Dstock7080
Established Member
Cheers, I was wondering where 002 had ended up over the pond.
Cheers, I was wondering where 002 had ended up over the pond.
Last heard of in the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum but that is only a temporary home for it. The plan is for it to operate 'pop-up' metros to demonstrate its use on freight lines in American cities. All I can say is good luck to them as otherwise I don't see a future for all those D Stock trains. Including both the class 230s and the class 484s Viva has only sold 13 trains so far.Cheers, I was wondering where 002 had ended up over the pond.
I admire your optimismIs driver training back on? Hopefully in time for introduction later this year.
Plans are to build a dedicated depot at Wrexham (?) if I recall rightly. Birkenhead will need space for the 777's.
They plan kirkdale as the main depot for maintenance and Birkenhead for light maintenance and stabling units.Plans are to build a dedicated depot at Wrexham (?) if I recall rightly. Birkenhead will need space for the 777's.
I guess if Merseyrail do enact their plans to run to Wrexham with battery 777's then the 230's could be gone in a few years.
The battery 777 units from Bidston to Wrexham will be far more challenging than merseyrail anticipate, it's proven very challenging for the 230's.I guess if Merseyrail do enact their plans to run to Wrexham with battery 777's then the 230's could be gone in a few years.
What makes you think there’s room at Chester for the 197s? Never mind 230s.The 230's cannot be stabled at Chester when the 197's start arriving. When they all arrive then there isn't enough room for them
It's unworkable.
What makes you think there’s room at Chester for the 197s? Never mind 230s.
I know they were originally for the Blaenau branch and the Crewe shuttle as well as the Borderlands originally, but were they only ever a stopgap until the 197s were in service ?The 230s will not last for ever
The original plan was as you say Blaenau, Borderlands and Crewe Shuttle. But they were going to up the frequency on the Borderlands after the 197s arrived and were available to cover the other routes. Overall they were a stopgap until Merseyrail takeover.I know they were originally for the Blaenau branch and the Crewe shuttle as well as the Borderlands originally, but were they only ever a stopgap until the 197s were in service ?
Can't keep up with TfW's policy changes
Purely a stopgap. It was a case of "where could we use these extra 230s until we increase the Borderlands frequency", while waiting for the 197s to arrive. As stated, sliding timescales for the rolling stock resulted in several revisions to the plan.I know they were originally for the Blaenau branch and the Crewe shuttle as well as the Borderlands originally, but were they only ever a stopgap until the 197s were in service ?
Can't keep up with TfW's policy changes
Exactly this. The 230's were ordered specificly for the Bidstons. The talk of Blaenau and Crewe was only ever a thing because IF they had been delivered on time, TFW would have had three spare 230's doing nothing. There was pressure for all the 150's to go down south for Valley Line services, so their use on the Crewe and Branch would have released another two 150's. But seen as the 230's are almost 2yrs late from entering service, neither will happen.Purely a stopgap. It was a case of "where could we use these extra 230s until we increase the Borderlands frequency", while waiting for the 197s to arrive. As stated, sliding timescales for the rolling stock resulted in several revisions to the plan.
I like the fact TFW are willing to change plans and I'm hoping they keep this up, sometimes is it worth plowing on with a failing project regardless of cost I do ask myself.I know they were originally for the Blaenau branch and the Crewe shuttle as well as the Borderlands originally, but were they only ever a stopgap until the 197s were in service ?
Can't keep up with TfW's policy changes
TFW still haven't received 230110 yet from the initial order, I wonder if that will arrive soon if the December start date happensExactly this. The 230's were ordered specificly for the Bidstons. The talk of Blaenau and Crewe was only ever a thing because IF they had been delivered on time, TFW would have had three spare 230's doing nothing. There was pressure for all the 150's to go down south for Valley Line services, so their use on the Crewe and Branch would have released another two 150's. But seen as the 230's are almost 2yrs late from entering service, neither will happen.
I think by the time the 230s finally enters service the replacement will only be a year or two max behind, all this time, money and effort etc on just 5 trains which may only have 2 years use!? Look how long it took for them to enter service on the short Bletchley-Bedford line and those aren't exactly pushed at the min as buses are used on half services with only one 230 used at a time.TFW still haven't received 230110 yet from the initial order, I wonder if that will arrive soon if the December start date happens
The last plan was to have 1x 230 running and 1x 150 on the borderlands line, that may be the sensible option incase there are reliability issues.I think by the time the 230s finally enters service the replacement will only be a year or two max behind, all this time, money and effort etc on just 5 trains which may only have 2 years use!? Look how long it took for them to enter service on the short Bletchley-Bedford line and those aren't exactly pushed at the min as buses are used on half services with only one 230 used at a time.
The plan is for the 230's to last a few years, they are already over 2 years late and counting.If TfW have 230's working on the Borderlands then they will be last on the list for replacement. The 197's are needed to get the 150's and 153's off long distance services and that will be their priority. Remembering the 197's are now heading west and it will be a year or so until the Mk4's start on the Swansea to Manchester, I think the 230's will be around for a few years yet.
With the units effectively in warm storage pending the emergence of a workable maintenance strategy from TfW, it is no surprise that their sporadic usage has led to ‘reliability’ issues. Machines need to be used. Had TfW followed through with the original plan to provide a proper maintenance facility and let Vivarail undertake the maintenance with their own team, I am sure the units would have been settling in by now.There's still reliability problems with the TFW 230's, it's an ongoing issue with these.
230006 like all 230's have to travel for fuel to Chester, it's another ongoing issue with these units.