Ex LNER (and Grand Central) Mark 4 sets for TfW

[sd0733]

On RTT only 3 out of 13 Manchester - Cardiff trains 0600-2000 seem to be l/h today... Not so good. Luckily I am taking grandchildren somewhere else anyway!
(correction - now 4, 5 out of 17 all day)

There's only 1 missing, the 14:30 because the set off Holyhead only got as far as Llandudno Junction before bring sent back dur to points issues. Everything else is out as booked.

 

[Jamesrob637]

The 18:30 from Manchester is a unit too, so yeah 3/5 today

 

[sd0733]

As HD01 was returned to Holyhead this morning it's now formed 16:36 Holyhead to Cardiff as far as Chester from where it'll run ecs to Crewe to get it in place for the morning and avoid subbing the evening Holyhead.

The 18:30 from Manchester is a unit too, so yeah 3/5 today

As is booked. It's a 197 diagram still for now.

 

[AndrewE]

There's only 1 missing, the 14:30 because the set off Holyhead only got as far as Llandudno Junction before bring sent back dur to points issues. Everything else is out as booked.

That's as maybe... I was under the impression (from posts here) that they were getting towards all the Manchester - Cardiffs being longer formations - if not actually loco-hauled.
In fact of 14 most are now 3-cars, one is a 4-car DMU and 4 are 5-cars. The 1303 Milford Haven to Manchester (1549 from Cardiff, 1930 back) has been a 2-car unit all the way - and RTT says the train divides at Man Picc!

 

[craigybagel]

That's as maybe... I was under the impression (from posts here) that they were getting towards all the Manchester - Cardiffs being longer formations - if not actually loco-hauled.
In fact of 14 most are now 3-cars, one is a 4-car DMU and 4 are 5-cars. The 1303 Milford Haven to Manchester (1549 from Cardiff, 1930 back) has been a 2-car unit all the way - and RTT says the train divides at Man Picc!

The division at Manchester isn't happening at the moment, owing to the lack of platform space whilst two platforms at a time are closed. Normally they split at Crewe instead, but if it's only a single set that won't be necessary.

 

[Lurcheroo]

That's as maybe... I was under the impression (from posts here) that they were getting towards all the Manchester - Cardiffs being longer formations - if not actually loco-hauled.
In fact of 14 most are now 3-cars, one is a 4-car DMU and 4 are 5-cars. The 1303 Milford Haven to Manchester (1549 from Cardiff, 1930 back) has been a 2-car unit all the way - and RTT says the train divides at Man Picc!

On Tuesday, out of 8 MK4 departures from Manchester, 7 of them were MK4’s.
5 and 6 car 197’s are not permitted between Manchester and Crewe or Shrewsbury (I can’t remember which exactly) quite yet.
197’s are also in short supply with them covering other fleets for now.

 

[sd0733]

In fact of 14 most are now 3-cars, one is a 4-car DMU and 4 are 5-cars. The 1303 Milford Haven to Manchester (1549 from Cardiff, 1930 back) has been a 2-car unit all the way - and RTT says the train divides at Man Picc!

As Craigybagel says there's currently no divisions at Manchester.

For reference the following are the current booked formations of each Manchester departure:

0627 5 Car Mk4
0730 3 car 197
0830 5 car Mk4
0930 3 car 197
1030 3 car 197
1130 3 car 197
1230 5 car Mk4
1330 2 car 197
1430 5 car Mk4
1530 4 car 197
1630 5 car Mk4
1730 3 car 197
1830 3 car 197
1930 2 car 197
2030 5 car Mk4
2130 2 car 197

 

[AndrewE]

On Tuesday, out of 8 MK4 departures from Manchester, 7 of them were MK4’s.
5 and 6 car 197’s are not permitted between Manchester and Crewe or Shrewsbury (I can’t remember which exactly) quite yet.
197’s are also in short supply with them covering other fleets for now.

Again, that's as maybe. Today there were just 4 5-car trains, 1 4-car and the rest were 3, apart from the 2 car. Anybody fancy 2-cars from the far SW of Wales through Cardiff at commuter time?

I was on the (thankfully 4-car) 1504 from Milford Haven about 10 days ago, fairly well filled and after Salop it was announced that the rear 2 were coming off at Crewe. Cue family with several kids and loads of camping equipment struggling through the train repeatedly with stuff to get into the front 2 vehicles... then the guard announced that we stood at Crewe long enough for people to get up the platform to get in the front set! (By which time there were only about 4 people in the rear set anyway.)

At least most departures from Manc are now 3-cars, which is a significant advance (people in London-land please note!)

 

[Topological]

Again, that's as maybe. Today there were just 4 5-car trains, 1 4-car and the rest were 3, apart from the 2 car. Anybody fancy 2-cars from the far SW of Wales through Cardiff at commuter time?

