Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 FLIRTs

[BillStampy]

Am I correct in thinking the last holdout for the 150s/153s on the Valleys will be Rhymney - Barry - Bridgend? The reason for this has been given that Barry - Bridgend is worked by mainline crews who aren't trained on 231s yet. So can't mainline crews be trained on 231s now seeing as 231s will work mainline eventually?

The difference on the VoG line between spacious 4 carriage trains 3tph to Barry Island, and cramped 2 carriage 150s/153s once an hour to/from Bridgend is now very obvious.

Since the 756s are currently expected in a matter of a few weeks, the Class 150s/153s kicked off the TAM lines will probably move to free up Class 197s on Maesteg, Cheltenham and Ebbw Vale temporarily, a quick reminder that Class 231s are expected to remain where they are currently until the Class 398s move in to displace the 756s off the TAM lines, freeing up the 231s to move back to Maesteg, Cheltenham and Ebbw Vale. I'm assuming with the massive surplus of units they'd try double up and fix up services which are currently shortformed, as it'd be a fairly logical move in my opinion. It isn't that massive of a surplus, but still a nice uplift compared to now.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Since the 756s are currently expected in a matter of a few weeks, the Class 150s/153s kicked off the TAM lines will probably move to free up Class 197s on Maesteg, Cheltenham and Ebbw Vale temporarily, a quick reminder that Class 231s are expected to remain where they are currently until the Class 398s move in to displace the 756s off the TAM lines, freeing up the 231s to move back to Maesteg, Cheltenham and Ebbw Vale. I'm assuming with the massive surplus of units they'd try double up and fix up services which are currently shortformed, as it'd be a fairly logical move in my opinion. It isn't that massive of a surplus, but still a nice uplift compared to now.

There will, I fear, be many 150s that are ready to drop dead.

 

[BillStampy]

There will, I fear, be many 150s that are ready to drop dead.

In due course, it will happen, thankfully they seem to have lasted long enough to not result in a complete failure of the system due to a lack of them. I'm sure they'll stick around for extra capacity until their C6 knocks them out one by one.

 

[Peter Sarf]

In due course, it will happen, thankfully they seem to have lasted long enough to not result in a complete failure of the system due to a lack of them. I'm sure they'll stick around for extra capacity until their C6 knocks them out one by one.

True. It will be either a bad failure or an expensive planned maintenance that stops each one.
OR not needed any more .

 

[Akela]

Buried in this TfW customer satisfaction report is the news that the 756s are due for introduction at the end of October.

Off-topic but good to see that (for the most part) performance has improved massively across the board. Big increase in rail passenger journeys and a big decrease in train cancellations compared to last year.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Did any 756s enter service this week? October is now over for another year.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Did any 756s enter service this week? October is now over for another year.

11th November is the planned entry into service date.

 

[BillStampy]

11th November is the planned entry into service date.

Should write that date down for a trip out supposing they do actually enter service, that's around a week and a half away! Not surprising to me though, it's been long enough!

 

[Envoy]

Will a whole load of them enter service on 11 November or will they come in with say 1 or 2 in the first week and so on?

 

[StripeyNick]

Will a whole load of them enter service on 11 November or will they come in with say 1 or 2 in the first week and so on?

I think it's going to be like the 231s when they started with just one diagram going to a 756... possibly two

 

[H&I]

Does anyone know the diagrams for the first Class 756s in service? I am hoping to plan a trip to Wales for the first passenger service.

 

[anthony263]

Does anyone know the diagrams for the first Class 756s in service? I am hoping to plan a trip to Wales for the first passenger service.

Was supposed to be 11th november now been pushed back to 18th November now

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Was supposed to be 11th november now been pushed back to 18th November now

Of course it has

 

[anthony263]

Of course it has

Why do you think many of us welsh are not surprised?

 

[Bob Price]

I don't actually recall TfW announcing the date. Think it was internal plans and, if you actually work in anything involving multiple agencies, you will know these things can change. They will start when they are operationally ready and the various safety plans have been signed off.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Was supposed to be 11th november now been pushed back to 18th November now

Begs the question of course - which year(s) are we talking about .

To be fair a one week delay does make me think entry into service of 756s is really getting imminent.
Lets hope it is not a VERY staged approach like the 701s !.

 

[BillStampy]

Begs the question of course - which year(s) are we talking about .

To be fair a one week delay does make me think entry into service of 756s is really getting imminent.
Lets hope it is not a VERY staged approach like the 701s !.

I'm sure once the December timetable comes into place they'll have proper diagrams in place. I think initially it'll just turn over 1 or 2 diagrams from 150s.

