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

[Bletchleyite]

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

Not wishing to tempt fate but those massive piles of rocks they dumped by it last time have allowed it to survive one or two...fingers crossed...

 

[CaergwrleKen]

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

26th Sept start on Blaenau was the date given to traincrew in North Wales so the driver would have been correct with the info. This obviously keeps slipping with the 10th Oct currently quoted and now possibly even being pushed back again..

 

[Mzzzs]

26th Sept start on Blaenau was the date given to traincrew in North Wales so the driver would have been correct with the info. This obviously keeps slipping with the 10th Oct currently quoted and now possibly even being pushed back again..

Out of interest do you know what actually keeps pushing back the entry date for the trains ? Haven’t heard about many technical problems with the trains.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Good evening, I've noticed some rumours floating around on Facebook groups and was wondering if anyone in the know could confirm. It's been said that there are now going to be 82 rather than 77 197s, is this true? If so how many carriages are the extra ones expected to have?

Also seen on the same group that it's now the 17th October aiming for, is this true or is the 10th still the plan as it stands?

 

[Mzzzs]

Good evening, I've noticed some rumours floating around on Facebook groups and was wondering if anyone in the know could confirm. It's been said that there are now going to be 82 rather than 77 197s, is this true? If so how many carriages are the extra ones expected to have?

Also seen on the same group that it's now the 17th October aiming for, is this true or is the 10th still the plan as it stands?

Considering they are no longer keeping the 170 it makes sense that they are getting more 197 to fill the gap.

 

[Anonymous10]

Considering they are no longer keeping the 170 it makes sense that they are getting more 197 to fill the gap.

thats supposedly why they got the mk4s so hopefully this is to improve capacity on routes during large events ect especially around cardiff

 

[Envoy]

If true, could it be that they want the extra 197’s for the Heart of Wales? It seems rather irrational to keep a few ancient 153’s going for this route.

 

[AlexNL]

Or to replace the 230s?

 

[Kite159]

If true, could it be that they want the extra 197’s for the Heart of Wales? It seems rather irrational to keep a few ancient 153’s going for this route.

Or to replace the 230s?

Or even both, makes sense to get rid of both the 153s and also the 230s to remove the need to keep spare parts (especially for the 153s).

 

[43096]

Or even both, makes sense to get rid of both the 153s and also the 230s to remove the need to keep spare parts (especially for the 153s).

Five extra units won’t replace both the 153s and 230s.

 

[TheDisruptor]

Or even both, makes sense to get rid of both the 153s and also the 230s to remove the need to keep spare parts (especially for the 153s).

Didn't TfW purchase additional 153's to cover for the loss of 170's on the HoW?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Today (4/10/22) Freighliner Class 66594 dragged 197012 from Donnington Rail Freight Terminal to Crewe Carriage Sidings L&NWR Site.

 

[Caaardiff]

Didn't TfW purchase additional 153's to cover for the loss of 170's on the HoW?

Yes and it's been mentioned that they've since purchased 5 more to be converted to active travel 153's. A shame really as they are well past their sell by date. Keeping a few 150's would've been better as a temporary solution. They must've purchased them for a good price as they would've been scrapped anyway.
There is still a desire to get the 230's into service, but will believe that when I see it. As it stands nothing has been mentioned publicly about more 197's and also need to take into account Depot space. That being said it would make total sense to get rid of the 230's and 153's.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Today (5/10/22) Freightliner Class 66566 dragging TFW Class 197021 to Crewe. Another 197 to leaving Donnington RFT.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Morning all, just a quick date checking question! The last quoted date for introduction I heard was the 10th October, which is Monday. Is this still the case? If so on which routes, and if not is there a new date? Thanks all!

 

[Rhydgaled]

Morning all, just a quick date checking question! The last quoted date for introduction I heard was the 10th October, which is Monday. Is this still the case? If so on which routes, and if not is there a new date? Thanks all!

From earlier reports in this topic then it appears the first route is likely to be Bleanau Ffestiniog - Llandudno, Liverpool Lime Street - Chester or (less likely?) Wrexham Central - Bidston. No idea when though.

 

[sd0733]

From earlier reports in this topic then it appears the first route is likely to be Bleanau Ffestiniog - Llandudno, Liverpool Lime Street - Chester or (less likely?) Wrexham Central - Bidston. No idea when though.

Those are the first 3 routes planned, in that order too.
It's delayed from Monday, not sure why or when to. Plan is Bleanau on day 1, Liverpool.a week later then Bidstons not fat behind but unsure of the amended dates now.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Those are the first 3 routes planned, in that order too.
It's delayed from Monday, not sure why or when to. Plan is Bleanau on day 1, Liverpool.a week later then Bidstons not fat behind but unsure of the amended dates now.

