TFW Pacer withdrawals

[PHILIPE]

To be honest, I never expected them all to be withdrawn yesterday. Unless they all ran out of exam miles or developed faults, why would they be?

Somebody asked TFW Twitter today regarding withdrawal of 142s and 143s and the reply was that 15 had been withdrawn without specifying if they were 142s or 143s. I'm beginning to wonder if the story re 142s was just a rumour. TFW are very economical regarding announcing any developments unless it is a project or something they want to brag about.

 

[rftorf]

To be honest, I never expected them all to be withdrawn yesterday. Unless they all ran out of exam miles or developed faults, why would they be?

I was just commenting on the reports of members of this forum, as others have of their not quite demise due to the new timetable. Unless they have another extension to the exemption they will have to be withdrawn in just under 3 weeks time.

 

[Bikeman78]

I was just commenting on the reports of members of this forum, as others have of their not quite demise due to the new timetable. Unless they have another extension to the exemption they will have to be withdrawn in just under 3 weeks time.

Yes I agree they will have to go at the end of the year because they cannot legally be used next year. For what it's worth, I expect them to be used in dwindling numbers up to and including the 31st. Units with plenty of miles left on the clock effectively cost nothing in terms of maintenance. Makes sense to burn up the miles on the 142s whilst they can be used.

 

[anamyd]

Thanks very much to @sd0733 and @WVL14 for giving the latest workings for the 142s Would either of you (or anyone else) mind doing the same for the 143s (please)...? If so, thanks!

 

[AdamWW]

Even with just 4 Pacer diagrams, 3 of them are 142s with 143624 the only 143 running.

Yes indeed, but I was responding to a poster who seemed to be suggesting that there would only be 4 Pacers required per day from now until the end of the year.

 

[sd0733]

Yes indeed, but I was responding to a poster who seemed to be suggesting that there would only be 4 Pacers required per day from now until the end of the year.

Had a quick look today and there seems to be around 9 14xs in service.

 

[anthony263]

Tfws 142s been given dispensation to carry on in service till 31st Dec 2020.

Attached the pdf document that was uploaded onto the railways in south wales Facebook group about 10 minutes ago.

 

[PaulHarding150]

That letter was published six months ago or am I missing something?

 

[Anonymous10]

That letter was published six months ago or am I missing something?

you aren't missing anything last year derogations werent issued till the 31st of December

 

[anamyd]

Had a quick look today and there seems to be around 9 14xs in service.

which units please...?

 

[sd0733]

which units please...?

Looks to be 142002/073/074/085/ 143605/606/610/614/616/625

 

[StripeyNick]

Looks to be 142002/073/074/085/ 143605/606/610/614/616/625

I certainly saw all of those in the couple of hours I was at Central earlier

 

[Anonymous10]

Had a quick look today and there seems to be around 9 14xs in service.

off topic but would 142002 be the second class 142 made??

 

[Wolvercoter]

off topic but would 142002 be the second class 142 made??

I'm sure I read somewhere that the first three completed were 142001, 142015 and 142028 (i.e. one of each colour) but I can't identify any confirmed source. Certainly, these three all had slightly different grilles compared the rest of the fleet.

 

[PHILIPE]

143606 has gone on a jolly today running between Maesteg and Cheltenham with 153369 attached

 

[Bod]

And very nice it is too!

 

[PHILIPE]

Today, 143606 and 143616 worked 2G60 1213 Maesteg to Gloucester and 1B67 1448 Gloucester to Carmarthen replacing a pair of 153s which, in turn, had been commandeered to replaced a failed 175 on the Marches. This in spite of TFW's plan not to operate Pacers in pairs for the purpose of Driver's Social Distancing.

 

[Bikeman78]

Today, 143606 and 143616 worked 2G60 1213 Maesteg to Gloucester and 1B67 1448 Gloucester to Carmarthen replacing a pair of 153s which, in turn, had been commandeered to replaced a failed 175 on the Marches. This in spite of TFW abandoning the plan not to operate Pacers in pairs for the purpose of Driver's Social Distancing.

They also did the 0921 Cardiff to Maesteg and return. As I understand it, the only alternative was no train at all.

 

[Anonymous10]

i can't see them leaving this year i really can't

 

[PHILIPE]

The Pacers have been swapped out at Cardiff on 1B67 and replaced by 2 x 153s. (Reference to this in the Non-Urgent TOPS Request Thread)

 

[Bikeman78]

i can't see them leaving this year i really can't

I think it's inevitable that the 143s will see in 2021. Indeed, the last few at Landore are coming back to Canton to be put back in service. However, it's game over for the 142s at the end of 31/12/20.

 

[Anonymous10]

I think it's inevitable that the 143s will see in 2021. Indeed, the last few at Landore are coming back to Canton to be put back in service. However, it's game over for the 142s at the end of 31/12/20.

agreed

 

[sd0733]

agreed

Its a certainty, there was a piece internally about the new timetable which said some 143s will be kept for several months until the 769s are fully up and running and reliably.

 

[Anonymous10]

Its a certainty, there was a piece internally about the new timetable which said some 143s will be kept for several months until the 769s are fully up and running and reliably.

even with 769s im nervous if they will hsve the stock

 

[anamyd]

Its a certainty, there was a piece internally about the new timetable which said some 143s will be kept for several months until the 769s are fully up and running and reliably.

So their PRM non-compliance dispensation will be / has been extended...? How many / which ones, do you know...?

 

[Cardiff123]

even with 769s im nervous if they will hsve the stock

I don't think TfW will need to worry about not having enough trains for people to travel on over the coming 4 - 6 weeks. Wales is now in a strict lockdown with strict limits on non-essential travel.
TfW expect things to be so quiet, for 2 weeks next month all trains north of Radyr are replaced with buses all day, every day so they can get on with Metro upgrade work. https://tfwrail.wales/metro/faq
I wouldn't be surprised if the 143s are left sitting idle at Canton.

 

[Anonymous10]

I don't think TfW will need to worry about not having enough trains for people to travel on over the coming 4 - 6 weeks. Wales is now in a strict lockdown with non-essential travel banned.
They expect things to be so quiet, for 2 weeks next month all trains north of Radyr are replaced with buses for 14 days so they can get on with Metro upgrade work. https://tfwrail.wales/metro/faq
I wouldn't be surprised if the 143s are left sitting idle at Canton.

im not nervous for then i mean post lockdown im not sure if 9 769s could replace all the pacers but time will tell

 

[PHILIPE]

So their PRM non-compliance dispensation will be / has been extended...? How many / which ones, do you know...?

Going on previous form the DFT letter will come out on 31st December to go into the public domain.

 

[Caaardiff]

Today, 143606 and 143616 worked 2G60 1213 Maesteg to Gloucester and 1B67 1448 Gloucester to Carmarthen replacing a pair of 153s which, in turn, had been commandeered to replaced a failed 175 on the Marches. This in spite of TFW's plan not to operate Pacers in pairs for the purpose of Driver's Social Distancing.

How is that different to 153s and 158s? All of which have access in passenger areas.
Surely 2 pacers is better than a pacer and 153.

 

[PHILIPE]

How is that different to 153s and 158s? All of which have access in passenger areas.
Surely 2 pacers is better than a pacer and 153.

Better ask the Unions. Pacers are completely open.