TfW 175 shortages

[Krokodil]

Where has the space gone?

That massive stainless steel catering cupboard might have something to do with it.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

They need some more sidings at Wilmslow. Just passed and that reversing siding is getting full.

Credit to TFW/Northern for getting ticket acceptance in place after the TFW was turned round at Crewe.

Has 007 been moved in there as well? Presumably had to be pulled or pushed in.

 

[Dai Corner]

Does TfW now stand for Train Fires Weekly?

 

[Topological]

Has 007 been moved in there as well? Presumably had to be pulled or pushed in.

I think so, but didn't check the numbers. The further south looked fire damaged though. The furthest north was very damaged. Last week there were two in the same place, but that was when one had just rescued the fire from the previous evening.

Others mentioned one on the right but I was on the west side of the train so could not say for definite whether this was just the two that had been on fire in Wilmslow or something else.

 

[185143]

I bet that should have formed the 07:30 from Manchester that someone's tweeted on the TfW Twitter feed is cancelled.

It should indeed. I was intending to catch the 07:06 Northern service to Crewe, which was cancelled due to the unit being used as a 1Z99 to rescue a failed 323 at Ashburys.

Never mind, I'll get the Carmarthen. I said. Noticed the incoming unit had been at Wilmslow for about 15 minutes. "It's probably on fire" I flippantly said...

Then checked NRE and saw the cancellation put down to "a fire on a train" which was then announced in the station. Got on an Avanti train at 07:55 which diverted via Styal, so clearly wasn't as bad as the last one as there was a full BTET at Wilmslow due to the fire brigade doing their work. But not this time, or at least, not for long.

"If you look to your left... we have a MOM and the fire brigade stood around a 175 after a fire, with the platform taped off." Followed shortly by "if you look to your right... we have a 175 with very visible scorch marks dumped in the turnback!"

 

[Krokodil]

Has 007 been moved in there as well? Presumably had to be pulled or pushed in.

The fire on 007 was less serious - the wiring loom survived - so it returned to Crewe on the remaining engine and has now been sent to Chester.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

The fire on 007 was less serious - the wiring loom survived - so it returned to Crewe on the remaining engine and has now been sent to Chester.

That's good, thanks for the info!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I don’t return to the UK (Cardiff) from Australia until late June. I do hope there’ll still be a fair few out as I love the 175s - probably the only TfW stock including the 231s and MK4s that I really like travelling on and would travel just for the sake of riding them (wouldn’t take the rest of their fleet without a destination tbh) - and I’ll miss them greatly.

 

[Wolfie]

175007 joins the thermal incident club with another fire at Wilmslow this morning.

The 175s joining their 180 cousins....

 

[Steveswan10]

Seen today 175115 with some rather shiny new wheel sets

 

[Bikeman78]

I heard the safety bodies are now expressing concerns . Problems seemed to have started since maintenance left Chester.

Most of the maintenance did not leave Chester. A exams and other routine stuff is still done at Chester. The only difference is that CAF runs the depot instead of Alstom.

 

[william.martin]

Most of the maintenance did not leave Chester. A exams and other routine stuff is still done at Chester. The only difference is that CAF runs the depot instead of Alstom.

And CAF didn't have anything to do with 175's until they took over, maybe TFW need to get the CAF maintenance people, sit them down in a room with a whiteboard and teach them how to look after their valuable trains properly.

 

[Liam L]

Lots of cancellations on TFW journey planner for tomorrow with the reason 'More trains than normal needing repairs', I'm hearing reports that 175 fleet will be removed from service tonight for checks? Anyone know anything more on that?

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[SuperLuke2334]

Lots of cancellations on TFW journey planner for tomorrow with the reason 'More trains than normal needing repairs', I'm hearing reports that 175 fleet will be removed from service tonight for checks? Anyone know anything more on that?

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View attachment 130042

Yes they are being temporarily removed from service for safety checks. Service cuts to free up units to cover. More info in the Second Wilmslow train fire thread in general discussion.

 

[Geeves]

There was something a while back with the 180s constantly combusting that was down to the oil drip trays setting on fire because the exhaust pipes pass right next to them, so presumably Chester were looking at that (before CAF). Who knows. On a happier note it looks like 104 should back out soon with refurbished engines.

 

[Jez]

Yes they are being temporarily removed from service for safety checks. Service cuts to free up units to cover. More info in the Second Wilmslow train fire thread in general discussion.

I made it back home from the North just in time. My journey 1530 from Manchester was delayed then cancelled at Shrewsbury then they decided to attach the unit to the Holyhead-Cardiff train. Finally after some confusion the orignal train formed the very delayed 1904 Cardiff-Carmarthen so finally got back 40 minutes late At least I should get half back with delay repay. And I didnt need to move from the original train. There just seemed some confusion what was happening. The guard had to contact control in Cardiff in the end to find out what was happening with passengers West of Cardiff.

I think its the right decision to remove the 175s, something isnt right. Lets hope it can be sorted and they are back in service; I don't see things improving on the Marches anytime soon, until the 197s can take over the route. There was lots of tutting and moaning from passengers on board today because of the overcrowding (until Shrewsbury, it was 5 cars then until Cardiff.) and delays. People are getting fed up of the constant delays and issues.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Basically because CAF have taken over Alstom at the Chester Depot the 175s are no longer a priority because they are prioritising the 197s hence why the 175s are going up in flames because they are not receiving the tlc they need.

