December TT is supposedly a big one.
Pretty much all South Wales - Manchester services are down for 67s or 2x197 from the December TT change, Monday to Saturday. Bear in mind though that the timetable is in place till May - I'd be amazed if they can achieve that level of service from day 1.
Why does it need to be isolated if it is not going anywhere near an ETCS route?
Swansea was always the long-term plan anyway.
In what way "dead"?
Drivers haven't been trained on it yet. The way the units interact with conventionally signaled lines with ERTMS switched on will be different to the way the 158s do, and a degree of training will be required. Running the units with it isolated avoids the need for most of this training.
As in, not postponed, just not happening at all.
Oh, that's fun. Suppose the whole seating area will just sit around for free use then, that's nice!
If they were to change it they'd just put a bunch of standard seats in for extra capacity, but that's in the long term seeing how the units are so young. For now, free better seating anyone?
Ah right I didn’t realise that.
The Head of Conductors sent a missive out.
It makes sense to use Swansea for the splitting and joining as its a much quieter station (for a city) certainly compared to Cardiff Central.
I assume its planned for 2 x 2 car rather than a 2 and 3 car due to the extra ERTMS 197s that will be running. Either way whether its 4 or 5 cars it will be much welcome extra capacity on this busy route.
Thats a real shame if its not happening but perhaps they think its more bother than the worth of it. Especially if a 3 car runs alone and is overcrowded it will take up much needed seating and standing place for people who dont want to pay the upgrade. I assume all the branding will be removed to avoid confusion?
Yes, they have put all the branding in the units but now they're just throwing it away..? Bit odd, but I'm not the one to complain about a better seat! In all seriousness, bit confused on why they'd abandon it when they've gone to the effort of designing and branding it to just throw it out last second.
Indeed, I passed a 197 Monday with branding on all the windows in standard class tempting people to more legroom in standard plus. How bizarre.
With the 756s imminent and the 4 or 5 ETCS units things should improve and when the 158s are eventually back it should be a much better situation. I believe a 2nd 230 will be on Bidston runs as well.
Also the 5th MK4 diagram is meant to start in December which should free up a 3 car 197.
On this forum I have seen it stated as both potentially going to Llandudno, but delayed due to level crossings, or to Cardiff.
Strange one that, since it still seems to be going to Cardiff (rather than being one of the trains deleted from the timetable between Swansea and Carmarthen due to TfW's cuts) and is in an odd hour (so presumably isn't going to be LHCS between Cardiff and Manchester).
Okay thats fair enough, but I assume that if does ever actually start, it will be every 2 hours to Cardiff (to go opposite the 2 hourly Holyhead-Cardiff)?
Extending it to Cardiff was not mentioned at all so unsure if there is any plan for that to happen whatsoever.
That's the logical assumption, but it would clash with the Birmingham - Holyhead service between Shrewsbury and Chester if it did.
Aren't the crossings in the Abergele area being dealt with at present. Locally they are talking about the Llandudno service starting in 2025.
They are being looked at as I understand.
