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

[LNW-GW Joint]

So 38 of the 40 speed restrictions for loco-hauled trains have been removed.
I know one of the remaining two is the short stretch over a bridge north of Craven Arms.
Where's the other? Or is it the same restriction on the other line?

The actual journey time reductions are not specified.
We'll soon see what they are when the December schedules become visible on RTT.

 

[D6130]

A rare double header should run to convey 67008+010 and HD06 to Crewe for repairs so 6 sets will be out and about at some point albeit with 1 running empty

Will that be on a passenger working or ECS?

 

[sd0733]

Will that be on a passenger working or ECS?

HD06 is ECS, the rest are in service.

Realtime Trains | 5Z06 0715 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Crewe C.S. | 02/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Z06 0715 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Crewe C.S. on 02/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[D6130]

HD06 is ECS, the rest are in service.

Realtime Trains | 5Z06 0715 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Crewe C.S. | 02/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Z06 0715 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Crewe C.S. on 02/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Thanks!

 

[craigybagel]

So 38 of the 40 speed restrictions for loco-hauled trains have been removed.
I know one of the remaining two is the short stretch over a bridge north of Craven Arms.
Where's the other? Or is it the same restriction on the other line?

There's a short section on the up between Onibury and Craven Arms that remains 65/75/90MU. It makes very little difference - the previous section through Onibury is 75 for everything, it's mostly uphill so very little extra speed can be gained, and by the time it ends and you're permitted to do 90 again you need to start thinking about slowing down for the 40/90MU bridge after Craven Arms. Removing it will save a single digit number of seconds at best unless you fix the bridge as well.

 

[Philip Roberts]

So 38 of the 40 speed restrictions for loco-hauled trains have been removed.
I know one of the remaining two is the short stretch over a bridge north of Craven Arms.
Where's the other? Or is it the same restriction on the other line?

The actual journey time reductions are not specified.
We'll soon see what they are when the December schedules become visible on RTT.

TfW seem to suggest it will save ten minutes. The proof will be in the December schedule I guess

 

[Western 52]

HD06 is ECS, the rest are in service.

Realtime Trains | 5Z06 0715 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Crewe C.S. | 02/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Z06 0715 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Crewe C.S. on 02/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I saw this at Shrewsbury, loco on each end.

 

[RichardAsh1981]

HD06 was put into platform 11 at Crewe, where it sat for some time (causing quite a lot of platform alterations) before departing back the way it had come (south).

I think both engines were running but only the leading one taking power?

 

[Lurcheroo]

Edit*- Plan is now for HD01 to pick up the diagram at Crewe at 11:10 and work 1V39/1W61/1V62 vice the booked 2 car 197.

So really, as good as, the first time all 5 diagrams are covered by MK4’s??

A momentous day, some may say.

 

[sd0733]

So really, as good as, the first time all 5 diagrams are covered by MK4’s??

A momentous day, some may say.

Effectively yes. Although technically it's a vast over-form of a 2car 197 diagram still.

Certainly a start though for getting that 5th diagram brought in permanently, especially if parts of it can be covered ad-hoc like today when it's able to.

There was also a planned mid-diagram loco swap so there's been 8 different locos and 6 sets out on the mainline today, must be something of a record!

 

[Western 52]

HD06 was put into platform 11 at Crewe, where it sat for some time (causing quite a lot of platform alterations) before departing back the way it had come (south).

I think both engines were running but only the leading one taking power?

View attachment 162877View attachment 162878View attachment 162879View attachment 162880

Yes both locos were running when it passed Shrewsbury. I took the attached shot but didn't notice the bird in front of the train at the time!

 

[Jez]

So really, as good as, the first time all 5 diagrams are covered by MK4’s??

A momentous day, some may say.

Indeed. Hopefully not too much longer before all 5 diagrams are reliable as MK4.

 

[rich.davies]

Those breakfasts are ridiculous. Didn't have the big one, the standard one defeated me.

1st Class on HD07 needs a touch of TLC but very comfortable reclining seats and excellent host.

 

[BillStampy]

HD07 is working diagram 4.5 today as the spare on Canton, hopefully now it's becoming a regular!

 

[Lurcheroo]

4 full diagrams covered and half of the 5th covered today !
Great to see.

HD07 is working diagram 4.5 today as the spare on Canton, hopefully now it's becoming a regular!

Great minds think alike apparently

 

[sd0733]

4 full diagrams covered and half of the 5th covered today !

Theres a planned set swap to get HD03 back to Crewe on the 16:49 this evening for tyre turning so thatll knock a set out for a couple of days so may affect coverage of the "extra" diagram.

Hopefully not jinxing it, but it seems at the moment, with the shortages of 153s, 158s and 197s that the Mk4s are actually the only mainline fleet covering all their booked work (and currently more!)

 

[BillStampy]

Theres a planned set swap to get HD03 back to Crewe on the 16:49 this evening for tyre turning so thatll knock a set out for a couple of days so may affect coverage of the "extra" diagram.

There's HD05 at Crewe though right? Unless it's out too then the spare Canton set will swap in for that.

Since you have HD01 and 07 finishing there tonight, you'd have 04 and 05 out from Crewe, 06 from Holyhead then one of the two on Canton taking the extra if available

This is all completely invalid if HD05 is out.

