Western 52
Member
I'm on this service now enjoying the standard plus! Good seats, plenty of space.Ends up back at Canton at the end of the day so thats good.
I'm on this service now enjoying the standard plus! Good seats, plenty of space.Ends up back at Canton at the end of the day so thats good.
Good to hear ! I certainly like them. Although the cushion I did find a little annoying haha!I'm on this service now enjoying the standard plus! Good seats, plenty of space.
Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.RTT showing 1V17 Manchester - Cardiff 197019 + 197110 ?.
And it's managed to go from 23 late at Neath to 2 early at WilmslowThink that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.
Looks like it's being swapped at Shrewsbury on its return working from Manchester for 197009. Perhaps needed back at Chester tonight.Ends up back at Canton at the end of the day so thats good.
Thanks.Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.
197110 has been stabed overnight at Piccadilly, instead if the booked 158. Its only just been noticed by the train crew that it would be a 5 car, so the 'booked' attachment isn't happeningThink that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.
It's not - 110 was the unit that stabled overnight in Piccadilly off the last arrival from Chester last night. It's normally a 158 that attaches to another Sprinter that comes up from Cardiff on the Sunday.Think that may be an error... it's only showing 019 on the inbound.
That makes sense, didn't realise one stabled overnight!It's not - 110 was the unit that stabled overnight in Piccadilly off the last arrival from Chester last night. It's normally a 158 that attaches to another Sprinter that comes up from Cardiff on the Sunday.
Yeah, it's been going on for years - but it's only on a Saturday night however. The service the unit attaches to on the Sunday has changed over the years, but there's always been a unit stabled overnight for at least the last 10 years. A Crewe driver travels up to Manchester on the Saturday night to do the shunt over from Platform 13 as Chester drivers don't sign the main shed anymore.That makes sense, didn't realise one stabled overnight!
That may have training issues as the staff on the Cambrian only sign the Cambrian, unless there is a service up there or multiple trains running there won't be enough staff trained to run a 197 dedicated service.Yes an ETCS 197 has done a number of testing runs (at night time) on the Cambrian line. Another set of test runs is booked in for Early March.
If I remember correctly, the day after the upgrade, all 158 services ran on the Cambrian but with no passengers and bus replacements were in place for all passenger journeys.
Wether I’m not 158’s and 197’s will run in the Cambrian simultaneously is yet to be seen. The plan was to swap from 158’s to 197’s overnight, then it was to have them running together in a 3 stage change over and the latest plan is back to swapping overnight.
I was expecting this, with Bridgend to Cheltenham being Bridgend - Cheltenham Spa AND Holyhead, supposing it would be doubled up to Cardiff or would something just come out of Canton instead?A full 197 diagram starts on Maesteg-Cheltenham tomorrow:
06:35 Bridgend-Cheltenham
08:46 Cheltenham-Maesteg
11:13 Maesteg-Cheltenham
13:45 Cheltenham-Maesteg
16:13 Maesteg-Cheltenham
18:46 Cheltenham-Maesteg
21:12 Maesteg-Cardiff
It is booked but as with everything else, In reality something else could still show up.
That's not what the diagrams show, the Cheltenham runs as a single throughout and the Holyhead us formed off a set fresh from Canton. Not sure where the RTT Cheltenham and Holyhead comes in!I was expecting this, with Bridgend to Cheltenham being Bridgend - Cheltenham Spa AND Holyhead, supposing it would be doubled up to Cardiff or would something just come out of Canton instead?
It keeps doing similar for GWR, in that “Portsmouth Harbour & Gloucester” shows for services where a 165 is detached off of the Portsmouth 166 at Bristol and then goes onto form a Gloucester service an hour later, oddly.That's not what the diagrams show, the Cheltenham runs as a single throughout and the Holyhead us formed off a set fresh from Canton. Not sure where the RTT Cheltenham and Holyhead comes in!
Conductors sign Birmingham so they will be getting training so they can work them to Birmingham.That may have training issues as the staff on the Cambrian only sign the Cambrian, unless there is a service up there or multiple trains running there won't be enough staff trained to run a 197 dedicated service.
115 is currently booked to Birmingham tomorrow as it happens, so will be swapped for a 158 at Chester.Conductors sign Birmingham so they will be getting training so they can work them to Birmingham.
Drivers only sign the Cambrian but they will all be getting trained prior to them entering service on the Cambrian so should be no issues train crew wise.
The current service, with a few gaps at the Cheltenham end, requires four units. Hourly from Maesteg through to Cheltenham requires five units because it's a five hour round trip, two hours Cardiff to Maesteg and three hours Cardiff to Cheltenham.Four are required for a consistent hourly through service. You could get away with three by retaining the odd gaps in Cheltenhams and terminating several Maesteg services at Cardiff Central.
There is due the timetable change mid-late March where it becomes purely Maesteg to Cheltenham/Gloucester. So 5 will be required then instead of the usual 4The current service, with a few gaps at the Cheltenham end, requires four units. Hourly from Maesteg through to Cheltenham requires five units because it's a five hour round trip, two hours Cardiff to Maesteg and three hours Cardiff to Cheltenham.
Very bizarre then, RTT just being RTT I suppose?That's not what the diagrams show, the Cheltenham runs as a single throughout and the Holyhead us formed off a set fresh from Canton. Not sure where the RTT Cheltenham and Holyhead comes in!
Can they go to Birmingham? Then be swapped at Shrewsbury on the return to Aber? Similar to what 150s/153s do currently?115 is currently booked to Birmingham tomorrow as it happens, so will be swapped for a 158 at Chester.
No they're not cleared to BirminghamCan they go to Birmingham? Then be swapped at Shrewsbury on the return to Aber? Similar to what 150s/153s do currently?
If it happens, there will be a good reason. It's not just done for the sake of it.I am confident a 150 will go to Manchester on a day when a 197 is doing something that a 150 could do in the Cardiff area.
We used to get 3 car 175s regularly and for the last year...
Not cleared to Birmingham yet.Can they go to Birmingham? Then be swapped at Shrewsbury on the return to Aber? Similar to what 150s/153s do currently?
No they're not cleared to Birmingham
Thanks bothNot cleared to Birmingham yet.
Crickey. I would assume the top (green) button is open but how quickly would I figure that out without reference to the first picture.Just was on 019, good to see standards of quality control
I wish they'd label them 'Open' and 'Close' (plus the Welsh equivalents as its TfW). By all means keep the existing tactile symbols for the visually impaired or those unable to read English and Welsh.Crickey. I would assume the top (green) button is open but how quickly would I figure that out without reference to the first picture.
I can imagine that sending people dashing through the coach in a panic to find another door.