My humble opinion is that the DfT's stubborness is to blame. (They've left the East Midlands franchise with an equally ludicrous timescale to get their PRM modifications done.)Etc,etc,etc.
That's probably the most accurate reply yet lol.
No-one is to blame then I take it.
As no-one wants to accept liability.
This is what I mean by interference.
A good mate of mine at TfW Chester says
175s are indeed useless when compared to the 158s.
Couldn't even get rid of 175s if we tried he says.
Nobody would want them.
They are total rubbish.
So not just my opinion.
Loco hauled could run on the Marches through to Manchester but West Wales
bound service would be a challenge.
That's what happens when you inter-mingle 2 services into one to save money.
We never used to have Milford Haven to Manchester services back in the day.
Also,the non stop of operations of any unit working 20 odd hrs a day cannot be good.
As this seems to be the norm nowadays.
Run things into the ground comes to mind.
No wonder TfW are short of stock!
The PRM mods are a scandal.
If it was known years ago this work had to be done within the timeline set by those who made up this rule as law! Then why have mods started so late that it looks impossible to meet that deadline!
This is what happens when the railways are operated by office workers rather than actual railway men.
I bet most managers etc have never actually operated an actual train.
Probably don't even travel on them either!
It's the same on the buses.
Put someone in charge who hasn't got a clue! Who doesn't even know how to drive a bus!
Oh right but i thought some of 175s would be in CarmarthenThe reason for the Sunday working is due to 175s being in the wrong place at the wrong time to fit in with the journey pattern.
I think 175s are useless cause there not reliable i mush prefer 158sWhat makes your friend say that 175s are useless. I prefer them more than a 158. Only thing I hate about them is no gangway door. Oh, and the cab aircon/heating.
Oh right but i thought some of 175s would be in Carmarthen
Always seems to be 175s when things go wrong,he also says they are worked into the ground.
also my opinion of non gangwayed throughout on long distance is not a good idea.
As these are sometimes 2 sets coupled together and passengers cannot walk through from one set to another if it is overcrowded.
The one thing 158s win over the 175s.
2 or 3 car trains on such long routes are not suitable either unless the service frequency has been bumped up.
On the Marches line in particular should be 4 or 5 car or even more on peak hour services.
Given the stock shortages,I believe the above will never happen though as there is no real commitment by the TOC to find extra sets or carriages whilst they are short....which is right now!
Given the shortages and the planned cascade of trains later this year. These are only planned as a fleet replacement.
I'd say that TfW will still be short of stock until brand new trains arrive to supplement the existing fleet.
I think 175s are useless cause there not reliable i mush prefer 158s
A good mate of mine at TfW Chester says
175s are indeed useless when compared to the 158s.
Couldn't even get rid of 175s if we tried he says.
Nobody would want them.
They are total rubbish.
So not just my opinion.
What makes your friend say that 175s are useless. I prefer them more than a 158. Only thing I hate about them is no gangway door. Oh, and the cab aircon/heating.
Loco hauled could run on the Marches through to Manchester but West Wales
bound service would be a challenge.
That's what happens when you inter-mingle 2 services into one to save money.
We never used to have Milford Haven to Manchester services back in the day.
Also,the non stop of operations of any unit working 20 odd hrs a day cannot be good.
As this seems to be the norm nowadays.
Run things into the ground comes to mind.
No wonder TfW are short of stock!
The PRM mods are a scandal.
If it was known years ago this work had to be done within the timeline set by those who made up this rule as law! Then why have mods started so late that it looks impossible to meet that deadline!
Oh that's true yeah on a Sunday i think they dump them in Carmarthen don't they thats sillyThere are 175s stuck in Carmarthen and trains worked by 150s starting at Cardiff. Somebody might ask why not move them but when Network Rail have carte blanche right to use the route for possessions you can't move overnight Saturday/Sunday. There would be no crews to move them anyway
Oh that's true yeah on a Sunday i think they dump them in Carmarthen don't they thats silly
I'd say that TfW will still be short of stock until brand new trains arrive to supplement the existing fleet.
Always seems to be 175s when things go wrong,he also says they are worked into the ground.
also my opinion of non gangwayed throughout on long distance is not a good idea.
As these are sometimes 2 sets coupled together and passengers cannot walk through from one set to another if it is overcrowded.
The one thing 158s win over the 175s.
2 or 3 car trains on such long routes are not suitable either unless the service frequency has been bumped up.
