The northern stretch of the Welsh Marches route from Shrewsbury to Chester is now much reduced from its early role as part of the Great Western's Paddington - Birkenhead main line to a secondary line serving Welsh border towns. A Class 158 unit crosses t

The northern stretch of the Welsh Marches route from Shrewsbury to Chester is now much reduced from its early role as part of the Great Western's Paddington - Birkenhead main line to a secondary line serving Welsh border towns. A Class 158 unit crosses the viaduct at Newbridge with one of the hourly Chester - Birmingham trains that are now the route's only passenger service. February 2004, United Kingdom. (Photo by Rail Photo/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images)