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Transport for Wales 769's

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Big George

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In fairness though the 319s weren't sluggish on Thameslink, the issue is apparently the way Northern drivers were instructed to drive them. They're no FLIRT by any means but they aren't notably slower than any other MK3 based EMU.
So how differently were they driven at Thameslink compared to Northern please?
 
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AM9

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So how differently were they driven at Thameslink compared to Northern please?
They were driven like most other suburban services, using their acceleration and braking near the maximum available. This enabled them to use paths squeezed in between 222s & HSTs on the MML, and between Electrostars on the BML. Most of the drivers were quite adept at managing that performance during poor railhead conditions as well. I say that as an interested passenger, I have no knowledge how the drivers actually handled the controls available to them.
The fact that the 700s were given performance that is so much better, reflects the demands of interworking the Thameslink services with IC traffic.
My experience on the Chat Moss 319s was more like a trip on the Abbey Flyer than what those trains were designed for.
 

DustyBin

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They were driven like most other suburban services, using their acceleration and braking near the maximum available. This enabled them to use paths squeezed in between 222s & HSTs on the MML, and between Electrostars on the BML. Most of the drivers were quite adept at managing that performance during poor railhead conditions as well. I say that as an interested passenger, I have no knowledge how the drivers actually handled the controls available to them.
The fact that the 700s were given performance that is so much better, reflects the demands of interworking the Thameslink services with IC traffic.
My experience on the Chat Moss 319s was more like a trip on the Abbey Flyer than what those trains were designed for.

I mostly travelled on them over the DC network and occasionally up to Luton where as you say they had to fit in between various IC services (even in Kent they were interworking with fast services). The only performance issue I ever noticed was loss of traction in the wet, they used to slip and slide their way around the Catford loop in particular but like you I suspect some drivers managed it better than others.

I’m yet to travel on one in Northern land, however it was posted on here that drivers were instructed to apply power conservatively and go through the notches if I remember correctly. It would certainly explain why they all of a sudden gained a reputation for poor acceleration.
 

Mordac

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I mostly travelled on them over the DC network and occasionally up to Luton where as you say they had to fit in between various IC services (even in Kent they were interworking with fast services). The only performance issue I ever noticed was loss of traction in the wet, they used to slip and slide their way around the Catford loop in particular but like you I suspect some drivers managed it better than others.

I’m yet to travel on one in Northern land, however it was posted on here that drivers were instructed to apply power conservatively and go through the notches if I remember correctly. It would certainly explain why they all of a sudden gained a reputation for poor acceleration.
It may be more likely that it was because the only other Northern electrics in the area are 323s, which are very quick off the mark.
 

Roger B

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It won’t be the original coach from 426 as the chassis is twisted beyond repair. Still waiting vehicle detail to be confirmed by Porterbrook
So three of the four carriages of 319426 have been converted to form 3 of the four carriages of 769426, which is awaiting allocation of a fourth carriage. So which carriage of 319426 is twisted beyond compare?
 

AM9

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I mostly travelled on them over the DC network and occasionally up to Luton where as you say they had to fit in between various IC services (even in Kent they were interworking with fast services). The only performance issue I ever noticed was loss of traction in the wet, they used to slip and slide their way around the Catford loop in particular but like you I suspect some drivers managed it better than others.

I’m yet to travel on one in Northern land, however it was posted on here that drivers were instructed to apply power conservatively and go through the notches if I remember correctly. It would certainly explain why they all of a sudden gained a reputation for poor acceleration.
I believe that drivers on TL made judicious use of sand and a less aggressive use of higher notches when adhesion wasn't that good. )nce they got to about 30-40, they let them go.
 

Bikeman78

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I’m yet to travel on one in Northern land, however it was posted on here that drivers were instructed to apply power conservatively and go through the notches if I remember correctly. It would certainly explain why they all of a sudden gained a reputation for poor acceleration.
Whereas if you go to Belgium or the Netherlands the power handle usually gets pulled all the way round to the full power mark from a stand. The Dutch SGM sprinters are the best. The two cars can do 0-70 mph in 40 seconds. They aren't even modern, they date from 1975. Shame I'll probably never get to go on one again.
 

yorkie

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Can we try to stick to TfW 769s please?

People are very welcome to create a new thread to discuss anything else :)
 

Senna1210

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008 back on the run next week x4 repairs done this week to the running fleet looks like the rhymney run is hitting them hard
 

6Gtraincrew

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Looks to be three 769's in passenger service today including 445 which I think is its first day carrying passengers. 002 and 007 are the other two out and about.
 

Buzz68

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I see there has been a 4th 769 path added today, not that 769's are running on all these paths due to availability.

