ATW/Keolis Amey Wales stock shortages

[PHILIPE]

That (Bay shuttle) was a single 153 today - it varies between pacer/153 use).

Very rarely anything than the booked 153. It's usually a Pacer or a 150 if there is a large event in the Bay in order to provide additional capacity

 

[mjn]

Does anyone know if 150284 is still at Crewe, or is it back out now? Is it still in ATW green?

 

[Honest Ross]

Badly overcrowded 2 car 175 on 1V46 today, rather than the usual 3 car. Held up all the SW Main Line as already delayed, had to additionally stop at other stops, assuming because of an overcrowded Maesteg train before it.

 

[sd0733]

Does anyone know if 150284 is still at Crewe, or is it back out now? Is it still in ATW green?

When i went past yesterday it's still in the same place at Crewe as it's been for weeks.
Yes it's in Atw livery.

 

[craigybagel]

175107 (the fire damaged unit) is back in service, albeit as a 2 car.

 

[anamyd]

175107 (the fire damaged unit) is back in service, albeit as a 2 car.

Interesting! Does it still have 175-107 running numbers, or 175-012 or something...?

 

[Arriva 175]

Still 175107 but just without the centre car.

 

[anamyd]

Still 175107 but just without the centre car.

Thanks

 

[PHILIPE]

I've noticed that TFW Twitter is full of complaints posting about the Cardiff Valleys using 2 Cars instead of 4 on morning and evening peaks and passengers being left behind on a daily basis, including somebody who was unable to board 3 successive trains at Llandaf. The Copy and Paste "More trains than usual are undergoing repairs". People are hinting that the excuse of what ATW left TFW is now wearing thin.

 

[krus_aragon]

Similarly, when a 3-car 175/1 has been out of service due to a damaged end-car (e.g. level crossing incident), they've often had their centre car placed in a 175/0 set, but without any renumbering.

It's hardly worth renumbering units for a such a short repair time. Just so long as the diagrammers remember the unit that's a non-standard length...

 

[anthony263]

Gwr's class 153's transferring to TFW in March according to what I've seen on Facebook today

 

[craigybagel]

Still 175107 but just without the centre car.

Correct. That's also a warning note in the cabs as a reminder!

Similarly, when a 3-car 175/1 has been out of service due to a damaged end-car (e.g. level crossing incident), they've often had their centre car placed in a 175/0 set, but without any renumbering.

It's hardly worth renumbering units for a such a short repair time. Just so long as the diagrammers remember the unit that's a non-standard length...

Also worth pointing out that if you look closely several of the sets have out of sequence numbers as they're not in the sets that there started out in.

 

[anamyd]

Gwr's class 153's transferring to TFW in March according to what I've seen on Facebook today

Nice, two months ahead. Even though they're temporary for this year, it's good news.

 

[anamyd]

Correct. That's also a warning note in the cabs as a reminder!



Also worth pointing out that if you look closely several of the sets have out of sequence numbers as they're not in the sets that there started out in.

Won't the TMS only show 2 cars...?

 

[craigybagel]

Won't the TMS only show 2 cars...?

Indeed. But only when the driver is actually using the TMS - when driving along, it normally shows a black screen with the destination in the front cab, and "cab not in use" in the rear cab.

 

[Cardiff123]

Nice, two months ahead. Even though they're temporary for this year, it's good news.

The GWR 153s are not temporary, they are staying with TfW for a few years.

 

[anamyd]

Indeed. But only when the driver is actually using the TMS - when driving along, it normally shows a black screen with the destination in the front cab, and "cab not in use" in the rear cab.

True, thanks.

 

[anamyd]

The GWR 153s are not temporary, they are staying with TfW for a few years.

how...? The 153s would have to be PRM modified for use beyond 2020.

 

[Apedlar12]

Gwr's class 153's transferring to TFW in March according to what I've seen on Facebook today

Is there any date listed for the departure of the 153s?

 

[mjn]

When i went past yesterday it's still in the same place at Crewe as it's been for weeks.
Yes it's in Atw livery.

Thanks!

 

[craigybagel]

how...? The 153s would have to be PRM modified for use beyond 2020.

There is a plan for that I believe. 153s aren't due to leave until 2023.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

150 284 is back in service today after PRM mods. Working between Maesteg and Cheltenham all day.

 

[PHILIPE]

Blaenau Ffestiniog and one of the 2 Wrexham to Bidston diagrams bustituted today due to Rugby. TFW say "More trains than usual needing repairs". After their mammoth effort to get trains back in service during the leaf fall season and following their take over
from ATW, standards seem to be slipping with passengers being unable to board short formed (sometimes 2 or 3 consecutive trains) on the Cardiff Valleys at peak times.

