Ex LNER (and Grand Central) Mark 4 sets for TfW

[MP393]

RTT seems to indicate 1Z57 will be 67022 from Crewe. It still appears as 1W57 though.

Ah yes, it does now show as coming off the shed at Crewe after rescuing HD01/013 earlier, so my apologies.

 

[marshallt]

ok thanks. I can't see the movement from crewe on real time trains yet. fingers crossed!

 

[Western 52]

ok thanks. I can't see the movement from crewe on real time trains yet. fingers crossed!

Realtime Trains | 1T57 1330 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly | 21/12/2023

Real-time train running information for 1T57 1330 departure from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly on 21/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[sd0733]

Realtime Trains | 1T57 1330 Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly | 21/12/2023

Real-time train running information for 1T57 1330 departure from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly on 21/12/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Believe that's failed on the depot now too. Not a good day at all.

 

[Western 52]

Believe that's failed on the depot now too. Not a good day at all.

Blimey, definitely a poor day! Glad I'm not travelling that way today.

 

[sd0733]

Blimey, definitely a poor day! Glad I'm not travelling that way today.

Not just the Mk4s either. Pair of 197s failed at Warrington then Chester too and a fallen tree.

 

[MP393]

Believe that's failed on the depot now too. Not a good day at all.

It’s been banged back together is working the restarted 1V46 15:10 Crewe - Cardiff. 67022/HD02

2 sets out today (Sat 23/12)

67008/HD06 on the diagram starting at Swansea 1W13

67022/HD02 on the diagram starting at Cardiff 1W11

There was a third, 67015/HD04 but was failed at Shrewsbury with a faulty DSD and returned to ATC at Crewe for attention.

 

[Welshguy1048]

Afternoon

Are there regular diagrams that HD01 - the new Wales Air Ambulance livery - will be working at all please?

Thanks

Dave

 

[sd0733]

Afternoon

Are there regular diagrams that HD01 - the new Wales Air Ambulance livery - will be working at all please?

Thanks

Dave

Not as such especially as it's last 2 runs have both failed!

It's now planned to be confined to ATC Crewe until at least Wednesday whilst both the locos that have been with it, 67010 and 013 go back to DB for checks/repairs.

 

[317 forever]

Here it is on the 1032 Swansea to Manchester at Swansea this morning.

That train looks upside down

 

[pokemonsuper9]

That train looks upside down

Click on the image and it opens correctly, just a thing that happens sometimes.

 

[Welshguy1048]

Not as such especially as it's last 2 runs have both failed!

It's now planned to be confined to ATC Crewe until at least Wednesday whilst both the locos that have been with it, 67010 and 013 go back to DB for checks/repairs.

Thank you for the info sd

Really appreciate it.

Merry Christmas

Dave

 

[Jez]

What's happening with the Mark 4s. Are all diagrams expected to be covered soon or are we still having 1 diagram covered by a 197/15x. I noticed the diagram that starts in Swansea today was a pair of 153s.

 

[sd0733]

What's happening with the Mark 4s. Are all diagrams expected to be covered soon or are we still having 1 diagram covered by a 197/15x. I noticed the diagram that starts in Swansea today was a pair of 153s.

There's only 1 set planned to run today (and tomorrow) so everything can have required exams over the weekend and is in the right place for 4 sets out on Monday.
Things have been a bit all over the place this week with Christmas and the Whitchurch block too not helping matters.

Until HD03 enters service there'll still be a booked 197/15x on The 5th diagram. Work on the exam on the 5 car was paused over Christmas but should resume straight after New year so it shouldn't be too far off.

 

[Jez]

There's only 1 set planned to run today (and tomorrow) so everything can have required exams over the weekend and is in the right place for 4 sets out on Monday.
Things have been a bit all over the place this week with Christmas and the Whitchurch block too not helping matters.

Until HD03 enters service there'll still be a booked 197/15x on The 5th diagram. Work on the exam on the 5 car was paused over Christmas but should resume straight after New year so it shouldn't be too far off.

Ok. Thank you.

