Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth/Pwllhelli - splitting trains?

[JoeGJ1984]

Do they still split 2x2-car 158s at Machynlleth for this service? I ask because looking at National Rail enquiries it seems that one train goes from Birmingham International-Shrewsbury-Machynlleth-Aberystwyth and a separate train starts from Machynlleth to go round the Cambrian Coast to Pwllhelli. Next Saturday, I'm planning on going to Tywyn; would I have to change at Machynlleth or will the train split?

 

[transmanche]

Some split at Machynlleth; (e.g. 10:09 from Birmingham Intl) - but others require a change (e.g. 08:09 Sat from Birmingham Intl).

The ATW timetable shows which is which.

 

[Minilad]

They still split. The bit that goes on to Pwllhelli is technically a separate train but it is formed off the BHM - Aber

 

[Gareth Marston]

Information is poor

The 0624 New St to Aber is a 2 car 158 that connects at Machynlleth
The 0809 BHM INTL to Abr is 2 car in the week that connects a 4 car that splits on a Saturday.
The 1009 BHM INTL is a 4 car that splits
The 1209 ditto
The 1409 ditto
The 1609 is 4 car with the rear 2 cars coming off at mach apart from on Friday night when they go on as far as Barmouth
The 1809 is a 4 car that splits

The units carry no labeling on them. Generally the lead unit leaving BHM INTL becomes the rear unit and therefore the coast portion if applicable when the train reverses at Shrewsbury. The other unit goes to Aber however fairly often this gets changed for operational reasons i.e unit needs to go on depot/refuel etc.

The Conductors are in the habit of announcing rear unit for coast front for Aber at Shrewsbury and doing a full ticket check. However if your in the wrong portion I would advise waiting till after Caersws before moving as passengers getting off at Welshpool, Newtown will have made space. Panic can set in amongst some passengers on reversal at Shrewsbury who aren't aware of the reversal process.

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Information is poor

The 0624 New St to Aber is a 2 car 158 that connects at Machynlleth
The 0809 BHM INTL to Abr is 2 car in the week that connects a 4 car that splits on a Saturday.
The 1009 BHM INTL is a 4 car that splits
The 1209 ditto
The 1409 ditto
The 1609 is 4 car with the rear 2 cars coming off at mach apart from on Friday night when they go on as far as Barmouth
The 1809 is a 4 car that splits

Do you have any information on the return journey whether or not they join or just connect at Machynlleth?

 

[Crossover]

I agree that the information is slightly weird - when you get splits it would normally say on the schedules but it does indeed make it look like totally separate workings.

The only thing I can work out is that if you look at something like Open Train Times, the headcodes probably tell half the story (e.g. looking at tonight 1J27 2047 from BHI will (I guess) split to form a 2J27 along the coast - a number of workings look to be reported in such a way

 

[Gareth Marston]

Do you have any information on the return journey whether or not they join or just connect at Machynlleth?

The coast unit gets to MAch first and then forms the lead unit.
The 0804,1004,1204, 1404,1604 from Mach all join up in this way. There's a connection into the 1804 and 2004 though the 1804 runs through in the summer.

 

[brianthegiant]

I would echo Gareth, in that Arriva staff are generally very diligent in seeing which portion you need to be according to your ticket after Shrewsbury and advising the walk along the train where necesary, since leaving Mach on the wrong bit could be disastrous.

In extremis if you leave Mach on wrong portion, you can sometime run across between the portions at Dyfi Junction, but this cant be relied on, e.g. if they're running late the aber portion wont wait for the Pwhelli portion at Dyfi Jn.

PS whilst we're on the Cambrian, I've been complaining to NR about the poor state of the track (potholes big enough to swim in) to Dyfi Jn (currently only pedestrian access). NR reponse was something vague about looking into vehicle access, anyone else heard anything? Might be a case of wait and design junction with the A-road looks once widening is finished?

 

[tirphil]

Information is poor

The 0624 New St to Aber is a 2 car 158 that connects at Machynlleth
The 0809 BHM INTL to Abr is 2 car in the week that connects a 4 car that splits on a Saturday.
The 1009 BHM INTL is a 4 car that splits
The 1209 ditto
The 1409 ditto
The 1609 is 4 car with the rear 2 cars coming off at mach apart from on Friday night when they go on as far as Barmouth
The 1809 is a 4 car that splits

The units carry no labeling on them. Generally the lead unit leaving BHM INTL becomes the rear unit and therefore the coast portion if applicable when the train reverses at Shrewsbury. The other unit goes to Aber however fairly often this gets changed for operational reasons i.e unit needs to go on depot/refuel etc.

The Conductors are in the habit of announcing rear unit for coast front for Aber at Shrewsbury and doing a full ticket check. However if your in the wrong portion I would advise waiting till after Caersws before moving as passengers getting off at Welshpool, Newtown will have made space. Panic can set in amongst some passengers on reversal at Shrewsbury who aren't aware of the reversal process.

The 1809 requires a change in Mach. The rear unit from off the 1809 goes on the shed for maintenance. The 2117 down the coast to Pwllheli is booked to be formed by a fresh unit off the shed.
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I would echo Gareth, in that Arriva staff are generally very diligent in seeing which portion you need to be according to your ticket after Shrewsbury and advising the walk along the train where necesary, since leaving Mach on the wrong bit could be disastrous.

In extremis if you leave Mach on wrong portion, you can sometime run across between the portions at Dyfi Junction, but this cant be relied on, e.g. if they're running late the aber portion wont wait for the Pwhelli portion at Dyfi Jn.

PS whilst we're on the Cambrian, I've been complaining to NR about the poor state of the track (potholes big enough to swim in) to Dyfi Jn (currently only pedestrian access). NR reponse was something vague about looking into vehicle access, anyone else heard anything? Might be a case of wait and design junction with the A-road looks once widening is finished?

I've never known the Aber portion wait at Dyfi Junction for the Pwllheli portion to catch up.

I have not heard anything regarding vehicular access to Dyfi Junction either. You are quite correct the 'track' from Glandyfi to the station looks horrendous.