CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

[43096]

No they're pink which means mk4; 5-coach 197s are orange. The 09:27 Man Airport-Holyhead is also shaded in pink.

No, you're incorrect. It's clear from this extract.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Apologies! The darker shade for the times mentioned looked a bit more pink than orange, but just seen the Manchester-South Wales mk4 services and they're a much clearer shade of pink.

Nice increase in capacity either way

 

[william.martin]

Won't be on cambrian till 2024

Few, as a formal local to the line I know that this isn't going to be easy!

 

[skyhigh]

Surely the brightness of the lights can be adjusted by staff?

I very much doubt that.

Coming to this a few days late, but on 195s at least the saloon lighting brightness can be changed by the crew. Three options- maximum lighting, minimum and 'active' where the brightness changes based on outside conditions.

 

[Mzzzs]

Coming to this a few days late, but on 195s at least the saloon lighting brightness can be changed by the crew. Three options- maximum lighting, minimum and 'active' where the brightness changes based on outside conditions.

I would assume the same thing has been fitted to these units aswell.

 

[sw1ller]

I would assume the same thing has been fitted to these units aswell.

Yes, it’s exactly the same on 197s………. When it’s working!!

No, they can’t couple in service. Probably one set allocated to the service initially and then changed to the second set, but first set not de-allocated.

They can’t couple at all. But yeah, it would have been a set swap.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

They can’t couple at all. But yeah, it would have been a set swap.

What do you mean they can't couple at all? There has been two 197's in multiple a few days this last week (006 & 015)

 

[Jez]

What do you mean they can't couple at all? There has been two 197's in multiple a few days this last week (006 & 015)

I think they can't couple to other units e.g 175s

 

[william.martin]

I think they can't couple to other units e.g 175s

Yep, I don't know why they would ever need to although is it physically possible to couple these to 196's?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Yep, I don't know why they would ever need to although is it physically possible to couple these to 196's?

I believe they should be able to, but only for rescue purposes. Last I heard they were going to test that when they get round to testing 197s on the Birmingham line.

 

[craigybagel]

What do you mean they can't couple at all? There has been two 197's in multiple a few days this last week (006 & 015)

I think they can't couple to other units e.g 175s

Yep, I don't know why they would ever need to although is it physically possible to couple these to 196's?

I believe they should be able to, but only for rescue purposes. Last I heard they were going to test that when they get round to testing 197s on the Birmingham line.

197s can of course couple to each other quite happily.

They can couple to 196s and most systems will function normally, there's a special setting on the TMS for it. There's a 75mph speed limit and the PIS screens and a few other things won't work but for rescue situations it's quite adequate.

They can couple to BSI fitted Sprinters through the use of a special adaptor, but that requires fitters attention and it's a 5mph to clear the line job.

They are not compatible in any way with 175s.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Can they couple with 195s, or do the gangway arrangements get in the way?

 

[sw1ller]

Can they couple with 195s, or do the gangway arrangements get in the way?

No, not at all, the coupler is in a lower position on 196s, 197s because, as you say, of the gangway doors.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

They can couple to 196s and most systems will function normally, there's a special setting on the TMS for it. There's a 75mph speed limit and the PIS screens and a few other things won't work but for rescue situations it's quite adequate.

In theory in one of these recovery situations could the gangway be opened (e.g. very busy train stranded, recovery gives more seats)?

 

[craigybagel]

In theory in one of these recovery situations could the gangway be opened (e.g. very busy train stranded, recovery gives more seats)?

I don't know for certain but I'd be surprised if they couldn't - it would seem strange for them to have designed two different and non compatible gangways for two otherwise very similar trains. But this is the railway.....

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Today's 197's

197010 - Chester <-> Liverpool
197013, 197015 - Llandudno <-> MCR airport

The Llandudno - Airport services will run from Chester D.M.U.D. [XCH] as 5H83 together and go different ways from Chester.

 

[ThePeakNed]

Just on 197015 now for a quick account opener. Mightily impressed. Worlds apart from the Northern examples.

Interestingly, to me at least, the female voice doing the English announcements sounds very much Joanna Page (or Stacey from Gavin & Stacey if you need reference).

Anyone able to confirm such?

 

[busestrains]

Just on 197015 now for a quick account opener. Mightily impressed. Worlds apart from the Northern examples.

Interestingly, to me at least, the female voice doing the English announcements sounds very much Joanna Page (or Stacey from Gavin & Stacey if you need reference).

Anyone able to confirm such?

Elin Llwyd is the female English language voice. Eryl Jones is the male Welsh language voice.

 

[william.martin]

Elin Llwyd is the female English language voice. Eryl Jones is the male Welsh language voice.

Funny how a Welsh lady is doing an English announcement!

Today's 197's

197010 - Chester <-> Liverpool
197013, 197015 - Llandudno <-> MCR airport

The Llandudno - Airport services will run from Chester D.M.U.D. [XCH] as 5H83 together and go different ways from Chester.

Just wondering what happened as it said cancelled due to delay not investigated on RTT

 

[43096]

Funny how a Welsh lady is doing an English announcement!

You do know that the majority of the Welsh population speak English?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Just wondering what happened as it said cancelled due to delay not investigated on RTT

Looking at the services they formed into they still ran

Realtime Trains | 1H86 1043 Llandudno to Manchester Airport | 27/12/2022

Real-time train running information for 1H86 1043 departure from Llandudno to Manchester Airport on 27/12/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 1D35 1025 Manchester Airport to Llandudno Junction | 27/12/2022

Real-time train running information for 1D35 1025 departure from Manchester Airport to Llandudno Junction on 27/12/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[xtpe]

Funny how a Welsh lady is doing an English announcement!

Yes it's so much better to listen to an English person trying to pronounce Welsh places names instead of a Welsh person actually pronounce them correctly!

 

[william.martin]

Yes it's so much better to listen to an English person trying to pronounce Welsh places names instead of a Welsh person actually pronounce them correctly

Agreed

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just on 197015 now for a quick account opener. Mightily impressed. Worlds apart from the Northern examples.

Interestingly, to me at least, the female voice doing the English announcements sounds very much Joanna Page (or Stacey from Gavin & Stacey if you need reference).

Anyone able to confirm such?

Exactly! Hence why I can’t stand Elin.
(Nothing can be as bad as Page’s “DREEEEEAAMS beds sponsors quality entertainment on Gold!”)

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

Exactly! Hence why I can’t stand Elin.
(Nothing can be as bad as Page’s “DREEEEEAAMS beds sponsors quality entertainment on Gold!”)

So basically you're saying you dpn't like a Welsh accent. Well, tough.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I do quite like a Welsh accent, but all the ones used on TfW's autoannouncers grate, sounding bored and unwelcoming, like Annie but even worse.

They must surely be able to find an equivalent of the "Victoria Wood" cheerful Northerner?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

So basically you're saying you dpn't like a Welsh accent. Well, tough.

Easy on the defensiveness there, I said nothing of the sort. Are you suggesting all Welsh voices sound the same? There are many lovely Welsh voices out there. Eryl himself sounds rather pleasant.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Today's 197 service
Liverpool - Chester = 197004, 197010
Manchester Air - Llandudno = 197006


Edited thanks to below's post

 

[JakeMurphy]

Today's 197 service
Liverpool - Chester = 197004, 197010
Manchester Air - Llandudno = 197006

010 failed and is now out of service

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

010 failed and is now out of service

Good that they were able to source a replacement quickly in the form of 004. Nice job by Chester there.