 

[GWVillager]

There's only 1 set planned to run today (and tomorrow) so everything can have required exams over the weekend and is in the right place for 4 sets out on Monday.
Things have been a bit all over the place this week with Christmas and the Whitchurch block too not helping matters.

Until HD03 enters service there'll still be a booked 197/15x on The 5th diagram. Work on the exam on the 5 car was paused over Christmas but should resume straight after New year so it shouldn't be too far off.

Sorry, which is the 5th diagram?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Sorry, which is the 5th diagram?

The Swansea start on a weekday. 0536 SWA MAN, 1030 MAN CDF, 1449 CDF MAN, 1830 MAN CDF.

 

[sd0733]

Sorry, which is the 5th diagram?

Normally the one which runs ECS to Swansea, 0536 to Manchester, 1030 to Cardiff, 1449 to Manchester, 1830 to Cardiff. Now and again it operates instead of the other Cardiff to Cardoff that starts at 0435 from Cardiff but they're never both booked yet.

 

[GWVillager]

The Swansea start on a weekday. 0536 SWA MAN, 1030 MAN CDF, 1449 CDF MAN, 1830 MAN CDF.

Normally the one which runs ECS to Swansea, 0536 to Manchester, 1030 to Cardiff, 1449 to Manchester, 1830 to Cardiff. Now and again it operates instead of the other Cardiff to Cardoff that starts at 0435 from Cardiff but they're never both booked yet.

Ah alright, thanks.

 

[sd0733]

Now down to 3 diagrams for the next couple of days at least but likely all week.

Loco availability is a real problem with only 4 currently available instead of the agreed 8 available from DB from the fleet of 11. This is also holding up the 5 car programme as there's nothing to power HD03 to finish the extremely protracted exam. Mostly the rakes themselves have been performing well but the locos are another story entirely with continually terrible availability.

67028 which has been at Canton as the South rescue loco lease is up today after being put up for sale and is currently en-route to Crewe as a ROG operated light engine stretches the 67 fleet even further.

 

[ajay1071]

Now down to 3 diagrams for the next couple of days at least but likely all week.

Loco availability is a real problem with only 4 currently available instead of the agreed 8 available from DB from the fleet of 11. This is also holding up the 5 car programme as there's nothing to power HD03 to finish the extremely protracted exam. Mostly the rakes themselves have been performing well but the locos are another story entirely with continually terrible availability.

67028 which has been at Canton as the South rescue loco lease is up today after being put up for sale and is currently en-route to Crewe as a ROG operated light engine stretches the 67 fleet even further.

I agree the performance of the 67's is appalling. I hope their was a minimum service provision between DB and TFW in the contract so TFW can claim some compensation for the poor performance and availability. It's time for DB to make more of an effort to improve reliability, I do hope the issues with the 67's are resolved as the Mk4 stock provides a much improved and pleasant travelling experience on the Marches corridor.

 

[sd0733]

Even more of a drop now with only 3 working locos. No Manchesters tomorrow now planned as Mk4s with just the original WAG diagram, 0533 Holyhead to Cardiff and 1714 return running as Mk4.

 

[31160]

I agree the performance of the 67's is appalling. I hope their was a minimum service provision between DB and TFW in the contract so TFW can claim some compensation for the poor performance and availability. It's time for DB to make more of an effort to improve reliability, I do hope the issues with the 67's are resolved as the Mk4 stock provides a much improved and pleasant travelling experience on the Marches corridor.

The trouble now is with the current trouble engulfing DB how on the ball will they be in sorting this mess out, I think 68s are the only way ahead,and yes I know they will need mods to work but there is no sign of the skips improving. It really does show how much of a priority they are when if they sit down somewhere they can be left there weeks

 

[43096]

The trouble now is with the current trouble engulfing DB how on the ball will they be in sorting this mess out, I think 68s are the only way ahead,and yes I know they will need mods to work but there is no sign of the skips improving. It really does show how much of a priority they are when if they sit down somewhere they can be left there weeks

If the Chiltern tender for stock goes the way of Mark 5s, then expect the TPE 68s + Mk 5s to replace the existing Chiltern 68s + Mk 3s. The Chiltern 68s (008-015) are modified to work with the AAR system that I think the Mark 4s use. Yes, they would need further mods to work with the Mark 4s, but they are at least proven on passenger services over several years.

