s Pendolinos from Lime Street but they are classy, comfortable and scenic, with a number of advance value fares available for all journeys,” said Mr Wright.

He added: “For people who can get to the station by car, however, the new London service is convenient for the M53 with 70mph roads nearly all the way to Wrexham General station.”

Wirral Globe readers are encouraged to support a Bidston - London service by writing to Richard Harper at W&S, The Pump House, Coton Hill, SHREWSBURY SY1 2DP or emailing the rail users at WBRUA-London@hotmail.co.uk.