CAF Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

[Western 52]

Ends up back at Canton at the end of the day so thats good.

I'm on this service now enjoying the standard plus! Good seats, plenty of space.

 

[Lurcheroo]

I'm on this service now enjoying the standard plus! Good seats, plenty of space.

Good to hear ! I certainly like them. Although the cushion I did find a little annoying haha!

 

[victormildrew]

RTT showing 1V17 Manchester - Cardiff 197019 + 197110 ?.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

RTT showing 1V17 Manchester - Cardiff 197019 + 197110 ?.

Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.

And it's managed to go from 23 late at Neath to 2 early at Wilmslow

 

[Jez]

Ends up back at Canton at the end of the day so thats good.

Looks like it's being swapped at Shrewsbury on its return working from Manchester for 197009. Perhaps needed back at Chester tonight.

 

[victormildrew]

Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.

Thanks.

 

[Thomas6187]

Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.

197110 has been stabed overnight at Piccadilly, instead if the booked 158. Its only just been noticed by the train crew that it would be a 5 car, so the 'booked' attachment isn't happening

 

[craigybagel]

Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.

It's not - 110 was the unit that stabled overnight in Piccadilly off the last arrival from Chester last night. It's normally a 158 that attaches to another Sprinter that comes up from Cardiff on the Sunday.

 

[Jez]

I noticed this morning the first Swansea to Manchester was a 197 rather than the usual.combination of various Sprinters. So it could attach to the 197 for the return working at 1330. Eventually they will all have to be 197s on a Sunday aside from the two booked MK4.

Edit - sorry just seen posts above that the attachment won't be happening as it would be 5 car then which isn't permitted currently

 

[SuperLuke2334]

It's not - 110 was the unit that stabled overnight in Piccadilly off the last arrival from Chester last night. It's normally a 158 that attaches to another Sprinter that comes up from Cardiff on the Sunday.

That makes sense, didn't realise one stabled overnight!

 

[craigybagel]

That makes sense, didn't realise one stabled overnight!

Yeah, it's been going on for years - but it's only on a Saturday night however. The service the unit attaches to on the Sunday has changed over the years, but there's always been a unit stabled overnight for at least the last 10 years. A Crewe driver travels up to Manchester on the Saturday night to do the shunt over from Platform 13 as Chester drivers don't sign the main shed anymore.

 

[sd0733]

A full 197 diagram starts on Maesteg-Cheltenham tomorrow:
06:35 Bridgend-Cheltenham
08:46 Cheltenham-Maesteg
11:13 Maesteg-Cheltenham
13:45 Cheltenham-Maesteg
16:13 Maesteg-Cheltenham
18:46 Cheltenham-Maesteg
21:12 Maesteg-Cardiff

It is booked but as with everything else, In reality something else could still show up.

 

[TDK]

Yes an ETCS 197 has done a number of testing runs (at night time) on the Cambrian line. Another set of test runs is booked in for Early March.
If I remember correctly, the day after the upgrade, all 158 services ran on the Cambrian but with no passengers and bus replacements were in place for all passenger journeys.
Wether I’m not 158’s and 197’s will run in the Cambrian simultaneously is yet to be seen. The plan was to swap from 158’s to 197’s overnight, then it was to have them running together in a 3 stage change over and the latest plan is back to swapping overnight.

That may have training issues as the staff on the Cambrian only sign the Cambrian, unless there is a service up there or multiple trains running there won't be enough staff trained to run a 197 dedicated service.

 

[BillStampy]

A full 197 diagram starts on Maesteg-Cheltenham tomorrow:
06:35 Bridgend-Cheltenham
08:46 Cheltenham-Maesteg
11:13 Maesteg-Cheltenham
13:45 Cheltenham-Maesteg
16:13 Maesteg-Cheltenham
18:46 Cheltenham-Maesteg
21:12 Maesteg-Cardiff

It is booked but as with everything else, In reality something else could still show up.

I was expecting this, with Bridgend to Cheltenham being Bridgend - Cheltenham Spa AND Holyhead, supposing it would be doubled up to Cardiff or would something just come out of Canton instead?

 

[sd0733]

I was expecting this, with Bridgend to Cheltenham being Bridgend - Cheltenham Spa AND Holyhead, supposing it would be doubled up to Cardiff or would something just come out of Canton instead?

