Transport for Wales Class 230

[Lurcheroo]

I thought the bidstons went up to 1x230 and 2x197 diagrams to provide one train every 40ish minutes ?

 

[Steve B]

I thought the bidstons went up to 1x230 and 2x197 diagrams to provide one train every 40ish minutes ?

Yes that's right - 1x230 and 2x197 - at present the 230 doing the morning duty swaps with a classmate around lunchtime. The interval between trains is nearer 45 mins, sometimes more. If you are thinking of travelling check the timetable as it is not a "clockface" service. But then neither is the Chester / Wrexham / Shrewsbury line.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

A fleet of five 230s so that one can be used per day, and even that has to be swapped halfway. It’s so barmy.

 

[43096]

A fleet of five 230s so that one can be used per day, and even that has to be swapped halfway. It’s so barmy.

Nearly as barmy as having a pool of 11 Class 67s for TfW services and being lucky if you get three working... (it's one of 11 currently!)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Nearly as barmy as having a pool of 11 Class 67s for TfW services and being lucky if you get three working... (it's one of 11 currently!)

Completely agree that’s also farsical. Affects a much more important route too so even worse. TfW will need to address both of these fleets long term soon enough.

 

[DLAYKEGER]

Odd one today. RTT showing today partial cancellation at Upton towards Bidston on a 230. Assume it must have continued to Birkenhead North depot as can't turn around at Upton. Only 1 minute down that makes it seem really odd. Says next 230 Bidston to Wrexham then cancelled.

 

[Lurcheroo]

I think it was this morning that TFW tried to get the 3 diagrams covered as 1x 197 and 2x 230’s. Birkenhead said no as it left only 1 spare.

I also heard separately that Birkenhead aren’t overly happy about being lumbered with the 230’s (unsurprisingly).

I also also heard that the battery issue stems as the tech is a bit older and doesn’t like being charged and discharged at the same time.
There is apparently a solution to the 230’s problems but it’s expensive. About £200K per unit.
Also there is now concern about the battery lifespan as they’re already 5 years old.

And as a little cherry on top originally they wanted caterpillar gen sets but they were too big to fit and had to go with smaller less powerful ones.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I think it was this morning that TFW tried to get the 3 diagrams covered as 1x 197 and 2x 230’s. Birkenhead said no as it left only 1 spare.

I'm aware that one is a Christmas tree, but what happened to the fifth?

 

[Lurcheroo]

I'm aware that one is a Christmas tree, but what happened to the fifth?

I’m not actually sure to be honest. Perhaps it was assigned as the one to be swapped over half way through (but I assume they would need 2 extra units to swap if they were running 2 x 230 diagrams in the current state).

 

[simonmpoulton]

Perhaps finally time to admit that the experiment with 230's doesn't work and stick 3 197's on the route? Or do TFW not have enough units to do that?

 

[Lurcheroo]

Perhaps finally time to admit that the experiment with 230's doesn't work and stick 3 197's on the route? Or do TFW not have enough units to do that?

As it stands TFW don’t have enough units accepted into service to be providing the desired level of service so even getting 1 x 230 out frees up an extra valuable unit.

In the longer term, I’m not so sure sorry, but I would guess that the fleet plan includes the 5x230’s so guess they’d need something to replace them.

 

[Anonymous10]

As it stands TFW don’t have enough units accepted into service to be providing the desired level of service so even getting 1 x 230 out frees up an extra valuable unit.

In the longer term, I’m not so sure sorry, but I would guess that the fleet plan includes the 5x230’s so guess they’d need something to replace them.

The 197s are now planned to run Marches alongside the mks, West Wales services, North Wales services, and Liverpool serviced do I'd assume they'd need a few extra.

 

[Bertie the bus]

Perhaps finally time to admit that the experiment with 230's doesn't work and stick 3 197's on the route? Or do TFW not have enough units to do that?

The problem is they have spent over £30 million on these units and if they throw in the towel some people will have some serious questions to answer. Expect good money to be thrown after bad for the foreseeable.

 

[CaergwrleKen]

It’s pathetic the constant excuses for them. To my knowledge 007/008/009 are the only ones that are working and the training runs seem to have stopped as well so they should have three available. 006 we know might not ever run and 010 seems to be broken again long term, possible using parts for the others? And saying they need to keep a spare on the depot is a poor excuse, don’t think that happens at Chester etc everything that’s available goes out.

