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Progress of delivery of cascaded/refurbished/PRM modified stock to TFW/Wales and Borders

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Cardiff123

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Are there still plans to repaint and interior refurb the 150s into TfW livery and interior colours?
Apart from the 143s, the 150s must be the only units left that are still untouched by TfW branding
 

Bikeman78

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I wonder if they’ll rip out that god awful gearbox while they’re at it? It was only a trial and it didn’t really work did it.
What's wrong with it? Is it similar to the class 172s? They take off pretty quickly. A lot more fuel efficiant too by all accounts. I keep meaning to have a ride on 158834.
 

sw1ller

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What's wrong with it? Is it similar to the class 172s? They take off pretty quickly. A lot more fuel efficiant too by all accounts. I keep meaning to have a ride on 158834.
It powers up very slowly so makes coupling a bit faffy. It’s also very slow compared to other units, you vary rarely coast as you’re always in full power. Then every time you change the power handle (go from notch 7 to 5 for example) you get some horrible jerking. EVERYTIME! Drives me mad. Then there’s the gear change at 26mph too, that’s very rough. I don’t think there’s a driver out there that has anything nice to say about it.
 

Leeds1970

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The following has been posted on another site is there any truth in it or just pure pie in the sky ??


We've been told that following the scrapping of the Grand Central Blackpool-London services, TfW is considering taking at least two 'extra' mk4 sets, with a possibility of more should Cross Country not be taking any for their proposed replacement of some Voyager services between Birmingham and Edinburgh via Manchester, with mk4s and class 90s. Let's see what pans out in the coming months; these ideas often falter,
 

py_megapixel

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The following has been posted on another site is there any truth in it or just pure pie in the sky ??


We've been told that following the scrapping of the Grand Central Blackpool-London services, TfW is considering taking at least two 'extra' mk4 sets, with a possibility of more should Cross Country not be taking any for their proposed replacement of some Voyager services between Birmingham and Edinburgh via Manchester, with mk4s and class 90s. Let's see what pans out in the coming months; these ideas often falter,
There aren't any Edinburgh via Manchester CrossCountry trains
Indeed not; did you possibly mean "to Edinburgh and Manchester via Birmingham" instead?
 

Caaardiff

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The following has been posted on another site is there any truth in it or just pure pie in the sky ??


We've been told that following the scrapping of the Grand Central Blackpool-London services, TfW is considering taking at least two 'extra' mk4 sets, with a possibility of more should Cross Country not be taking any for their proposed replacement of some Voyager services between Birmingham and Edinburgh via Manchester, with mk4s and class 90s. Let's see what pans out in the coming months; these ideas often falter,
It's not completely out of the realms of possibility. TfW are scrambling around at the moment to get what they can due to the continued issues with delayed 769 and 230 introduction in order to be rid of the Pacers and also taking into account the extra non PRM 153s that only have derogation until May.
That being said its dependant on the exact circumstances I would've thought. The 769 program is struggling from a maintenance point of view but progressing, with only 3 available for passenger service but still some technical issues happening regularly. The 230 testing has started to ramp up again.
The biggest issue TfW face however is train crew training. 769 training is making slow but decent progress. Theres been hardly any 230 training and Mk4 training in the North due to shortages, and that isn't going to improve any time soon.
So taking on 2 more Mk4s, unless keeping them for some length of time, wouldn't make sense in the short term. Also in the short term, with covid around demand isn't there to justify the capacity increase.

Unless there's something going on in the background that has changed the original plans.
 

Bob Price

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There are daily 67 and MK4 runs across the North Wales coast from Crewe, 230's have started runs again so as you say things are starting up again. 769's are also running this week on test and in service. However that project has been an eye opener.
 

Rhydgaled

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taking on 2 more Mk4s, unless keeping them for some length of time, wouldn't make sense in the short term. Also in the short term, with covid around demand isn't there to justify the capacity increase.
Though, with social distancing, I imagine even a fairly empty-looking train could actually be over capacity. The seat pitch (spacing) is under 1m on most if not all trains so in airline style seating you need two empty rows between each usable seat to maintain 2m distancing between passengers. I'm not sure whether this is strictly enforced or whether they decide that 170cm spacing (which I'm guessing is roughly what it would be on a 175) is good enough and use every other row of seats. Assuming the full 2m is enforced, then on the asumption that you are also limited to 1+1 seating you can use only 2 seats out of every 12. I have probably got my maths wrong, but if I haven't that reduces the capacity of a coach from around 70 to less than 20, meaning extra capacity might still be useful despite low demand.
 