 

[tomos dafis]

Blaenau Ffestiniog and one of the 2 Wrexham to Bidston diagrams bustituted today due to Rugby. TFW say "More trains than usual needing repairs". After their mammoth effort to get trains back in service during the leaf fall season and following their take over
from ATW, standards seem to be slipping with passengers being unable to board short formed (sometimes 2 or 3 consecutive trains) on the Cardiff Valleys at peak times.

With ongoing delays to the appearance of 769's, now well overdue, and non - appearance of 230's combined with the approach of the deadline for PRM mods, this is the inevitable result. The apparent promise of 5 x 1car 153' s from GWR in March is not going to make much difference so the outlook for the Spring and Summer is not good. The launch of TFWrail was much too upbeat and raised unrealistic expectations of rapid improvements which were never going to be delivered. The launch should have been accompanied by a frank admission that for the first few years until new trains were built there would be little substantial improvement to services. But - hey, when do politicians/government officials ever tell it as it really is?

 

[PHILIPE]

The lack of publicity about these cancellations is atrocious, the only places I have seen mention is NRE and BBC Travel and nothing from TFW. They have merely cancelled the trains off in the Timetable system and left it at that, whereas in the past there has been mention in a yellow banner at the top of the Journey Check page. this page today containing no mention at all. Somebody Tweeted earlier asking about bus Timetables as they had seen some illegible copy on Facebook.

 

[tomos dafis]

The lack of publicity about these cancellations is atrocious, the only places I have seen mention is NRE and BBC Travel and nothing from TFW. They have merely cancelled the trains off in the Timetable and left it at that, whereas in the past there has been mention in a yellow banner at the top of the Journey Check page. this page today containing no mention at all. Somebody Tweeted earlier asking about bus Timetables as they had seen some illegible copy on Facebook.

I agree - it is time for some openess and honesty from TFWrail. An improvement by providing clear advanced information about cancellations and alternative means of travel is something TFWrail could do right now. The 2 units due to work these cancelled services must have been moved south in readiness for today so passengers should find clear information on the TFW website.

 

[Neen Sollars]

With ongoing delays to the appearance of 769's, now well overdue, and non - appearance of 230's combined with the approach of the deadline for PRM mods, this is the inevitable result. The apparent promise of 5 x 1car 153' s from GWR in March is not going to make much difference so the outlook for the Spring and Summer is not good. The launch of TFWrail was much too upbeat and raised unrealistic expectations of rapid improvements which were never going to be delivered. The launch should have been accompanied by a frank admission that for the first few years until new trains were built there would be little substantial improvement to services. But - hey, when do politicians/government officials ever tell it as it really is?

As the first of the TFW 230`s were supposed to be delivered in March and in service in May, see attached, expect a press release/update in the next couple of weeks. No sign of any completed TFW 230`s on test on North Cotswold Line or on view in the compound.
https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/first-d-train-with-transport-for-wales-in-march-2019

 

[anamyd]

150 284 is back in service today after PRM mods. Working between Maesteg and Cheltenham all day.

Yay, this is good news 285 and 284, TWO of the thirty-six done! But with 34 150/2s left to get modded in 10 months, they will need to be modded on a 4 per month basis for 4 of those months, and 3 per month for 6 of those months. How is that going to be possible...? Bearing in mind that there are to my knowledge still 16x 158s to do as well (the 158 mods seem to have slowed down with 822/31/19/18/23/26/29/40 all been done since early January but none since then as far as I know...?) And apparently all 13 as it will be 153s will be staying past 2020 and they will also need to be PRM modded. So overall, 10 units have been modified and that has taken 7 months, yet 63 more units need to be modified in just 10 months, at a rate of 7 per month for 3 of those months and 6 per month for 7 of those months?! By my calculations the PRM mods should have started in January 2016...

 

[CambrianCoast]

Blaenau Ffestiniog and one of the 2 Wrexham to Bidston diagrams bustituted today due to Rugby. TFW say "More trains than usual needing repairs". After their mammoth effort to get trains back in service during the leaf fall season and following their take over
from ATW, standards seem to be slipping with passengers being unable to board short formed (sometimes 2 or 3 consecutive trains) on the Cardiff Valleys at peak times.

Hard to know which part of TfW to believe. One minute the reason is train repairs then they’re quoted to be admitting the cancellations were planned. Hmm...

http://www.deeside.com/saturday-tra...ton-line-due-to-six-nations-rugby-in-cardiff/

 

[PHILIPE]

Hard to know which part of TfW to believe. One minute the reason is train repairs then they’re quoted to be admitting the cancellations were planned. Hmm...

http://www.deeside.com/saturday-tra...ton-line-due-to-six-nations-rugby-in-cardiff/

They were not shown on Journey Check as this provides live information but as they were pre-cancelled they didn't exist. There would have been no, though, in providing information in the banner at the head of the Journey Check page.