Having a day off work today and it being reasonably nice weather compared to the past few days I decided to have a day out on the TFW network. it was a toss up between riding a 197 to Haverfordwest/Milford or a trip on the Heart of Wales Line which I have neglected since at least December 2019! In the end the Heart of Wales won, so i decided to take a ride to Llandovery, somewhere ive not visited before, only passed through on the HOWL.
My journey started with the 0745 ex Cardiff to Milford service which called at my local Swanline station, which today was 197012. I rode this as far as Llanelli where i changed for the HOWL service. The acceleration on the 197 from Swansea was excellent and it arrived in Llanelli a good 3 minutes early. Only the second time ive been on a 197 West of Swansea. The 0931 Llanelli to Shrewsbury today was a single 153 (153312), id say it was no more than a third full the entire way to Llandovery. It called at all request stops apart from Bynea and Llangenneth It was on time leaving Llanelli, but did lose a bit of time at Pantyfynnon so arrived in Llandovery around 10 mins late. I decided to get the next train back at 1128 (which was also about 10 mins as the services cross at Llanwrtyd) Surprisingly I crammed a lot into about 45 minutes, a look around Llandovery which is lovely plus a drink and snack. Im not sure there would be enough to spend more than a couple of hours there though as the next train after the 1128 wasnt due until 1407. In the past ive stopped off at Llanwrtyd and spent an hour there as back in the day the lunchtime service from Swansea allowed just over an hour there. There was a bit more to do and aee in Llandovery but even having less than an hour there i didnt feel rushed like I thought i would be. Id love to go to Sugar Loaf sometime, Knighton is also on my list but thats a lot more further North.
The return journey was also a single 153 (153323), again about a third full but picked up quite a few passengers particularly at Ammanford, id say it was well over half full on arrival at Llanelli where i alighted. All request stops were called at apart from Bynea. A good proportion of passengers today seemed to be using their bus passes for free travel (available between October and March I believe)
I got chatting to a very lovely guard on the train.... I heard her mention the HOWL rail card so I decided to ask her about it. Apparently its £13 a year and you get a 1/3 off all fares. I then asked her about my favourite Transport for Wales topic the 197s! Apparently the drivers like them, the guards are not so keen. They preferred the 175s as they were easier to work. She also told me that its the first time in a while she has worked a single 153 on the HOWL - they are usually pairs of 153s with the odd 150.
Anyone able to advise whether the HOWL is actually booked as single 153s or pairs now? I thought it was single 153s still and seeing 2 on there today supports that. Today a single 153 coped with demand but seeing how many passengers got on at Ammanford for Llanelli/Swansea a second carriage would be beneficial.
Anyway, a very enjoyable journey and morning/afternoon, I do love the HOWL, ive been put off in recent years due to the unreliable service/many cancellations
My journey started with the 0745 ex Cardiff to Milford service which called at my local Swanline station, which today was 197012. I rode this as far as Llanelli where i changed for the HOWL service. The acceleration on the 197 from Swansea was excellent and it arrived in Llanelli a good 3 minutes early. Only the second time ive been on a 197 West of Swansea. The 0931 Llanelli to Shrewsbury today was a single 153 (153312), id say it was no more than a third full the entire way to Llandovery. It called at all request stops apart from Bynea and Llangenneth It was on time leaving Llanelli, but did lose a bit of time at Pantyfynnon so arrived in Llandovery around 10 mins late. I decided to get the next train back at 1128 (which was also about 10 mins as the services cross at Llanwrtyd) Surprisingly I crammed a lot into about 45 minutes, a look around Llandovery which is lovely plus a drink and snack. Im not sure there would be enough to spend more than a couple of hours there though as the next train after the 1128 wasnt due until 1407. In the past ive stopped off at Llanwrtyd and spent an hour there as back in the day the lunchtime service from Swansea allowed just over an hour there. There was a bit more to do and aee in Llandovery but even having less than an hour there i didnt feel rushed like I thought i would be. Id love to go to Sugar Loaf sometime, Knighton is also on my list but thats a lot more further North.
The return journey was also a single 153 (153323), again about a third full but picked up quite a few passengers particularly at Ammanford, id say it was well over half full on arrival at Llanelli where i alighted. All request stops were called at apart from Bynea. A good proportion of passengers today seemed to be using their bus passes for free travel (available between October and March I believe)
I got chatting to a very lovely guard on the train.... I heard her mention the HOWL rail card so I decided to ask her about it. Apparently its £13 a year and you get a 1/3 off all fares. I then asked her about my favourite Transport for Wales topic the 197s! Apparently the drivers like them, the guards are not so keen. They preferred the 175s as they were easier to work. She also told me that its the first time in a while she has worked a single 153 on the HOWL - they are usually pairs of 153s with the odd 150.
Anyone able to advise whether the HOWL is actually booked as single 153s or pairs now? I thought it was single 153s still and seeing 2 on there today supports that. Today a single 153 coped with demand but seeing how many passengers got on at Ammanford for Llanelli/Swansea a second carriage would be beneficial.
Anyway, a very enjoyable journey and morning/afternoon, I do love the HOWL, ive been put off in recent years due to the unreliable service/many cancellations
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