 

[Jez]

Even more of a drop now. No Manchesters tomorrow now planned as Mk4s with just the original WAG diagram, 0533 Holyhead to Cardiff and 1714 return running as Mk4.

Oh no, thats not good. Lets hope things improve soon. Its looks like we are still getting lots of Sprinters on the Marches route as we enter 2024.

 

[Richard Scott]

I agree the performance of the 67's is appalling. I hope their was a minimum service provision between DB and TFW in the contract so TFW can claim some compensation for the poor performance and availability. It's time for DB to make more of an effort to improve reliability, I do hope the issues with the 67's are resolved as the Mk4 stock provides a much improved and pleasant travelling experience on the Marches corridor.

It's probably not surprising, have these locos ever received an overhaul? It's OK doing odd reliability modification or a bit of extra maintenance here and there but surely they need some proper TLC?

 

[Last Hurrah]

Rather than moving forward with fingers permanently crossed, TFW need to be proactive seeking a solution with the ongoing reliability issues of the Class 67’s

Could a TPE Class 68 loco be adapted as a “prototype” with the proviso, if a trial period proves successful, TFW would discard their Class 67’s & replace them with the ‘noisy’* Class 68’s.

* sensitive ears of Scarborough folk

 

[craigybagel]

Rather than moving forward with fingers permanently crossed, TFW need to be proactive seeking a solution with the ongoing reliability issues of the Class 67’s

Could a TPE Class 68 loco be adapted as a “prototype” with the proviso, if a trial period proves successful, TFW would discard their Class 67’s & replace them with the ‘noisy’* Class 68’s.

* sensitive ears of Scarborough folk

Given they haven't given up yet on the 230s which statistically are doing an even worse job of covering all of their work, I can't see that happening just yet

In any case, whilst a trial sounds like a nice idea, how would you crew it? Hopefully someone from Chiltern can confirm but I would expect a conversion course from 67 to 68 for drivers to take at least a week - and there's currently about 140 loco trained drivers at TfW. Even if you kept the 68 on a dedicated diagram, you'd still need a large pool of drivers trained and that isn't going to come cheap (or quickly). It would be worthwhile if they were going for a whole fleet wide conversion from 67 to 68, but I doubt the will is there for that just yet.

 

[D6975]

Rather than moving forward with fingers permanently crossed, TFW need to be proactive seeking a solution with the ongoing reliability issues of the Class 67’s

Could a TPE Class 68 loco be adapted as a “prototype” with the proviso, if a trial period proves successful, TFW would discard their Class 67’s & replace them with the ‘noisy’* Class 68’s.

* sensitive ears of Scarborough folk

Given the DRS want their 68s back as part of their program of getting rid of older diesels, it's highly unlikely that TFW would be able to get their hands on 68s. Chiltern is a different matter as each Mk5 compatible 68 would be swapped for a Mk3 compatible one.

 

[sd0733]

Unless there's a miraculous 67 recovery all that'll be likely to run this week is:

Monday-Wednesday (HD01 on all):
5:34 Holyhead to Cardiff
17:14 Cardiff to Holyhead

Thursday
HD01
5:34 Holyhead to Cardiff
10:52 Cardiff to Manchester
14:30 Manchester to Cardiff
18:55 Cardiff to Manchester

HD02
04:35 Cardiff to Manchester
08:30 Manchester to Cardiff
17:14 Cardiff to Holyhead

Friday
HD05
06:27 Manchester to Cardiff
12:49 Cardiff to Manchester
16:30 Manchester to Swansea

HD02
5:34 Holyhead to Cardiff
10:52 Cardiff to Manchester
14:30 Manchester to Cardiff
18:55 Cardiff to Manchester

Some exams are being brought forward and done on rakes whilst they're on depots. After HD01 gets back to Crewe on Thursday it goes onto its heavier B exam which should see its 5th car added. HD03 has no loco still so may be that HD01 becomes the first 5 car now.

Nothing getting to Manchester until Thursday morning is by far and away the worst there's been since it started.