Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 FLIRTs

[Buzz68]

That'll be the 'timing load' used to calculate the sectional running times not the actual weight of the train.

Ok thanks

 

[Bob Price]

Path seems to be active leaving Ripple Lane at 23.14 tonight, arriving Canton sidings at 08:47. Current code is 542V

 

[PaulHarding150]

Video of 231002 and 004

 

[Buzz68]

Video of 756002 and 004

Nice video Paul thanks for posting, I though they were 231002 & 004 (though I appreciate they look similar) also did you catch what the 66’s please?

 

[DanNCL]

Video of 756002 and 004

Nice video Paul thanks for posting, I though they were 231002 & 004 (though I appreciate they look similar) also did you catch what the 66’s please?

Definitely 231s, although I can see why they're difficult to tell apart, externally the only difference between the two classes is the absence of a pantograph on the 231s!

@Buzz68 the 66 is 66001

 

[Buzz68]

Definitely 231s, although I can see why they're difficult to tell apart, externally the only difference between the two classes is the absence of a pantograph on the 231s!

@Buzz68 the 66 is 66001

Thank you

 

[anthony263]

Nice video Paul thanks for posting, I though they were 231002 & 004 (though I appreciate they look similar) also did you catch what the 66’s please?

66001 and 66002 are the only 2 class 66s which can couple to the units

 

[3973EXL]

5Q99 66001 231002 231004 fully numbered
11 early Twyford

 

[Caaardiff]

Presumably it adds extra capacity but that door layout seems odd in comparison to other commuter types.

 

[43096]

66001 and 66002 are the only 2 class 66s which can couple to the units

Only 2 DB Cargo 66s, presumably?

 

[adc82140]

Are these just 755s without pantographs? If so, you'd hope that acceptance and fault free running will be straightforward.

 

[PaulHarding150]

231002 and 004 now in Cardiff

https://twitter.com/dai_lygad/status/1461624357030182916?s=21

 

[berneyarms]

756002 and 004 now in Cardiff

https://twitter.com/dai_lygad/status/1461624357030182916?s=21

You mean 231002 and 231004!

You seem to have the Class 756 on the brain!

 

[PaulHarding150]

Apologies.

 

[Bob Price]

Passing Cardiff this morning, I managed to grab this video morning.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Video of 756002 and 004

756s or 231s? I thought 4-car 756s had 7 doors per side and 231s had 6 doors per side, but having checked the documents again there is some inconsistency.

Are these just 755s without pantographs? If so, you'd hope that acceptance and fault free running will be straightforward.

No; the TfW units have more doors. Hopefully that's the only other significant difference and installing pantographs when/if the UK decides to decarbonise rail will be a peice of cake.

 

[berneyarms]

They are Class 231 002 and 231 004.

 

[D365]

Impressive that the rear unit is energised!

 

[AlexNL]

TfW have made a video of the transport as well, of course in two languages

 

[JonathanH]

From https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...lly-for-northern.138660/page-200#post-5413571

Does anyone know the side numbers of 231002 and 231004 please ?
I am guessing the start 9xxxxx if they are in the same arrangement as the GA 755s.

Platform 5 book says
231 - 3810xx-3812xx-3814xx-3813xx-3811xx
756/0 - 911xxx-971xxx-981xxx-912xxx
756/1 - 911xxx-961xxx-971xxx-981xxx-912xxx

so 756s are numbered the same way as 755s. 231s aren't. They don't even have the same relative ordering of coach numbers.

 

[Wyrleybart]

From https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...lly-for-northern.138660/page-200#post-5413571

Platform 4 book says
231 - 3810xx-3812xx-3814xx-3813xx-3811xx
756/0 - 911xxx-971xxx-981xxx-912xxx
756/1 - 911xxx-961xxx-971xxx-981xxx-912xxx

so 756s are numbered the same way as 755s. 231s aren't. They don't even have the same relative ordering of coach numbers.

