Heart of Wales May 2015 Timetable

All ATW Timetables available, the fact already posted on the May 2015 Timetable thread.

PHILIPE said:

All ATW Timetables available, the fact already posted on the May 2015 Timetable thread.

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I note in timetable one, Birmingham/Wrexham/Chester all BHX have been removed,thus creating confusion, I am aware some services do not run on our line on Bank Holidays,
Gerald, VT and its feeder from Shrewsbury etc.

What stock are we reckoning will be used on the re-shuffled HOW services? More 150s than 153s perhaps?

0914 Crewe-Swansea is booked for a 150, but it's 153 today. 0933 Swansea-Shrewsbury is booked 153.

I hope the 09:33 remains a 153 as planning to bash it next month and unusually round here I like 153s.

merlodlliw said:

I note in timetable one, Birmingham/Wrexham/Chester all BHX have been removed,thus creating confusion, I am aware some services do not run on our line on Bank Holidays,
Gerald, VT and its feeder from Shrewsbury etc.

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Gerald should be BHX but the others now run after campaign last year.

17.20 from Crewe was a 150 yesterday

strettonarms96 said:

What stock are we reckoning will be used on the re-shuffled HOW services? More 150s than 153s perhaps?

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i could be wrong but I think the only booked 150s are the 0603 from Swansea and return journey back down, plus the new Carmarthen-Llandovery and return to Swansea.

All of the others on Weekdays are booked 153 i think

Jez said:

i could be wrong but I think the only booked 150s are the 0603 from Swansea and return journey back down, plus the new Carmarthen-Llandovery and return to Swansea.

All of the others on Weekdays are booked 153 i think

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Go to the following link:-

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115905
Post #24

This is the "Extra Cambrian and HOWL etc., thread". That is the correct working. You were correct in your assumption.

PHILIPE said:

Go to the following link:-

www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115905
Post #24

This is the "Extra Cambrian and HOWL etc., thread". That is the correct working. You were correct in your assumption.

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Thanks for that. So it seems the majority of Shreswsbury-Crewe locals as well as the last Swansea-Cardiff swanline are now 150s. A good thing IMO as the last swanline can be busy.

I know its early days yet but does anyone know how the loadings are on the new services in particular the new Llandovery-Swansea service.

Anyone started using the new dawn service from LLandrindod Wells yet?
out of interest

merlodlliw said:

Anyone started using the new dawn service from LLandrindod Wells yet?
out of interest

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I would suggest that the users would be precisely the same ones who used the early train from Swansea that it replaced (which was roughly 30 minutes later).

The more pertinent questions would be:

1) What are the numbers like using the retimed first train from Swansea to Shrewsbury, which now arrives into Shrewsbury at 10:14? This offers a new mid-morning arrival into Shrewsbury that didn't exist before.

2) What are the numbers like on the new commuter service from Llandovery to Swansea before it reaches Llanelli?

berneyarms said:

I would suggest that the users would be precisely the same ones who used the early train from Swansea that it replaced (which was roughly 30 minutes later).

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OK take your point.

berneyarms said:

I would suggest that the users would be precisely the same ones who used the early train from Swansea that it replaced (which was roughly 30 minutes later).

The more pertinent questions would be:

1) What are the numbers like using the retimed first train from Swansea to Shrewsbury, which now arrives into Shrewsbury at 10:14? This offers a new mid-morning arrival into Shrewsbury that didn't exist before.

2) What are the numbers like on the new commuter service from Llandovery to Swansea before it reaches Llanelli?

Click to expand...

Very curious to know myself but am living in Portugal. As it happens I'll be there next week but only day I have chance to travel on HOWL will be Saturday when the tt is the same as before. Surely someone over there going to do a journey? Greenback?

I'm very curious too about any ridership developments too.

In fact, I've joined the forum to revive this thread in the hope of hearing more about what is happening with the HoWL regarding the new service.

(By the way, the quality of posting in this group appears to be excellent. Great forum.)

Of course, I read from here that it's caused some upsets at the northern end - morning commuter train arriving in Shrewsbury too early.

My guess is the same could be said for the opposite number, but since Swansea did not have proper commuting time arrival previously, they can't complain.

The trouble is, even with the additional morning trains, the massive gap in the afternoon return services from both Swansea and Shrewsbury badly damage the line for commuters. Both end stations need a departure at around 16.00 - 16.30 or so, even if these services only went part way, ie say Swansea to Ammanford at the southern end, and Salop to Llandrindrod at the northern. But I guess that would need more stock, and there are no funds available for such improvements. (Not sure if the timetable would allow it either, but the southern end, surely, has more commuter potential, and something should be done to encourage it. )