_toommm_
Established Member
IIRC, they’re step lights for when the driver is changing ends somewhere that isn’t otherwise lit. Prevents accidents and it’s a nice creature comfort for the driver.
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Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 Stadler FLIRTs
- Thread starter DaveHarries
- Start date
IIRC, they’re step lights for when the driver is changing ends somewhere that isn’t otherwise lit. Prevents accidents and it’s a nice creature comfort for the driver.
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Speed43125
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That's actually quite a thoughtful feature!
43096
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It is a good idea, and not the first time Stadler has come up with something that helps staff. Note the row of LED lights above the coupler on this shunter Stadler built, designed to provide illumination for staff coupling and uncoupling when it's dark.
Wyrleybart
Established Member
Something European trains have had for years. Even German steam engines were fitted with electric lighting for the staff to oil / grease the rods and boxes - and that was back in the 1950s. Fortunately AH Peppercorn, Thompson and OVS Bulleid cottoned on to that and we saw some electric lighting on our steam locos.
Pete_uk
On Moderation
Thanks for the replies everyone!
cole_peter5@
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02 February 2022 - 2Z52 Gloucester Station - Cardiff Central Station - Cardiff Canton
231.002 381002 + 381202 + 381402 + 381302 + 381102
231.004 381004 + 381204 + 381404 + 381304 + 381104
No stupid riv number carried - hope that clears up the numbering on these units ....... Pedro
231.002 381002 + 381202 + 381402 + 381302 + 381102
231.004 381004 + 381204 + 381404 + 381304 + 381104
No stupid riv number carried - hope that clears up the numbering on these units ....... Pedro
There's no such thing as an "riv number", so it would definitely be stupid to expect one.
Based on those TOPS numbers, the European Vehicle Numbers will be:
231002:
95 70 0381 002-6
95 70 0381 202-2
95 70 0381 402-8
95 70 0381 302-0
95 70 0381 102-4
231004:
95 70 0381 004-2
95 70 0381 204-8
95 70 0381 404-4
95 70 0381 304-6
95 70 0381 104-0
MatthewRead
On Moderation
When will these enter service?
cole_peter5@
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How do you know these numbers when they are not carried on the units.
95 - vehicle type
70 - UK
-x at the end - calculated from the other digits (using the Luhn algorithm)
see
en.wikipedia.org
70 - UK
-x at the end - calculated from the other digits (using the Luhn algorithm)
see
UIC identification marking for tractive stock - Wikipedia
Last edited:
Bob Price
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Any news on when the next units will arrive? This month was mentioned.
anthony263
Established Member
When driver training etc is done. Probably later this summer we'll see the first couple of units out on the rhymney line
cole_peter5@
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Or probably by Christmas 202 ?
Bob Price
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Two more units have arrived at Velim for testing according to this Twitter post from Vuz.
cole_peter5@
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They will in service on Rhymney line about March 2023 by then they will have enough crews .
MatthewRead
On Moderation
I thought they were going to enter service with this year's summer timetable unless you mean the 756's.
Bob Price
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Report on Twitter from Richard Clinnark that TfW have bought the Barry Island railway and will be using it to stable the 756's. Big blow for the railway even though they say the tourist railway can still operate.
krus_aragon
Established Member
That seemed absolutely barmy to me at first, until I remembered that it's currently owned by the Vale of Glamorgan council, so it's already in public hands.
The VoG Council document he links to only states that TfW are looking to buy the depot (and some adjacent land), but the map in the appendix shows the adjacent land is most (if not all) of the railway.
anthony263
Established Member
Think they buying the lot off the vale council but really only interested in the shed and sidings plus connection by Barry station. Think they’ll leave the rest to the tourist railway. Hopefully more use can be made of Barry island station
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231003 being one of them probably 231001 or 231005 is the other
Talk of the 231s having a battery pack added in the future:
https://www.modernrailways.com/article/tfw-diesel-flirts-may-start-rhymney-line
How big are the packs and do they fit in the central diesel unit?
https://www.modernrailways.com/article/tfw-diesel-flirts-may-start-rhymney-line
How big are the packs and do they fit in the central diesel unit?
oglord
Member
A pantograph would be a good addition too!
anthony263
Established Member
Tfw considering adding additional carriages for the class 756’s to make 5 or 6 carriages to replace the loss of seats compared to the class 769’s
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That definitely needs to happen
Is that needed? There will be an increase from 4 tph to 6tph from Caerphilly expected from Dec 23 TT change which should balance out the capacity where needed. It's rare to see a full 769.
Pete_uk
On Moderation
Hang on, is the one type diesel/25kv/battery and the other just diesel/battery?
Bob Price
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The 231 is just diesel with possible extension to add battery. The 756 is battery, 25kv and diesel.
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This would indicate they haven't started building them yet. I guess the 231's are the priority.
anthony263
Established Member
No need for the class 756’s yet as they need most of the electrification of the rhymney line done first
oglord
Member
Except they could run them for over 20 miles under the existing wires between Cardiff and STJ en route to Cheltenham. The WAG make lots of noise about "climate emergency" and then buy diesel-only trains for a route that already has 20+ miles of electrification. The "Core Valley Lines" electrification will not be ready when the FLIRTs enter service, so why not use the electric-capable ones more wisely?
317 forever
Established Member
With so few 231s compared to all the 197s, I wonder why TfW did not just keep to 197s. Admittedly it may bring forward the option of introducing at least some new trains.
It is a very good point as it would be better for commonality with the rest of the mainline fleet. Don't forget though that they will share commonality with the 756's to some degree too. So in terms of Flirts there will be 35 in the fleet. The 231's can sub for 756's as well should there be any issues with the 756s for whatever reason.
The Flirts are a much better quality of train that the Civitys. It's actually a shame more Flirts weren't ordered. Hopefully the current ones will be cleared on more routes to Swansea/West Wales with a small top-up order for extra units in the future.