Great thanks for the info. It's a shame that it keeps getting pushed back. Have any units actually passed the FFR yet? If not maybe that's why it's getting pushed back.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

Great thanks for the info. It's a shame that it keeps getting pushed back. Have any units actually passed the FFR yet? If not maybe that's why it's getting pushed back.

002, 004 and 011 have been handed over I believe. Looks like it'll be a Halloween launch on the Blaenau line.

 

[animationmilo]

002, 004 and 011 have been handed over I believe. Looks like it'll be a Halloween launch on the Blaenau line.

A spooky launch with ghosts

 

[SuperLuke2334]

002, 004 and 011 have been handed over I believe. Looks like it'll be a Halloween launch on the Blaenau line.

That's good news. Hopefully when they do begin introduction it will be really nice and smooth.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

That's good news. Hopefully when they do begin introduction it will be really nice and smooth.

Nothing is ever set in stone though. Project has slipped more times than a camel on ice. We've been told so many dates for them to come and go.

 

[507020]

002, 004 and 011 have been handed over I believe. Looks like it'll be a Halloween launch on the Blaenau line.

Halloween suits me for a trip to North Wales. I visited Caernarfon castle on Halloween in 2014.

From earlier reports in this topic then it appears the first route is likely to be Bleanau Ffestiniog - Llandudno, Liverpool Lime Street - Chester or (less likely?) Wrexham Central - Bidston. No idea when though.

I wouldn’t have thought 197s would have ever ended up on the Bidston - Wrexham, despite it being a decent self contained route to test them on. Presumably the priority is to free up Sprinters and the 197s will be displaced by 230s on the 12th of Never

 

[Peter Sarf]

Halloween suits me for a trip to North Wales. I visited Caernarfon castle on Halloween in 2014.

I wouldn’t have thought 197s would have ever ended up on the Bidston - Wrexham, despite it being a decent self contained route to test them on. Presumably the priority is to free up Sprinters and the 197s will be displaced by 230s on the 12th of Never

Well.... The 230s are a micro fleet and because of Covid there might be a surplus of 197s. Which ones will work first ?, I could ask.

 

[Anonymous10]

Well.... The 230s are a micro fleet and because of Covid there might be a surplus of 197s. Which ones will work first ?, I could ask.

what gives you the impression there will be a surplus of the units? they were always intended to work in multiple on the north wales and west wales to Manchester routes

 

[warwickshire]

Well.... The 230s are a micro fleet and because of Covid there might be a surplus of 197s. Which ones will work first ?, I could ask.

197s. My opinion.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well.... The 230s are a micro fleet and because of Covid there might be a surplus of 197s. Which ones will work first ?, I could ask.

I would not be at all surprised to see them quietly binned and 3-4 more 2 car 197s tagged on to replace them. But I don't think TfW have ordered enough units to be able to bin them without ordering something to replace them.

 

[Rhydgaled]

I would not be at all surprised to see them quietly binned and 3-4 more 2 car 197s tagged on to replace them. But I don't think TfW have ordered enough units to be able to bin them without ordering something to replace them.

Just hold back on 197 introduction elsewhere - the Welsh Government and TfW are targeting Cardiff-Swansea electrification by 2030 which will make 197s redundant on Swanline and Manchester-Swansea services if TfW intend to have anything other than GWR's 80x using the wires west of Bridgend. That would free up plenty of 197s for Wrexham-Bidston, no need to order any more diesel-only abominations.

 

[Jez]

Just hold back on 197 introduction elsewhere - the Welsh Government and TfW are targeting Cardiff-Swansea electrification by 2030 which will make 197s redundant on Swanline and Manchester-Swansea services if TfW intend to have anything other than GWR's 80x using the wires west of Bridgend. That would free up plenty of 197s for Wrexham-Bidston, no need to order any more diesel-only abominations.

By 2030 they could probabaly move the 197s that are not required elsewhere. The Heart of Wales for example will need to replace the 153s eventually and I imagine 197s will still be needed on Cardiff to Manchester/Liverpool etc.

 

[Esker-pades]

Just hold back on 197 introduction elsewhere - the Welsh Government and TfW are targeting Cardiff-Swansea electrification by 2030 which will make 197s redundant on Swanline and Manchester-Swansea services if TfW intend to have anything other than GWR's 80x using the wires west of Bridgend. That would free up plenty of 197s for Wrexham-Bidston, no need to order any more diesel-only abominations.

Making the Swanline services electric would only save two diagrams per day. The 197s will still be required to run every other Manchester service, as those are the ones which go to/from West Wales.