Class 230 units training/introduction on the Borderlands line: updates

[Pacef8]

Saw the one by the train wash this evening.

 

[Caaardiff]

008 is now at Birkenhead. Moved from Crewe after being collected by 007 last week.

 

[The_Train]

008 is now at Birkenhead. Moved from Crewe after being collected by 007 last week.

By my records, only 010 is in residence at Crewe now?

 

[craigybagel]

By my records, only 010 is in residence at Crewe now?

AFAIK there's nothing in Crewe now - or at least not in the usual 230 dumping ground anyway.

 

[Roger B]

AFAIK there's nothing in Crewe now - or at least not in the usual 230 dumping ground anyway.

I'd love to know where 230010 is - only one I've not yet seen

 

[sdrennan]

Does anyone have the proposed timetable for the twice hourly Service and know when/if it will begin.
I noticed the December timetable is still mainly hourly and has lost the early train from Bidston?

 

[L401CJF]

I'd love to know where 230010 is - only one I've not yet seen

It's has been out and about, its on crew training today and is currently at Wrexham General.

Does anyone have the proposed timetable for the twice hourly Service and know when/if it will begin.
I noticed the December timetable is still mainly hourly and has lost the early train from Bidston?

I believe there is competition for the additional paths with extra freight trains planned or something at the moment.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It's has been out and about, its on crew training today and is currently at Wrexham General.

I believe there is competition for the additional paths with extra freight trains planned or something at the moment.

Will I be right in thinking that the traction power on the freight trains will be more reliable than the Class 230 units?

 

[Roger B]

It's has been out and about, its on crew training today and is currently at Wrexham General.

I believe there is competition for the additional paths with extra freight trains planned or something at the moment.

Many thanks L401CJF - though I don't think I'm going to be able to get to Wrexham for a while

 

[L401CJF]

Will I be right in thinking that the traction power on the freight trains will be more reliable than the Class 230 units?

Probably!

I was told yesterday the 230s have been pretty reliable over the past few weeks. The guy I spoke to said they are trying to get them through their fault free mileage runs at the moment. Only a couple of minor faults since they came back out a few weeks ago so things are looking promising.

Crew training has been ramped up big style on them.

The last plan was to have a few staff trained on them who would work them on a separate link. Its changed back to everybody who signs Wrexham-Bidston will sign 230s. I believe they are aiming for December to have one in service but I wouldn't hold your breath. There are a lot of crew to train up (including those who have already done it as it was so long ago).

 

[D365]

Will I be right in thinking that the traction power on the freight trains will be more reliable than the Class 230 units?

I was told yesterday the 230s have been pretty reliable over the past few weeks. The guy I spoke to said they are trying to get them through their fault free mileage runs at the moment. Only a couple of minor faults since they came back out a few weeks ago so things are looking promising.

Aside from the thermal & software teething troubles - the units are fundamentally sound. Compared to a 150, a much improved interior environment.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Aside from the thermal & software teething troubles - the units are fundamentally sound. Compared to a 150, a much improved interior environment.

How long have these units now been with TfW and when was the original date of entry into service?

 

[6Gtraincrew]

How long have these units now been with TfW and when was the original date of entry into service?

The first one (006) was delivered way back on the 20th July 2020 and the original date of entry was meant to be before that.

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

Oh and Q3 of 2019 was the original date to enter service.

 

[D365]

How long have these units now been with TfW and when was the original date of entry into service?

The first one (006) was delivered way back on the 20th July 2020 and the original date of entry was meant to be before that.

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

Oh and Q3 of 2019 was the original date to enter service.

Correct, but as has been discussed (and similar to the 769s), there are just as many mitigating circumstances beyond the supplier's control. For comparison, the brand new CAF diesels are also taking their time to appear into service...

 

[59CosG95]

Correct, but as has been discussed (and similar to the 769s), there are just as many mitigating circumstances beyond the supplier's control. For comparison, the brand new CAF diesels are also taking their time to appear into service...

