CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

[LNW-GW Joint]

This would make a lot of sense. Not calling at Wellington on the way in is probably a less bad outcome than running those services with 4 cars.

What's the problem with an over-long train at Wellington pausing for a couple of minutes?
It's not as though there is significant use of the through lines (anywhere else would have been reduced to platform lines only, as at, say, Stoke).

 

[craigybagel]

What's the problem with an over-long train at Wellington pausing for a couple of minutes?
It's not as though there is significant use of the through lines (anywhere else would have been reduced to platform lines only, as at, say, Stoke).

The powers that be don't like trains sitting over points for an extended period of time. I don't know the exact reasons why - but it has been stated in this particular case it played havoc with the track circuits.

Getting rid of the through roads altogether would fix the issue, and probably knock a minute off the journey times by eliminating the approach control signalling. Presumably the extra flexibility for running round trains destined for the freight terminal was deemed more important?

 

[Krokodil]

As per the notices in depots, 4 is the maximum allowed in the Shrewsbury bays

Thought so (I don't sign there myself).

 

[craigybagel]

Thought so (I don't sign there myself).

I was curious myself what they'd do, since we've always been able to put 5 cars in there in the past - and Avanti were using it for their Voyagers at one point, but it is marginal, especially with the rather limited visibility from the cab.

 

[Krokodil]

I was curious myself what they'd do, since we've always been able to put 5 cars in there in the past - and Avanti were using it for their Voyagers at one point, but it is marginal, especially with the rather limited visibility from the cab.

The restriction on platform 3B at Chester seems excessive, it does fit comfortably in practice. There was an entry in the log a while ago where a five car had been sent into platform 2. All coaches were platformed but a "please explain" was still requested

 

[Anonymous10]

I was curious myself what they'd do, since we've always been able to put 5 cars in there in the past - and Avanti were using it for their Voyagers at one point, but it is marginal, especially with the rather limited visibility from the cab.

I remember being at Exeter St Davids on a xc class 220 in the north bound bay, it looked a tight fit and a level crossing at the end to boot.

 

[tfw756rider]

Photos show 197124 at Shrewsbury at 10:18 on Monday 17/2/25 on 1I10 0722 Holyhead to Birmingham International, 12 minutes before its 10:30 onward departure.

 

[fodphil]

I remember being at Exeter St Davids on a xc class 220 in the north bound bay, it looked a tight fit and a level crossing at the end to boot.

It is a tight fit, sonis a 4 car Voyager in platform 1 at Bristol, looking atvthe Salop measurements, it looks an extremely tight fit.

 

[tfw756rider]

Photos show 197124 at Birmingham New Street at 12:19-12:20 on Monday 17/2/25 on 1J15 1208 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli (change to 158s at Shrewsbury), 2-3 minutes before its 12:22 onward departure.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

I saw 197124 at Telford Central this morning working 1I10 07:22 Holyhead to Birmingham International. It was the 10:51 off Telford Central.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

I see there was a path in today (5Q60) for a Sprinter-timed ECS working from Chester DMU depot to Barton under Needwood (the home of the Voyager fleets).
Is this for maintenance work, or something TfW can't do at its home depot?

Realtime Trains | 5Q60 0605 Chester D.M.U.D. to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 17/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q60 0605 departure from Chester D.M.U.D. to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 17/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[JakeMurphy]

197109 also heading to Birmingham this evening on 1I26.

 

[Caaardiff]

I see there was a path in today (5Q60) for a Sprinter-timed ECS working from Chester DMU depot to Barton under Needwood (the home of the Voyager fleets).
Is this for maintenance work, or something TfW can't do at its home depot?

Realtime Trains | 5Q60 0605 Chester D.M.U.D. to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd | 17/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q60 0605 departure from Chester D.M.U.D. to Barton Under Needwood Rsmd on 17/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

197 Tyre turning

 

[Jacob Porrett]

197023 arrving at Crewe depot on Wednesday. Is it coming from Long Marston?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

197 Tyre turning

Thanks for the info. Could be a regular event then.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

197049 worked Chester to Tyseley for the wheel lathe and 197012 worked Central Rivers to Chester after being on the wheel lathe today.

ROG Class 37901 "Mirrlees Pioneer" hauling TFW Class 197023 with 37510 "Orion" on the rear working 7Q42 (Long Marston MOD to Crewe South Yard) arrived into Crewe tonight. (18/2/25) 197023 being a new unit and is due at Crewe depot tomorrow.

