CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

[wobman]

Do we know how easy it will be to resolve the clearance issues at Conwy Castle?
I shouldn't imagine CADW will be that keen on their demolishing parts of the walls this time!

Apparently network rail says the work is achievable, can't see demolition being needed maybe some grinding of the stonework and infrastructure work.

Tfw and network rail are spending plenty of money extending Holyhead port sidings to store some 197s, so they wouldn't be spending that money if the clearance issues were a big problem!

 

[lammergeier]

I think you are underestimating just how computerized (read complicated) these new units actually are, there is virtually nothing that doesn't have a sensor (for example) and all the while this is sending information back to control and if the train management system onboard is not happy you wont be driving it anywhere. It will be software issues that have caused some of the delays (amongst other things)

Anyways always good to see positive news, I am sure the 197s will settle down just at the 195s have at Northern.

Oh for the good ol' simple days of train wire 4

 

[wobman]

Oh for the good ol' simple days of train wire 4

Them days are gone, the same goes traction training on new units. It's now ring maintenance after 60 seconds!

 

[Geeves]

My favourite one is an issue with the 'A.R.G', the exact noise the fitter and driver and likely making in the cab haha.

 

[Bob Price]

197 run today 3D76 from Crewe to Chester is from platform 10 (bay platform) and has TfW as the operator not ROG. Is this driver training beginning?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

197 run today 3D76 from Crewe to Chester is from platform 10 (bay platform) and has TfW as the operator not ROG. Is this driver training beginning?

Have TfW accepted them yet? I know the ORR has, but the TOC acceptance is a different thing, no? (Eg. ORR has accepted 701 but SWR has not)

 

[Bob Price]

Have TfW accepted them yet? I know the ORR has, but the TOC acceptance is a different thing, no? (Eg. ORR has accepted 701 but SWR has not)

False alarm, the header changed to ROG! It is odd for then to run out the bay platform though.

 

[craigybagel]

No driver training yet, nor likely any time soon.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Paths are in for a 197 drag Monday 14th. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R01071/2022-02-14/detailed

Realtime Trains | 655V 1023 Donnington Rft to Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) | 14/02/2022

Real-time train running information for 655V 1023 departure from Donnington Rft to Crewe C.S. (L&Nwr Site) on 14/02/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[wobman]

Reading the ORR approval of the 197s the document approves the 42 units, but excludes the 21 ERTMS and the 14 3 car 1st class equipped units.

I can understand the ERTMS units as there's the added technology and signalling systems to test but don't understand why the 14 other units don't have the approval !

Are the units approved to run ? As they are still being tested and I don't know if any have passed the fault free stage of testing with the associated mileage accumulation????

 

[XAM2175]

I can understand the ERTMS units as there's the added technology and signalling systems to test but don't understand why the 14 other units don't have the approval !

Aren't they scheduled for introduction last? I suspect they simply haven't sought approval for them yet.

What I do find curious is that the ETCS-equipped units are apparently numbered in the middle of the standard ones - the ORR authorisation lists the non-ETCS two-car units as being 197001–197021 and 197042–197051.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

TFW Class 197011 at Donnington Rail Freight Terminal today. (12/2/22)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2022 ==

197010 is off to Crewe on Monday to undergo testing.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Does anyone have a list of the units that have been built now? Thanks in advance.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Does anyone have a list of the units that have been built now? Thanks in advance.

So far I have seen:

197001, 197002, 197003, 197004, 197006, 197008, 197010, 197007, An UID 197/0, (No numbers on it) and 197011. Also 197101, 197102 and 197103? but this unit has no numbers so not 100% sure. Only going off from a source on facebook.

 

[wobman]

So far I have seen:

197001, 197002, 197003, 197004, 197006, 197008, 197010, 197007, An UID 197/0, (No numbers on it) and 197011. Also 197101, 197102 and 197103? but this unit has no numbers so not 100% sure. Only going off from a source on facebook.

Is that the only 197 at Donnington then ? That's a great list with only another 60ish units to arrive !

 

[SuperLuke2334]

So far I have seen:

197001, 197002, 197003, 197004, 197006, 197008, 197010, 197007, An UID 197/0, (No numbers on it) and 197011. Also 197101, 197102 and 197103? but this unit has no numbers so not 100% sure. Only going off from a source on facebook.