Indeed. Another case in point is that DB Cargo's Class 66 repaint programme is behind schedule due to the lack of supply of the window surround rubber - but that's another problem entirely.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Oh and Q3 of 2019 was the original date to enter service.

It was way back in September 2019 when I launched this particular thread.

 

[realaledrinker]

Indeed. Another case in point is that DB Cargo's Class 66 repaint programme is behind schedule due to the lack of supply of the window surround rubber - but that's another problem entirely.

Must be the most off topic post ever!

 

[8H]

Just seen 23010 moving smoothly over the viaduct/bridge at Neston where the Hooton West Kirby line went under the Bidston Wrexham route

 

[Zontar]

Seriously what is going on with these ?

The last official statement was that they had sorted all the problems and will be coming into service.

That was months ago, during which 197s have now entered service!

 

[sdrennan]

Seriously what is going on with these ?

The last official statement was that they had sorted all the problems and will be coming into service.

That was months ago, during which 197s have now entered service!

Agree. TFW dont seem to have any update and their website is extremely out of date

https://tfw.wales/about-us/whats-happening/north-wales

Increasing frequency on the Wrexham to Bidston line with two trains per hour by May 2022 at the latest. This will include one all-stations service and one express service.

 

[TheSel]

Agree. TFW dont seem to have any update and their website is extremely out of date

https://tfw.wales/about-us/whats-happening/north-wales

Increasing frequency on the Wrexham to Bidston line with two trains per hour by May 2022 at the latest. This will include one all-stations service and one express service.

To be fair, that quote is tempered by the rest of that page, which also includes the following:


Our commitment in 2018 [my emboldening, for clarity] to North Wales included: ...

... numerous items including this one about the Wrexham - Bidston line

... and is further qualified towards the bottom of the page with [and I quote]

UPDATE: Covid-19 means that some original dates, set in 2018, have had to be revised.


Lots of things have changed since 2018. We've had a pandemic, an election, three prime ministers, two monarchs ...

That said, I agree with you that both the failure to get these units into service, and the absence of updates from TfW is lamentable.

 

[sdrennan]

I understand things change due to world events, But it does not take that much time to update the web page with latest status

 

[DavidGrain]

I agree with the above comments but the situation is that the 230s were a stopgap when TfW (and before them ATW) were short of stock and these were allegedly available at short notice before the 197s could be brought into service.

 

[Zontar]

I agree with the above comments but the situation is that the 230s were a stopgap when TfW (and before them ATW) were short of stock and these were allegedly available at short notice before the 197s could be brought into service.

Interesting and fair comment. But it doesn't explain why they aren't in service, or show any hint of when they might be sadly.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I agree with the above comments but the situation is that the 230s were a stopgap when TfW (and before them ATW) were short of stock and these were allegedly available at short notice before the 197s could be brought into service.

"Short notice" in the Vivarail time scale for the supply of ready-to-run units is not the same "short notice" timescale that one associates with that time scale understanding.

 

[anthony263]

Interesting and fair comment. But it doesn't explain why they aren't in service, or show any hint of when they might be sadly.

December i heard they planned all going to plan if the 230s carry on behaving themselves

 

[Zontar]

Which unit number was the one that caught fire?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Which unit number was the one that caught fire?

The first one a long while back was 008 I believe, I think 007 was the more recent one but I would need confirmation on both of those.

 

[DavidGrain]

Which unit number was the one that caught fire?

Apparently it was not a 'fire', it was a 'thermal incident'.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I agree with the above comments but the situation is that the 230s were a stopgap when TfW (and before them ATW) were short of stock and these were allegedly available at short notice before the 197s could be brought into service.

And the reasons for the stopgap solution have now passed us by (time marched on).

The stopgap solution did not materialise in time.

What is the logical next step with a microfleet during a period of austerity ?.