SuperLuke2334
Established Member
It was rumoured Crewe Chester would have one from today, however it hasn't yet happened.
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CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.
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CaergwrleKen
Member
197’s now cleared for passenger use Chester to Crewe and Wrexham to Bidston according to train crew
Topological
Established Member
How far are TfW from being able to split Holyhead to Cardiff diagrams into two parts and use 197s for Holyhead-Chester?
That may be a means to get some other lines their services back.
That may be a means to get some other lines their services back.
They're cleared all the way on that route so crew permitting there's no need to split.
Crewe-Manchester or via Styal isn't yet signed off for passenger service, it should have been a couple of weeks back when the signal.issues were ongoing and hasn't yet happened. Once that's all done its planned for certain Cardiff-Manchester/Holyhead runs to start at the timetable change.
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
And one has started on Crewe Chester today.
Bob Price
Established Member
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A 197 is on 1D43 sitting at Crewe right now heading to Llandudno at 10:05. Just passed the cameras and it is 018.
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Techniquest
Veteran Member
Fantastic news that, bring them on down here! How many more 197s would be required to end the use of 153s on the Chester shuttles?
The Chester - Crewe shuttle is worked by 1 unit up and down for most of the day, so 1x197.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Thanks, as soon as I posted I figured it would surely be likely to be just the one train. Looks like it won't be long until I get myself up north for a Cheshire Day Ranger!
craigybagel
Established Member
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Don't get too excited, the 197 was just on a diagram that visits Crewe in the morning. The regular Crewe - Chester shuttle is a 175 today.
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
15 accepted and in service.
I was told it should have been a couple of weeks ago, but it seems to have been pushed back for another few more weeks.
Was the reason a 175 was allocated because it needed to stay close to Chester Depot? Cant think why else a 175 would be used on such a short route when we have to suffer 150s and 153s on much longer distance routes!
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
EDIT should say im referring to the the Crewe to Chester shuttle.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
EDIT should say im referring to the the Crewe to Chester shuttle.
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LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
I noticed from RTT that 197 012 was working the early Wrexham-Chester-Liverpool today.
Has this Wrexham-Chester been going on for a while?
Has this Wrexham-Chester been going on for a while?
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Western 52
Established Member
Quite a few wagons in the consist. Presumably for brake purposes?
Jacob Porrett
Established Member
Correct yes.
Looking at the timetable changes in May, it looks like the current weekday journey between Holyhead-Llanelli and Llanelli to Chester is no longer worked as a through train from Holyhead to Llanelli, it starts at Cardiff Central and still goes to Llanelli. So there will be 2 diagrams for Swanline (much like before Covid but without interworking with HOWL) and with them both ending in Chester in the evening it would make sense if they were either 197s or 175s (or diagram of each perhaps) otherwise there isnt much point in ending 153s or 150s in Chester given most routes up there should be 197s by then, aside from the 158s that interwork with the Cambrian.
Im really hoping for 197s (or at least 1 197 diagram) if enough train crew at Cardiff can be trained in time. If not will just be happy to see a proper Swanline stopper returning.
What im thinking could happen is if some Holyhead to Cardiff are switched to 197s in May, some will end in Cardiff at night and do Swanline before returning to Chester at the end of the next day. This is just me speculating, no inside knowledge.
Im really hoping for 197s (or at least 1 197 diagram) if enough train crew at Cardiff can be trained in time. If not will just be happy to see a proper Swanline stopper returning.
What im thinking could happen is if some Holyhead to Cardiff are switched to 197s in May, some will end in Cardiff at night and do Swanline before returning to Chester at the end of the next day. This is just me speculating, no inside knowledge.
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SuperLuke2334
Established Member
Correct. It's good to see them out on that route now.
Believe one was on it yesterday too. It should now happen (crew knowledge permitting) more and more frequently on the shuttle now they're cleared. Helps keep a lot of depots 197 competent on that route.
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
Yesterday was the first full day of it, although I heard they could have started as early as last Monday crew permitting. Hopefully we'll see them slowly expand to the Manchester services now.
317 forever
Established Member
I could have a short break in North Wales in September if all the Manchester - Llandudno trains are 197s by then.
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
All of the Manchester Llandudno trains are 197 now 99% of the time.
317 forever
Established Member
Oh thanks. The roll-out of 197s has been quicker than I'd noticed.
I may even have a daytrip to the area in July now.
Unlikely as I understand it. Manchester isn't cleared for passenger runs yet. I believe the latest plan for Manchester-West Wales will be a more en-masse change after the summer.
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
Sounds like a plan! Cardiff - Holyhead and the like services sooner I'd imagine then.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Since the beginning of 175s being mass out of service, they've managed to cover them all most of the time with 197s and sometimes the odd sprinter, but that is rare now.
A few in the timetable change as well as a couple of Cardiff-Chester via Crewes
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
Good good, hopefully TfW will finalise their timetable soon and then I'll request the LTP diagrams.