I was on the (thankfully 4-car) 1504 from Milford Haven about 10 days ago, fairly well filled and after Salop it was announced that the rear 2 were coming off at Crewe. Cue family with several kids and loads of camping equipment struggling through the train repeatedly with stuff to get into the front 2 vehicles... then the guard announced that we stood at Crewe long enough for people to get up the platform to get in the front set! (By which time there were only about 4 people in the rear set anyway.)

At least most departures from Manc are now 3-cars, which is a significant advance (people in London-land please note!)

Things are definitely getting better.

Had 2 on the diagram that becomes the 09:30 departure from Manchester yesterday morning (actually 2 2's since the first 2-car failed at Newport and they found a 2 to cover), but I saw that was a 3-car again today.

Was nice to be on the 16:30 today, the Mk4s are good when they work, but I will always maintain that the through service was nicer and there is nothing fundamentally wrong with 197s when there is sufficient capacity.

 

[BillStampy]

Took 1V33 today on HD06, rather pleasent for a small journey from Newport to Cardiff, I think I heard someone saying they're going to miss the 10:06 Milford, which is a massive problem with the Cardiff terminations. And unfortunately it looks like our ill fated HD02 is on it's return from exam tomorrow, 1V33, 1W19 and 1V50!

 

[sd0733]

And unfortunately it looks like our ill fated HD02 is on it's return from exam tomorrow, 1V33, 1W19 and 1V50!

Certainly is planned to be back, after it's heavy exam hopefully it's better behaved.

HD04 is the Canton spare tomorrow but doesn't seem to be planned for use on the extra Manchester.
HD01 will have a loco swap at Crewe tomorrow night with 67013 replacing 67010 and HD06 will have a swap of locos at Canton between arriving from Manchester and leaving for Holyhead with 67008 coming off and being replaced by 67022.

 

[Newp410]

Certainly is planned to be back, after it's heavy exam hopefully it's better behaved.

HD04 is the Canton spare tomorrow but doesn't seem to be planned for use on the extra Manchester.
HD01 will have a loco swap at Crewe tomorrow night with 67013 replacing 67010 and HD06 will have a swap of locos at Canton between arriving from Manchester and leaving for Holyhead with 67008 coming off and being replaced by 67022.

Would there be any idea of the planned diagrams for Saturday please?

 

[sd0733]

Would there be any idea of the planned diagrams for Saturday please?

As it stands Saturday should see HD01 and one of HD03 or HD05 on the Crewe starts with HD02 and HD04 on the Cardiff starts. HD06 will be in Holyhead for the weekend and HD07 on exam at Crewe.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Again, that's as maybe. Today there were just 4 5-car trains, 1 4-car and the rest were 3, apart from the 2 car. Anybody fancy 2-cars from the far SW of Wales through Cardiff at commuter time?

I was on the (thankfully 4-car) 1504 from Milford Haven about 10 days ago, fairly well filled and after Salop it was announced that the rear 2 were coming off at Crewe. Cue family with several kids and loads of camping equipment struggling through the train repeatedly with stuff to get into the front 2 vehicles... then the guard announced that we stood at Crewe long enough for people to get up the platform to get in the front set! (By which time there were only about 4 people in the rear set anyway.)

At least most departures from Manc are now 3-cars, which is a significant advance (people in London-land please note!)

It’s always a maybe. There is always a chance something goes wrong and either there is a substitute or cancellation.

Maybe I am missing your point ?

At one time, you’d be lucky to get 1 MK4 set out on a given day. There were lots of in service failures and the 175’s were going off lease and we had a stream of 2 car 150’s or 2 car 153’s operating the majority of Manchester to Cardiff (and further) services every day.

When we talk about how far things have come, we are not saying everything is almost where it should be with almost every service leaving Manchester being planned either a 5 car 197 or MK4.

We are talking about how we get a pretty reliable set of MK4 diagrams, even half of the 5th diagram is starting to get covered, and a very limited number of 2car 197’s (which are a big step above 150’s and 153’s in many ways).

There is still, I believe 4, 3car 197’s to come into service and the 197’s are still covering for 230’s, 231’s/756’s and the MK4’s if there is a gap in the diagram that needs covering.

 

[berneyarms]

HD02 was beyond reproach this afternoon on the 12:49 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly.

As indeed was the three course meal and bottle of wine for £40.

 

[Western 52]

HD02 was beyond reproach this afternoon on the 12:49 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly.

As indeed was the three course meal and bottle of wine for £40.

I had HD02 this evening on 1V50 from Crewe to Swansea. A lovely run and more or less on time throughout. The revised speed limits certainly seem to assist timekeeping.

