Transport for Wales 769's

[Wyrleybart]

The two fuel tanks on a 769 have a capacity of 1000 litres (220 gallons) each.

Presumably because they were designed as electro diesels, rather than straight diesels, to run partially on electrickery.

Oh well

 

[arfortune]

The 769s have been unable to run over the last couple of days due to a problem with the bridge at the south end of Queen St station and which requires Network Rail to carry out some work. This applies to freight trains also but 142s, 143s, 150s and 153s are able to run. I cn't provide any further details at the moment as I only picked it up from Facebook

TfW lead on sorting this out as it's just with the CVL. Naturally NR were invovled too due to GWML,

 

[PHILIPE]

A 769 still trapped at Rhymney due to the bridge issue which has had it's route availability downgraded to RA3 due to a weight issue. The RHTT has run, however, via Radyr, Llandaf and on to the Bay Branch before reversing to access the Rhymney Valley. The Cwmbargoed coal trains will do likewise. We will have to watch this space as 769s are cleared only for the Rhymney Valley and unable to travel via Radyr.

 

[Envoy]

Could they not run the 769’s on the Ebbw Vale’s or Cheltenham's - and possibly make use of the wires whilst on the mainline? The 170’s perhaps could be used on the Rhymney to Penarth route?

 

[Caaardiff]

Could they not run the 769’s on the Ebbw Vale’s or Cheltenham's - and possibly make use of the wires whilst on the mainline? The 170’s perhaps could be used on the Rhymney to Penarth route?

That would complicate an already complicated situation. 170s I don't believe are cleared for Rhymney and 769s not on the Ebbw line. It would also mean starting train crew training from scratch for both fleets. By the time all that is sorted, the bridge issue should be sorted.
It would be quicker to clear them via the city line to get through. Unless there's gauging issues along the route?

Its about time the 170s are utilised better to Swansea or further. They are nowhere near utilised to their full potential. But that's a topic for another forum!

 

[Bikeman78]

The two fuel tanks on a 769 have a capacity of 1000 litres (220 gallons) each.

Thanks for this. 500 litres per vehicle so if they are of similar efficiency to a class 150 then the fuel range is only 500 miles.

 

[Senna1210]

No 2000 l per rake 1000 l per dt car

 

[Bikeman78]

No 2000 l per rake 1000 l per dt car

Yes I get that but a 769 is roughly the same weight and length as a four car 150. Each individual 150 vehicle does roughly one mile per litre. So a four car 150 burns four litres per mile. Unless the 769s are much more efficient then the 2000L will give them a range of 500 miles.

 

[Cardiff123]

So 769 testing & training is now on hold yet again due to problems with the Valleys bridge over the mainline between Central & Queen Street. I guess Network Rail/Keolis Amey won't see it as an immediate priority to fix the bridge problem imminently either as the weight restriction is not causing any disruption to normal passenger services (at the moment).

The 769 project seems cursed.

 

[PHILIPE]

So 769 testing & training is now on hold yet again due to problems with the Valleys bridge over the mainline between Central & Queen Street. I guess Network Rail/Keolis Amey won't see it as an immediate priority to fix the bridge problem imminently either as the weight restriction is not causing any disruption to normal passenger services (at the moment).

The 769 project seems cursed.

The bridge is now available for Coal and RHTT trains but with some restriction (unknown) and suggestion that 769s may be able to pass over at 5 mph. but I haven't seen anything definite on that. Probably too late for anything this week`as crews and tutors otherwise deployed

 

[Danor97]

First Cwmbargoed should be over it Friday with inspectors in presence to assess the bridges condition

 

[konstant]

Could they not run the 769’s on the Ebbw Vale’s or Cheltenham's - and possibly make use of the wires whilst on the mainline? The 170’s perhaps could be used on the Rhymney to Penarth route?

These units do not have a pantograph.

Yes I get that but a 769 is roughly the same weight and length as a four car 150. Each individual 150 vehicle does roughly one mile per litre. So a four car 150 burns four litres per mile. Unless the 769s are much more efficient then the 2000L will give them a range of 500 miles.

Initially it's understood these units are doing 490 miles to a tank so good guess.

