Travelling fitter now on Gerald?

[merlodlliw]

My wife boarded "Gerald" this morning at Wrexham, after the past few problems with the Premier set, I noted besides the conductor there was a chap in orange high viz with what looked like a LED lamp which he flashed for the off at 0744 Also on board was what looked like an ATW Manager? I could not see his badge.

The DVT was at the front, the driver sounded the klaxon on departure, I only mention this has previous it was the conductor not in high viz signalling the off to the driver,also on the platform was another ATW staff member checking doors and he gave an instruction to the chap with the lamp.

I am aware the new Manchester/North Wales loco hauled may carry a travelling fitter, any comments.

 

[higthomas]

Yes, using old LHCS doesn't solve all the worlds problems as some on here might think.

Anyway, more relevantly even though I don't use it, it seems sensible given just how frequently I see one here that it has broken down.

Although it might possibly not be a permanent thing.

 

[merlodlliw]

Yes, using old LHCS doesn't solve all the worlds problems as some on here might think.

Anyway, more relevantly even though I don't use it, it seems sensible given just how frequently I see one here that it has broken down.

Although it might possibly not be a permanent thing.

Due to my wife boarding at the last minute,I think she learned her lesson about being at the station ahead of time, I was unable to ask her to find out about the fitter etc,but perhaps not, has she thinks Im mad anyway, she now understands mark three stock on Gerald is more comfortable, than the pacer she uses between Cardiff Central & Queen Street.

 

[The Planner]

The Manchester has to carry a fitter as the other TOCs wouldnt have allowed it considering the carnage it could cause without any quick way of rescue.

 

[craigybagel]

There is a member of staff to assist with dispatch at wrexham every morning for Gerald.

 

[merlodlliw]

The Manchester has to carry a fitter as the other TOCs wouldnt have allowed it considering the carnage it could cause without any quick way of rescue.

thats an interesting pointer,perhaps the chap on Gerald this morning was learning the ropes,or Geralds past record demands a fitter.

 

[PHILIPE]

It's along the Marches where every freight train should have a travelling fitter from past record. They cause more delay than Gerald !!!!!

 

[merlodlliw]

There is a member of staff to assist with dispatch at wrexham every morning for Gerald.

He was very helpful,when I said my wife was on the way through the booking area,no doubt every door is opened, as at least near, 100 got off going to the local College and University,using Gerald as a local service from the North

 

[class 9]

What is 'Gerald' ??

 

[LateThanNever]

What is 'Gerald' ??

Shouldn't it be 'who'?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

What is 'Gerald' ??

"Gerald" is the weekdays only 'loco-hauled' ATW service from Holyhead to Cardiff in the morning and return service from Cardiff to Holyhead in the evening. It is formed of a class 67 locomotive, four Mk3 coaches and a Mk3 driving van.

From the December timetable change the stock will instead run Crewe-Chester-Manchester-Holyhead-Manchester-Llandudno-Crewe each weekday.

 

[PHILIPE]

"Gerald" is the weekdays only 'loco-hauled' ATW service from Holyhead to Cardiff in the morning and return service from Cardiff to Holyhead in the evening. It is formed of a class 67 locomotive, four Mk3 coaches and a Mk3 driving van.

From the December timetable change the stock will instead run Crewe-Chester-Manchester-Holyhead-Manchester-Llandudno-Crewe each weekday.

What will work Gerald then? It's running until at least May 2015 when current Welsh Government funding is due to finish or be reviewed.

 

[topydre]

"Gerald" is the weekdays only 'loco-hauled' ATW service from Holyhead to Cardiff in the morning and return service from Cardiff to Holyhead in the evening. It is formed of a class 67 locomotive, four Mk3 coaches and a Mk3 driving van.

From the December timetable change the stock will instead run Crewe-Chester-Manchester-Holyhead-Manchester-Llandudno-Crewe each weekday.

The north wales services will be run by a new 4-coach rake, 4 standard class coaches and no 1st class. Gerallt will still run.

 

[BestWestern]

If the orange hi viz chap was a fitter, he won't have been flashing any lamps to dispatch the train...

 

[TDK]

The Manchester has to carry a fitter as the other TOCs wouldnt have allowed it considering the carnage it could cause without any quick way of rescue.

WSMR didn't have to carry a fitter even when diverted up the WCML why do ATW need one?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If the orange hi viz chap was a fitter, he won't have been flashing any lamps to dispatch the train...

Some guards wear their Hi-viz especially when dispatching with green hand signals.

 

[merlodlliw]

You have a good point TDK, but why wear a high viz orange jacket in a well lit station, the ATW staff man(dispatcher) giving the off did not wear one and the person in high viz showing the LED green lamp was inside the carriage,with the lamp on green being held through the window of the closed door, as I recall.

Has for the travelling fitter, this may well be down to the failures suffered by Gerald, October was a bad month/
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

"Gerald" is the weekdays only 'loco-hauled' ATW service from Holyhead to Cardiff in the morning and return service from Cardiff to Holyhead in the evening. It is formed of a class 67 locomotive, four Mk3 coaches and a Mk3 driving van.

From the December timetable change the stock will instead run Crewe-Chester-Manchester-Holyhead-Manchester-Llandudno-Crewe each weekday.

This is separate stock, stabled at Crewe DB works, so in effect ATW will be running two sets of Loco hauled from December 15th.
The set at Crewe is a franchise service,paid for by DB has a result of taking over Arriva Trains Wales/
The set stabled at Holyhead is paid for by Welsh Government and is Open Access,known as "Gerald Of Wales", has a result of funding cuts to this train
the Travelling Chef service is to be withdrawn.
I recall in Wrexham and Shropshire days, high class food was served by microwave, we await more information on food on Gerald from ATW

 

[kermit]

Due to my wife boarding at the last minute,I think she learned her lesson about being at the station ahead of time, I was unable to ask her to find out about the fitter etc,but perhaps not, has she thinks Im mad anyway, she now understands mark three stock on Gerald is more comfortable, than the pacer she uses between Cardiff Central & Queen Street.