On the Marches line in particular should be 4 or 5 car or even more on peak hour services.
Given the stock shortages,I believe the above will never happen though as there is no real commitment by the TOC to find extra sets or carriages whilst they are short....which is right now!
Given the shortages and the planned cascade of trains later this year. These are only planned as a fleet replacement.
I'd say that TfW will still be short of stock until brand new trains arrive to supplement the existing fleet.
Ummm yes they are dumped there from satarday. Sorry i have learning difficultiesIt's been explained to you why they are "dumped" at Carmarthen. It is not just for fun as what finishes up there Saturday night has to stay there
But for new we have 5 GWRS 153s and soon 170s from greater angileThe brand new CAF & Stadler trains arriving between 2022-2024 are not supplementing the existing fleet, they are replacing it.
The entire legacy fleet of 150s/153s/158s/175s will be gone from Wales completely by 2024. (If the introduction of the new fleets go to plan)
The brand new CAF & Stadler trains arriving between 2022-2024 are not supplementing the existing fleet, they are replacing it.
The entire legacy fleet of 150s/153s/158s/175s will be gone from Wales completely by 2024. (If the introduction of the new fleets go to plan)
Except for not having unit-end gangways. That and the current state of some of the seats (which need re-padding) are the only problems that I (as a passenger) have with a 175 when they're in full working order. I also saw a window which had misted up on a fairly recent journey (failed window seals?), but can't remember if that was a 175. The lack of gangways is why I think the 2-car 175s would be a good idea for the Conwy Valley and Heart of Wales lines, with the 3-car units used on fast S.W. Wales to Cardiff services via the Swansea District Line (non-stop from Port Talbot to Cardiff in part to keep passenger numbers down so that the 3-cars are enough).Take it from people like myself and Sw1ller who actually spend most of our working lives on 175s
Nothing at all wrong with them.
Spilting it at Swansea would make more sense; the big cities need the long trains, west of Swansea not so much. Also I expect the only major through journey flow that you break by spliting at Swansea is S.W. Wales to Cardiff which could be served by a new service more easily than Swansea to the marches flows.Merging the two routes gives great efficiencies in terms of stock usage. You'd need a lot more units to run the same service if you split at Cardiff, as well as denying people through journey opportunities.
Except for not having unit-end gangways. That and the current state of some of the seats (which need re-padding) are the only problems that I (as a passenger) have with a 175 when they're in full working order. I also saw a window which had misted up on a fairly recent journey (failed window seals?), but can't remember if that was a 175. The lack of gangways is why I think the 2-car 175s would be a good idea for the Conwy Valley and Heart of Wales lines, with the 3-car units used on fast S.W. Wales to Cardiff services via the Swansea District Line (non-stop from Port Talbot to Cardiff in part to keep passenger numbers down so that the 3-cars are enough).
Spilting it at Swansea would make more sense; the big cities need the long trains, west of Swansea not so much. Also I expect the only major through journey flow that you break by spliting at Swansea is S.W. Wales to Cardiff which could be served by a new service more easily than Swansea to the marches flows.
2 or 3 car trains on such long routes are not suitable either unless the service frequency has been bumped up.
On the Marches line in particular should be 4 or 5 car or even more on peak hour services.
Given the stock shortages,I believe the above will never happen though as there is no real commitment by the TOC to find extra sets or carriages whilst they are short....which is right now!
@craigybagel I take it being an established member you have the right to contradict other members posts as you see fit.
Yes i heard about that175007 will be out of action for a spell after hitting a tree on the line between Abergavenny and Hereford while working 1W15 1125 Milford Haven to Hereford this afternoon
Having read twitter the past few days, there was a broken down train in South Wales yesterday that was stranded, not sure what type of train though, and another today after hitting a tree (as mentioned above).
There are hardly any coupled up 175 diagrams, so it's not really needed having the gangway link.
158's mainly do the Cambrian which are usually 4 car with splits in mid wales. Meaning it's easier to move things around and short form if one fails, which is less noticeable as services run but with fewer carriages, they can also be coupled to 150's and 153. 175's can't be coupled to any other fleet type.
I travelled on a 175 recently and was thinking how tired they are to be honest. No plug sockets, no trolley service, one of the toilets out of service, the other in a terrible state. Just overall a very poor service, no improvement since ATW were running the service. The sooner the 175s are replaced the better, I much prefer the 158s and its a pity they are tied to the Cambrian line as they are perfect for Cardiff-Manchester IMO.