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Welshman

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There are daily 67 and MK4 runs across the North Wales coast from Crewe, 230's have started runs again so as you say things are starting up again. 769's are also running this week on test and in service. However that project has been an eye opener.
Although the 67 and Mk4 runs have been cancelled the last five times out of six!
 

Bob Price

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For any of you who are interested TfW were featured on Gareth Dennis Railnatter last night on YouTube talking about the South Wales metro.https://youtu.be/RiIo9kinLgo



I give up, this keeps merging my posts

New one starts here:

Summer start for 67's and Mk4's. However, define summer..

 
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sd0733

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158834 is on its way back to Machynlleth from Crewe this evening following its refurb
 

St. Paddy

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The latest edition of Modern Railways states that, of the 13 153s without PRM mods, 9 will have the mods done by May of this year and the other 4 are cover for this work being done. Is it likely that it will be the 9 Porterbrook ones to be refurbished and the 4 Angel ones withdrawn in May?
 

TT-ONR-NRN

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The latest edition of Modern Railways states that, of the 13 153s without PRM mods, 9 will have the mods done by May of this year and the other 4 are cover for this work being done. Is it likely that it will be the 9 Porterbrook ones to be refurbished and the 4 Angel ones withdrawn in May?
I thought they were all temporary apart from the ex ATW ones that were now modified. It’s good to know more will stay on then :D
 

Mrs. Fortescue

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My normal main-line service in the mornings is run by a pair of 153s. Run in a pair, they are extrememly pleasant.

I try to sit in unmodified units whenever possible. The PRM units are done to a great standard, but the new modern lighting is a lot more glaring first thing in the morning!

I do prefer the old-fashioned - dull cream lighting.

150s are due to run as long as 158s and 175s in the plan - will they be getting a refurb and paint too?

I'll be honest, they could do with a deep clean some of them. A bit worrying with regards to the current pandemic!
 

Anonymous10

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My normal main-line service in the mornings is run by a pair of 153s. Run in a pair, they are extrememly pleasant.

I try to sit in unmodified units whenever possible. The PRM units are done to a great standard, but the new modern lighting is a lot more glaring first thing in the morning!

I do prefer the old-fashioned - dull cream lighting.

150s are due to run as long as 158s and 175s in the plan - will they be getting a refurb and paint too?

I'll be honest, they could do with a deep clean some of them. A bit worrying with regards to the current pandemic!
i hope so but i doubt they will
 

sd0733

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The first of the additional 153s has entered service today with 153972 working with 325 on 16:04 Cardiff to Carmarthen and 153982 starting on 23:15 Cardiff to Carmarthen with 362
 
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Bob Price

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175005 has just gone into Crewe with a chunk of front facia around the buffer missing. A bit of work for the Alstom team.
 

Caaardiff

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Although slightly off topic as nothing to do with refurbishments, was this the one that hit a person this morning?
 

craigybagel

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Although slightly off topic as nothing to do with refurbishments, was this the one that hit a person this morning?
You wouldn't see a set involved in an incident like that in the morning out in service later the same day.
 

PHILIPE

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As far as I have worked out 5V33 Crewe to Manchester Picc (which runs certain days via Warrington) to work 1V33 0630 Manchester Picc to Milford Haven passed Weaver Junction and then, according to RTT, no more reports. 1V33 started from Crewe and another 175 ran from Chester as 5Z33 to work it forward. I have seen a photo on Facebook of 175007 running ECS Warrington to Chester (via Crewe) later this morning with Headcode 5V33.
 

JakeMurphy

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As far as I have worked out 5V33 Crewe to Manchester Picc (which runs certain days via Warrington) to work 1V33 0630 Manchester Picc to Milford Haven passed Weaver Junction and then, according to RTT, no more reports. 1V33 started from Crewe and another 175 ran from Chester as 5Z33 to work it forward. I have seen a photo on Facebook of 175007 running ECS Warrington to Chester (via Crewe) later this morning with Headcode 5V33.
175110 was 5Z33 I believe
 
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