Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
They'll swap the 16.08 at Shewsbury to a pair of 158s for the onward journey at Aberystwyth / Pwllheli.
197s have started this week between Shrewsbury and Birmingham.
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CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.
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197s have started this week between Shrewsbury and Birmingham.
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Sid Edwards
Member
Thanks so much.
I presume that if the 197's could actually run to Birmingham now that the set swap would take place at Shrewsbury on the 1608 working.
If 197's can now cover duties to Birmingham that should save the extra pain caused by losing two 158's at Talerddig last year.
I presume that if the 197's could actually run to Birmingham now that the set swap would take place at Shrewsbury on the 1608 working.
If 197's can now cover duties to Birmingham that should save the extra pain caused by losing two 158's at Talerddig last year.
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
Yes, it will - you will see similar with the Caledonian Sleeper showing locomotives working through which couldn't possibly, but the system always updates once the data feed updates after the splitting or joining has taken place. It's the same thing happening here; the system isn't showing the stock situation fully because the data feed isn't.
tfw756rider
Member
For part of Monday the 17/2/25 (the first day of 197s in service between Shrewsbury and Birmingham) Realtime Trains was saying that 197124 was not only going from Shrewsbury to Machynlleth, but also on the Cambrian Coast to Pwllheli
berneyarms
Established Member
As posted above, they have started serving Birmingham International.
Jacob Porrett
Member
Last night at Telford Central. 1J31 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth. It was the 20:41 off Wolverhampton where I borded the train.
Not the first time on a 197 however, the first time on a 197 on the Salop Line. Must say it was really busy for a 2 car service. Full and standing. 197050 did the honours.
Not the first time on a 197 however, the first time on a 197 on the Salop Line. Must say it was really busy for a 2 car service. Full and standing. 197050 did the honours.
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tfw756rider
Member
It changed to being 158-operated at Shrewsbury of course.
When I was on 197124 on Monday the 17/2/25 on 1I10 0722 Holyhead to Birmingham International (from Shrewsbury to Birmingham New Street) and on 1J15 1208 Birmingham International to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli (from Birmingham New Street to Shrewsbury where it was replaced by 158s of course), it was also full and standing, as a 3-car.
It was obvious that things will be a lot better when longer 197 formations start being used.
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In the first week of 197s in passenger service between Shrewsbury and Birmingham (from Monday the 17/2/25 to Sunday the 23/2/25):
Monday the 17/2/25 - 197124 worked 2 services and 197109 worked 4 services
Thursday the 20/2/25 - 197051+197017 worked 4 services
Friday the 21/2/25 - 197049+197006 worked 6 services and 197050 worked 2 services
Saturday the 22/2/25 - 197010+197001 worked 6 services and 197050 worked 4 services
Sunday the 23/2/25 - 197050+197015 worked 4 services, 197108 worked 4 services, 197016 worked 2 services and 197124 worked 2 services
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56xx
Member
Travelled on 197 029 coupled up with 197 116 today Manchester Piccadlily - Fishguard Harbour it may have been the first day in passenger service for 029
The_Train
Established Member
- Joined
- 2 Jun 2018
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- 4,720
It was also in service on Saturday
Kite159
Veteran Member
Whatever happened with 197033, seemed to have entered service a few weeks ago but seems not to be out whenever I look at RTT for it
WirralLine
Member
Showing as last out on 16th Jan, finishing at Holyhead depot in the early hours and no allocation showing since. Presumably got a fault of some kind.
tfw756rider
Member
That now means that 63 (of 77) 197s have been in service - all 56 non-ETCS units and 7 (of 21) ETCS-fitted units (197003/028/029/030/031/033/034).
It also means that 87 of Transport for Wales' overall 148 new trains have now been in service - 63 (of 77) 197s, 11 (of 11) 231s and 13 (of 24) 756s [0 (of 36) 398s].
Thanks for that information. Can you also see other 197s on the system that haven't been used for a long time?
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WirralLine
Member
If you can list the unit numbers I can look them up later if I get a spare few minutes!
JakeMurphy
Established Member
- Joined
- 30 Aug 2018
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- 1,216
As more 197’s enter the network, I gotta say after doing 1V48 the last couple weeks with 5 car sets I’ve been enjoying the extra capacity.
Apologies if this has been answered already (with over 8,000 posts to go through you can see why I’m asking lol), but why is 197101 at Worksop? It’s my last three-car required for “haulage” (if you can call it that), so just wondering what the score is with it! Thanks!
Also did 197029 myself on the Fishguard; did it to Wilmslow then quickly dashed over for 67016 back to Stockport!
Did you try putting 197101 into the search box? Not saying you'll find the answer but some of the results involve Worksop.
Repairs after it's derailment at Canton
Ah, so that’s what it was……looks like I’ll be waiting a while to get it then!!!! Cheers for the info!
I did - that was the first thing I did! Did see Worksop mentioned and then saw that YouTube thumbnail in the thread as well. Figured out that it was there, but just had no idea why!
The ones shown as unused for a while:
197013 at Chester since 1st Jan
197024 at Holyhead since 20th Dec 24
197031 at Holyhead since 27th Jan
197033 at Holyhead since 17th Jan
197035 at Holyhead since 7th Jan
197101 away for repair since Aug 2024
197110 at Chester since 25th Jan
So 7 (out of 63 in service) haven't been used for a while. So that's 56 to cover 47 diagrams?
Thanks for the update as always. They seem to be managing to cover most services at the moment, apart from a few short formed here and there.
tfw756rider
Member
Topological
Established Member
The 197s do seem to be very good at recovering delays. Sometimes too good as 20+ minutes waiting in the cold for the train to come ends up being a delay below the repay criteria by the end of the journey.
It is great seeing more 4s and 5s on the Manchester services.
It is great seeing more 4s and 5s on the Manchester services.
Russel
Established Member
I know this isn't just limited to TFW, but how can TFW justify having such an expensive and fairly new asset out of service for over a month?
Pinus contorta
Member
There are 195/1s running round on 2 engines. I boarded one last week. If there are engine issues and there is a supply problem with parts for replacements on these CAF units then something stranded at Holyhead or wherever is likely to be easily justified.
CAF have committed to a certain number of units available for service for the non-cambrian services but utilised the ETCS units to step in and cover long term stoppers.
The ETCS 197s were destined to Machylleth Depot for maintenance but that's not in place yet. Chester can only maintain so many within their regime.
So even though xx have been accepted to TFW, there's a limit to how many can actually be used in service
For example, 197101 is a long term stopped unit so an ETCS unit is being used in its place to make up the numbers.
40029 Saxonia
Member
Does anyone know where 197022/23/25/26/27/32/36-41 are?
From this forum, 22/23/27/36 were last reported at Crewe. Are they still there?
Many thanks
Also for the record, all the non-ETCS 197/0s have now worked the Bidston line plus 03/28/30/31/33/34
From this forum, 22/23/27/36 were last reported at Crewe. Are they still there?
Many thanks
Also for the record, all the non-ETCS 197/0s have now worked the Bidston line plus 03/28/30/31/33/34
Snow1964
Established Member
Why are so many relatively new engines failing, is it an unreliable design (it's not 1950s anymore), or did they simply not order enough spare parts early enough to ensure they would be available