Western 52
Established Member
Full marks to the catering crew who left at Cardiff. Excellent friendly service.
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Ex LNER (and Grand Central) Mark 4 sets for TfW
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GWVillager
Member
Good to see someone agreeing with me on the Virgin interiors! Is that the additional coach?
12324 is the TOD, which in HD03 technically is the additional coach as that one has never actually run in the 4 car formation without the TO.
The sets have had a deep steam clean during the B exams at Crewe and they do look much better after it's done.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
They look wonderful yes. Would be a pleasure to travel to Manchester or North Wales in that. Others before haven’t been nearly as fresh.
BillStampy
Member
Which diagrams are we due to have out tomorrow? I want to know if I can take a look at them as I plan to go to Cardiff tomorrow
Should be 04:35, 06:35, 10:52, 12:52, 16:52, 18:55 from Cardiff
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BillStampy
Member
I can only see 2 sets out today, atleast from having a quick look, any reason?
FrodshamJnct
Established Member
Indeed. 153329 and 153906 covering one diagram at the moment, and 153362 and 153910 another.
Was certainly supposed to 3 or possibly 4. 1 is up in Holyhead for the weekend.
No idea what happened to the other I'm afraid
Do we know yet the plan for Monday and Tuesday or it is best to check on Monday?
In theory there should be a full service next week with at least 5 sets (6 once HD01 finishes tyre turning) available for the 4 diagrams.
Depends on why the 2 are missing today though but unless its some major fault they should be back by then.
Ok thanks. Ive a first class ticket for a MK4 on Tuesday so im hopeful it will be a MK4 that turns up. But is it what it is!
Depends on whether or the skip gods want to be nice, that does seam to be main reason for most of the farces with the MK4s
I hope so. If it is subbed id be disappointed but would prefer a 197 over any Sprinter of course! (158 and even a pair of 153s not too bad its the 150's i really hate)
All 7 sets have locos on at the moment plus a standby at both Crewe and Canton so the loco position is much more healthy than its been for a long while.
Everything should be running as a Mk4 the next few days the only exception is the 04:35 tomorrow which is a unit between Cardiff and Crewe with a Mk4 set taking on the rest of the diagram.
Monday HD02/03/06 and 07 are available, Tuesday is HD02/03/04 and 07 then from Wednesday all of HD01/02/03/04/06 and 07 should be available for service.
Edited!
1W11/1V37 were unit subs today, as will be the 16:49 from Cardiff with HD03 swapping onto the 17:14 Holyhead instead.
Tomorrow 1V31 will be subbed after that there should be 4 out.
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Thank you for the update.
I see today that one of the Sunday diagrams isn't running. The one that starts with 1032 Swansea
That looks to be semi pre-planned as both sets at Canton are having loco exams today as are 2 sets at Crewe. With a set on Holyhead and 1 being lengthened still that only leaves HD06 available today.
Certainly seems that the weekend diagrams are sacrificed more to keep the weekday ones running.
BillStampy
Member
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K00888/2024-02-20/detailed
supposing that this runs, is this HD08s DVT + MK4 going back to Landore?
supposing that this runs, is this HD08s DVT + MK4 going back to Landore?
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
Yes, should be.
victormildrew
Member
5Q80 just passed Shrewsbury 12.59, only caught last LNER coach, so how many coaches don't know.
It’s 37800 hauling 82220 and 12215 according to TOPS.
Anonymous10
Established Member
I thought all the mk4s were at Landore and Bristol?
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
These two brought HD05s fifth coach up from Landore, acting as barriers.
A fab journey on a MK4 in first class (1630 Manchester Picadilly to Port Talbot) so pleased it ran as planned as id purchased a cheap first class advance in the TFW sale. Complimentary drinks and snacks. i wasnt keen on the main course choices (Lamb Cawl, Prawn Balti and some vegetarian dish, so I opted for the Poached Egg and Hash Brown Bap which was delicious and very filling and very reasonably priced. Very impressive, well done TFW.
One thing ive noticed with the 1630 ex Manchester it is more often than not late arriving into Newport/Cardiff and therefore later to Swansea also. Today it seemed to lose quite a bit of time possibly waiting for another train before Newport, then when it actually got to Cardiff it arrived around 15 late but actually departed 25 late. When its subbed for a 197 it is actually on time most of the time. The opposite was true of my up journey 0532 ex Swansea, being a 197 it was actually early, a good 5 mins early at most stops particularly from Shrewsbury onwards.
Also the chef was leaving at Hereford and the rest of the catering staff at Newport, so once again the final drink was served in a paper cup (not a problem) but even though the restaurant service is meant to be to Cardiff, catering is advertised all the way to Swansea so any Newport/Cardiff to Swansea first class passengers would lose out.
Finally are the MK4's getting more reliable? The last few days ive not seen any substitutions (not including the booked 197 on the 0532 ex Swansea). I do hope they are going to be more reliable in future as it must be awful when the service doesnt produce a first class service when its been booked as such.
One thing ive noticed with the 1630 ex Manchester it is more often than not late arriving into Newport/Cardiff and therefore later to Swansea also. Today it seemed to lose quite a bit of time possibly waiting for another train before Newport, then when it actually got to Cardiff it arrived around 15 late but actually departed 25 late. When its subbed for a 197 it is actually on time most of the time. The opposite was true of my up journey 0532 ex Swansea, being a 197 it was actually early, a good 5 mins early at most stops particularly from Shrewsbury onwards.
Also the chef was leaving at Hereford and the rest of the catering staff at Newport, so once again the final drink was served in a paper cup (not a problem) but even though the restaurant service is meant to be to Cardiff, catering is advertised all the way to Swansea so any Newport/Cardiff to Swansea first class passengers would lose out.
Finally are the MK4's getting more reliable? The last few days ive not seen any substitutions (not including the booked 197 on the 0532 ex Swansea). I do hope they are going to be more reliable in future as it must be awful when the service doesnt produce a first class service when its been booked as such.
Glad you had a good trip!
Yes they are, it helps a lot having closer to a full fleet now HD03 is in service and more available locos. There's been lots of things going on exam and maintenance wise to get things better (with more to come) which did nake things worse short term but is starting to show in much better availability.
Probably be none out for the rest of the week now I've said that
Thanks. I had visions of a pair of 153s waiting for me at Piccadilly when i booked it as things werent so good a few weeks ago.
Good to hear that they are getting more reliable.
Topological
Established Member
Glad you had a good trip with Mk4
Sadly all my journeys are on the missing diagram at the moment, the 05:32 from Swansea is not bad, but the 18:30 that it later works from Manchester is not fun.
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