Utter nonsense. The Cambrian/Class 158 ETCS fit is of the older version that won't be compatible with the ECML ETCS installation for a start.
EMR has just announced a refurbishment for their 158s though. A bit strange if the Welsh ones will replace them, unless this is some years away?
What makes you say that?
I'm unsure, it could be the 150s first or the 158s. 150236 is the first to have left and the 158s are still going to be here for the rest of this year so. The 150s all have a time limit until their c6 overhaul which isn't happening.
The ETCS system on the TfW158s needs a big overhaul to get it to the latest versions.
Sorry, meant the 150s becoming available for other TOCs rather than the ones being scrapped.
There's still no confirmed plans for 398s being introduced. Even with the 756s there will still be 150s needed om the Valleys.
Current thoughts seem to be both will re-enter service.
Ahh ok so nothing concrete then!
The TfW 158s are certainly 'non-standard' nationally, as they are the only ones with ETCS fitted. Might that be a bigger issue for other TOCs than the different engines? Also, I'm pretty sure I've read somewhere that First Great Western (or possibly Wessex Trains before them) had a preference for Cummins-engined 158s over the Perkins-engined ones and deliberately cascaded away the Perkins-engined examples where they could.
Quite easy to isolate, all it takes is one turn of a drivers key in a certain switch and it goes back to being a bog standard 158 until the switch is put back.
Did that not just have one barrier coach?
I believe there is 3 (both Craven Arms units and 150231, unless I am mistaken and there is only one Craven Arms unit there.)
Thanks, I've passed several times recently with only 1 unit visible but maybe there'd been a shuffle.
150236 recently withdrawn and the Craven Arms units 150242 and 150279, the latter still in Arriva livery.
Indeed, one the only regular 150 diagrams outside valleys now being the 2048 ex Swansea to milford Haven in my experience.
The main factor is C6 body overhauls. Judging by the shiny condition of 150253 below the solebar, C4 overhauls are still happening. Though I guess if a unit due C6 in a few months runs out of C4 miles first, it will be game over. Someone with better knowledge than me might be able to explain better.
150236 hit it's C6 recently and was therefore removed from service, supposing the C6 is the death date for the 150 fleets, 1 by 1.
Are they going to be very short of units when that happens, or are enough of them l long enough away from C6 exams? More 197s entering service would help too I imagine?