TfW to operate Class 37s on the Rhymney Line

[Chezni]

Rail Magazine now carries the story of Class 37 use on Rhymney line, with a quote from Tfw management.
https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/locomotive-hauled-trains-to-cover-welsh-stock-shortfall

 

[Cardiff123]

Rail Magazine now carries the story of Class 37 use on Rhymney line, with a quote from Tfw management.
https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/locomotive-hauled-trains-to-cover-welsh-stock-shortfall

Notice how it's gone virtually silent on the 769s, which are/were due to work the Rhymney line from next month and provide the cover that the 37s have had to be brought in to now provide instead. I suspect like Northern, TfW have given up on setting a date for when the 769s will (ever) be in service. Maybe by the end of this year if we're lucky.

 

[anthony263]

Does anyone else think these loco hauled services are going to be rather over crowded with the commuters and the bashers on board ?. Personally i do hope tfw do look into running at least one of the sets on a Saturday

 

[hexagon789]

Does anyone else think these loco hauled services are going to be rather over crowded with the commuters and the bashers on board ?. Personally i do hope tfw do look into running at least one of the sets on a Saturday

I think that it works out at a slight increase on seats versus 2x150s.

I've long idea how busy the normal workings are though, so it could well prove insufficient.

 

[Kite159]

Does anyone else think these loco hauled services are going to be rather over crowded with the commuters and the bashers on board ?. Personally i do hope tfw do look into running at least one of the sets on a Saturday

Agreed, just as a way to try and encourage the 37 bashers to use the Saturday service rather than crowding up an already busy train.

 

[Bikeman78]

Does anyone else think these loco hauled services are going to be rather over crowded with the commuters and the bashers on board ?. Personally i do hope tfw do look into running at least one of the sets on a Saturday

Even if they don't run every Saturday I expect they will run when there is an event on in Cardiff. And in the run yp to Christmas if they're still running by then.

 

[PaulHarding150]

Next week:-

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/V45606/2019/04/17/advanced
and return path

Did it run?

 

[Robert Ap Ioan]

I don't think it did, I didn't hear it and the garden backs onto the Railway line.

 

[anthony263]

Did it run?

Supposed to be starting later this week. Heard it was because 37418 was having some work done

 

[Dawntless]

I watched for it Tuesday and Wednesday evenings no sign.

 

[Bikeman78]

I don't think it did, I didn't hear it and the garden backs onto the Railway line.

I doubt you'd miss it. When I was a student, I lived in Braeval St in Cardiff. We were six houses away from the railway but when the 37s came past they made the letterbox vibrate!

 

[Robert Ap Ioan]

This is indeed true, they make quite a racket leaving the station. I am looking forward to having them back on the line. Comfort levels regressed when they were withdrawn.

 

[Whistler40145]

Is there a specific reason why Colas Rail are providing 37418 & 37421 versus DRS who have a larger fleet of 37/4s?

 

[Cardiff123]

Is there a specific reason why Colas Rail are providing 37418 & 37421 versus DRS who have a larger fleet of 37/4s?

TfW don't need more than 2 x 37s so what difference would it make?

 

[Whistler40145]

I realise TfW only require 2 37s, but what's the situation if one or both fail?

 

[Cardiff123]

I realise TfW only require 2 37s, but what's the situation if one or both fail?

Presumably it'll be a 2 car Pacer instead.

 

[Whistler40145]

Presumably it'll be a 2 car Pacer instead.

My apologies, I was assuming that the 37s and LCHS were running because TfW was short of available DMUs

 

[cactustwirly]

Is there a specific reason why Colas Rail are providing 37418 & 37421 versus DRS who have a larger fleet of 37/4s?

Maybe because Colas were cheaper than DRS?

 

[Whistler40145]

Maybe because Colas were cheaper than DRS?

Most likely

 

[Cardiff123]

My apologies, I was assuming that the 37s and LCHS were running because TfW was short of available DMUs

They are desperately short, with around 30 x 150/2s still to PRM modify for 1/1/2020.

 

[hexagon789]

My apologies, I was assuming that the 37s and LCHS were running because TfW was short of available DMUs

They are short. The 37s/Mk2s are to free up 150s for PRM-mods from what I've heard.

 

[Whistler40145]

They are desperately short, with around 30 x 150/2s still to PRM modify for 1/1/2020.

Cheers

 

[Chris217]

Presumably it'll be a 2 car Pacer instead.

Just burst out laughing at this post.

Cheers

 

[xotGD]

I realise TfW only require 2 37s, but what's the situation if one or both fail?

Then something big rocks up and commuters can't get on the train because it is swarming with cranks!

 

[Cowley]

Then something big rocks up and commuters can't get on the train because it is swarming with cranks!

A dirty banger blue 56 knocking around at Canton perhaps..?

 

[Chris217]

They are only ETH 37s.
Everyone has cleared them for a thousand!

 

[Bikeman78]

Then something big rocks up and commuters can't get on the train because it is swarming with cranks!

Maybe for the first day or two until the novelty wears off. Bear in mind if you go to Rhymney there is no train back to Cardiff until 20:00. I was one of the few regulars last time round and it was rare to see more than a few cranks on weekdays.

 

[Bikeman78]

Then something big rocks up and commuters can't get on the train because it is swarming with cranks!

Sorry I think I completely misunderstood the point you were making. Having said that, many of the no heat 37s ran up the valley with only a few cranks on board because the gen came out too late for anyone out of the immediate area to get there in time.

 

[Suraggu]

It's unlikely to attract a swarm of cranks, perhaps the kidz who have never had them but even then its not an easy out and back.

When they were running back pre 2005 for me it was Cardiff to Ystrad then unit back to Cardiff. Mostly commuters.

The Saturday trains however, that was a different story.

 

[Cardiff123]

Just burst out laughing at this post.

Cheers

What's funny about it? In the unlikely event one or both 37s were to fail, what else can TfW substitute it with? Bare in mind that the 37s will be covering for 150s that have been sent away for PRM work, if the 37s are unavailable at the last minute, it's highly likely that a Pacer unit, or a pair of Pacers, would have to substitute at short notice.