[Masboroughlad]

Don't usually make this journey. Is the 1030 off Manchester always booked for a 150? Seems the wrong type of unit for such a long journey. Was hoping for a 175! (and I'm sat near the toilet and it stinks!)

[LNW-GW Joint]

Originally Posted by Masboroughlad

Don't usually make this journey. Is the 1030 off Manchester always booked for a 150? Seems the wrong type of unit for such a long journey. Was hoping for a 175! (and I'm sat near the toilet and it stinks!)

Very rare for the MAN-CDF trains not to be 175s, usually 3-car.
Must be a bad day...
You really need the aircon on a day like today.

[Pumbaa]

No, but it's not booked for a 175. It's usually a 158. The 1030, 1530 and 1930? off Manchester are all booked 158.

One of the Welsh posters has posted the exact timings before. The above could be an hour either side, I Cant quite remember.

[156441]

It been a 150 since Wednesday due to a lack of 175's causing the 158's to be moved around!

[tbtc]

Sadly ATW have little spare (partly because the 175s on the Manchester route are running into south west Wales, and not concentrating on the busiest section from Swansea/ Cardiff/ Newport to Manchester), so its a 150 from time to time.

In the circumstances I'd rather put a 150 on the Birmingham International - Holyhead route (which sees fewer longer distance passengers) and a 158 on the Manchester trip (if there aren't enough 175s) but that would require some swapping around of stock etc.

[ChiefPlanner]

After last nights mishap when a 175 hit 4 cows at St George's crossing in the Vale - another out of action ......

[anthony263]

I think we really need 175002 back in service especially since it looks like ATW have now lost another class 175.

That said if it is only one carriage that is damaged from both unit last night and 175002 could the non damaged carriages be put together to form a hybrid set?

[Rhydgaled]

What I've read on this fourm and others in the past is that all Manchester - south Wales services are booked for class 175s on weekdays (there's one class 158 booked on Saturdays, the rest should be 175s). ATW really need to get more slack in their long distance fleet (ie. introduce LHCS on franchise workings) to keep the 150s on short distance / suburban workings.

[merlodlliw]

Originally Posted by tbtc

Sadly ATW have little spare (partly because the 175s on the Manchester route are running into south west Wales, and not concentrating on the busiest section from Swansea/ Cardiff/ Newport to Manchester), so its a 150 from time to time.

In the circumstances I'd rather put a 150 on the Birmingham International - Holyhead route (which sees fewer longer distance passengers) and a 158 on the Manchester trip (if there aren't enough 175s) but that would require some swapping around of stock etc.

Dont the Holyhead Birmingham 158s do a swop around at Salop for the Cambrian, thus ruling out 150s,I agree about ATW not concentrating on the busy sections.
ATW probably have nothing spare now.

Bob

[Rich McLean]

From memory, when a Cambrian service arrives into BHI, it consits of 2x158's.

Either a 158 is left at BHI for an hour, while the other 158 forms the Holyhead service. The next service from Holyhead couples to the 158 left an international and forms the next Cambrian.

However, I think that has changed over the past couple years, where the Holyhead trains go from BHI to Shrewsbury as two 158's and split there, and that 158 left behind joins the next Holyhead service to Birmingham at shrewsbury, to give capacity on the Wolves to Shrewsbury line, which used to often be full and standing when I have used it.

I'm sure someone from ATW can confirm how its works now

[150222]

Your certainly better off with hopper windows (150) than broken air-con (158).

[Paul Sidorczuk]

Originally Posted by 150222

Your certainly better off with hopper windows (150) than broken air-con (158).

What is the "comfort factor" of the seating on the 150 class, the 158 class and the 175 class on a journey length of Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central, as we may be making this journey quite soon.

[All Line Rover]

Originally Posted by LNW-GW Joint

Very rare for the MAN-CDF trains not to be 175s, usually 3-car.
Must be a bad day...
You really need the aircon on a day like today.

Manchester to Cardiff consists of a mixture of 2-car and 3-car 175's. A few are 158's (the 1930 off MAN is booked to be a 158), and this is bearable, if not the most pleasant experience. But to put a 150 on that route is ridiculous!

I don't understand why some of the 175's run as far as Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven. Surely they can't be that busy down there? (Considering most of the 175's "up here" are full and standing). In my opinion they should all terminate at Cardiff Central with connections on 158's and 150's for passengers travelling further afield.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Originally Posted by Paul Sidorczuk

What is the "comfort factor" of the seating on the 150 class, the 158 class and the 175 class on a journey length of Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central, as we may be making this journey quite soon.

175's - very comfortable, lots of space, quiet, lovely overall. Particularly with the aircon on in this heat.
158 refurbs - comfortable seats, if a bit narrow. Quite noisy compared to a 175.
158 originals - not a pleasant experience.
150's - REALLY not a pleasant experience, and extremely loud. Especially with all the windows open!

[Rhydgaled]

Originally Posted by Rich McLean

From memory, when a Cambrian service arrives into BHI, it consits of 2x158's.

Either a 158 is left at BHI for an hour, while the other 158 forms the Holyhead service. The next service from Holyhead couples to the 158 left an international and forms the next Cambrian.

However, I think that has changed over the past couple years, where the Holyhead trains go from BHI to Shrewsbury as two 158's and split there, and that 158 left behind joins the next Holyhead service to Birmingham at shrewsbury, to give capacity on the Wolves to Shrewsbury line, which used to often be full and standing when I have used it.

I'm sure someone from ATW can confirm how its works now

I'm not from ATW, but I'm pretty sure that most services are two 158s coming in from Cambrian, which go straight back out to Shrewsbury on the Holyhead service, leaving one unit at Shrewsbury which as you say couples to the inbound service from Holyhead to go back to Birmingham, then both head out on Cambrian. Might be a little different now, due to strengthening of some of these services.

[185]

For ATW to use a 158 on the Crewe shuttles or North Wales Coast, and to put a 150 on the Cardiff Manchster, they need lynching.