 

[JakeMurphy]

I have seen 197013 197110 parked up at Chester, both looked damaged.

 

[chrisjo]

I have seen 197013 197110 parked up at Chester, both looked damaged.

Damaged in what way?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

37901/37510 dropped off 197023 at Crewe depot yesterday from Crewe South Yard.

 

[The_Train]

37901/37510 dropped off 197023 at Crewe depot yesterday from Crewe South Yard.

Are any of these units still at Donnington?

 

[spw24]

Are any of these units still at Donnington?

Last time I went past there was 1 single carriage there.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Are any of these units still at Donnington?

From me I don't know because I haven't been over to have a look recently. To busy cleaning the things hahaha

 

[Quenfight]

Damaged in what way?

110 looked alright to me when I was at Chester on Monday, 013 was missing headlights but I didn't get a photo of that unfortunately.

 

[chrisjo]

110 looked alright to me ....

Ahem....

 

[Jez]

Very happy I opted for the 1530 not the 1730 from Manchester as the 1730 is showing as a 2 car. This is busy enough at 5 cars! Although I do have a double seat to myself and there are quite a few empty seats here and there, it would be full and standing at 2 car.

All 197 diagrams seem to be covered however just a few short forms I think. Considering a few seem to be out of service they seem to be managing.

 

[Topological]

Very happy I opted for the 1530 not the 1730 from Manchester as the 1730 is showing as a 2 car. This is busy enough at 5 cars! Although I do have a double seat to myself and there are quite a few empty seats here and there, it would be full and standing at 2 car.

All 197 diagrams seem to be covered however just a few short forms I think. Considering a few seem to be out of service they seem to be managing.

Sensible, the 17:30 struggles with 4-cars even on a Friday.

I do not know what it is about the 17:30, but it is a regular candidate for only being 2-car.

 

[Jez]

Sensible, the 17:30 struggles with 4-cars even on a Friday.

I do not know what it is about the 17:30, but it is a regular candidate for only being 2-car.

Perhaps it's because the diagram starts and ends in Canton? It often used to be a candidate for Sprinters as well when they were short of 197s.

I almost had a problem free journey but im now going to be an hour late due to them not holding the Swanline literally 2 minutes at Central. My advance ticket said to change at Bridgend (don't think Cardiff would be a valid connection as under 7 minutes but due to the stopper calling at all stops Bridgend was a valid connection) well they didn't loop it like what happened before outside Cardiff, Pencoed or Stormy. Even the guard agreed it was a silly decision. The only good thing is delay repay!

 

[Topological]

Perhaps it's because the diagram starts and ends in Canton? It often used to be a candidate for Sprinters as well when they were short of 197s.

I almost had a problem free journey but im now going to be an hour late due to them not holding the Swanline literally 2 minutes at Central. My advance ticket said to change at Bridgend (don't think Cardiff would be a valid connection as under 7 minutes but due to the stopper calling at all stops Bridgend was a valid connection) well they didn't loop it like what happened before outside Cardiff, Pencoed or Stormy. Even the guard agreed it was a silly decision. The only good thing is delay repay!

It is a good job it is not us Welsh taxpayers who are liable for the delay repay... (Oh)

It is so frustrating the way that Cardiff Central is regulated, and yet since the South Wales to Manchester split there are a load of unnecessary terminations at Central.

Glad that there are still some direct trains that work and aside from unit swaps there is no risk on the connections for those hours.

Hope you got the 1 hour and did not end up 59 minutes late

 

[Jez]

It is a good job it is not us Welsh taxpayers who are liable for the delay repay... (Oh)

It is so frustrating the way that Cardiff Central is regulated, and yet since the South Wales to Manchester split there are a load of unnecessary terminations at Central.

Glad that there are still some direct trains that work and aside from unit swaps there is no risk on the connections for those hours.

Hope you got the 1 hour and did not end up 59 minutes late

Well as a Welsh tax payer myself I will happily put a claim in! lol

The next Swanline was a few minutes late so i should get the full hour.

 

[Sid Edwards]

Can anyone help please.
According to RTT this morning two 2car 197's have worked 0432 Chester to Birmingham International, 0708 Birmingham International to Holyhead
1130 Holyhead to Birmingham International and are due later to work 1608 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth/Pwllheli.

As far as I was aware these units at present can work any TfW routes except Shrewsbury to Birmingham International, Shrewsbury to the Cambrian Coast and Craven Arms to The Swansea District Lines via The Heart of Wales line.

Presumably they don't work in the Valleys Network either.