That is really useful info Jonathan. Thanks very much.
I was trying to compare vehicle weights using TOPS data between the newly delivered TfW class 231 cars and the existing GA class 755 cars. I assume the transformers, cabling etc and obviously the pantographs have been left off the class 231 vehicles and wondered whether they had been ballasted back up to the same weight as the tranny equipped 755 cars.

Thanks again

 

[Bob Price]

There are rumours in another thread that the 231's will start night testing soon to Severn Tunnel Junction and up the Rhymney line. Word is that they want to deploy the 231's to get rid of the 769's as soon as possible until the 756's arrive. If anyone gets wind of testing paths I would love to know

 

[Wyrleybart]

There are rumours in another thread that the 231's will start night testing soon to Severn Tunnel Junction and up the Rhymney line. Word is that they want to deploy the 231's to get rid of the 769's as soon as possible until the 756's arrive. If anyone gets wind of testing paths I would love to know

TfW seem to have sometimes done differently to other TOCs regarding new stock. Others tend to use FOC drivers to test run or mileage accumulate new equipment. GBRF ROG SLC and FLHH are four companies I know of. It would be interesting to see if the Stadlers are taken out by TfW staff (who are probably in very short supply) or whether a FOC takes them. DBC have the contract to deliver the Stadlers to Cardiff, so may also be involved in the testing of them.

 

[Techniquest]

231002 and 004 now in Cardiff

https://twitter.com/dai_lygad/status/1461624357030182916?s=21

They look good, no question of it, that red panel on the ends is going to take some adjusting the eyes to though!

I'm very pleased to hear the first 231s are in Wales and soon to be tested etc, I really enjoyed my travels on the 745s and 755s in Anglia so I have high hopes for a big transformation of the Welsh Valleys with these!

 

[66050]

There are rumours in another thread that the 231's will start night testing soon to Severn Tunnel Junction and up the Rhymney line. Word is that they want to deploy the 231's to get rid of the 769's as soon as possible until the 756's arrive. If anyone gets wind of testing paths I would love to know

Realtime Trains | Departures from Caerphilly all day on 11/12/2021

Train information at Caerphilly all day on 11/12/2021. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Possible overnight testing, 11th December?

 

[Bob Price]

Just had a look at the Railcam schedules and there are paths in. 2300 on the Friday from Cardiff

 

[Big George]

TfW seem to have sometimes done differently to other TOCs regarding new stock. Others tend to use FOC drivers to test run or mileage accumulate new equipment. GBRF ROG SLC and FLHH are four companies I know of. It would be interesting to see if the Stadlers are taken out by TfW staff (who are probably in very short supply) or whether a FOC takes them. DBC have the contract to deliver the Stadlers to Cardiff, so may also be involved in the testing of them.

GBRF Drivers are to be used for proving runs and mileage accumulation etc for the stadler flirts and 398's

 

[TravelDream]

It's made the news.

Transport for Wales have heralded a “new era” with the arrival of brand-new trains that they say will provide more capacity and improved services for Transport for Wales passengers.

£800 million is being invested in new trains for the Wales and borders network by Transport for Wales, who were nationalised by the Welsh Government last year.
The first two brand new trains from train manufacturer Stadler have now been delivered to the TfW depot at Canton, in Cardiff, for testing.
The new Class 231 FLIRT trains arrived in Wales from Switzerland and are the first of 35 to be delivered over the next 24 months from Stadler.
The FLIRTs will be part of the South Wales Metro, the three quarters of billion-pound project which aims to provide more capacity and more frequent services that will be greener for the environment.

There are more pictures in the article too.

'New era' heralded as brand new Transport for Wales trains arrive

Transport for Wales have heralded a “new era” with the arrival of brand-new trains that they say will provide more capacity and improved services for Transport for Wales passengers. £800 million is being invested in new trains for the Wales and borders network by Transport for Wales, who were...

nation.cymru

 

[PaulHarding150]

Photo from inside here:

https://twitter.com/nathwatkins2020/status/1466430682754916358?s=21

 

[Anonymous10]

Photo from inside here:

https://twitter.com/nathwatkins2020/status/1466430682754916358?s=21

makes me wish they had been procured for intercity services they look very sleek indeed looking forward to seeing them out and about