That's not what the diagrams show, the Cheltenham runs as a single throughout and the Holyhead us formed off a set fresh from Canton. Not sure where the RTT Cheltenham and Holyhead comes in!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

That's not what the diagrams show, the Cheltenham runs as a single throughout and the Holyhead us formed off a set fresh from Canton. Not sure where the RTT Cheltenham and Holyhead comes in!

It keeps doing similar for GWR, in that “Portsmouth Harbour & Gloucester” shows for services where a 165 is detached off of the Portsmouth 166 at Bristol and then goes onto form a Gloucester service an hour later, oddly.

 

[Lurcheroo]

That may have training issues as the staff on the Cambrian only sign the Cambrian, unless there is a service up there or multiple trains running there won't be enough staff trained to run a 197 dedicated service.

Conductors sign Birmingham so they will be getting training so they can work them to Birmingham.
Drivers only sign the Cambrian but they will all be getting trained prior to them entering service on the Cambrian so should be no issues train crew wise.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Conductors sign Birmingham so they will be getting training so they can work them to Birmingham.
Drivers only sign the Cambrian but they will all be getting trained prior to them entering service on the Cambrian so should be no issues train crew wise.

115 is currently booked to Birmingham tomorrow as it happens, so will be swapped for a 158 at Chester.

 

[Bikeman78]

Four are required for a consistent hourly through service. You could get away with three by retaining the odd gaps in Cheltenhams and terminating several Maesteg services at Cardiff Central.

The current service, with a few gaps at the Cheltenham end, requires four units. Hourly from Maesteg through to Cheltenham requires five units because it's a five hour round trip, two hours Cardiff to Maesteg and three hours Cardiff to Cheltenham.

 

[BillStampy]

The current service, with a few gaps at the Cheltenham end, requires four units. Hourly from Maesteg through to Cheltenham requires five units because it's a five hour round trip, two hours Cardiff to Maesteg and three hours Cardiff to Cheltenham.

There is due the timetable change mid-late March where it becomes purely Maesteg to Cheltenham/Gloucester. So 5 will be required then instead of the usual 4

That's not what the diagrams show, the Cheltenham runs as a single throughout and the Holyhead us formed off a set fresh from Canton. Not sure where the RTT Cheltenham and Holyhead comes in!

Very bizarre then, RTT just being RTT I suppose?

 

[Topological]

I am confident a 150 will go to Manchester on a day when a 197 is doing something that a 150 could do in the Cardiff area.

We used to get 3 car 175s regularly and for the last year...

 

[paddyb6]

115 is currently booked to Birmingham tomorrow as it happens, so will be swapped for a 158 at Chester.

Can they go to Birmingham? Then be swapped at Shrewsbury on the return to Aber? Similar to what 150s/153s do currently?

 

[sd0733]

Can they go to Birmingham? Then be swapped at Shrewsbury on the return to Aber? Similar to what 150s/153s do currently?

No they're not cleared to Birmingham

 

[craigybagel]

I am confident a 150 will go to Manchester on a day when a 197 is doing something that a 150 could do in the Cardiff area.

We used to get 3 car 175s regularly and for the last year...

If it happens, there will be a good reason. It's not just done for the sake of it.

Can they go to Birmingham? Then be swapped at Shrewsbury on the return to Aber? Similar to what 150s/153s do currently?

Not cleared to Birmingham yet.

 

[paddyb6]

No they're not cleared to Birmingham

Not cleared to Birmingham yet.

Thanks both

 

[Bob Price]

TfW tweet announcement on the 197's to Maesteg and Cheltenham

https://twitter.com/transport_wales/status/1759550695252885935?t=OyHiG9ddACLMf32Y64QRMA&s=19

 

[ATP]

Just was on 019, good to see standards of quality control

 

[Peter Sarf]

Just was on 019, good to see standards of quality control

Crickey. I would assume the top (green) button is open but how quickly would I figure that out without reference to the first picture.

I can imagine that sending people dashing through the coach in a panic to find another door.

 

[Dai Corner]

Crickey. I would assume the top (green) button is open but how quickly would I figure that out without reference to the first picture.

I can imagine that sending people dashing through the coach in a panic to find another door.

I wish they'd label them 'Open' and 'Close' (plus the Welsh equivalents as its TfW). By all means keep the existing tactile symbols for the visually impaired or those unable to read English and Welsh.