Probably too late for anything this week`as crews and tutors otherwise deployed

Crews available every day - 003 was due to come into Canton over the bridge today but failed with electrical fault this morning and thus resides in Rhymney. Indeed RA4 and below will pass with a watchman on their booked crossings only.

 

[geoffk]

These units do not have a pantograph.

A bit shortsighted to remove the pantograph from what was an emu. Maesteg - Cheltenham would have been a possible route, using the wires from Cardiff to STJ.

 

[Cardiff123]

A bit shortsighted to remove the pantograph from what was an emu. Maesteg - Cheltenham would have been a possible route, using the wires from Cardiff to STJ.

TfW RS's plan is to only train Rhymney crews on the 769s. Maesteg - Cheltenham would involve training up more crews, getting the 769s passed to run over those routes etc. The 769s were never ordered for use in Wales for their bi-mode capability, they were ordered purely to boost capacity and to see off the Pacers.

 

[konstant]

A bit shortsighted to remove the pantograph from what was an emu. Maesteg - Cheltenham would have been a possible route, using the wires from Cardiff to STJ.

Why would a unit procured for running on an unwired route need a pantograph? It was a very sensible decision given that it adds a vast amount of risk, cost and time to each servicing event.

The unit is required to run to Rhymney - we add nothing to the project or the wider discussion by listing a list of locations they might make it to if they had a pantograph. They're not the locations the customer wants it to go.

 

[PHILIPE]

TfW RS's plan is to only train Rhymney crews on the 769s. Maesteg - Cheltenham would involve training up more crews, getting the 769s passed to run over those routes etc. The 769s were never ordered for use in Wales for their bi-mode capability, they were ordered purely to boost capacity and to see off the Pacers.

Agreed. As has already been pointed out numerous times, the four carriages are intended to provide capacity in the Cardiff Valleys and for almost the whole day they would be a waste on the Maesteg to Cheltenham route.

 

[craigybagel]

Putting them on Rhymney vice Cheltenham/Ebbw is the difference between training about 40 crew and training 200. If they were a long term solution then maybe you could make a case, but as a short term filler until a long term solution arrives, it would be a massive waste.

 

[Caaardiff]

4 cars would be overkill for Maesteg or Ebbw Vale, even at peak times. 3 cars is usually sufficient.

 

[konstant]

003 on its way to Cardiff now as 5Z53 11+14 Rhymney Sidings – Cardiff Central. Let's see what happens at the bridge!

 

[AdamWW]

003 on its way to Cardiff now as 5Z53 11+14 Rhymney Sidings – Cardiff Central. Let's see what happens at the bridge!

Looks as if it made it...Cardiff Central 12:43 (and 1/4)

Doesn't seem to have turned round to head North again as per the timetable.

 

[PHILIPE]

003 on its way to Cardiff now as 5Z53 11+14 Rhymney Sidings – Cardiff Central. Let's see what happens at the bridge!

It crossed the bridge and reached Central

 

[Jamesrob637]

Looks as if it made it...Cardiff Central 12:43 (and 1/4)

Doesn't seem to have turned round to head North again as per the timetable.

Give it a chance - two runs might be too much to ask for

 

[Senna1210]

003 is overdue exam so will be heading into depot

 

[PHILIPE]

Trips on the Rhymney line have resumed today.

 

[anthony263]

769006 has decided to come put today seen a photograph of it 9n Facebook at caerphilly

 

[PaulHarding150]

Progress!

 

[AdamWW]

769006 has decided to come put today seen a photograph of it 9n Facebook at caerphilly

And here it is approaching Queen Street today:

 

[Bob Price]

Double testing this morning with 008 and 004 out. Building up the miles. According to the schedule the last one is at destination at 10 tonight so looks like they are trying to get as much out of them as they can.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

Double testing this morning with 008 and 004 out. Building up the miles. According to the schedule the last one is at destination at 10 tonight so looks like they are trying to get as much out of them as they can.

008 and 002.

 

[Bob Price]

Indeed. The listings were off. Pic here from Buzz on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/Buzz37295/status/1321027624618102786?s=19