Presumably some of the issues are to do with working with 67s rather than 91s, and having SDO fitted, neither of which they were originally designed for. Also the fact that the ex-GC sets were sat in store for the best part of 2 years when GC fell through on Euston to Blackpool, and therefore their mechanics have worsened.
Indeed, the ex GC sets have definitely been more troublesome.
Considering how many diagrams that were formerly 175s have been transferred over to Mk4s, presumably creating a surplus, I'd say the issue probably isn't in 175 availability. Not sure what is keeping them from standing in for Mk4s though.
There's only 3 Monday-Friday and 2 Saturday diagrams (from today) which are currently Mk4s, 2 of the Monday-Friday diagrams were Mk4 anyway and with the split at Cardiff using 1 extra diagram, effectively Mk4s aren't currently freeing up a single unit compared to pre-December.
But the 1630 Manchester - Cardiff was a MK 4 set - 67020. However, I believe this set was on the sidings in Crewe at around 1pm (that set had gone by 1700). Advertised as the "1710 to Swansea" at Crewe BTWOops.
The return 0830 Manchester-Cardiff (1V37) was cancelled at Crewe "due to a problem with the brakes".
Realtime Trains | 1V37 0830 Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe | 18/02/2023
Real-time train running information for 1V37 0830 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe on 18/02/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.www.realtimetrains.co.uk
HD05 had an issue with dragging brakes. Was replaced by HD06 off the shed at Crewe on 1W59
From RTT, 1V37 was cancelled at Crewe, but the next northbound run was reinstated at Crewe with a different set (but was then turned at Wilmslow running 34 late).
Not heard anything about 025, would be with DB for repairs.
Seems as if HD01’s failed at Llandudno Junction
It started late from Cardiff and was getting progressively later.
It should do, but I’m on 1W96 and I don’t fancy a unit back tonight
RTT says 1V96 cancelled Holyhead-Llandudno Jn (LLJ), but no live times shown from there.
It was a much simpler set up with the drags, those 67s didn't have any modifications and worked with the MKIVs as though they were any other kind of thing to pull.
The TfW sets are push-pull though, using the DVT.
Many thanks for this. Assuming it's back on the Holyheads I'm going to take it for a spin. Perhaps I can figure out where the numbers on it are!
Tomorrow it'll be on V91 to Cardiff then on manchesters rest of the day.
There actually aren't any on one side. Someone got a bit carried away with removing branding when they first came over!
So that would explain my frustrations in not finding anything bar the DVT number when it was heading through Prestatyn. Perhaps they'll add them back when it gets a lick of paint.....
Yes it's not you!! The TOD which has been added later still has numbers and like you say the DVT but that's about it.
I've been trying to follow the set formations. As far as l know, all the TSOs have been temporarily removed whilst they run as 4+DVT. So they are now made up as: TSOE-TSOD-RSB-FOD-DVT. When they become 5+DVT eventually, the TSOs will be re-inserted between the TSOE and the TSOD, but not necessarily the same ones that came out of each set. My table has the sets arranged as below:
The timetable is still transitioning, when the full 2tph service between Shrewsbury and Cardiff is running it should be possible to drop some of the quieter stops.
I have heard that actually the TSOs will go between the FOD and DVT as: 67 - TSOE - TSOD - RSB - FOD - TSO - DVT. Reason given was that it puts the accessible areas towards the centre of the formation and therefore more likely to be platformed. I don't know if that has been reconsidered, surely it will be a quieter atmosphere in First Class if it's at one end rather than a through-fare.