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

[Anonymous10]

This nasty habit of sending rail vehicles by road worries me. Are they not rail worthy ?.

I suppose they could be incomplete vehicles, but from Donnington ?.

the 197's are only 2 and 3 car units no 4 car ones being manufactured

 

[Razorblades]

This nasty habit of sending rail vehicles by road worries me. Are they not rail worthy ?.

I suppose they could be incomplete vehicles, but from Donnington ?.

Total cost of the move is the reason, simple as that.

 

[800001]

Total cost of the move is the reason, simple as that.

Lead to believe that anything that leaves CAF is complete, but mate off to Donnington for Mods?

Still seems crazy to move by road

 

[Dai Corner]

Lead to believe that anything that leaves CAF is complete, but mate off to Donnington for Mods?

Still seems crazy to move by road

CAF's Newport factory isn't rail-connected. Well, it nearly is but there's a gap of about a chain where somebody forgot that a major gas pipeline runs.

 

[Razorblades]

Lead to believe that anything that leaves CAF is complete, but mate off to Donnington for Mods?

Still seems crazy to move by road

Crazy superficially, perhaps. But why spend additional funds unnecessarily? These are business' decisions, not hobbyists'.

 

[800001]

CAF's Newport factory isn't rail-connected. Well, it nearly is but there's a gap of about a chain where somebody forgot that a major gas pipeline runs.

I was referring crazy to move by road from Donnington to Wolverton where both are rail connected.

 

[Sheridan]

I noted at least 5 stabled at Chester yesterday. I didnt catch all of the numbers, but could see 3 in the yard and a pair in 6car formation in the parcels bay. Of the numbers I did catch 197102 was part of the 6 car in parcels, I'm sure 197002 was one in the yard. Others obscured by 175s. Also noted another on the usual staff training runs up the coast in platform 2.

Fairly sure 101 was the other one in the parcels bay.

 

[Jez]

Is there any news yet on when the first 197 will be in passenger service? Ive heard late September mentioned for the Conwy Valley and possibly December TT change for the Liverpool-Chester and Manchester-North Wales?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Is there any news yet on when the first 197 will be in passenger service? Ive heard late September mentioned for the Conwy Valley and possibly December TT change for the Liverpool-Chester and Manchester-North Wales?

A guard I spoke to recently said they’d been told end of September for Liverpool - Chester.

 

[Bob Price]

This morning the ROG test runs started at Crewe and are en route to Holyhead. Then HH to Chester, Chester to Llandudno junction and then back to Crewe.

3q11, 12, 13 and 14 if you want to track them.

First time I have seen the daily ROG test going to Holyhead

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Today 66614 collected 197018 and dragged it to Crewe. 6Q98 10:25 Donnington RFT to Crewe Carriage Sidings L&NWR Site.

 

[anamyd]

I heard that the first 197 passenger service will be on Monday the 26th of September 2022. Is this still going to be just on the Conwy Valley line initially, or any other lines too to start?

 

[Sheridan]

I heard that the first 197 passenger service will be on Monday the 26th of September 2022. Is this still going to be just on the Conwy Valley line initially, or any other lines too to start?

Where did you hear that?

 

[anamyd]

Where did you hear that?

From a friend who was told by a driver.

 

[sd0733]

I heard that the first 197 passenger service will be on Monday the 26th of September 2022. Is this still going to be just on the Conwy Valley line initially, or any other lines too to start?

It wont be anywhere on the 26th. Couple of weeks delay yet and then the Conwy Valley.will start.

 

[Anonymous10]

From a friend who was told by a driver.

It wont be anywhere on the 26th. Couple of weeks delay yet and then the Conwy Valley.will start.

i would say there was some truth to it starting on 26th but as this has come through several people it has either lost the part of planned was or hasn't got the latest updates for obvious reasons

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

From a friend who was told by a driver.

So nothing even close to a reliable source then.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

So nothing even close to a reliable source then.

I don't think there is such a thing as a reliable source when it comes to the 197 introduction as the date keeps slipping. Dates are quoted with that date in mind but for whatever reason it then slips. Even the trainers are given dates for introduction for them not to happen. Let's see what the 10th October brings.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

37510 and 37608 dragged 197006 from Donnington RFT to Crewe Carriage sidings today. (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K05524/2022-09-26/detailed) Same path is in for tomorrow from Donnington RFT to Crewe Carriage Sidings. Will be a different 197 tomorrow though.
Path for tomorrow: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K05524/2022-09-27/detailed

 

[sd0733]

So nothing even close to a reliable source then.

To be fair that info was spot on for what was planned until a few days ago.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Today (27/9/22) 37608 and 37510 dragged 197007 from Donnington RFT to Crewe Carriage Sidings. https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K05524/2022-09-27/detailed

Whilst 197007 departed an new 197 has joined the fleet of units at the site. It's a 197/0 two car unit. No numbers or branding so I can't UID I'm afraid. 14 units stored at Donning RFT now with a mixture of 2 and 3 car units.

Anyone know what has happened to Freightliner as they are meant to be doing the moves? ROG has done two in the last two days now. Has Freightliner lost the contracted and ROG has got it now or was these two movements just a one off and Freightliner will return? Anyone know any information as I'm interested to know further please?

 

[sw1ller]

To be fair that info was spot on for what was planned until a few days ago.

Yeah I’d been told that by the CAF engineer onboard the trains when training. Recently done some more training on them and there’s now uncertainty that they’ll be in service before January!! Although oct 10th is the new timescale.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Yeah I’d been told that by the CAF engineer onboard the trains when training. Recently done some more training on them and there’s now uncertainty that they’ll be in service before January!! Although oct 10th is the new timescale.

Say for example 10th October they are introduced where will they run first?

 

[507020]

I heard that the first 197 passenger service will be on Monday the 26th of September 2022. Is this still going to be just on the Conwy Valley line initially, or any other lines too to start?

This has of course now passed and we haven’t seen any 197s in service have we?

Yeah I’d been told that by the CAF engineer onboard the trains when training. Recently done some more training on them and there’s now uncertainty that they’ll be in service before January!! Although oct 10th is the new timescale.

If this 10 October introduction happens, will this be on the Lime Street - Chester, Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog, or both?

 

[sw1ller]

This has of course now passed and we haven’t seen any 197s in service have we?

If this 10 October introduction happens, will this be on the Lime Street - Chester, Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog, or both?

This is all info from the same people that have been giving other dates that have now passed. So anything I say from this point is just speculation. None of what I’ve said there is official by any means. So there’s really no point in saying anymore. Plenty of us have been fully trained though so there’s no issue there.

 

[Mzzzs]

Is it best to assume that they will enter service before the December timetable change or has it now been pushed further back?

 

[anamyd]

This has of course now passed and we haven’t seen any 197s in service have we?

Nope, I think it was postponed just after I was told that date.

 

[sd0733]

Is it best to assume that they will enter service before the December timetable change or has it now been pushed further back?

The plan is/was for a week on Monday to Blaenau but for whatever reason it keeps slipping.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

The plan is/was for a week on Monday to Blaenau but for whatever reason it keeps slipping.

they will do we will be in leaf fall season

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Maybe they are waiting for a named storm to wash out the Conwy Valley line.