Or buy a takeaway from the buffet and sit and eat in standard?
Personally, I think it should be the Chester/Liverpool services that call at Craven Arms, Pontypool & New Inn and Church Stretton etc. The Manchesters should be a fast intercity-style service with the same calling pattern each hour (unfortunately this means Whitchurch, Nantwich and Wem losing their through Manchester services, since the infrustructure isn't there to allow a Northern EMU to do a MAN-SHR stopper).
But.. but... but... that would mean Liverpool would have a less-good service compared to Manchester! That's just totally unacceptable; everyone knows that Liverpool needs fast, direct Intercity (whatever that means) services to Cardiff (and Portsmouth, Plymouth etc etc).
That does indeed seem to be the plan. The Manchester paths are pretty much set in stone and even if the recast brought about by the Castlefields corridor report changes opens up space there it's hard to see any other windows for crossing the WCML at Crewe.
..... and as is always the case with the Marches, it's going to have to be some kind of compromise that upsets someone somewhere.But.. but... but... that would mean Liverpool would have a less-good service compared to Manchester! That's just totally unacceptable; everyone knows that Liverpool needs fast, direct Intercity (whatever that means) services to Cardiff (and Portsmouth, Plymouth etc etc).
(Though I agree that using the Chester/Liverpools as the stoppers would be the sensible option.)
It's certainly possible, indeed the first northbound HoW service continues on to Crewe as it stands. But with the low frequency of the HoW service, you're still going to need units to fill the rest of the gaps. Realistically the aforementioned service more of an operationally convenient move than anything else. Now, where have we heard/seen that before...
Probably not possible. Between Shrewsbury and Craven arms they're already going to have to fit around a 2tph Marches service which will limit where they can go and whether or not it fits into the 2 hourly Crewe - Shrewsbury local service. It's likely there will be some degree of through working as there is now given they're likely to be using the same units (currently planned to be 153s) but I doubt the timings will work out all day - especially as the Heart of Wales won't be at the same frequency.
2 failed sets and one on maintenance
Multi workings mods to work with the class 67s and SDO
Ah great, thanks!
The former.
Still not sure why RTT is showing Arlingtons, when they've been going into the TMD for further work on them by Arriva.
Ex-GC are being modified with SDO before entering service HD01, HD02 & HD03 will also have SDO fitted plus will be reformed with POD in correct position behind DVT and also extra TSOD added to the rakes.
Will Eastleigh repaint the ex GC sets into tfw livery seeing as there is a paint workshop on site as well?
A further repaint without having turned a wheel in service after the GC repaint is a luxury the Welsh taxpayer can do without, I think.
I mean, TfW could pull an EMR and vinyl the main bodyside but leave the window area black - seemed to work well for their 180s…
And the 402 TRFBs in the Angel rakes, cleverly vinyled around the FGW Blue.
The mk4s I can see them repainting the Ex-LNER ones, but considering the GC ones were recently fully refurbished I can’t seen it happening for them, but who knows.
HD = Holyhead is my understanding. While the Mk2/3 rakes always overnighted at Holyhead, with three services a day per diagram they'll alternate between Holyhead and Cardiff.
The set numbers come from the Platform 5 coaching stock book 2022. I would assume Holyhead might be home depot as Canton will be the main depot for Stadler flirt 231s and 756s
The problem with Holyhead is there's no facilities for Mk4s and 67s to be maintained, it just has a fuel road.
