FrodshamJnct
Established Member
Facebook group says it was a fire bottle activation rather than an actual fire.
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CAF Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.
- Thread starter hexagon789
- Start date
Facebook group says it was a fire bottle activation rather than an actual fire.
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RailUK Forums
That was said at the time but after a proper inspection at the depot there was evidence of a fire.
GWVillager
Member
In my experience, passengers are surprisingly clued up about the train types. I’ll often hear them appropriately pleased/upset when they see one approach, even if they don’t know what class it actually is (or that they even have classes).
Some are, but many aren't. I've had lots ask when the new trains are finally coming whilst on a 197 and some say how much nicer these new trains are whilst on a 153!!
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
The most common comment I hear from TfW customers is "Oh god, did we get on the London train by mistake" when they see the MK4 reservations marked to London Kings Cross. That happens almost every time I take a MK4. It's shockingly poor that they didn't bother wiping those.
Other than 1 coach that wont clear for some reason the rest were cleared off a long time ago. The company that gave the software weren't willing to provide their services for 3 sets but when it went to 7 they were all done so just display a generic barcode type thing now apart from the TOE of HD01 that does Still have the likes of Kings Cross, Peterborough and Grantham displayed.
Western 52
Member
Can't the displays just be turned off?
They actually are but they still display whatever was last on them.
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
The guard on 197107 clearly doesn’t like 197s. “Right we’re finally approaching Cardiff, I have to say if you’ve sat on this since Holyhead you deserve some kind of medal”
It was on time arriving, so clearly it’s the stock he finds a challenge
It was on time arriving, so clearly it’s the stock he finds a challenge
Western 52
Member
A reference to the rough riding maybe?The guard on 197107 clearly doesn’t like 197s. “Right we’re finally approaching Cardiff, I have to say if you’ve sat on this since Holyhead you deserve some kind of medal”
It was on time arriving, so clearly it’s the stock he finds a challenge
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
Perhaps. It was a 3 carriage 197, and many long distances were two carriage 150s today. If those on the former deserve a medal, those on the latter deserve a trophy and a week in the Maldives.
GWVillager
Member
I overheard a conversation of TfW crew whilst on a 197 - most of it was spent complaining about them! They’re clearly not universally liked, to say the least…The guard on 197107 clearly doesn’t like 197s. “Right we’re finally approaching Cardiff, I have to say if you’ve sat on this since Holyhead you deserve some kind of medal”
It was on time arriving, so clearly it’s the stock he finds a challenge
That's a very polite way of putting it
No, but I'm asserting it anyway
Northern staff on the 195s seemed to absolutely hate them when they first came in. I think it's partly about getting used to new, and more complex, equipment.
craigybagel
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Oct 2012
- Messages
- 5,082
To be fair, my personal opinion is that as a driver there isn't a nicer train in the fleet to drive. A very comfortable drivers seat, with many options for adjustment, coupled to a decent HVAC system, quiet surroundings and a unit that's quicker to accelerate than anything in the fleet, makes for quite a pleasant place to spend your day. 67s are more fun, and give more of a full body workout, but 197s are much more relaxing.That's a very polite way of putting it
That does come with the caveat of "when everything is working" however. The niggles can be very frustrating.
Unless things have changed since my ticket checking days (and from what I've seen looking out the cab window, it hasn't) it's a fair assertion. There are plenty of people making long journeys from Cardiff - but the majority are making shorter journeys. And for the Marches at least, the same holds throughout.
BenBracken
Member
Were there any complaints or comments made by staff and passengers of Northern/WMT 195s/196s about the ride quality?