Cardiff Central to Glasgow Queen Street on a Pacer!?!

Ouch!!!

 

[The Planner]

WSMR didn't have to carry a fitter even when diverted up the WCML why do ATW need one?

WSMR only did that on a STP basis and it wasnt fixed rights in their access contract as a normal route. It is for ATW therefore it is consulted to the industry, if someone objects then they have to have a solution for it.

 

[merlodlliw]

Cardiff Central to Glasgow Queen Street on a Pacer!?!

Ouch!!!

Four minutes between the two main Cardiff stations on a pacer,could give a long distance impression
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

WSMR only did that on a STP basis and it wasnt fixed rights in their access contract as a normal route. It is for ATW therefore it is consulted to the industry, if someone objects then they have to have a solution for it.

When ATW had the idea of running Class 158 trains to London,through an objection from Chiltern, they hit on the travelling fitter solution.
This of course was a spoiler against Wrexham and Shropshire, the ORR were having none of it and refused the application.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....This is separate stock, stabled at Crewe DB works, so in effect ATW will be running two sets of Loco hauled from December 15th....

Oh, okay, I seem to have gotten wires crossed somewhere then.

 

[headshot119]

My wife boarded "Gerald" this morning at Wrexham, after the past few problems with the Premier set, I noted besides the conductor there was a chap in orange high viz with what looked like a LED lamp which he flashed for the off at 0744 Also on board was what looked like an ATW Manager? I could not see his badge.

The DVT was at the front, the driver sounded the klaxon on departure, I only mention this has previous it was the conductor not in high viz signalling the off to the driver,also on the platform was another ATW staff member checking doors and he gave an instruction to the chap with the lamp.

I am aware the new Manchester/North Wales loco hauled may carry a travelling fitter, any comments.

Most likely the guy in the hi vis was a trainee guard, can't see him being a fitter if he's dispatching.

Various ATW staff use the WAG to travel to Cardiff for courses and stuff, so it could have been anyone who was travelling.

It's normal for the drive to sound the horn to acknowledged the fact he's seen the green from the guard, it's always happened on the WAG.

There is a booked part of a diagram in the morning to assist with doors on the WAG, I believe there is a similar duty in the evening.

I see no evidence from you post that a travelling fitter was involved anywhere.

 

[class 9]

"Gerald" is the weekdays only 'loco-hauled' ATW service from Holyhead to Cardiff in the morning and return service from Cardiff to Holyhead in the evening. It is formed of a class 67 locomotive, four Mk3 coaches and a Mk3 driving van.

From the December timetable change the stock will instead run Crewe-Chester-Manchester-Holyhead-Manchester-Llandudno-Crewe each weekday.

I realise what it is, but why is it called Gerald?

 

[merlodlliw]

Most likely the guy in the hi vis was a trainee guard, can't see him being a fitter if he's dispatching.

Various ATW staff use the WAG to travel to Cardiff for courses and stuff, so it could have been anyone who was travelling.

It's normal for the drive to sound the horn to acknowledged the fact he's seen the green from the guard, it's always happened on the WAG.

There is a booked part of a diagram in the morning to assist with doors on the WAG, I believe there is a similar duty in the evening.

I see no evidence from you post that a travelling fitter was involved anywhere.

It was my presumption it was a fitter, I should have asked the ATW chap that dispatched the train & checked the doors on Tuesday.
My presumption he was a fitter, due to the new Manchester ATW loco hauled carrying a travelling fitter from next Month.

More bad news ,Gerald failed again last evening, a 175 was used, failures are now becoming far too often on this service now.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I realise what it is, but why is it called Gerald?

Y Gerallt Gymro/Gerald Of Wales train.

 

[krus_aragon]

I realise what it is, but why is it called Gerald?

Gerallt Gymro, or Gerald of Wales, was an archdeacon of Brecon in the 12th Century who wrote at length of his travels through Wales. His Itinerarium and Descriptio Cambriae are key texts describing the social, political and natural history of Wales at the time.

 

[class 9]

Thanks

 

[merlodlliw]

For once its not Geralds fault,but looks a two hour delay tonight,due to a freight failure on the North bound Marches line.

 

[bb21]

For once its not Geralds fault,but looks a two hour delay tonight,due to a freight failure on the North bound Marches line.

What is normally the cause of failures?

 

[PHILIPE]

What is normally the cause of failures?

Do you mean Gerald or the freight trains. Freight failures seem to be prevalent at this time of the year due to rail conditions during the leaf fall season.

 

[bb21]

Yeah, sorry, I should have made it clearer.

I meant Gerald, but the explanation regarding freight makes interesting reading.

 

[merlodlliw]

Yeah, sorry, I should have made it clearer.

I meant Gerald, but the explanation regarding freight makes interesting reading.

From what has been reported on UK Rail Forums, the main cause of problems appear to be with the control system between the loco and DVT, the latest one last week at Rhyl was with the DVT.no idea why it failed this week at Cardiff.
Also in October a door was ripped off a carriage in Bangor tunnels,plus other technical problems in the month.
The old class 57 loco used via Crewe without DVT was also prone to fail often,but the current stock via Wrexham is fast becoming a headache for ATW. Little wonder the new Manchester/North Wales set will carry a travelling fitter has a result of concern from other tocs, I presume VT and the other TOCs around Manchester which use the same lines, imagine a failure on platform 12 or 13 at Piccadilly in the rush hour.