I quick search on Flickr found this:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/18813...NM3aM-2mNKSvH-2mNES7V-2mXpVW7-2n3PhM9-2n3MzVf
Still in Grand Central livery, even the DVT (if I recall correctly the ex-LNER 4-coach sets had the DVTs repainted at Eastleigh), just without Grand Central logos (not sure if those were ever applied). Assuming that this set is now delivered to TfW, will crews need re-training on 5-coach sets or could this set theoretically appear on the existing mark 4 diagrams (I was assuming they still existed, but a quick check of Real Time Trains found all HHD-CDF workings today are/were 2-car except for one 6-car 175!) in place of a 4-coach set?
I would expect there to be some level of training/familiarisation with the SDO procedures at least. You'd hope that the majority internal workings would be identical to the current Mk4's in service.
The afternoon (around 1520) Holyhead is now booked 2x 175's
Does this have the SDO fitted and other mods fitted ? The Mk4s still aren't on the wag service, I was told its due to no trained Holyhead drivers being available.
This is a regular thing lately, maybe once RDW resumes more traincrew will be getting trained at the depots that sign the Mk4s. That's a lot of Mk4s training for Holyhead/ Crewe and Cardiff traincrew to look forward to, the staff trained will need retraining / refreshes to show how the SDO system works aswell
These latest ones have SDO fitted and apparently the current 4 cars will have mods fitted eventually as well.
I'd assume that they may utilise the 5 cars on Holyhead workings to get the train crew already trained on the current Mk4's trained up on the 5 car Mk4's. It will also free up the current Mk4's to go in for mods.
The RDW agreement, number of train crew trained on them and issues with the Mk4's themselves has led to them not being out in service much over recent weeks.
It will definitely be interesting to see what livery they do appear in, should they be repainted.
TfW now owns rather than leases these, so you'd think they'd get the full works to the TfW brand and on board offering as it seems they will be around for some time.
Arriva Train Care have been doing the TfW 158 refurbishments for some time and the last 158 is due out in the next few weeks, so it may well be that TfW have contracted them to refurb/paint the Mk'4s too.