Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 FLIRTs

[nigelsporne]

Is it envisaged that once operations are up and running that the 756s will run as pairs at all?

 

[Anonymous10]

Is it envisaged that once operations are up and running that the 756s will run as pairs at all?

Not to my knowledge. The 231s never have.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is it envisaged that once operations are up and running that the 756s will run as pairs at all?

Unlikely the 756s will run in pairs. The 756/1s are four cars in length already so that is roughly a pair of 150s. the 756/0s are three cars so better than a single 2car 150. Roughly.

Maybe a few crowd busters on rugby match days as I expect the 756s can multiple - the Greater Anglia 755s do after all.

 

[Envoy]

The big question is that with the people in the central valleys now switching to the 756’s, how will they react when they get swapped out for the Class 398 tram-trains? Of course, much depends upon how they compare in terms of comfort and ride quality - and the no toilet issue. Wonder how many new toilets have been built thus far on the 398 network? Nothing at Cardiff Central as far as I can tell.

 

[John R]

The big question is that with the people in the central valleys now switching to the 756’s, how will they react when they get swapped out for the Class 398 tram-trains? Of course, much depends upon how they compare in terms of comfort and ride quality - and the no toilet issue. Wonder how many new toilets have been built thus far on the 398 network? Nothing at Cardiff Central as far as I can tell.

I hope this doesn’t start another 100 or so posts on the provision of toilets on the trams. It’s a done deal, and has been for the last 5 years, so no point debating ad nauseum whether it’s going to be ok.

 

[alholmes]

The big question is that with the people in the central valleys now switching to the 756’s, how will they react when they get swapped out for the Class 398 tram-trains? Of course, much depends upon how they compare in terms of comfort and ride quality

It’ll probably depend on whether the Class 398s are introduced simultaneously with the proposed doubling of frequency. So any potential grumbling about inferior trains can be offset by the fact that services in the valleys are every 15 minutes, instead of every 30.

 

[Envoy]

It’ll probably depend on whether the Class 398s are introduced simultaneously with the proposed doubling of frequency. So any potential grumbling about inferior trains can be offset by the fact that services in the valleys are every 15 minutes, instead of every 30.

Can’t see how they can be every 15 minutes on the present route for Merthyr / Aberdare due to the problem at Cardiff west junction limiting services to every 30 minutes on the City line.

Many thanks for the explanation given below by Mike PJ.

 

[MikePJ]

Can’t see how they can be every 15 minutes on the present route for Merthyr / Aberdare due to the problem at Cardiff west junction limiting services to every 30 minutes on the City line.

The extra 2tph from each branch (Merthyr, Aberdare, Treherbert) will go via Llandaff and Cathays and terminate at Cardiff Bay. So if you want a one-seat ride to Central or the City Line stations you only get 2tph, but if you’re prepared to change trains then you can switch from a Bay service to one serving Central without needing to wait very long. The city line only gets 2tph (as does Coryton) because that’s all that the current track layout can cope with and no upgrades are proposed in the current phase of funding. Mark Barry goes on at length about how disappointing this is, as do many folks on here!

Here’s the original service pattern diagram - I think this is still largely accurate.

 

[nigelsporne]

This is very useful for someone not familiar with the area. However I am struggling with the maths. So from Radyr you have 10 services heading to Queens St, of which 6 go to the Bay, the rest going onto Central and two going via the City line. So this adds up. For the other side you have 4 from Rhymney with an additional 2 picked up on the way and 2 from Coryton. The Barry side you have 4 to Penarth, 3 to Barry Island and 2 via VoG which only gives 17. Is there an additional service to Rhoose? If so the thick blue line would be 6 tph not 5? Or am I misreading the diagram?

 

[Trainbike46]

This is very useful for someone not familiar with the area. However I am struggling with the maths. So from Radyr you have 10 services heading to Queens St, of which 6 go to the Bay, the rest going onto Central and two going via the City line. So this adds up. For the other side you have 4 from Rhymney with an additional 2 picked up on the way and 2 from Coryton. The Barry side you have 4 to Penarth, 3 to Barry Island and 2 via VoG which only gives 17. Is there an additional service to Rhoose? If so the thick blue line would be 6 tph not 5? Or am I misreading the diagram?

I'm guessing some services terminate at Central - by my count there are these services at Central: 9 on one side (4 Penarth, 3 Barry Island, 2 Bridgend), and 14 on the other side (2 city line; 4 Radyr via Queen street; 8 Rhymney, Coryton, and Caerphilly). I'm assuming that mismatch is solved by terminating some services at Central.

 

[Topological]

There are 2 from the City Line coming in from the same side as the Penarth/Barry Island/Bridgend

It is a shame that there is nowhere to send the terminators from the Queen Street direction.

I do of course realise that the discussion drifted from the actual 231/756s. It is very good to see them being successfully introduced.

 

[Chris125]

Only one 756 today? Looks like 105 failed at Radyr.

 

[MikePJ]

I'm guessing some services terminate at Central - by my count there are these services at Central: 9 on one side (4 Penarth, 3 Barry Island, 2 Bridgend), and 14 on the other side (2 city line; 4 Radyr via Queen street; 8 Rhymney, Coryton, and Caerphilly). I'm assuming that mismatch is solved by terminating some services at Central.

