CAF Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

[sd0733]

Are the current Saturday 197 diagrams the same?

Saturdays are booked for more 197s to Cardiff.

The 07:16, 09:14 Shrewsbury to Cardiff are 2 car and the 11:16 is a 4 car which then splits at Canton

The 11:22, 13:23, 15:23 and 17:16 off Cardiff back to Holyhead then utilise the 4 units that went down.

That's what's booked though, there's a fair few substitutions caused by poor availability of working units some days and allocated crew not signing them so it's not a guarantee one will show!

 

[southernyoshi]

Thank you

 

[MDB1images]

66515 worked 6Q98 from Donnington FRT to Crewe today with 197030. Another ETCS fitted 197.

Anyone know if when the Class 197's head from Donnington to Crewe Basford Hall if they head to the Arriva Depot(for start of service checks etc)or do they head onto Wolverton Works for the start of mods etc?

 

[Cambrian359]

Anyone know if when the Class 197's head from Donnington to Crewe Basford Hall if they head to the Arriva Depot(for start of service checks etc)or do they head onto Wolverton Works for the start of mods etc?

I’ve seen mention of ‘going in for mods before service’ several times now, I’m curious as to what mods a new built to order fleet need?

 

[Anonymous10]

I’ve seen mention of ‘going in for mods before service’ several times now, I’m curious as to what mods a new built to order fleet need?

Presumably small issues that were noticed in testing ie minor adjustments.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Anyone know if when the Class 197's head from Donnington to Crewe Basford Hall if they head to the Arriva Depot(for start of service checks etc)or do they head onto Wolverton Works for the start of mods etc?

Some go to the Carriage Sidings and some go to Basford Hall for onwards travel to Wolverton.

 

[Bob Price]

A class 47 just hauled 035 from Crewe Basford to Chester with a load of hoppers as barrier wagons. It looks like they are taking more and more over to Chester. Does anyone know if more handovers are actually due rather than rumoured?

 

[The_Train]

Anyone know if when the Class 197's head from Donnington to Crewe Basford Hall if they head to the Arriva Depot(for start of service checks etc)or do they head onto Wolverton Works for the start of mods etc?

It seems that if they head to Basford Hall, it is usually for onward movement to Wolverton

 

[sd0733]

The planned date to accept more units has been delayed by around 4 weeks so is now expected to be mid July.

There's an extra diagram being introduced on Monday with the 04:21 Holyhead to Cardiff, 18:25 Cardiff to Chester, 00:38 Chester to Holyhead being transferred to 197.

The 18:25 currently comes from Llanelli but will be temporarily split to allow the 197.

 

[craigybagel]

The planned date to accept more units has been delayed by around 4 weeks so is now expected to be mid July.

There's an extra diagram being introduced on Monday with the 04:21 Holyhead to Cardiff, 18:25 Cardiff to Chester, 00:38 Chester to Holyhead being transferred to 197.

The 18:25 currently comes from Llanelli but will be temporarily split to allow the 197.

I take it that means they've been cleared for Shrewsbury to Crewe now?

 

[sd0733]

I take it that means they've been cleared for Shrewsbury to Crewe now?

Yes that's all signed off.

6 car testing started today too.

 

[Techniquest]

Yes that's all signed off.

6 car testing started today too.

Fantastic stuff Progress is being made, I might have to start getting serious about having a TfW 175 farewell journey soon!

 

[pokemonsuper9]

6 car testing started today too.

Is that 2+2+2 or 3+3?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Fantastic stuff Progress is being made, I might have to start getting serious about having a TfW 175 farewell journey soon!

The delay isn’t fantastic, but it’ll be good when they’re accepted.

 

[Techniquest]

The delay isn’t fantastic, but it’ll be good when they’re accepted.

Of course, the delay is not great but it is what it is. What is fantastic is that Crewe-Shrewsbury is now cleared for 197s, and that trials with 6-car trains are underway.

It may be late, but the big change is coming Soon enough I will be able to get a 197 to Manchester, not yet but it's coming and I'm looking forward to that opportunity. The red pen is ready to go!

 

[sd0733]

Is that 2+2+2 or 3+3?

3+3

 

[Krokodil]

Is that 2+2+2 or 3+3?

197110 and 197112 today

 

[Jez]

Mid July wont be too long - we are nearly at the end of June already.

Is there any date when they are expected to operate West of Cardiff yet or is it too soon to say? I assume training is well underway now at Carmarthen depot?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

A class 47 just hauled 035 from Crewe Basford to Chester with a load of hoppers as barrier wagons. It looks like they are taking more and more over to Chester. Does anyone know if more handovers are actually due rather than rumoured?

