TfW 175 shortages

[Bletchleyite]

Plenty of 197s on the Coast yesterday including at least one double set (which I used for the outrageously expensive* trip, at £3.70, from Conwy to Llandudno Junction).

* Most people probably didn't pay, as Conwy has no TVM, I bought an e-ticket on my phone.

 

[Topological]

Real mixed bag on the Manchester to Cardiff services today, including three 175s, two 158s, two pairs of 153s diagrams and the rest 150s including 150269 back on home turf! Bet that'll cause confusion at Piccadilly!

I wonder what happened for the Northern 150 to be sent to Manchester. That must be horrible with no tables or power sockets on a 3-4 hours+ journey. At least the TfW 150s have some of the facilities of the 175s.

I always feared someone would decide to send the Northern one to Manchester and then a different 150 be used to go back south as a means of swapping.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I wonder what happened for the Northern 150 to be sent to Manchester. That must be horrible with no tables or power sockets on a 3-4 hours+ journey. At least the TfW 150s have some of the facilities of the 175s.

I always feared someone would decide to send the Northern one to Manchester and then a different 150 be used to go back south as a means of swapping.

It’s just a random pool. On paper a 150 is a 150.

 

[12LDA28C]

That must be horrible with no tables or power sockets on a 3-4 hours+ journey.

Wow, really? First world problems, eh. If someone is unable to spend a few hours without their phone plugged into a power socket so they can continuously watch TikTok or whatever crap the kids watch these days, then I really fear for humanity.

 

[AdamWW]

Wow, really? First world problems, eh. If someone is unable to spend a few hours without their phone plugged into a power socket so they can continuously watch TikTok or whatever crap the kids watch these days, then I really fear for humanity.

It's not the end of the world, certainly, but I wouldn't consider 150s (of any layout) to be appropriate for journeys like that.

 

[Topological]

Wow, really? First world problems, eh. If someone is unable to spend a few hours without their phone plugged into a power socket so they can continuously watch TikTok or whatever crap the kids watch these days, then I really fear for humanity.

Unashamedly yes

Whilst the battery on my laptop is not bad, it may struggle with 4 hours if I have been in meetings prior to catching the train. The alternative is reading materials I printed out, but that is also not great on the Northern 150s without tables.

It might be a good idea not to assume everyone who uses the plugs uses them for TikTok.

So I am sorry if my belief that TfW should not put the Northern 150s on the Manchester Marches services upsets you.

If this is about the fact that TfW have mishandled the 175 maintenance and 197 introduction then there is another thread about that and I wholeheartedly agree. It is TfW who should be held accountable, not those of us who just want a suitable train for a long distance service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Whilst the battery on my laptop is not bad, it may struggle with 4 hours if I have been in meetings prior to catching the train. The alternative is reading materials I printed out, but that is also not great on the Northern 150s without tables.

I can't recall ever having worked in an office where the meeting rooms didn't have power sockets.

 

[T74]

Both 150269 and 150270 have usb charging points

 

[Bletchleyite]

Both 150269 and 150270 have usb charging points

Though USBs aren't useful for laptops.

USB C would be but I don't think any trains have that yet.

 

[Markdvdman]

You can use USB-C to USB-A remember but the USB ports on the trains are not powerful enough. The TFW 150s do have proper power points at least and the flip down trays not on the Northern ones. I hope when I take the train to Llanelli a week Friday that it will be on a 175. Been a while since I have been on one they are comfortable to be fair for long distance runs!

 

[Bletchleyite]

You can use USB-C to USB-A remember but the USB ports on the trains are not powerful enough.

Exactly. Those ports won't do anything for a laptop, they'll just be standard old-style 0.5A ones.

 

[Topological]

I can't recall ever having worked in an office where the meeting rooms didn't have power sockets.

There are many situations where meetings with computers take place in rooms without sufficient power points. In my case I often have to take the train without having opportunity to charge the computer before getting on. That may be because the meeting was in a place without sockets, or may simply be that the sockets are on the outside of the room and the seats are too far away from the walls. These are all small things but all of which mean that train sockets are actually useful for people other than those who use TikTok and need to charge their phones

In any case I cannot see why the TfW unit allocation randomiser cannot keep the Northern 150s on shorter runs.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There are many situations where meetings with computers take place in rooms without sufficient power points. In my case I often have to take the train without having opportunity to charge the computer before getting on. That may be because the meeting was in a place without sockets, or may simply be that the sockets are on the outside of the room and the seats are too far away from the walls. These are all small things but all of which mean that train sockets are actually useful for people other than those who use TikTok and need to charge their phones

In any case I cannot see why the TfW unit allocation randomiser cannot keep the Northern 150s on shorter runs.

I don't think it's a genuine random unit generator like Northern seem to have. They're putting out whatever they've got to keep their network going with half the fleet unusable. I think slack needs to be cut to them in this case. In the end if this is a big issue to you I'd simply recommend travelling via London or Birmingham instead until the problems are resolved (which given how quickly the 197s are entering service now may well be by way of one of those taking the diagram over rather than a repaired 175 or any kind of 150 rejig).

 

[Topological]

I don't think it's a genuine random unit generator like Northern seem to have. They're putting out whatever they've got to keep their network going with half the fleet unusable. I think slack needs to be cut to them in this case. In the end if this is a big issue to you I'd simply recommend travelling via London or Birmingham instead until the problems are resolved (which given how quickly the 197s are entering service now may well be by way of one of those taking the diagram over rather than a repaired 175 or any kind of 150 rejig).

