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Not sure I would call them outdated but I agree that the class 158s do often fall short of the ideal as far as air conditioning is concerned. It is a massive shame that there isn't anything which can provide a good service year-round on the Cambrian - the 158s are not up to the job on hot days...

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...

Aren't the 230s (D-Trains) around 55 metres long and 756/0 (the 3-car FLIRT units) 65 metres; in which case both are shorter than a 3-car Cavity (71.4m) and probably closer to the 2-car Cavity (48.05m) than the 3-car ones? Seasonally and off-peak yes, an appropriately designed 2-car unit would...

I don't think you can read that much into it. Presumably the change from Fainsa Comrail ('ironing boards') to Fainsa Sophia was a contract variation (I seem to recall a quote along the lines of variation orders "turning a net loss into a gross profit"). Had the Sophias been specified initially...

I understood that all the new-build TfW/KeolisAmey fleets were owned by special purpose ventures (companies that own to isolate any losses from impacting other parts of a larger business - maybe a bit like a reverse form of cross-subsidy between loss-making and profitable bus/rail services). If...

Longer platforms, additional depot space and, most of all, upgraded ERTMS would still come in useful some day when the 158s are eventually replaced by something. If I recall correctly, the leasing (and possibly running) costs of a 158 in ATW days were considerably lower than a 2-car 175, so the...

The KeolisAmey franchise plan was a simpler, reliable and consistent service. Consistently outer-suburban that is, outside the valleys Metro, even on 5hr journeys to the likes of Pwllheli. Almost everything would have been a 197; or a 170/230 on specific routes - away from the south-east Metro...

I don't think that has ever been officially answered - was it a cost-saving measure or are ETCS-fitted units somehow inferior if you don't have to have it? If I recall correctly they were originally expected to all be delivered with ETCS/ERTMS but that later changed for some reason (or perhaps...

If I understand correctly from what I've read on this thread, class 197/0 (ie. 2-car sets) are cleared to run in pairs (to make up a 4-car train) but the 3-car sets (197/1) are only allowed to be used in multiple on certain route sections (and Shrewsbury-Manchester isn't one of them).

I was a little surprised to read this, given that the class 756s have been out on the GWML I assumed TfW would have been able to start driver (and guard) training on the 756s on the GWML between Newport. Having just gone looking for the relevant pinned threads however I see that this route is...

If the 158s go off-lease without more 197s being introduced first it won't only short forms but also cancelations since none of the 197s currently in use can run on the Cambrian at the moment as far as I know. Even if/when the ETCS-fitted 197s are delivered they are, at best, a 1-for-1...

Introducing the 197s on the Shrewsbury-Birmingham route will probably just mean that the Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth/Pwllheli route (Cambrian lines) also goes over to 197 operation with the 158s going off-lease - in which case there will be no difference to the shortage of rolling stock.

Pedantically a 2-car 197 covering a 158, while the same number of coaches, could be considered a 'short form' since a 158 has more of just about everything except standing room* and legroom. * even then, the franchise documents show a total capacity (seated+standing) increase of just 3...

I think I still have a copy on my PC - hopefully it's uploaded and attached to this post.

The wheelchair spaces, accessible toilet and catering cupboard are all in the same carriage, at the opposite end of the train to 'Standard Plus' area. Even if you could somehow get a wheelchair space into the 'Standard Plus' area there is still no toilet in that carriage (not even a 'space...

That's interesting since 14 units seemed slightly generous for the full hourly service between Swansea and Manchester (9 or 10 diagrams) they were originally expected to cover. With mark 4s now doing half the Cardiff-Manchester runs, even fewer 197/1 diagrams will now be required to cover...

Not sure if there are platform humps there now, but I seem to remember during ATW days that at least one of the platforms at Ferryside was quite low and there was a set of portable wooden steps in the waiting shelter(s) to help passengers climb up/down to/from the train. There are some...

Nope; the expected lease end date for them (along with the 769s and 153s) was 31/10/2022 which, if it had happened, would have left the 150s and 67s as the only ex-ATW vehicles still in service with TfW into 2023 (the 175s having been due off-lease 31/05/2022).

Other than the 67s, I think the 150s were originally planned to be the last of the ex-ATW fleets to go off-lease from TfW, with the rest all expected to have gone by now. The 150s (including 6x class 150/9 three-car sets that never happened) were due to follow on 31/12/2023. Clearly that is...

Obvious to passengers with a reasonable sense of where places are and knowledge of the rail network. However not everyone possesses those qualities. There are least two places called Newport in the southern half of Wales, although the other one I'm thinking of is not on the rail network some...