Kite159
Veteran Member
It could be worse, it could have been one of the 150s with 3+2 high density airline style seating. Now those have poor legroom.
(ATW hiring it in from Northern)
(ATW hiring it in from Northern)
They quite often put a 153 on the back of 143s down there, but no, 3 car 143s don't exist.
Surely, given that a 150 was going to do the Manchester to south Wales run, passengers should have been advised to use sister Arriva company XC via Birmingham - where they could change for the Nottingham to Cardiff XC? OR - perhaps would also have created problems given that the Nottingham to Cardiff trains are often a 2 coach 170. That being so, could they have continued to Bristol Parkway and then used GWR?
Not many will agree with you.
I'd much rather something turned up to run the service than have to wait an hour for the next one, potentially missing connections further down the line.
PacerTrain142 may be too young to remember but in the early 1980s there was an evening service Hereford to Crewe operated by one of those First Generation 3-car Suburban units. 3+2 seating and a door to each bay. Now that was heavy going.
Most punters don't care what train turns up to get them to their destination, only really enthusiasts that complain about the traction types.
Most punters don't care what train turns up to get them to their destination, only really enthusiasts that complain about the traction types.
Most punters don't care what train turns up to get them to their destination, only really enthusiasts that complain about the traction types.
I doubt some passengers would even notice
Maybe the OP was travelling on an Advance ticket, so waiting for the next train wasn't an option.
I was at Piccadilly today and saw the offending train, my husband who had come to meet me and had been there most of the morning (he likes looking at trains and stations) told me all the hourly ATWs had been 2-coachers in the previous few hours. By a stroke of luck we were booked on the 1431, a 3-coach 175 with plenty of seats for everyone, and then some. I imagine a lot of the travelling public had headed home to watch the football or tennis by then, so it seemed a bit strange to put on more capacity just when it ceased to be needed.
As an aside, both mainline stations I used today (MAN and Liverpool South Parkway) were extremely busy, even for a sunny Saturday. On the 1220 which started from South Parkway to Man Picc people were having to stand even on departure from LPY. The 2-coach 175 that conveyed my husband up from Hereford was also rammed by Shrewsbury.
While waiting for the bus outside Hereford station just before 1700, we saw a train that appeared to be five or six coaches long but was presumably two sets coupled together, heading north. Wondered if this was to relieve problems tomorrow.
I think anybody would notice noisy, uncomfortable and overcrowded trains. Instead of making excuses why don't posters on this thread clamour for decent investment on our railways? I'm currently in Italy, and while Trenitalia are far from perfect (punctuality and overcrowding is still a problem) at least their trains are better designed. I know the loading gauge helps, but I travelled on an Intercity the other day from Milan where the second class seats were 3 abreast (2 one side of the aisle, 1 the other), all as far as I can see aligned with windows, and with plenty of legroom. Instead of our ridiculously short overgrown buses why can't we have some proper trains of a decent length and standard? Yes it involves public spending but aren't we, the public, worth spending on?
Are there any weekday Manchester diagrams that are booked something other than a 175 (obviously excusing the 67’s)?
Are there any weekday Manchester diagrams that are booked something other than a 175 (obviously excusing the 67’s)?
Thanks for that comprehensive reply, can I ask which journeys the 158 diagram operates?No booked departures from Manchester on the South Wales route; there is only the 2017 Cardiff - Manchester that Philippe mentions which then runs ECS to Crewe, booked for a 158. If you count services that run on the same route but don't go all the way to Manchester, there are also:
0030 Cardiff - Hereford (150)
0526 Hereford - Barry Island (150)
0610 Shrewsbury - Maesteg (158)
2155 Cardiff - Crewe (150)
2308 Shrewsbury - Cardiff (150)
All other Manchester services, and all Chester/Holyhead services coming from the marches are booked for 175s on weekdays, apart from the 67 operated services. There is however one diagram on North Wales - Manchester that is booked for a 158, (normally strengthened to 2 X 158 in the morning rush, but that isn't happening at present owing to a shortage of available units).
It would normally be 0852 from Piccadilly to Llandudno, 1436 from the Airport to Llandudno and 1952 from Piccadilly to Chester. It's temporarily a 175 at present though during the current shortages.Thanks for that comprehensive reply, can I ask which journeys the 158 diagram operates?
Thanks. Are the Fishguard Harbours meant to be 175’s? I’ve only seen 150’s lately but have rarely taken notice before.
If that means travelling on suitable rolling stock for the route then yes I'd rather they cancelled it than put this old flea bag on.
This would mean the loss of your reserved seat, and two trainloads shoved into one train. Not terribly wise.
I would of travelled via Euston/Paddington!
I would of travelled via Euston/Paddington!
It would normally be 0852 from Piccadilly to Llandudno, 1436 from the Airport to Llandudno and 1952 from Piccadilly to Chester. It's temporarily a 175 at present though during the current shortages.
I did forget one other 158 service on weekdays though on my above list, which is still running. The 2052 Chester - Manchester on arrival in Piccadilly shunts from Platform 13 to one of the bay Platforms, and then forms the 2236 Manchester - Shrewsbury. What would otherwise be it's return trip to Chester at 2212 is formed by the 175 that arrives off the 1658 from Carmarthen - this runs into platform 14 and continues immediately to Chester.
Must of been the one ATW 158 I seen at Manchester around 7 a few Fridays ago.