Arriva Trains Wales - it’s the final countdown

[_toommm_]

Any clue as to what will pull/push it yet??

I suspect a 67 still - I doubt they'll get a dedicated loco in fleet colour like TPE are doing with the 68s.

 

[krus_aragon]

Any clue as to what will pull/push it yet??

Nothing official at all, which just leaves our speculation of continuing to use the 67s.

 

[sw1ller]

Ah ok, I was told earlier this year that they’re no compatable with the mk4 coaches, I don’t know anything about compatibility though so don’t know if they were talking any sense.

 

[craigybagel]

Ah ok, I was told earlier this year that they’re no compatable with the mk4 coaches, I don’t know anything about compatibility though so don’t know if they were talking any sense.

The MKIIIs (or more specifically the DVTs) weren't compatible with 67s originally either. The MKIVs will presumably require some kind of modification in the same way. Modify the power controller to have notches, and change the wiring so it works with the AAR system the 67s (and the Chiltern 68s) use instead of the TDM the electric locos used.

 

[Rhydgaled]

I suspect a 67 still - I doubt they'll get a dedicated loco in fleet colour like TPE are doing with the 68s.

Ah ok, I was told earlier this year that they’re no compatable with the mk4 coaches, I don’t know anything about compatibility though so don’t know if they were talking any sense.

As far as I know the only diesel locomotives that ever had a TDM system compatible with DVTs were the buffer-fitted 'surrogate DVT' class 43s (IC125 power cars), which I'm guessing no longer have the TDM equipment. Thus the mark 3 DVTs had to be modified (as craigybagel notes above) before they could be used with 67s. When the mark 4s take over Gerald, either the mark 4 DVTs or the locos (or both) will require modifications.

I don't think the majority of the DRS livery 68s have the AAR system either, so if the plan is to change to 68s then it may be that the mark 4 DVTs will have the class 68/88 multiple working system installed instead of AAR, to save modifying both the locos and the DVTs.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I wonder if the people behind realise that their expectations will have to be managed?

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/people-planning-party-celebrate-end-15186393

Hundreds of people are planning to attend a party to celebrate the end of the Arriva Trains Walesfranchise next month, according to a Facebook event.

The event, labelled 'Celebrate the end of Arriva', invites commuters to gather at Cardiff Central Railway Station between 10pm and 1am on Saturday, October 13.


"The end of an era. The end of Arriva," is says on the event page.

"The clocks are ticking. The countdown is on. Assemble at Central Station for a national celebration. BYOB."

More than 390 people have confirmed their attendance on Facebook, while 1,700 others have said they are interested in going to the event.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

Everyone things that all will change on Monday 15 October but will take 4 years before the benefits will come in full effect. They still get the same old Arriva coated train but with a TfW logo slapped on the side by the drivers cab

 

[Honest Ross]

Unfair to say that everyone thinks it will change immediately, most are fully aware that it won't.

 

[Cardiff123]

Unfair to say that everyone thinks it will change immediately, most are fully aware that it won't.

We are aware it won't change immediately, but a member of Joe public who's seen nothing more than the TfW press releases and Sion Barry's Wales Online spin puff pieces over the last year will think that magical transformation into a world class railway will happen overnight on 14-15th October.

 

[Gareth Marston]

We are aware it won't change immediately, but a member of Joe public who's seen nothing more than the TfW press releases and Sion Barry's Wales Online spin puff pieces over the last year will think that magical transformation into a world class railway will happen overnight on 14-15th October.

And not just Joe Public.........

 

[Honest Ross]

We are aware it won't change immediately, but a member of Joe public who's seen nothing more than the TfW press releases and Sion Barry's Wales Online spin puff pieces over the last year will think that magical transformation into a world class railway will happen overnight on 14-15th October.

Nope, as I said in my original post, many travellers who commute the same trains as me every day, are fully aware that issues aren’t going to be solved immediately.

 

[CardiffKid]

I think it's fair to say a lot of passengers will be very disappointed in a months time.

In fact I confidently predict a WalesOnline 'clickbate' article within a week of the new franchise with the headline along the lines of:

"This is what people have to say about the new rail franchise...and most aren't happy"

 

[Cambrian359]

I think it's fair to say a lot of passengers will be very disappointed in a months time.

In fact I confidently predict a WalesOnline 'clickbate' article within a week of the new franchise with the headline along the lines of:

"This is what people have to say about the new rail franchise...and most aren't happy"

Along with the daily post running a similar line,predicatable!

I think people will be understanding that change takes time but given the 3-4 year wait for any real big improvements and the fact things will get much worse before the next year is out I think that understanding will rapidly diminish!

 

[Cardiff123]

Along with the daily post running a similar line,predicatable!

I think people will be understanding that change takes time but given the 3-4 year wait for any real big improvements and the fact things will get much worse before the next year is out I think that understanding will rapidly diminish!

