Passengers 'abandoned' at deserted station after service disrupted

TRAIN OPERATOR APOLOGISES AS ANGRY TRAVELLERS BRAND PLIGHT 'TRULY HORRIFIC'

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

Above, the stranded rail passengers clapped their coach driver when he offered to take them onwards from Prestatyn station (file picture left)

(DAVID BERRY)

FED-UP train passengers complained families and pensioners were "abandoned" at a deserted station following an incident on the North Wales Main Line.

An estimated 100 passengers were left stranded in freezing conditions without any idea how they would get home.

Trains from Chester to Holyhead were disrupted on Wednesday evening, January 7, when a body was reported on the tracks at Shotton station, Flintshire. Paramedics declared the person dead at the scene and British Transport Police launched an investigation.

Passengers hoping to catch the 6.26pm service from Chester were advised to wait for the next Avanti West Coast train. But with Holyhead services cancelled until further notice, most piled into replacement coaches arranged by Transport for Wales (TfW).

Eddie Williams, who was heading to Bangor, said it was the start of a "truly horrific experience". Four buses supplied by Mold-based Keane's Coaches ferried the passengers to Prestatyn railway station, Denbighshire.

Mr Williams, 81, said: "Passengers waited around for about an hour on a platform at Chester station, then we were told that buses would take us on to Prestatyn, where trains would be available.