Thank you .

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Thank you .

You are welcome

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Feb 2022 ==

Is that the only 197 at Donnington then ? That's a great list with only another 60ish units to arrive !

The only 197s at Donnington at the moment yes.

 

[Spirit555]

197010 allocated to move to Crewe CS today. 6G68 with 47830 providing traction.

Mark

 

[wobman]

197003 was in Chester yard today, it was started up around 10am to go on its testing

 

[Jacob Porrett]

197010 allocated to move to Crewe CS today. 6G68 with 47830 providing traction.

Mark

Saw it leaving Donnington Rail Freight Terminal this morning.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Feb 2022 ==

197010 allocated to move to Crewe CS today. 6G68 with 47830 providing traction.

Mark

 

[boby32]

Does anyone know which routes will the class 197 be booked on from May 2022?

 

[L401CJF]

197 run today 3D76 from Crewe to Chester is from platform 10 (bay platform) and has TfW as the operator not ROG. Is this driver training beginning?

Theyve not started driver training yet. I know some Conductor Trainers/Instructors were out being trained up on them the other week during test runs up and down the coast in preparation to deliver conductor training sessions in the hopefully near future.

I'm sure some Driver Instructors/trainers have been out with them too but don't quote me on that.

First route was down to be Chester to Lime St, don't know if that's since changed or not.

 

[wobman]

Does anyone know which routes will the class 197 be booked on from May 2022?

Let's just say may timetable start is looking a bit optimistic, a few DIs are trained on them but no Chester driver's have started any training on them as yet. I don't think the training package fir the 197s has even been signed off .

The first route is the Liverpool Lime Street service and then N Wales coast to follow soon after, let's remember there's the 230's out in service in May aswell.......

 

[FrodshamJnct]

First route was down to be Chester to Lime St, don't know if that's since changed or not.

Interesting to see that new (what I assume to be are) platform x car stop markers have gone in on both platforms 1 and 2 at Frodsham (covered at the moment).

 

[boby32]

Let's just say may timetable start is looking a bit optimistic, a few DIs are trained on them but no Chester driver's have started any training on them as yet. I don't think the training package fir the 197s has even been signed off .

The first route is the Liverpool Lime Street service and then N Wales coast to follow soon after, let's remember there's the 230's out in service in May aswell.......

When I looked at the May 2022 timetable, the Liverpool-Chester service only requires one unit. It will be a nice introduction of the class 197.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...59?stp=WVS&show=pax-calls&order=actual&toc=AW

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...59?stp=WVS&show=pax-calls&order=actual&toc=AW

The class 230 will be in service for the Borderlands line (Bidston–Wrexham or Wrexham–Bidston).

 

[Caaardiff]

The 230 May TT introduction is as questionable as the 197 introduction. Don't put money on it...

 

[wobman]

The 230 May TT introduction is as questionable as the 197 introduction. Don't put money on it...

That's why I said about being optimistic, we all know nothing is on schedule due to covid staff training has been heavily delayed,plus the new unit testing programe is behind schedule.

The May TT is the plan but reality can be very different.....

 

[wobman]

Interesting to see that new (what I assume to be are) platform x car stop markers have gone in on both platforms 1 and 2 at Frodsham (covered at the moment).

I especially like the car stop marker post on the Down side going towards runcorn, it's well hidden behind a tree !!! On the up it's inside a Bush...... its nice to see good planning in action lol

 

[Wyrleybart]

The 230 May TT introduction is as questionable as the 197 introduction. Don't put money on it...

Is it established whether the class 230 will be replaced by the last deliveries of class 197 ?
Were they only ever intended to be a stopgap ?

 

[wobman]

Is it established whether the class 230 will be replaced by the last deliveries of class 197 ?
Were they only ever intended to be a stopgap ?

The 230's have to go into service as tfw have heavily invested lots of money into them, I can see them running before the 197s in May TT. There's 30 drivers trained on the 230s but no drivers trained on the 197s yet.

I've heard the 197s are cleared on the Wrexham to Bidston line but that's as a plan B really if a 230 fails in the future a 197 could go up there.......