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

[sd0733]

Anyone know what happened to 197021 today? I'd positioned myself in Leominster for it earlier (with 197017 being its companion) but was dismayed when the service eventually arrived from North Wales with just 197017. I'd had that one a few days ago, and originally my plan for the day had featured different things. Given I had more than enough time though, I got to the station and I was a bit disappointed to find no winning 197.

It is what it is, of course, hopefully next time I will have better luck!

It didn't do anything until attaching to the 18:26 Chester to Holyhead and back then forms 22:32 Chester to Shrewsbury and back and that's all its allocated today.

 

[Krokodil]

021 was coupled to 017 at Chester, and then worked solo back from Holyhead as 1K20. Once they had persuaded the two to uncouple, of course

 

[sd0733]

197047 and 197048 are now accepted. 047 is stabled at Chester and 048 is in service on the Bleanau line.

Crewe to Shrewsbury is now officially cleared with 4 cars maximum as per the rest of the route between Chester and Cardiff and there will be some working that way on Saturday as the route via Wrexham is closed.

 

[Techniquest]

197002 sat in platform 8 at Crewe right now (1032) for anyone who requires it for sight

 

[SuperLuke2334]

197047 and 197048 are now accepted. 047 is stabled at Chester and 048 is on the Bleanau line.

Crewe to Shrewsbury is now officially cleared with 4 cars maximum as per the rest of the route between Chester and Cardiff and there will be some working that way on Saturday as the route via Wrexham is closed.

Thanks for the update .

 

[Jez]

197047 and 197048 are now accepted. 047 is stabled at Chester and 048 is on the Bleanau line.

Crewe to Shrewsbury is now officially cleared with 4 cars maximum as per the rest of the route between Chester and Cardiff and there will be some working that way on Saturday as the route via Wrexham is closed.

Thanks for the update. Is Crewe-Manchester cleared for passenger service too? Or was that already cleared.

Any news on when the routes West of Cardiff will be cleared passenger service?

 

[sd0733]

Thanks for the update. Is Crewe-Manchester cleared for passenger service too? Or was that already cleared.

Any news on when the routes West of Cardiff will be cleared passenger service?

All the runs are complete with 6 cars between Crewe and Manchester but whether the paperwork is signed and done I can't be sure.

Some of it took place last week with 6 cars but where its upto I'm not totally sure but it's underway. After the mainline is done Cardiff to Carmarthen then it'll be Maesteg-Gloucester, Fishguard, Pembroke and Milford to Carmarthen and the VOG will be the next routes.

 

[Jez]

All the runs are complete with 6 cars between Crewe and Manchester but whether the paperwork is signed and done I can't be sure.

Some of it took place last week with 6 cars but where its upto I'm not totally sure but it's underway. After the mainline is done Cardiff to Carmarthen then it'll be Maesteg-Gloucester, Fishguard, Pembroke and Milford to Carmarthen and the VOG will be the next routes.

Thanks for the update. Hopefully not too much longer then!

 

[sd0733]

Thanks for the update. Hopefully not too much longer then!

Yes all being well it should be getting very close.

An 8 car should do the North-South swap next Tuesday rather than the normal 6 with a set left in Canton for shunter training which should enable them to start stabling there too.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

So are there any planned runs for 197s on Cardiff Manchesters soon?

 

[craigybagel]

So are there any planned runs for 197s on Cardiff Manchesters soon?

Nothing booked as yet. There's not much they can drop on to until they're cleared and sufficient train crew are trained to work them West of Cardiff

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Nothing booked as yet. There's not much they can drop on to until they're cleared and sufficient train crew are trained to work them West of Cardiff

I would have expected MK4 diagrams would work, bar the one that goes tk Swansea. It’s not like they all actually have MK4s on.

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

Yes all being well it should be getting very close.

An 8 car should do the North-South swap next Tuesday rather than the normal 6 with a set left in Canton for shunter training which should enable them to start stabling there too.

Does this mean the current Sprinter/175 jobs, aka 0512/0648/0922/1125 from Cardiff to Holyhead and return, will become 197?

Currently obviously leaving Holyhead we have 197, MK4, 197, 197 - and then all are 15x/175 until that first 197 gets back, which takes some time seeing as they all linger at Canton for a couple of hours first.

 

[Dood75]

Following seen at Crewe & Chester yesterday:- 001,002,004,006,007,008,011,015,021,047,048,104,106,110,112...002/047/106 were on test, 006,007,011 021,048 stabled in or around Chester

Dood

 

[sd0733]

I would have expected MK4 diagrams would work, bar the one that goes tk Swansea. It’s not like they all actually have MK4s on.

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


Does this mean the current Sprinter/175 jobs, aka 0512/0648/0922/1125 from Cardiff to Holyhead and return, will become 197?

Currently obviously leaving Holyhead we have 197, MK4, 197, 197 - and then all are 15x/175 until that first 197 gets back, which takes some time seeing as they all linger at Canton for a couple of hours first.

Once they're able to stable at Canton there's no reason why they can't.

Had it confirmed too that Manchester is cleared for 4 cars so crew knowledge permitting a 197 could sub between Cardiff and Manchester.

