No there are enough sets. Cardiff - Pompey is 8 diagrams. If you make the 158s up into 4 and 5 car sets, you will get 5x5 car and 4x4car. So you will have one double set spare. If you split some of the hybrid 3s back to their original formations, this would give more leeway albeit with more 4 cars and fewer 5 cars.
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Class 175 to GWR
- Thread starter Milo T.K
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That’s good to hear- although I didn’t realise any of the hybrid 3 car sets were still running as such.
Still not many spare for planned use elsewhere, though.
And mine!
irish_rail
On Moderation
I think there is a genuine risk the 175s passenger comfort will seriously show up IET comfort for what it is. People may begin to question why the journey from Plymouth to Liskeard is luxury, yet the 3 hour London trip is severely uncomfortable. My fear is the 175s will be downgraded to avoid this, I really hope I'm wrong, as they will surely be the pride of the GWR fleet in terms of passenger comfort if left in TFW refurbished condition.
But not mine! Particularly if they are 4 cars instead of 5...
Well, 4 cars instead of 2 or 3 would at least be a start…
Very true, and I won't list all the reasons I hate 158s to avoid sending this thread off topic
Just keeping it short, out of the current GWR fleet, (just assuming the same capacity turns up on a given service) what would be your ideal stock ?
If we are taking the 175s as being part of the GWR fleet, I would want those on Cardiff - Portsmouth for passenger ambience, however Turbos are much better for reducing dwell times and dealing with inevitable crowds. On that basis, hand over the route to TfW and operate it with 5 car 197s
K.o.R
Member
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- Messages
- 673
Indeed, I much prefer the 16xs. I find the 158s very claustrophobic for some reason. Sitting at the cab end of the carriage is very comfy even for a DMU (the engines are at the other end).
Unfortunately they won't be on Cardiff to Portsmouth as it will be the turbos and maybe 158s. 175s will mostly be on the West Country maybe Cardiff to Penzance.If we are taking the 175s as being part of the GWR fleet, I would want those on Cardiff - Portsmouth for passenger ambience, however Turbos are much better for reducing dwell times and dealing with inevitable crowds. On that basis, hand over the route to TfW and operate it with 5 car 197s
For me it's the lack of air flow in them twelve months of the year, along with the lack of air conditioning six months of the year. They also feel narrower inside than the Turbos but that might just be an illusion. Anyway I've taken this thread well and truly off topic now so I won't post further!
sprinterguy
Veteran Member
That's true in fact, as the Turbos were built to take full advantage of the more generous Western loading gauge: It's not a huge difference, but it's an extra 11 centimetres at their widest point, and possibly less of an inward taper towards the cantrail as well.
Pompeys are going to be 158s, not 16x.
Thank the lord!
Thats a very fair viewpoint IMO.If we are taking the 175s as being part of the GWR fleet, I would want those on Cardiff - Portsmouth for passenger ambience, however Turbos are much better for reducing dwell times and dealing with inevitable crowds. On that basis, hand over the route to TfW and operate it with 5 car 197s
I dont think many would say to replace 158's with 197's (as I hear so much of regarding Cambrian services) but I do think that the 158's dont really fill any role excellently and I'd take the 197's.
simonmpoulton
Member
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- 25 Jun 2011
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- 193
I'd take a TFW 158 over a 197 anyday! The ride quality and seating are vastly superior! The refurb that ATW did truly transformed these units, but the 175's still trumps them!
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
I’m sure they’ll be very well received by the good locals of the West
FlyingPotato
Member
I just saw 2 175s approaching reading
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To note they were under own power
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To note they were under own power
Western 52
Established Member
Presumably this
Realtime Trains | 5Q46 0736 Landore T.M.D. to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings | 22/08/2024
Real-time train running information for 5Q46 0736 departure from Landore T.M.D. to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings on 22/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Wilts Wanderer
Established Member
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- 3,006
Based on the experience of other TFW routes that are managed from Cardiff but operate predominantly outside Wales - no thanks!!! I suspect the commuter base of mid-Wiltshire would be distinctly unimpressed that their principal train services are now managed by the government of another country.
bramling
Veteran Member
Personally I’d be quite happy with 165/166 on Portsmouth-Cardiff, though better if the 3+2 was ditched. A lot of the problem is they’ve been allowed to deteriorate into a filthy and unkempt state.
I find 158s cramped on this service, and it’s too common for them to lose time due to slow loading/unloading when crowded.
Having said that, main priority for me is longer formations.
Interesting, if GWR offered a 2 hourly 2 coach service or TFW offered an hourly 5 coach service, who would they rather ? Surely they care most about who would provide the best service ? (I’m certainly not saying that would be TFW in reality) just seems odd for the primary concern to be where the HQ is based
I th
I think they will most likely be based at Exeter Depot and some in Penzance for services when they run from Cornwall.
Definitely longer formations are the priority assuming capacity is increased (turbos are quite seat heavy with their 3+2 layout) . Then the 175’s will provide better performance than the older stock with a very nice atmosphere inside.
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I have heard Laira is where but but 100% sure.
Wilts Wanderer
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No, the point I was making was that politically when things get tight, TFW & WG have form for making cuts in areas that are not seen as the principal Welsh routes, such as Liverpool-Chester, the Wirral and North Wales. I suspect if it came down to providing seats into Cardiff from Swansea/Marches or providing seats into Bath/Bristol from Portsmouth, the Cardiff option would always be selected.
Part of The reason TFW cut Chester - Liverpool is because there are other good options I.E a Merseyrail service every 15 minutes to get to Liverpool.
TFW haven’t made cuts on the borderlands line (North Wales / the Wirral) but the introduction of the 230’s did wreak havoc on it. They have then put in a huge amount of resources and funding to stabilising the route with the use of 197’s and introducing a more frequent service that hasn’t been seen on the line in a very long time if ever.
When things were tight, TFW stripped the Cambrian of all of its hourly Shrewsbury services and just retained its core 2 hourly Birmingham services.
In my experience they are pretty objective about what they cancel. Anything that gets pulled will upset people but if you’re in that position as TFW you can’t really do any better.
I don’t really know the Portsmouth route so I don’t know if there are any alternatives available or anything like that.
But as has been seen with GWR struggling for stock (just like TFW) e service on the route has suffered with short formations and serious overcrowding.
So again, I’m sure the people of Wilts would just be happy with an operator that serves the route the best.