We'll have to see, of course!

 

[Rhydgaled]

Begs the question of course - which year(s) are we talking about .

To be fair a one week delay does make me think entry into service of 756s is really getting imminent.

Regardless of when it happens, would I be correct to say that it will be the first time anything other than GWR class 800/802 and class 387 units has carried paying passengers on the GB National Rail network in Wales without burning coal or diesel on-board (in other words, has anything else ever raised a pantograph in Wales)?

 

[Bob Price]

Fair point and a major project to get to where we are. A lot of issues that were unforeseen both practical and behind the scenes, and we are on the cusp of electric trains running in the valleys.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Regardless of when it happens, would I be correct to say that it will be the first time anything other than GWR class 800/802 and class 387 units has carried paying passengers on the GB National Rail network in Wales without burning coal or diesel on-board (in other words, has anything else ever raised a pantograph in Wales)?

Unless you count the 230s, which run on battery part of the time (albeit charged by a diesel engine, so essentially a diesel electric with the electrons taking longer than usual to get from the generator to the motor)

 

[Peter Sarf]

Regardless of when it happens, would I be correct to say that it will be the first time anything other than GWR class 800/802 and class 387 units has carried paying passengers on the GB National Rail network in Wales without burning coal or diesel on-board (in other words, has anything else ever raised a pantograph in Wales)?

Yes. A quite pleasing and major step in the right direction (electrification) is about to come into fruition in the South Wales valleys.
They have of course one diesel engine pod with their three battery pods. But it is a significant use of the knitting.

Do we know whether the 756/0s (3car) or 756/1s (4car) will be the first sub class to enter service ?.

 

[BillStampy]

Do we know whether the 756/0s (3car) or 756/1s (4car) will be the first sub class to enter service ?.

If I were to guess based on the amount of training on them, 756/1s have had astronomical more usage in driver training, almost always a /1 from Canton minus the one week where they grabbed one 756/0 from Barry, just my guess, but I feel the /1s will be first.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Unless you count the 230s, which run on battery part of the time (albeit charged by a diesel engine, so essentially a diesel electric with the electrons taking longer than usual to get from the generator to the motor)

It's more the use of electrification infrastructure that I was getting at, so the 230s don't count unless there's a stretch of 3rd rail somewhere that they have made use of since TfW took them.

Yes. A quite pleasing and major step in the right direction (electrification) is about to come into fruition in the South Wales valleys.
They have of course one diesel engine pod with their three battery pods. But it is a significant use of the knitting.

So it will be the first public use of the 'knitting' in Wales (excluding GWR between the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff), great stuff - hopefuly not much longer to wait now until it happens.

 

[Bob Price]

A poster on Facebook has reported that the first 756's will be on two diagrams on Friday. Not sure how true, and if so not sure which ones but I will be studying Real Time Trains Friday morning with interest.

 

[BillStampy]

A poster on Facebook has reported that the first 756's will be on two diagrams on Friday. Not sure how true, and if so not sure which ones but I will be studying Real Time Trains Friday morning with interest.

Last I was told the plan was Monday next week, unsure about Friday this week. The first ones will be on the TAM lines, most likely just Aberdare and Merthyr though, I suspect the rest'll get on Treherberts from the December TT change

 

[anthony263]

A poster on Facebook has reported that the first 756's will be on two diagrams on Friday. Not sure how true, and if so not sure which ones but I will be studying Real Time Trains Friday morning with interest.

He said on the Treherbert to aberdare route but as we all know s the Merthyr and Aberdare services which are linked.

Monday I was told they were going onto the Merthyr-aberdare services so I'm taking this with a pinch of salt however we could see a bit of a surprise and one does come out friday

 

[BillStampy]

He said on the Treherbert to aberdare route but as we all know s the Merthyr and Aberdare services which are linked.

Monday I was told they were going onto the Merthyr-aberdare services so I'm taking this with a pinch of salt however we could see a bit of a surprise and one does come out friday

Seems a little fishy to me.. if we do get one out on Friday I may have to buy some extra tickets! (Planning on being at Central this Friday, if one sneaks out I'll have to take a ride!)

 

[Caaardiff]

The plan is for Friday

 

[H&I]

Does anyone have diagrams for this Friday?

 

[WAB]

Seems a little fishy to me.. if we do get one out on Friday I may have to buy some extra tickets! (Planning on being at Central this Friday, if one sneaks out I'll have to take a ride!)

I think it would be fair to say that this gen comes from a reliable source...