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

Following seen at Crewe & Chester yesterday:- 001,002,004,006,007,008,011,015,021,047,048,104,106,110,112...002/047/106 were on test, 006,007,011 021,048 stabled in or around Chester

Dood

106 is the only one on test, currently doing its mileage accumulation with ROG drivers.
The other 2 are on crew training.

 

[craigybagel]

I would have expected MK4 diagrams would work, bar the one that goes tk Swansea. It’s not like they all actually have MK4s on.

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

True, but on paper they are. The morning Swansea starter is the only one not booked to be MKIV at the moment - when all sets are working, they'll all be covered. It's pretty hard to slip in a 197 on to the diagrams without planning it in advance, given the limited crews that sign them

Does this mean the current Sprinter/175 jobs, aka 0512/0648/0922/1125 from Cardiff to Holyhead and return, will become 197?

Currently obviously leaving Holyhead we have 197, MK4, 197, 197 - and then all are 15x/175 until that first 197 gets back, which takes some time seeing as they all linger at Canton for a couple of hours first.

IIRC, one of the diagrams is due to remain as a 175 in the current LTP - it was the only planned 175 down the Coast. All the others should be able to swap over at some point, subject to the usual caveats around unit and traincrew availablity.

 

[Jez]

So are there any planned runs for 197s on Cardiff Manchesters soon?

Most of the services that are just running between Cardiff-Manchester are MK4 so not really much point booking them for 197s although its possible one could sub for a MK4 diagram if they are now cleared for the route.

I have noticed the timetable for next week says the 1505 Swansea goes to Chester whilst the 1644 Llanelli is terminating at Cardiff, unless they haven't entered the STP amendment yet for the 1505. Could this be a sign a 197 might finally appear on the route.

 

[Techniquest]

Had my first 197/1 today, in the form of 197110 from Piccadilly to East Didsbury I was going back for what was showing as 104, but I went on a walking expedition and cleared some items off my to-do list instead Another 197 bites the dust, my book is starting to look quite healthy on 197s!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It will be 104's first time to Cardiff in service later today.

 

[SeaKing]

It will be 104's first time to Cardiff in service later today.

According to RTT changing to 2 x 175 at Chester on 1V93

 

[sd0733]

At least the 0425 Holyhead to Cardiff made it through, first one in service between Crewe and Shrewsbury

 

[Jez]

Disappointing that 104 has been replaced with a 2 car 175 on the 1320 from Cardiff that was going to be my first 3 car 197.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Disappointing that 104 has been replaced with a 2 car 175 on the 1320 from Cardiff that was going to be my first 3 car 197.

Yes, I was planning to catch it from Newport to Cardiff too.

 

[Jez]

Yes, I was planning to catch it from Newport to Cardiff too.

Might have seen you on it! I'm going for the 1522 now hopefully that won't be subbed.. know it won't be a 3 car but its one I need. Just seen a pair of 197s arrive from Holyhead on Platform 3 and go empty to depot.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Might have seen you on it! I'm going for the 1522 now hopefully that won't be subbed.. know it won't be a 3 car but its one I need. Just seen a pair of 197s arrive from Holyhead on Platform 3 and go empty to depot.

Not one I personally need, I haven’t had a winner come through in weeks and 197104 would have been the first, which is why it’s so typical that’s the one they allocated an unsuitable driver to.

 

[Jez]

Not one I personally need, I haven’t had a winner come through in weeks and 197104 would have been the first, which is why it’s so typical that’s the one they allocated an unsuitable driver to.

I need all apart from 012 021 and 042

I also had the opportunity to travel on a 170 Bridgend to Cardiff Central. Rather busy due to lack of GWR service but not nearly as bad as I expected.

 

[sd0733]

Not one I personally need, I haven’t had a winner come through in weeks and 197104 would have been the first, which is why it’s so typical that’s the one they allocated an unsuitable driver to.

Nothing to do with the driver, it was due an exam at Chester.
It was only was sent to Holyhead last night to avoid a cancellation as there was a lack of working 197s after the booked units failed earlier on. so it was never going to make it to Cardiff.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Nothing to do with the driver, it was due an exam at Chester.
It was only was sent to Holyhead last night to avoid a cancellation as there was a lack of working 197s after the booked units failed earlier on. so it was never going to make it to Cardiff.

Ahh I see, thanks for the clarification

 

[Jez]

Well I had my first journey on a 197 in the South of Wales today between Cardiff to Newport, 197009 did the honours today. 4 of the 197s down another 73 to go lol!. The information screens and announcements were switched on. A good amount of passengers but not overly busy. I could have quite happily stayed on for longer than Newport!

And thanks TT-ONR-NRN for getting onto the train just minutes before departure to say hello. It would have been nice to have chatted longer lol. Hopefully next time!

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[Anonymous10]

Well I had my first journey on a 197 in the South of Wales today between Cardiff to Newport, 197009 did the honours today. 4 of the 197s down another 73 to go lol!. The information screens and announcements were switched on. A good amount of passengers but not overly busy. I could have quite happily stayed on for longer than Newport!

And thanks TT-ONR-NRN for getting onto the train just minutes before departure to say hello. It would have been nice to have chatted longer lol. Hopefully next time!

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Moments like that you use mobile ticketing

 

[childwallblues]

I note that 197111 is on 0620 Wrexham General to Liverpool Lime Street this morning. Is this its first day in service?