Exactly - people may not expect things to improve immediately, but they won't expect things to get worse when the new franchise starts, and if the PRM program continues and accelerates without cover from extra Northern Pacers or 769s, things will get a lot worse very quickly.

 

[Rhydgaled]

a member of Joe public who's seen nothing more than the TfW press releases and Sion Barry's Wales Online spin puff pieces over the last year will think that magical transformation into a world class railway will happen overnight on 14-15th October.

Why would they think that? I thought that the new franchise starts on the 14th, so if anyone is expecting a miracle transformation wouldn't it be overnight between 13-14th October? Either way I'm afraid that they would be very disapointed, unless Northern release some 142s and they head straight for Cardiff and get formed up into pairs with each pair replacing a single 150. Actually, if additional Pacers are coming this way are the ValleyLines continuously welded rail throughout? If not, is there any route on the franchise that is AND is currently worked by 150s AND where the crews already sign 142s?

Exactly - people may not expect things to improve immediately, but they won't expect things to get worse when the new franchise starts, and if the PRM program continues and accelerates without cover from extra Northern Pacers or 769s, things will get a lot worse very quickly.

Yes, those 769s are sorely needed. Either that or extra Pacers or some ex-ScotRail 156s (prefrably both with the 156s taking 150s off HOWL and Pembroke Dock (with the released 150s going for mods) and the Pacers solely to provide extra capacity).

 

[PHILIPE]

As a farewell gesture ATW have announced that reduced formations are operating on the Rhymney Valley Line and there is bus acceptance for tickets due to trains out of use due to tree confrontations. We are now entering the leaf fall season which usually means trains having to go to the wheel lathe due to square wheels.

 

[CardiffKid]

Why would they think that? I thought that the new franchise starts on the 14th, so if anyone is expecting a miracle transformation wouldn't it be overnight between 13-14th October?

Because Monday 15th is the first day of the franchise when when most people will be heading to work and will be their first experience of a non-ATW service.

 

[Bikeman78]

Why would they think that? I thought that the new franchise starts on the 14th, so if anyone is expecting a miracle transformation wouldn't it be overnight between 13-14th October? Either way I'm afraid that they would be very disapointed, unless Northern release some 142s and they head straight for Cardiff and get formed up into pairs with each pair replacing a single 150. Actually, if additional Pacers are coming this way are the ValleyLines continuously welded rail throughout? If not, is there any route on the franchise that is AND is currently worked by 150s AND where the crews already sign 142s?

All train crew in south Wales sign 142s. I'm pretty sure they've made it to Fishguard, Milford Haven and Pembroke this year.

 

[CardiffKid]

Penarth and Dingle Road have both had the sticker treatment today (Mon 24th Sept).

 

[ATW158Xpress]

My local station had completely removed station name sign and put a new one with no TOC logo underneath for months so won’t get the Arriva trying to poke out behind the new TfW sticker.

 

[43096]

As far as I know the only diesel locomotives that ever had a TDM system compatible with DVTs were the buffer-fitted 'surrogate DVT' class 43s (IC125 power cars), which I'm guessing no longer have the TDM equipment.

Power car TDM equipment is long gone. The re-wiring programme of 10-15 years ago saw all 8 TDM fitted power cars re-wired to the standard wiring schematic and the TDM cubicles were removed.

 

[CardiffKid]

My local station ...

Which is?
Llandaf, Radyr?

 

[JetStream]

Which is?
Llandaf, Radyr?

Based on his location, Caldicot

 

[CardiffKid]

Based on his location, Caldicot

Things you can’t see when accessing the site on your phone.

 

[ATW158Xpress]

I was in Cardiff when I posted it but yeah Caldicot my local station.

 

[uxm]

What will the 150s look like? just no branding or will there be a new logo?

 

[ATW158Xpress]

That be intersting if the first 150 go in for PRM work comes out with a big T on the side of drivers cab.

 

[sprinterguy]

There appears to have been a degree of confusion in debranding at least one class 158 units that I saw at Birmingham New Street this morning: The "Arriva Trains" portion of the insignia on the exterior remains (With "Arriva" writ large, of course)), but they've removed the word "Wales"/"Cymru" instead. The fact that this has been done for both languages strongly suggests that it isn't just coincidence!

 

[CardiffKid]

There appears to have been a degree of confusion in debranding at least one class 158 units that I saw at Birmingham New Street this morning: The "Arriva Trains" portion of the insignia on the exterior remains (With "Arriva" writ large, of course)), but they've removed the word "Wales"/"Cymru" instead. The fact that this has been done for both languages strongly suggests that it isn't just coincidence!

Well that must be the only train that's happened too.

Virtually every ATW train I've seen lately has been completely stripped. Travelling between Shrewsbury and Birmingham this Friday. I'll keep an eye out.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

Things you can’t see when accessing the site on your phone.

If you tap a user's name on mobile, the site doesn't directly take you to the user's profile page, but a small pop-up window will appear where it does state the location of said user.