Ex LNER (and Grand Central) Mark 4 sets for TfW

[craigybagel]

I take it all back, just seen the words "special turn" with a 4:48 book on.......... Taxi.

If it's any comfort, I have a spare turn on Thursday that's lined up just perfectly to be on that job!

If this all goes well I really do hope deals can be done to extend the application of the MKIVs. I would love to see them on more of the North/South wales services and:
Manchester - Cardiff
Liverpool - Holyhead
Liverpool - Nottingham (although I accept 185s much more likely but the MKIV environment is much nicer for intercity route like this).

Increasingly it feels like there might be options to boost capacity in the north and Wales without any further new orders, if the right deals can be struck with the leasing companies and the Government is willing to repay a little of the hopefully not misguided trust that has just been placed in it. Time will tell if anybody in Gov/the DfT really is capable of that level of rather obvious imagination.

It would be nice, but problematic. The Liverpool - North Wales service is likely to be portion worked with a Shrewsbury/Cardiff service in a few years time, and as such will need to be a unit. Manchester to Cardiff could work, but only if those services are separated from the Cardiff - West Wales services, which seems unlikely.

 

[hobbm013]

Just passed Arriva Traincare depot at Crewe. Inside the shed was a rake of Ex-LNER livery Mk4s with Transport for Wales branding applied to the white parts of the body sides. As expected but thought I’d post to confirm (Also posted on TfW livery thread)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just passed Arriva Traincare depot at Crewe. Inside the shed was a rake of Ex-LNER livery Mk4s with Transport for Wales branding applied to the white parts of the body sides. As expected but thought I’d post to confirm (Also posted on TfW livery thread)

This is as I have said. I contacted Transport for Wales who informed me that as Virgin Trains East Coast carried out a recent interior and exterior refurbishment which is of decent quality and suits their colour scheme, the only changes that will be made are the removal of LNER logos and the application of Transport for Wales ones. Even the basic signs that don’t have logos on will stay, which means I guess this means we’ll still be seeing the very distinctive Virgin Trains Neo Sans on board trains even after the untimely demise of both Virgin franchises!

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Mk4 coaches with the TFW logo applied:

 

[woodhouse122]

Looking smart,lets hope they silence the Virgin Toilets though

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Looking smart,lets hope they silence the Virgin Toilets though

Wrong Virgin coast

 

[AndrewE]

Looking smart,lets hope they silence the Virgin Toilets though

Well Avanti wc have, thank goodness!

 

[Cardiff123]

So that'll be 2.5 standard coaches and 1 first class coach? Is that a capacity increase in standard compared to a 3 car 175?

 

[popeter45]

Are they keeping the RSB's as such or are they converting them to RFB's to match the mark 3's setup of a half car first class rather than a full first class car?

 

[lammergeier]

Well Avanti wc have, thank goodness!

Have they? That's great news! I haven't been on a Pendo since they took over.

 

[ainsworth74]

Are they keeping the RSB's as such or are they converting them to RFB's to match the mark 3's setup of a half car first class rather than a full first class car?

As discussed earlier in this very thread they are not reseating any coaches

 

[modernrail]

If it's any comfort, I have a spare turn on Thursday that's lined up just perfectly to be

It would be nice, but problematic. The Liverpool - North Wales service is likely to be portion worked with a Shrewsbury/Cardiff service in a few years time, and as such will need to be a unit. Manchester to Cardiff could work, but only if those services are separated from the Cardiff - West Wales services, which seems unlikely.

What is the issue west of Cardiff - gauging?

 

[craigybagel]

What is the issue west of Cardiff - gauging?

There aren't any physical issues that I'm aware of (other then that fact they wouldn't be able to stop at any Swanline station, including Pyle which has quiet a few Manchester services call). However, between platform lengths and lack of demand it would be highly impractical to run Loco hauled West of Swansea. You could run them as far as there, but that would mean splitting West Wales - Cardiff services in two which I suspect won't be considered acceptable. You need to keep services from West Wales running to Cardiff, but don't want very long trains running beyond Swansea, which is why TfW plan to get around this by running 5 car units Manchester - Swansea, and having them split there. You can't do that with LHCS.