 

[Krokodil]

And CAF didn't have anything to do with 175's until they took over, maybe TFW need to get the CAF maintenance people, sit them down in a room with a whiteboard and teach them how to look after their valuable trains properly.

CAF employ the exact same fitters at Chester as Alstom did.

 

[Mitchell Hurd]

I made it back home from the North just in time. My journey 1530 from Manchester was delayed then cancelled at Shrewsbury then they decided to attach the unit to the Holyhead-Cardiff train. Finally after some confusion the orignal train formed the very delayed 1904 Cardiff-Carmarthen so finally got back 40 minutes late At least I should get half back with delay repay. And I didnt need to move from the original train. There just seemed some confusion what was happening. The guard had to contact control in Cardiff in the end to find out what was happening with passengers West of Cardiff.

I think its the right decision to remove the 175s, something isnt right. Lets hope it can be sorted and they are back in service; I don't see things improving on the Marches anytime soon, until the 197s can take over the route. There was lots of tutting and moaning from passengers on board today because of the overcrowding (until Shrewsbury, it was 5 cars then until Cardiff.) and delays. People are getting fed up of the constant delays and issues.

Thank goodness the 175's are being taken out for safety checks - phew!

No doubt there will be extremely unhappy passengers but I'm sure they'd rather have safe trains on the railway!

 

[rich.davies]

Yes they are being temporarily removed from service for safety checks. Service cuts to free up units to cover. More info in the Second Wilmslow train fire thread in general discussion.

Saw a 175 passing through Flint around 7.30 this morning heading in the Prestatyn direction.

 

[anthony263]

Saw a 175 passing through Flint around 7.30 this morning heading in the Prestatyn direction.

4 class 175s in service

 

[SuperLuke2334]

4 class 175s in service

I think there's 003, 004, 011, 112 and 115

 

[Jez]

I think there's 003, 004, 011, 112 and 115

Looks like they are on the following routes

175003 - Holyhead to Maesteg
175004 - Manchester Airport to Llandudno
175011 - Holyhead to Cardiff
175112 - Manchester to Carmarthen
175115 - Holyhead to Manchester Airport

Yikes that means only one in Manchester going South doing the early Carmarthen-Manchester and return at 1130am then a Carmarthen to Cardiff I think.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Mar 2023 ==

Thank goodness the 175's are being taken out for safety checks - phew!

No doubt there will be extremely unhappy passengers but I'm sure they'd rather have safe trains on the railway!

Absolutely. Safety is the main concern.

A quick look at twitter and there seems to be lots of complaints about the quality of the trains on the Manchester's today. Plus seen a few comments about the cancellations on the Treherbert line and lack of trains from Birmingham and Haverfordwest.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Today, from Manchester to South Wales:

0630 is a MK4

0730 Man Picc Carmarthen
153968+153303

0830 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
153910+153382

0930 Man Picc Carmarthen
150262

1030 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
153318+153972

1130 is a 175

1230 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
150281

1330 Man Picc Tenby
150237

1430 is a MK4

1530 Man Picc Carmarthen
158821

1630 Man Picc Swansea
150227

1730 Man Picc Swansea
158818

1930 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
158838

What a disgrace

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Absolutely. Safety is the main concern.

A quick look at twitter and there seems to be lots of complaints about the quality of the trains on the Manchester's today. Plus seen a few comments about the cancellations on the Treherbert line and lack of trains from Birmingham and Haverfordwest.

I'm not surprised.

Today, from Manchester to South Wales:

0630 is a MK4

0730 Man Picc Carmarthen
153968+153303

0830 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
153910+153382

0930 Man Picc Carmarthen
150262

1030 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
153318+153972

1130 is a 175

1230 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
150281

1330 Man Picc Tenby
150237

1430 is a MK4

1530 Man Picc Carmarthen
158821

1630 Man Picc Swansea
150227

1730 Man Picc Swansea
158818

1930 Man Picc Cardiff Ctrl
158838

What a disgrace

You say a disgrace, but it's better than no service. I think passengers would much rather have a train that works than a burning 175. Once they have had their checks I'm sure the service will settle down again.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

You say a disgrace, but it's better than no service. I think passengers would much rather have a train that works than a burning 175. Once they have had their checks I'm sure the service will settle down again.

There may well be a reason for it, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a disgraceful service today.

 

[craigybagel]

There may well be a reason for it, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a disgraceful service today.

I'd call it a miracle, given they've had a large portion of the fleet removed from service at very short notice.

 

[Llanigraham]

There may well be a reason for it, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a disgraceful service today.

No, a disgraceful service would be having NO trains running.

 

[43096]

What a disgrace

Perhaps you’d like to tell us what you’d have done given there’s a large chunk of the 175 fleet stopped, rather than going for internet hyperbole.

 

[Krokodil]

There may well be a reason for it, but that doesn’t change the fact it’s a disgraceful service today.

Two departures are Mk4 LHCS. I'd say that it's an improvement compared with an average day. It's not like 150s and 153s are unusual on Manchester services.