The new path is (769007 is on this today):
5D06 0515 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Penarth
2D06 0607 Penarth to Bargoed
2P57 0746 Bargoed to Penarth
2D09 0907 Penarth to Bargoed
2P60 1046 Bargoed to Penarth
2D12 1207 Penarth to Bargoed
2P63 1346 Bargoed to Penarth
2D15 1507 Penarth to Bargoed
2P66 1646 Bargoed to Penarth
2D18 1807 Penarth to Bargoed
2P69 1946 Bargoed to Cardiff Central
5P69 2041 Cardiff Central to Cardiff Canton Sidings

Existing paths are still the same i believe:

5P05 0551 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Cardiff Central
2P05 0606 Cardiff - Penarth
2R06 0633 Penarth - Rhymney
2P08 0802 Rhymney - Penarth
2R09 0933 Penarth - Rhymney
2P11 1102 Rhymney - Penarth
2R12 1233 Penarth - Rhymney
2P14 1402 Rhymney - Penarth
2R15 1533 Penarth - Rhymney
2F21 1702 Rhymney - Cardiff
5F21 1816 Cardiff Central to Cardiff Canton Sidings
5P20 2037 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Cardiff Central
2P20 2112 Cardiff Central to Penarth
2R21 2132 Penarth to Rhymney
5R21 2302 Rhymney to Rhymney Sidings

5P07 0644 Rhymney Sidings to Rhymney
2P07 0702 Rhymney to Penarth
2R08 0833 Penarth to Rhymney
2P10 1002 Rhymney to Penarth
2R11 1133 Penarth to Rhymney
2P13 1302 Rhymney to Penarth
2R14 1433 Penarth to Rhymney
2P16 1602 Rhymney to Penarth
2R17 1733 Penarth to Rhymney
2P19 1902 Rhymney to Penarth
2R20 2033 Penarth to Rhymney
2P22 2202 Rhymney to Cardiff Central
5P22 2322 Cardiff Central to Cardiff Canton Sidings

5P55 0615 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Cardiff Central
2P55 0640 Cardiff Central to Penarth
2D07 0707 Penarth to Bargoed
2P58 0846 Bargoed to Penarth
2D10 1007 Penarth to Bargoed
2P61 1146 Bargoed to Penarth
2D13 1307 Penarth to Bargoed
2P64 1446 Bargoed to Penarth
2D16 1607 Penarth to Bargoed
2P67 1746 Bargoed to Penarth
2D19 1907 Penarth to Bargoed
2P70 2046 Bargoed to Penarth
2F22 2207 Penarth to Cardiff Central
5F22 2225 Cardiff Central to Cardiff Canton Sidings

Looks to be three 769's in passenger service today including 445 which I think is its first day carrying passengers. 002 and 007 are the other two out and about.
Yes fairly sure it's 445 first passenger run, it only had it's first run on 9 March

Might have answered my own question.769002 is on a different path again today:

5P56 0611 Rhymney Sidings to Bargoed
2P56 0646 Bargoed to Penarth
2D08 0807 Penarth to Bargoed
2P59 0946 Bargoed to Penarth
2D11 1107 Penarth to Bargoed
2P62 1246 Bargoed to Penarth
2D14 1407 Penarth to Bargoed
2P65 1546 Bargoed to Penarth
2D17 1707 Penarth to Bargoed
2P68 1846 Bargoed to Cardiff Central
5P68 1955 Cardiff Central to Cardiff Canton Sidings
 
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PHILIPE

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Is that the first time one has been down there under its own power? Any idea why?


Possibly a test run after repairs as these usually runs go to Newport. This would not be the same thing as running on the Rhymney Line as those runs are for route test, Fault Free Running and crew training prior to introduction tp service.
 
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Buzz68

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Does anyone happen know exact day the 143's will stop. They are due to finish on Monday 31 May but that's a bank holiday and I've heard several people say it will be the Friday the 28 May. The 142's finished earlier than planned because of the Christmas break.
 

PHILIPE

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Bikeman78

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Does anyone happen know exact day the 143's will stop. They are due to finish on Monday 31 May but that's a bank holiday and I've heard several people say it will be the Friday the 28 May. The 142's finished earlier than planned because of the Christmas break.
Radyr to Ponty is blocked Saturday to Monday so they won't run north of Radyr after Friday. No reason why they can't run elsewhere up to and including Monday.

EDIT - sorry just realised I'm posting this in the wrong thread.
 

Buzz68

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Sorry didn’t realise I posted on the wrong thread my mistake

Radyr to Ponty is blocked Saturday to Monday so they won't run north of Radyr after Friday. No reason why they can't run elsewhere up to and including Monday.

EDIT - sorry just realised I'm posting this in the wrong thread.
Thanks
 

AdamWW

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FOUR in passenger service today. Must be a record.

002
007
008
442

Good news in terms of coping with the last remaining Pacers going, I would have thought.

Not if you have people who can work in bubbles with Driver trainers/managers as TFW have been doing all along. It ran and I presume it ran safely

It never occurred to me that it wouldn't have run safely.

I was just thinking that needing someone to conduct a route happens because the driver is taking to train somewhere they don't normally, and therefore they are not that likely to be in a bubble with someone who does have the route knowledge - it's different to having a trainee driver who is taking instruction from a particular trainer on a regular basis.
 

Bikeman78

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Supposed to be five tomorrow and six on Monday. I went on 769002 yesterday. The cooler groups were working very hard. I sat in the leading coach. The engine is a bit quieter than a 150 and there is much less vibration.
 
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