I was chatting to a Northern driver at Manchester Airport the other week who had just turned up to prep a unit. He asked to have a look at the 197 I was working and began ranting about 195s and what CAF stands for (Cheap as....)
careful i got called out for suggesting they were as bad as 142sIt's the nearest thing us older northerners can get nowadays to a ride on a 142
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
I mean it's pretty insulting to the CAFs, really
They have heating, air conditioning, tables, armrests, advanced PIS, accessible toilets, reservation systems, rapid acceleration, plug sockets, Wi-Fi, and god knows what else over a 142.Mind you, I loved the Pacers and miss them dearly
It's the Sprinters we need to slag off!I wonder what most Northern passengers that use them would say. At one point, Northern was famous for being one of the most dire TOCs in the country. I personally think the widespread introduction of the CAFs have revolutionised it, and made the experience of catching a Northern service wholly nicer. (Even if the voice overs I did for them some years ago have since been removed
)And similarly, I am seeing this happen on TfW. The 175s were nice trains, that's fair enough, but the replacement of crusty, ageing Sprinters is slowly but surely going to make the whole operation just a lot sleeker, more modernised, and with a wider range of available amenities
I'm shocked that some still haven't learned how to work the doors. I still see them closing on people, and an elderly woman almost got trapped the other day. Even I know you need to keep your finger pressed down with these.
195s definitely increased passenger comfort, but this was more than compensated for by terrible industrial relations that seem to still be having repercussions on Northern. Industrial relations seem better at TfW, although I’m just going on impressions from a distance.
The jury's out whether TfW can bring everything together and get growth to justify their huge investments. They will probably need a slice of luck too.I really hope they can, as it could be an example to the wider industry that rail is the future.
The jury's out whether TfW can bring everything together and get growth to justify their huge investments. They will probably need a slice of luck too.I really hope they can, as it could be an example to the wider industry that rail is the future.
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nigelsporne
Member
- Joined
- 20 Dec 2012
- Messages
- 91
The second paragraph above could be the crucial factor. With the Welsh Government having devolved powers for Transport TfW really need to show the improvements before the upcoming General Election. The already announced cuts in capital expenditure are bound to affect transport but it would be suicidal for the Government to announce these beforehand. This therefore gives TfW about a year at least to put together a transport system that the people deserve and have and will continue to pay for and to be proud of.
GWVillager
Member
Agreed. Unfortunately, it’s been the complete opposite so far! I do think they can pull it off, but it’ll take a lot of work.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
I can guess that the next government will get the credit (or blame) for the efforts of the current Welsh government. That is because things take so long to come to fruition (it is unavoidable).
BenBracken
Member
There are currently two 197s on the Wrexham - Bidston line (which used to be 150 operation?) to cover for the 230 shambles. This is about an hour journey and kind of a commuter service. At the same time 150s are still being put on west Wales - Manchester services due to a lack of 197s to cover everything. Surely there is an obvious swap here?!
In theory yes but in reality it's not that simple. To get 150s onto the Bidston you need to cycle units through the North again as they'll need to be maintained at Canton so that needs further Marches runs to facilitate that. They used to swap on the late night service to Crewe and run ecs to Chester but that no longer works as some days when it's booked to come off Crewe the Bidston unit and the Bleanau unit run together to Chester so if ones a 150 and ones a 197 it requires an additional empty stock.
There's not any 150s to Manchester today showing anyway. Everything right through to the 21:30 is showing as either a Mk4 or 197. There is a pair of 153s on that but they started at Canton this morning after a 197 failed on depot so a unit in Crewe/Chester that went onto the Bidston wouldn't have been able to cover that anyway.
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Lewisham2221
Established Member
IIRC North crews are no longer being trained on 150s, so there's a potential risk of services not running due to crew traction knowledge
animationmilo
Member
- Joined
- 29 Mar 2011
- Messages
- 727
What is 197107 on today?
Currently en route to Holyhead then works 16:36 Holyhead to Cardiff then onto Canton for the night.
47550
Member
There were 2x 230s on this morning but 230010 seems to have been replaced by a 197 at some point
Had my second ride on a 197 today, Cardiff to Shrewsbury. Struggled substantially leaving Abergavenny, and it was very cold on the seat against the trailing cab door - despite having three layers on. Otherwise decent legroom and it was on or ahead of time - TfW getting used to them? Last one I took lost a few minutes at each stop.