It’s all very well having the 197s covering the service but they are too much for the route and this is also causing problems on the main line and in other areas with services such as Blaenau and Liverpool Lime St getting cancelled and trains running 2 cars full instead of 4. The knock on effect of the 230 debacle just goes on and on and TFW need to sort out a long term solution for them. Maybe get the 153s back now if the timings are not as tight.

 

[Lurcheroo]

It’s pathetic the constant excuses for them. To my knowledge 007/008/009 are the only ones that are working and the training runs seem to have stopped as well so they should have three available. 006 we know might not ever run and 010 seems to be broken again long term, possible using parts for the others? And saying they need to keep a spare on the depot is a poor excuse, don’t think that happens at Chester etc everything that’s available goes out.

It’s all very well having the 197s covering the service but they are too much for the route and this is also causing problems on the main line and in other areas with services such as Blaenau and Liverpool Lime St getting cancelled and trains running 2 cars full instead of 4. The knock on effect of the 230 debacle just goes on and on and TFW need to sort out a long term solution for them. Maybe get the 153s back now if the timings are not as tight.

Not sure what excuses you’re referring to in particular?

A long term plan really does need to come about at this point (maybe it has internally, but it would be nice to know). Even if that plan is to try and fix the 230’s.

 

[Invincible]

I also heard separately that Birkenhead aren’t overly happy about being lumbered with the 230’s (unsurprisingly).

Presume Stadler signed a contract to support them with spares and training by Vivarail (before they went bust?) So will have to honour the contract and fix 230s.

GWR brought some Vivarail IP and spares and took on some staff, so could help Stadler and SWR (484s)?.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Presume Stadler signed a contract to support them with spares and training by Vivarail (before they went bust?) So will have to honour the contract and fix 230s.

GWR brought some Vivarail IP and spares and took on some staff, so could help Stadler and SWR (484s)?.

I would assume the SWR 484s are a lot simpler ?.

 

[CaergwrleKen]

Not sure what excuses you’re referring to in particular?

A long term plan really does need to come about at this point (maybe it has internally, but it would be nice to know). Even if that plan is to try and fix the 230’s.

The excuses about the drivers and pollen and whatever else they came out with. Anyway they have lived up to their reputation again today as both 230s have failed.

 

[Zontar]

The excuses about the drivers and pollen and whatever else they came out with. Anyway they have lived up to their reputation again today as both 230s have failed.

So that leaves one working 230 then if I'm not mistaken?

 

[craigybagel]

So that leaves one working 230 then if I'm not mistaken?

If it's true there's only one working unit it won't be allowed out - there needs to be a spare working to rescue it if it fails.

 

[Zontar]

If it's true there's only one working unit it won't be allowed out - there needs to be a spare working to rescue it if it fails.

008 yesterday. 009 today.
006 Frankenstein. 010 out of action.

That leaves 007! Skyfail

 

[CaergwrleKen]

We haven’t had a 230 for 2 days now, trains cancelled and no bus replacement anymore because of the 45 minute service. Looks like there are lots of cancellations on the main line as well because of shortage of trains so the 230 knock effect is felt elsewhere with having 197s on the line that shouldn’t really be here.

 

[Townendave]

Strange path on Real Time Trains, 13:24 Birkenhead North to Crewe TMD (E) today showing as a class 230?

 

[sd0733]

Strange path on Real Time Trains, 13:24 Birkenhead North to Crewe TMD (E) today showing as a class 230?

Going there For tyre turning, believe it's 2 sets.

 

[meld3]

These will surely be off-loaded in the next 12 months.
When you spend £30m on tat, you need wait until just after the next elections before announcing a decision so people will have forgotten by your re-election in 2029.....

 

[Bertie the bus]

The next election could be as late as May 2026. These units have nothing to do with the UK Government.

 

[Lurcheroo]

6 car 230 sitting on the through road between platform 3 and 4 at Chester just now.
I assume the 2 sets going for tyre turning.

 

[Wyrleybart]

So that leaves one working 230 then if I'm not mistaken?

Fast forward to today (Monday) and every train has run. 230007 230010 197018 and 197042

 

[Bob Price]

6 car 230 sitting on the through road between platform 3 and 4 at Chester just now.
I assume the 2 sets going for tyre turning.

008 and 009, passed Crewe webcams, as you say gone for tyre turning.

 

[Cambrian359]

6 car 230 sitting on the through road between platform 3 and 4 at Chester just now.
I assume the 2 sets going for tyre turning.

Would make quite an interesting sight for anyone getting off a London train in Chester.
Not a unit chaser but As an underground fan living over 200 hundred miles from London I would have been tempted to go see that in Chester!