 

[pt_mad]

Mk4 coaches with the TFW logo applied:

View attachment 72088
View attachment 72089

That livery actually makes the MK4 DVT look like the MK3 one when it was part of the Pretendolino.

 

[modernrail]

There aren't any physical issues that I'm aware of (other then that fact they wouldn't be able to stop at any Swanline station, including Pyle which has quiet a few Manchester services call). However, between platform lengths and lack of demand it would be highly impractical to run Loco hauled West of Swansea. You could run them as far as there, but that would mean splitting West Wales - Cardiff services in two which I suspect won't be considered acceptable. You need to keep services from West Wales running to Cardiff, but don't want very long trains running beyond Swansea, which is why TfW plan to get around this by running 5 car units Manchester - Swansea, and having them split there. You can't do that with LHCS.

Ah I see, thank you for the reply and detail. Are the any Manchester - Cardiff only diagrams that they might work on?

 

[mrcaa]

Any update on when these are coming into service?

 

[Bletchleyite]

That livery actually makes the MK4 DVT look like the MK3 one when it was part of the Pretendolino.

I don't get why they are repainting the DVT but not the coaches, it looks really odd as they are mismatched but too similar to look like the traditional LHCS look of the loco being totally different.

I don't like the former VTEC livery, though, so I'm biased

 

[PHILIPE]

Ah I see, thank you for the reply and detail. Are the any Manchester - Cardiff only diagrams that they might work on?

Apart from first thing in the morning and late at night, there are no Manchester to Cardiff services except on Sundays as they all go to and from West Wales throughout the day.

 

[hobbm013]

I don't get why they are repainting the DVT but not the coaches, it looks really odd as they are mismatched but too similar to look like the traditional LHCS look of the loco being totally different.

I don't like the former VTEC livery, though, so I'm biased

Explained in post #333

 

[pt_mad]

I don't get why they are repainting the DVT but not the coaches, it looks really odd as they are mismatched but too similar to look like the traditional LHCS look of the loco being totally different.

I don't like the former VTEC livery, though, so I'm biased

Maybe just so the special charity liveries look right on the DVT. Does seem like an empty canvas as it's pictured there.

 

[anamyd]

Mk4 coaches with the TFW logo applied:

View attachment 72088
View attachment 72089

As that DVT is 82226, are those carriages 11323/10325/12454/12225...? @59CosG95

 

[59CosG95]

As that DVT is 82226, are those carriages 11323/10325/12454/12225...? @59CosG95

I suspect so, but I don't know for certain.

 

[Gallagher 96]

They won't be running through Manchester in normal service. Two sets will cover three trips each way on the Holyhead - Cardiff route.

3 sets in total(with up to seven in future if required) with two sets covering HHD to Cdf,and one set on the Manchester diagram. That is what we are doing here in Wales.

 

[craigybagel]

3 sets in total(with up to seven in future if required) with two sets covering HHD to Cdf,and one set on the Manchester diagram. That is what we are doing here in Wales.

And your source for this is?

Official line is the Manchester diagram will be MKIVs only temporarily, until such time as the MKIVs get cleared for the Marches. Then they'll take over from the MKIIIs on CDF-HHD, and the Manchester diagram will go back to being a unit.

 

[CR165022]

Mk4 coaches with the TFW logo applied:

View attachment 72088
View attachment 72089

Will the mk4s get TFW livery?

 

[73001]

Will the mk4s get TFW livery?

See post 333 above.

 

[CR165022]

See post 333 above.

ah yes sorry didnt see before

 

[L+Y]

Has there been any confirmation of the earlier rumours of TfW taking more than three sets? Apologies if this has already been answered and missed by me!

 

[craigybagel]

Has there been any confirmation of the earlier rumours of TfW taking more than three sets? Apologies if this has already been answered and missed by me!

No. Just wibble.

 

[Rhydgaled]

You need to keep services from West Wales running to Cardiff, but don't want very long trains running beyond Swansea, which is why TfW plan to get around this by running 5 car units Manchester - Swansea, and having them split there. You can't do that with LHCS.

The other way of getting around that is to run extra services between Milford/Carmarthen and Cardiff so that the Manchesters can terminate at Swansea with a connection for Pembroke Dock / Carmarthen.