Last time the conversation drifted into other routes and the implications of stealing 150s from other services, the discussion was moved off topic.

175s are suitable. I look forward to the 197s coming into service.

 

[Dai Corner]

Isn't one of the selling points for business people travelling by train rather than driving the ability to work en route?

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Full and standing on the 1230 out of Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff today - lots of long-weekenders. 175009. I opted for the 1238 Northern stopper home instead!

 

[childwallblues]

Wow, really? First world problems, eh. If someone is unable to spend a few hours without their phone plugged into a power socket so they can continuously watch TikTok or whatever crap the kids watch these days, then I really fear for humanity.

Absolutely

 

[Jez]

Full and standing on the 1230 out of Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff today - lots of long-weekenders. 175009. I opted for the 1238 Northern stopper home instead!

A 2 car isn't ideal on any service departing from Manchester to South Wales at any time of the day, ;later on in the journey they might get quieter perhaps but Manchester to Crewe/Shrewsbury always seems very busy. Id have done the same if only travelling to Crewe.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Wow, really? First world problems, eh. If someone is unable to spend a few hours without their phone plugged into a power socket so they can continuously watch TikTok or whatever crap the kids watch these days, then I really fear for humanity.

Some just don’t take a day off, do they?
Do you really suppose that’s the primary reason people need to keep their device charged on long journeys?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Apr 2023 ==

You can use USB-C to USB-A remember but the USB ports on the trains are not powerful enough. The TFW 150s do have proper power points at least and the flip down trays not on the Northern ones. I hope when I take the train to Llanelli a week Friday that it will be on a 175. Been a while since I have been on one they are comfortable to be fair for long distance runs!

Not a very long journey from Cardiff to Llanelli, but if you’re unhappy with the TfW stock that materialises I guess you can always take GWR as far as Swansea.

 

[Markdvdman]

It CAN be a long journey with delays trust me and when rammed it is terrible! I know GWR are good in that respect but you do not get the advanced ticket deals then so you have to ticket split - at which I am a master ha ha!

 

[Rail Quest]

Just seen 175112 heading back to Chester from Longsight - she might be back out quite soon. I'm assuming a lot of the work being done to fix em is being done in Longsight? Another unit is about to head there from Chester today as well

EDIT: the unit going to Longsight is 108

 

[Tetchytyke]

2x153 on the 1030 Manchester-Cardiff this morning. Was tempted to have a ride to Stockport but it was rammed.

 

[Anonymous10]

I wonder what happened for the Northern 150 to be sent to Manchester. That must be horrible with no tables or power sockets on a 3-4 hours+ journey. At least the TfW 150s have some of the facilities of the 175s.

I always feared someone would decide to send the Northern one to Manchester and then a different 150 be used to go back south as a means of swapping.

Either 150269 or 270 have previously worked milford haven - manchester and back which is even worse. But as previously stated a 150 is a 150 to the spreadsheets.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Apr 2023 ==

A 2 car isn't ideal on any service departing from Manchester to South Wales at any time of the day, ;later on in the journey they might get quieter perhaps but Manchester to Crewe/Shrewsbury always seems very busy. Id have done the same if only travelling to Crewe.

They are usually packed leaving Cardiff as well, only getting quietter towards Cardiff

 

[Bob Price]

1V38 has a pair of 175's today. Things must be improving if they are pairing up 175's. 2 X 2 car sets.

 

[geoffk]

Wow, really? First world problems, eh. If someone is unable to spend a few hours without their phone plugged into a power socket so they can continuously watch TikTok or whatever crap the kids watch these days, then I really fear for humanity.

I'd be more concerned about the 3+2 seating if I was making such a long journey.

 

[tomm]

Does 175116 have a fault on 05:45 Carmarthen to Manchester swapped for 004. Left Cardiff late 08:49 down.

 

[The Prisoner]

1V38 has a pair of 175's today. Things must be improving if they are pairing up 175's. 2 X 2 car sets.

Seems to 13 or so units in and out of service at the moment - 001/003/004/006/007/009/011/102/103/104/109/110/116
008/101 fire damaged, but so was 007 and that came back into service recently
002/005 off lease & stored
111 stored and being used as a parts donor
That leaves 010/105/106/107/108/112/113/114/115 not being used day to day at the moment, assumedly being repaired. 108 was in use last month.

Around two units a week seem to be getting reintroduced.

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Plenty of 197s on the Coast yesterday including at least one double set (which I used for the outrageously expensive* trip, at £3.70, from Conwy to Llandudno Junction).

* Most people probably didn't pay, as Conwy has no TVM, I bought an e-ticket on my phone.

At that price, I'd likely walk. 197019 worked yesterday morning's Holyead to Birmingham international. The 197 was a pleasant surprise for me.

I had my ticket checked on the short ride from Llanfairpwll to Bangor but that is a much longer journey, nearly 4 miles.

150241 turned up for my commute today. on the later Holyhead to Cardiff central train. It should be a three car 175/1. The automated PA at Llanfair is still annoucing ' the front xxx coaches are for...'. Some poor guy ran to the end of the platform and was frantically pushing the door open button. Guard had to go get him and walk him back to the open door.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 20 Apr 2023 ==

That leaves 010/105/106/107/108/112/113/114/115 not being used day to day at the moment, assumedly being repaired. 108 was in use last month.

I'm still hoping to tick off 105 and 113 on my casual spotting list. 111 isn't going to happen.

 

[Russel]

At that price, I'd likely walk.

I did last Tuesday, it's quite a nice walk too.

 

[Wrexham12]

Are all services that were withdrawn back now?