Interesting does anyone know what stock will be used on the commencement of passenger services on 20th May will it be 175s, 150s or even 158s (although not sure if they have appeared on any of the training runs) but I have heard they have been cleared for the route and will these services eventually go over to the new CAF TFW stock once the services are extended into Wales?
Luke
67 and Mk 4's! Really?CAFs will be used on pretty much everything North of Hereford in the end. Only exception will be 230s on Bidston, 170s on HOWL/Crewe - Shrewsbury locals and 67 + MKIVs on 3 Cardiff Holyhead roundtrips per day. Otherwise, it's CAFs all the way.
67 and Mk 4's! Really?
What is the timescale for full onward services into North Wales ?
CAFs will be used on pretty much everything North of Hereford in the end. Only exception will be 230s on Bidston, 170s on HOWL/Crewe - Shrewsbury locals and 67 + MKIVs on 3 Cardiff Holyhead roundtrips per day. Otherwise, it's CAFs all the way.
December 2022 is the date that was given at the start of the new franchise (for all the recast-related services). Any delays in delivery might see that revised to May 2023, though.IIRC it's about 2023/2024. There's going to be a recast of the entire TfW long distance timetable and they can't do that till enough of the CAFs are in service.
Yes (and possibly elsewhere, such as Crewe-Shrewsbury) but as craigybagel stated, in the end they'll be doing Wrexham-Bidston, with the CAF units just about everywhere else.TfW are implying that 230s will be used on the Crewe to Chester shuttle as well as Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog.
TfW are implying that 230s will be used on the Crewe to Chester shuttle as well as Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog. They'd probably fit in well on Chester to Liverpool too for the time being, but no point introducing new stock to a short-term service.
TfW are implying that 230s will be used on the Crewe to Chester shuttle as well as Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog. They'd probably fit in well on Chester to Liverpool too for the time being, but no point introducing new stock to a short-term service.
Interesting that the only extensions are to Wrexham - I wonder if that'll be very popular and become the precedent for an hourly service, which would be the future Cardiff service.The Halton Curve service will be worked by 150s at the start and superseded in due course by CAFs. As Carigybagel has said the other routes are being discussed in TFW threads elsewhere. Can we stay on the Halton Curve topic, please as it becomes difficult to follow developments elsewhere if they are spread across various threads.
The extensions to Wrexham are just a "taster", the rest of the service will be introduced when TfW get their new CAF stock delivered.Interesting that the only extensions are to Wrexham - I wonder if that'll be very popular and become the precedent for an hourly service, which would be the future Cardiff service.
And North Wales (coast) trains would be a future second path.
Although if running to Cardiff, you wouldn't be calling at Helsby and Frodsham, so I'd expect a second category of service. Those stations do have the Leeds service also - perhaps that could run through to the coast instead. Many options - but exciting times for rail users in the region, and a lot of activity for Chester especially!
The extensions to Wrexham are just a "taster", the rest of the service will be introduced when TfW get their new CAF stock delivered.
There's no plan for a second path. Two units will run hourly from Liverpool, coupled together as far as Chester. One will proceed to Llandudno, the other will run to Shrewsbury, or onward to Cardiff in alternating hours.
This is a good boost for Liverpool to Wales direct links.....at last !
For Shrewsbury and beyond it will still be faster indirectly via Crewe.
Totally agree, who would want to change at Crewe when there is a direct train.But I'm sure many would rather a direct train especially with luggage.
What would be the time penalty, including a change?
This is why a second category of express train should be looked at, for Cardiff services - and to be competitive on journey times vs Crewe. There is plenty of potential from Liverpool for two trains per hour - Llandudno/Holyhead and Wrexham/Shrewsbury/Cardiff.
Frodsham and Helsby are getting the Calder service too - which I'm not so convinced by - but there is definite upside fo everyone.
Nah, the service is pretty slow as it is.
Fairly straight forward change at Parkway.It is a pity that the new service stops only at Liverpool South Parkway and not West Allerton and Mossley Hill.
The TFW app is showing £26.45 for Liverpool to Shrewsbury off peak return, either central via Hooton or Lime Street via Helsby. Singles are £18.80.
Fairly straight forward change at Parkway.
Also when the service gets extended to Llandudno and Shrewsbury/Cardiff you can’t really be stopping at all the intermediate stations
It is a pity that the new service stops only at Liverpool South Parkway and not West Allerton and Mossley Hill.
How on earth do you get that fare? Playing around with national rail and TFW I can only get the £40.10 Anytime fare. I can get the £27 fare from Birkenhead Central so how does Birkenhead-Liverpool add £13?
I'm fairly used to fiddling around to get cheaper fares and I can't make sense of this.
£26.45 is what I'd expect to pay for this journey. Splitting tickets and specifying routes is a pain, because the option to travel via Chester or Crewe effectively doubles the service frequency. This is a medium-length journey with a fast-ish frequent service which I will drive because it is too expensive.