 

[sd0733]

There's HD05 at Crewe though right? Unless it's out too then the spare Canton set will swap in for that.

Since you have HD01 and 07 finishing there tonight, you'd have 04 and 05 out from Crewe, 06 from Holyhead then one of the two on Canton taking the extra if available

This is all completely invalid if HD05 is out.

Yes, ignore me!! 01 04 05 06 should be in service and 07 is again the spare set and pencilled in for cover if possible.

Apologies, I'd lost a set somewhere!

 

[Lurcheroo]

Theres a planned set swap to get HD03 back to Crewe on the 16:49 this evening for tyre turning so thatll knock a set out for a couple of days so may affect coverage of the "extra" diagram.

Hopefully not jinxing it, but it seems at the moment, with the shortages of 153s, 158s and 197s that the Mk4s are actually the only mainline fleet covering all their booked work (and currently more!)

Lol it really does! At a time when it’s most needed too, how did we ever get here lol !!

 

[sd0733]

Lol it really does! At a time when it’s most needed too, how did we ever get here lol !!

It does seem a big role reversal over the past few weeks. There's clearly still work to be done but available these past few weeks hasn't been far off 100% coverage, at the start of the day at least!!

The real proof of improvement though will be when this 5th diagram starts in Ernest full time really.

 

[BillStampy]

It does seem a big role reversal over the past few weeks. There's clearly still work to be done but available these past few weeks hasn't been far off 100% coverage, at the start of the day at least!!

The real proof of improvement though will be when this 5th diagram starts in Ernest full time really.

Hoping to finally take my trip down to Swansea on a MK4 this sunday, hoping that it's a set for once, as the few times I've been avaliable in the past, it's been subbed for a 197! It has been a few weeks since I was avaliable though.

 

[sd0733]

Hoping to finally take my trip down to Swansea on a MK4 this sunday, hoping that it's a set for once, as the few times I've been avaliable in the past, it's been subbed for a 197! It has been a few weeks since I was avaliable though.

There should be plenty of sets to resource the 2 Sunday diagrams now. HD01 will need to stop on Friday for an exam, 02 is still on its exam but 03 should be back from tyre turning by then so all of HD03-07 should be available for the weekend (although 1 of them will be at Holyhead).

 

[Lurcheroo]

It does seem a big role reversal over the past few weeks. There's clearly still work to be done but available these past few weeks hasn't been far off 100% coverage, at the start of the day at least!!

The real proof of improvement though will be when this 5th diagram starts in Ernest full time really.

Yes definitely!

Interestingly today the 5th diagram is covered by a 3car 197 and then the 14:49 from Cardiff is being swapped to a 2car 197.

 

[sd0733]

Yes definitely!

Interestingly today the 5th diagram is covered by a 3car 197 and then the 14:49 from Cardiff is being swapped to a 2car 197.

HD07 is being kept back as it's on low miles until it's due exam now so it's being kept at Canton and will just work 16:49 Cardiff to Manchester tomorrow (replacing HD04 which will do the rest of the diagram) then stop, this should mean it's back before HD01 stops for it's exam which will likely now be after Saturday.

It does mean that there will "only" be the 4 sets out today and 5 tomorrow albeit, 2 of them covering 1 diagram.

 

[aar0]

Does anyone know if the 1430 from Manchester (1V50) offers dinner like the 1630?

 

[sd0733]

Does anyone know if the 1430 from Manchester (1V50) offers dinner like the 1630?

The menu for lunch and dinner is the same so (chef permitting) the 14:30 should offer the same as the 16:30.

First Class menu | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

 

[aar0]

The menu for lunch and dinner is the same so (chef permitting) the 14:30 should offer is the same as the 16:30.

First Class menu | Transport for Wales

Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times

tfw.wales

Fantastic, thank you.

I’ve inadvertently bashed(?) 4 TfW 225 sets this week, unfortunately the final one is 135 mins late so far - but wow, no faults with the trains, fast, comfortable, always been a chef and the food and service has been great. I was in standard on the third train (a black set) and a family were saying how plush and fast this “new” train was!

 

[BillStampy]

Absolute mess caused by a tree today, fortunately doesn't affect the diagrams, only resulting in HD06 running empty Newport to Crewe. HD05 is running late in the back of the Welsh Marches queue of trains, currently 47 minutes late. Other sets do seem unaffected as it only blocked the line towards Newport. If it blocked both, it would've been messy.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Absolute mess caused by a tree today, fortunately doesn't affect the diagrams, only resulting in HD06 running empty Newport to Crewe. HD05 is running late in the back of the Welsh Marches queue of trains, currently 47 minutes late. Other sets do seem unaffected as it only blocked the line towards Newport. If it blocked both, it would've been messy.

1V44 1330 Manchester-Tenby (2x197) cancelled at Hereford "due to high winds".

Realtime Trains | Departures from Pontrilas all day on 07/08/2024

Train information at Pontrilas all day on 07/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[AndrewE]

On RTT only 3 out of 13 Manchester - Cardiff trains 0600-2000 seem to be l/h today... Not so good. Luckily I am taking grandchildren somewhere else anyway!
(correction - now 4, 5 out of 17 all day)