I did say booked
At least with that one it comes off Crewe at 05:13 so get plenty of prior warning if it is likely to be swapped.
Doesn't look promising I'm afraid, must be an issue with it as showing 5V33 which later forms 1W19 as a unit.
It seems to have actually gone backwards recently, a lot was pre-planned but now its not.
The 175 failed too.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Looks like that's going onto the diagram at Crewe now, yes.2 car 158?
Realtime Trains | 5W19 1228 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Cardiff Central | 12/06/2023
Real-time train running information for 5W19 1228 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Cardiff Central on 12/06/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
197 004 to Chester, then sent back to Holyhead, with (I think) a 158 taking over to Shrewsbury.
Neither are the 197s. Those bound for Cardiff from North Wales all getting swapped at Chester.
I don’t want to be “that guy” but the fact 67+MK4 sets are even running is nothing but a vanity project. More 197s would have been perfectly suitable, and arguably more so, for a totally common mainline fleet.
It's like they're trying to deliberately appease old-school enthusiasts, which if true, suggests some TOCs need to sort their priorities out, frankly.
Not according to RTT or PIS. Probably needs a clean in the sidings or something. But given the amount of shuffling that's already happened today, who knows any more
That diagram is currently STP altered and will form 1W96 to Holyhead tonight.
I thought the railway was supposed to be pivoting towards leisure traffic (and away from business/commuting) post-COVID?
The class 197 design, aside perhaps from the rather odd catering provision, appears to be aimed squarely at the commuter market. There is perhaps an argument to be made that class 158s and 175s, had more of them been available, would have been a better choice than the mark 4s. However, the fact is there were no spare 158s or 175s available to deliver the necessary increase in capacity, so there isn't really an alternative to the mark 4s.Informed Sources (Modern Railways said:
Have TfW reinstated reservations then as the last few times I've tried to book a journey they have appeared to be unreservable throughout? At most I have been issued with a 'counted place' reservation card, never an actual seat number.
Yes there is. Ordering MORE 197s, obviously.
No... the only difference in terms of carriages is a 5-MK4 has 3.5 standard and 1 first, but a 5-197 will have 4.5 standard and 0.5 first. First is very poorly used currently, so I'd say the 197 actually caters to demand better there, offering an additional carriage of standard class accommodation. They also don't have vestibules, so potentially even more space for seats, though I might be clutching at straws with that last bit.
I think you'll be shocked to find that First is actually very well used on most services now, it's always quite full when it passes me.
Or missing the "negate" in my post
Oh I do apologise for misreading that. It's 1am in Australia and my tired eyes saw negates and thought it meant "without"/"doesn't have"Or missing the "negate" in my post
On the last part, I think the catering cupboard has an impact on the 197. Would still expect an increase in standard capacity for a 3+2 197 versus the Mk4 set.
That 0.5 first is great for people buying advances or using other cheap upgrades. Rather like off-peak pendolinos. We enjoy it but does it really need to be there?