Yes, exactly. The service pattern today prefigures this planned arrangement:

• Coryton-Penarth-Caerphilly-Penarth
• Merthyr-Queen St-Central-City Line-Aberdare
• Treherbert-Queen St-Central (terminates at Central and runs back again)
• Rhymney - Barry Island
• Rhymney - Bridgend via Rhoose

In that diagram there’s one of the Barry services that needs to terminate at Central, and it’s not clear whether that would be one of the Barry Island services or one of the Bridgend ones.

 

[BillStampy]

Only one 756 today? Looks like 105 failed at Radyr.

Seems to have dropped to 0... 1M38 terminated at Radyr

 

[The_Train]

Presumably the lack of discussion about these in here means that the entry into service is going smoothly so far?

Seems to have dropped to 0... 1M38 terminated at Radyr

Looks like I spoke too soon then.......

 

[BillStampy]

Looks like I spoke too soon then.......

Back up to 1, 756111 swapping in for the return 1A46

 

[Chris125]

Only one 756 today, again?

 

[StripeyNick]

231005 has been named 'Gavin & Stacey' today

New train named ‘Gavin and Stacey’ for Barry Island

Transport for Wales has named one of its new trains ‘Gavin and Stacey’ as they ‘step into Christmas’ and join celebrations for the final episode of the famous BBC series.

news.tfw.wales

 

[Rhydgaled]

I'm guessing some services terminate at Central - by my count there are these services at Central: 9 on one side (4 Penarth, 3 Barry Island, 2 Bridgend), and 14 on the other side (2 city line; 4 Radyr via Queen street; 8 Rhymney, Coryton, and Caerphilly). I'm assuming that mismatch is solved by terminating some services at Central.

From the lines on the diagram, I make it 12tph on one side (into Central from Queen Street) and 11tph on the other (departing Central towards Barry, Penarth and Ninian Park). However, while the numerical mismatch is only 1tph, the way the diagram has been drawn suggests as many as 11tph could terminate at Cardiff Central (6 from the north and all 5 from Barry). I suspect that is unlikely to be the reality, but at the very least both Treherbert-Central services (pink line) appear to terminate at Central meaning at least 1 of the 5 from Barry would need to start/terminate at Cardiff Central to balance that.

 

[56xx]

756 007 on training runs to Aberdare today. I believe it to be the first 3 car 756 to venture up the valleys.

 

[John R]

231005 has been named 'Gavin & Stacey' today

New train named ‘Gavin and Stacey’ for Barry Island

Transport for Wales has named one of its new trains ‘Gavin and Stacey’ as they ‘step into Christmas’ and join celebrations for the final episode of the famous BBC series.

news.tfw.wales

I like this idea. The fleet should be named after cultural icons of the region. So Shirley Bassey, Max Boyce, Tom Jones etc.

 

[StripeyNick]

I like this idea. The fleet should be named after cultural icons of the region. So Shirley Bassey, Max Boyce, Tom Jones etc.

I agree. I think there was talk of naming others so who knows what the plan is.

Think they missed a trick with the name.....could have been Gavin at one end and Stacey at the other

 

[Peter Sarf]

I like this idea. The fleet should be named after cultural icons of the region. So Shirley Bassey, Max Boyce, Tom Jones etc.

How about Aneurin Bevan. Or is that too um non show bizzy ?.

 

[tfw756rider]

756 007 on training runs to Aberdare today. I believe it to be the first 3 car 756 to venture up the valleys.

The first unit yes, but it was previously on them on at least the 29/11/24, 2/12/24 and 3/12/24, in addition to the 5/12/24.

 

[AdamWW]

I like this idea. The fleet should be named after cultural icons of the region. So Shirley Bassey, Max Boyce, Tom Jones etc.

They had a childrens competition a few years back to choose names for their new fleets of trains.
Names of living people weren't allowed.

Though it looks as if, apart from one or two token namings, they have quietly dropped the plan to use the names chosen by the competition winners.
If so, I can see them not wanting to issue a press release saying so but it would be nice if they had let the winners know that they aren't going to see their chosen name on a train after all.

 

[chrisjo]

How about Aneurin Bevan. Or is that too um non show bizzy ?.

Aneurin Bevan is used already on GWR 800005

 

[Peter Sarf]

Aneurin Bevan is used already on GWR 800005

Shows my ignorance. Actually a train that travels further afield than a 756 is a good place for the name. Aneurin Bevan has UK wide significance of course.

 

[Bob Price]

Would love to see one named after the US Railshop Battalion that was based at Newport in WW2. Seeing as the 231's will be passing the depot and using the line where they tested the locos they built, it would be a fitting tribute.

 

[MikePJ]

Quick technical question: what are these two panels in the roof of this unit (above the window)?

 

[Rhydgaled]

They had a childrens competition a few years back to choose names for their new fleets of trains.
Names of living people weren't allowed.

Though it looks as if, apart from one or two token namings, they have quietly dropped the plan to use the names chosen by the competition winners.
If so, I can see them not wanting to issue a press release saying so but it would be nice if they had let the winners know that they aren't going to see their chosen name on a train after all.

TfW have published a list of the winners - were all of those names ever meant to appear on a train or only the 8 'category winners' listed under the expandable headings towards the top of the page?

Even if it was only ever meant to be the top eight, the names chosen by the competition winners don't appear to have been used exactly as-proposed by the children. 'Sultan' and 'Happy Valley' have certainly been used, how about the other six names?