Ha! Quite right. I checked and must’ve missed that.Just after I had read this post I went onto Facebook and the first item believe me was a picture of 153367 at Birmingham International this Sunday.
Ha! Quite right. I checked and must’ve missed that.Just after I had read this post I went onto Facebook and the first item believe me was a picture of 153367 at Birmingham International this Sunday.
Just spied 150208 taking a packed service 1D37 to Llandudno from Manchester Airport. Not a route I think I would want to be standing on.
Just spied 150208 taking a packed service 1D37 to Llandudno from Manchester Airport. Not a route I think I would want to be standing on.
So where are all the 175's? We know one is being refurbished at Ditton (002?) - where are so many others out of service or is it a sensitive operational matter?Daily occurrence now !!!
Two of them are poorly, but have been running together as a 5-car unit, as mentioned up-thread. So those are clearly being pressed into continued service rather than being taken into the workshop for the time being.So where are all the 175's? We know one is being refurbished at Ditton (002?) - where are so many others out of service or is it a sensitive operational matter?
So where are all the 175's? We know one is being refurbished at Ditton (002?) - where are so many others out of service or is it a sensitive operational matter?
I always go for the bays of 4 near the cabs. Last run I had on a 150 was on the 18:30 from Manchester. It was 30 late from Crewe and made up 16 minutes to Cardiff. That one stops all stations Crewe to Shrewsbury so the 150 held time which the 175s rarely manage on that particular train.As I came up the Marches last night there seemed to be quite a procession of 150s going down. I was on the 1716 out of Cardiff and passed at least 3. I also spotted at least one 153 (think it was a pair but wasn’t really watching) on a Cheltenham service at Cardiff.
Until travelling down on Tuesday from Crewe I hadn’t realised just how awful the 150s are for a long distance journey - I was constantly knocking knees with the person opposite me, we were treading on each other’s feet, it was hot and noisy and I had to stand for a while after 2 hours just to get the circulation going again. While I understand that a poor train is better than no train, I hope the 175s get back in to full service soon.
Acording to RTT, it started at Oxford Rd due to late arrival of incoming unit.Anyone know what happened to the 1752 from Piccadilly to Llandudno yesterday?
Usually, especially on a stopping service like this one. The inbound working arrived at Chester on-time, but departed late, and then lost more time around Heslby.Another 150? Can they keep time on NWCL?
The Royal Welsh specials still don't appear to be on Real Time Trains. Assuming it does run, does it run all four days of the show (Mon-Thurs), how busy does it tend to be and can you board if you're not going to/from Builth Road? I'm thinking of catching it from Llanwrtyd to Cardiff this year, but not if it's likely to be standing room only.The specials will run but absolutely no chance of 37s.I wonder if there's even going to be a Royal Welsh special train this year; I've looked for the timings on Real Time Trains using both Llanwrtyd and Builth Road on 23rd July and both came up with just the normal 8 departures (four in each direction).
I note however that the class 37s are back on the valleys; I seem to recall reading that the Royal Welsh train was LHCS back when ATW had 37s (or was it when they had class 50s on the Fishguard boat train?) Probably too much to hope for that this would happen again, but it would be nice.
The Royal Welsh specials still don't appear to be on Real Time Trains. Assuming it does run, does it run all four days of the show (Mon-Thurs), how busy does it tend to be and can you board if you're not going to/from Builth Road? I'm thinking of catching it from Llanwrtyd to Cardiff this year, but not if it's likely to be standing room only.
Anyone know why 158825 was at the buffers of platform 1 Manchester Piccadilly this morning. I got off 323235 at 1055 from Hadfield and was surprised to see it there. Usually it's the Sheffield train or a TPE 185.
Going on the evidence of past years, it calls at intermediate stops just like a normal service train, so the only issue would be whether you feel there's room to board. On the occasion I took a special to the show, I don't recall the southbound train being anywhere near as crowded as the northbound was.
Of course, this is all assuming the specials run in the first place..
Thanks for the reply; going off your "whether you feel there's room to board" comment, do I take it that all the seats are generally taken on departure from Builth Road?Going on the evidence of past years, it calls at intermediate stops just like a normal service train, so the only issue would be whether you feel there's room to board. On the occasion I took a special to the show, I don't recall the southbound train being anywhere near as crowded as the northbound was.
Thanks for the update; it will be interesting to see if they can find anything to run it with so many units (at least 2 150s, a 158 and a 175) in for refurb/PRM work and only a handful of 153s (plus the peak-only Rhymney class 37) having arrived to cover.They will run, but the timings haven't been released yet. What they are being operated by is anyone's guess at the moment but I hope it's a three car something like last year
I think 2 153s are in works as wellThanks for the reply; going off your "whether you feel there's room to board" comment, do I take it that all the seats are generally taken on departure from Builth Road?
Thanks for the update; it will be interesting to see if they can find anything to run it with so many units (at least 2 150s, a 158 and a 175) in for refurb/PRM work and only a handful of 153s (plus the peak-only Rhymney class 37) having arrived to cover.
Thanks for the reply; going off your "whether you feel there's room to board" comment, do I take it that all the seats are generally taken on departure from Builth Road?
On departure from Builth Road in the afternoon, there was ample room for everyone who wanted to board my train, as some people were staying later and planning to take another train.
Going to Builth Road in the morning, there were some people standing from (around) Llandovery onwards, but the loadings weren't as bad as you'd see in Cardiff at rush hour. Boarding further south was no problem: it was actually more than half-empty until after Llanelli!
My "if you feel there's room" was a bit of a disclaimer on my part, as I can't know what stock they'll have available for the service. I think the train was a pair of 150s when I visited, but I couldn't swear to it. It was a few years back now, and my overriding memories of the day are of trying to avoid the media scrum following Prince Charles around the showground, as he'd decided to visit on the same day.
On departure from Builth Road in the afternoon, there was ample room for everyone who wanted to board my train, as some people were staying later and planning to take another train.
Going to Builth Road in the morning, there were some people standing from (around) Llandovery onwards, but the loadings weren't as bad as you'd see in Cardiff at rush hour. Boarding further south was no problem: it was actually more than half-empty until after Llanelli!
My "if you feel there's room" was a bit of a disclaimer on my part, as I can't know what stock they'll have available for the service. I think the train was a pair of 150s when I visited, but I couldn't swear to it. It was a few years back now, and my overriding memories of the day are of trying to avoid the media scrum following Prince Charles around the showground, as he'd decided to visit on the same day.
Not sure if this is true but apparently the refurbished 175 - 175002 has broken down? Can anyone confirm or deny?
The Royal Welsh specials still don't appear to be on Real Time Trains. Assuming it does run, does it run all four days of the show (Mon-Thurs), how busy does it tend to be and can you board if you're not going to/from Builth Road? I'm thinking of catching it from Llanwrtyd to Cardiff this year, but not if it's likely to be standing room only.