 

[sd0733]

HD02 was beyond reproach this afternoon on the 12:49 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly.

As indeed was the three course meal and bottle of wine for £40

Glad you had a good trip! IMO now everything is settling down to be more reliable and everything comes together, it's hard to find a better service.

I had HD02 this evening on 1V50 from Crewe to Swansea. A lovely run and more or less on time throughout. The revised speed limits certainly seem to assist timekeeping.

It certainly seems to be behaving itself rather well. The TOE coach by the loco is rather warm but other than that it seems to have had its bugs ironed out on the exam!

 

[Western 52]

The TOE is certainly warm! The guard informed us the coach at the other end was cooler and we moved.

 

[Lurcheroo]

IMO now everything is settling down to be more reliable and everything comes together, it's hard to find a better service.

Totally agree with that!

It certainly seems to be behaving itself rather well. The TOE coach by the loco is rather warm but other than that it seems to have had its bugs ironed out on the exam!

Fingers crossed it continues to behave itself! I’m sure the warm beds will get sorted out too At some point.

The TOE is certainly warm! The guard informed us the coach at the other end was cooler and we moved.

Great comms by the guard. I know too many that wouldn’t say a word about it.
I’ve had it both ways around where I’d be working a 158 in the winter and one carriages heating was working and the other not and in the summer where one carriages aircon is working and not the other. I’d tell everyone and most people would move to the nicer coach.

I suppose that’s also a benefit of having all that spare capacity in the MK4’s that people can move.

 

[BillStampy]

HD02 swapped out at Cardiff early this morning, any reason as to why and is there any spare set to take over it?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Had a great trip out on 67017 and HD04 this week - absolutely flew from Wilmslow to Crewe.

 

[sd0733]

HD02 swapped out at Cardiff early this morning, any reason as to why and is there any spare set to take over it?

Windscreen wiper issue on the 67. No spare sets but there is a spare loco on Canton if needed. Hoped to get back out later.

 

[BillStampy]

Windscreen wiper issue on the 67. No spare sets but there is a spare loco on Canton if needed. Hoped to get back out later.

Alright! My plan was to take it to Newport later, chasing a railtour. Hopefully since a 2-car 197 doesn't sound very appealing!

 

[317 forever]

For the first time in a while, the 1030 ex Man, 1830 ex Man and 1449 from CDF is allocated as MK4 on a weekday


HD01 is currently allocated to swap in from Crewe on 1W13 tomorrow, how exciting!

I might be using the 10.30 on Tuesday and shall be pleased if it is a Mk4. I was disappointed to have missed out on a Mk4 on July 13th, when I saw it reach Crewe around 07.10 on July 13th just after alighting a Northern train from Heaton Chapel.

Incidentally, if I catch the 15.46 LNWR train from Euston to Crewe, I hope it might connect with a Mk4 there.

 

[sd0733]

I might be using the 10.30 on Tuesday and shall be pleased if it is a Mk4

Incidentally, if I catch the 15.46 LNWR train from Euston to Crewe, I hope it might connect with a Mk4 there.

The odds in the week are extremely slim for that I'm afraid, that's still booked a 197 and isn't planned to be run as a Mk4 next week, still a couple of weeks until that one swaps over.

The closest Mk4 to Manchester off that LNR is the 19:30 Crewe to Manchester, the one after it arrives is

 

[317 forever]

The odds in the week are extremely slim for that I'm afraid, that's still booked a 197 and isn't planned to be run as a Mk4 next week, still a couple of weeks until that one swaps over.

The closest Mk4 to Manchester off that LNR is the 19:30 Crewe to Manchester, the one after it arrives is

Thank you for preparing me. As you might imagine, the reason I hoped it would be a Mk4 is partly because the 15.46 from Euston is the last one I can use an LNWR/TfW Super off-peak return on.

Ironically, I used the 19.30 from Crewe on July 13th but it was a 197. From memory it was a shuttle starting from Crewe, rather than a through train from South Wales.

 

[OrangeJuice]

Are there likely to be 4 sets out tomorrow on the usual diagrams?

 

[BillStampy]

Are there likely to be 4 sets out tomorrow on the usual diagrams?

Believe so! HD07 or HD01 will be with HD02 on Crewe (I don't know about the exam timings)

HD04 is on Canton and HD06 is at Holyhead

So yes.

 

[sd0733]

Are there likely to be 4 sets out tomorrow on the usual diagrams?

4 sets out but there's a planned swap in the PM, HD04 will work 1W11/1V37/1W23 to get it to Crewe for a heavy exam, HD02 will work 1V31/1W55/1V42/1W96.

 

[31160]

Are the 67s & MK4s passed for the VOG yet?