I was told elsewhere it was 005 not 035. Don't think 035 is out on the network yet.

Mid July wont be too long - we are nearly at the end of June already.

Is there any date when they are expected to operate West of Cardiff yet or is it too soon to say? I assume training is well underway now at Carmarthen depot?

Probably need more units to even start thinking about that. Also the fact of passenger clearance.

 

[JakeMurphy]

I was told elsewhere it was 005 not 035. Don't think 035 is out on the network yet.

Probably need more units to even start thinking about that. Also the fact of passenger clearance.

It was 005.. I saw it myself

 

[SuperLuke2334]

It was 005.. I saw it myself

Thanks... thought it would be. Good to see that one finally appear.

 

[The_Train]

It appears that 005 has been at Wolverton recently. Seen a pic of it being hauled by a shed from Wolverton to Crewe yesterday before it's onward move to Chester today.

Does anybody know when 005 first appeared on the network as there is a photo on Flickr from December last year suggesting it was in the sidings at Chester but seems strange that is the only photo from that time so wondering if that is a mis-identification?

 

[CaergwrleKen]

The planned date to accept more units has been delayed by around 4 weeks so is now expected to be mid July.

There's an extra diagram being introduced on Monday with the 04:21 Holyhead to Cardiff, 18:25 Cardiff to Chester, 00:38 Chester to Holyhead being transferred to 197.

The 18:25 currently comes from Llanelli but will be temporarily split to allow the 197.

So they aren’t accepting any more 197 but are happy for one to stay in Cardiff all day doing nothing?

 

[craigybagel]

So they aren’t accepting any more 197 but are happy for one to stay in Cardiff all day doing nothing?

What makes you think it's doing nothing? Having a working set on Canton all day can be very handy for static training for both traincrew and maintenance staff.

 

[Jez]

I was told elsewhere it was 005 not 035. Don't think 035 is out on the network yet.

Probably need more units to even start thinking about that. Also the fact of passenger clearance.

There will be 38 units once this latest batch get accepted. At the moment the majority of North Wales (aside from those booked for 158s) are 197s as well as a few to Cardiff and the Crewe/Chester shuttle and that's with just 15 units. If they have 38 they should have plenty to at least start running some to Carmarthen.

 

[Bob Price]

I was told elsewhere it was 005 not 035. Don't think 035 is out on the network yet.

Probably need more units to even start thinking about that. Also the fact of passenger clearance.

Ah my mistake. The problem is with the webcams and the 197 numbers is they are hard to read. There was a 2 and a 3 car set in the Holyhead test yesterday but couldn't see which three car as the number was hidden.

Two three cars units formed 3Z97 Chester to Crewe this morning. First time I have seen two three car units coupled and running. Looks like a test as they are running back to Chester on 3Z98 at 9.50.

 

[SeaKing]

Ah my mistake. The problem is with the webcams and the 197 numbers is they are hard to read. There was a 2 and a 3 car set in the Holyhead test yesterday but couldn't see which three car as the number was hidden.

Two three cars units formed 3Z97 Chester to Crewe this morning. First time I have seen two three car units coupled and running. Looks like a test as they are running back to Chester on 3Z98 at 9.50.

RTT saying 110 & 112
104 on 3J25 Shrewsbury to Crewe

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Rather annoyed that 197015 - which I’d been looking forward to getting - has been subbed for a pair of 153s at Chester. More untrained drivers and hence set swaps. Gah.

 

[Techniquest]

Rather annoyed that 197015 - which I’d been looking forward to getting - has been subbed for a pair of 153s at Chester. More untrained drivers and hence set swaps. Gah.

I know the feeling, I looked at RTT and was all geared up for some 197 action myself. Never mind, chances are it'll be the first 197 I clear for 1,000 miles so I'll wait New batch of Patience Pills (not a real product at all, sadly) has arrived today, in the form of some really good news, so the wait continues.

I was going to do the 1211, thus 197015, from Hereford to Cardiff and get some more 231 action in. Combining it with some energetic walks of course!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I know the feeling, I looked at RTT and was all geared up for some 197 action myself. Never mind, chances are it'll be the first 197 I clear for 1,000 miles so I'll wait New batch of Patience Pills (not a real product at all, sadly) has arrived today, in the form of some really good news, so the wait continues.

I was going to do the 1211, thus 197015, from Hereford to Cardiff and get some more 231 action in. Combining it with some energetic walks of course!

Well you’d have bumped into me boarding it at Newport ahahaha.
As it stands I’m going back to London for my birthday so the nine 197s I’ve got is all I’ll have for now, but hopefully next week I can get up to double figures