Portsmouth Harbour-Cardiff Central GWR

[ValleyLines142]

I am aware that 5 car 165 diagrams are (sometimes)scheduled on the Cardiff - Portsmouth route, I know that 3 car 158s also run, I have never myself seen a 5 car 158 on this route, have they ever?

Yes, although not often now.

 

[Snow1964]

I am aware that 5 car 165 diagrams are (sometimes)scheduled on the Cardiff - Portsmouth route, I know that 3 car 158s also run, I have never myself seen a 5 car 158 on this route, have they ever?

Used to be happen fairly frequently until timetable changed in the Spring, very rare now.

Some early and late trains occasionally seem to get extra unit between Bristol and Westbury, presumably as way of moving them without extra working, even seen 3 158s coupled

 

[Sun Chariot]

I am aware that 5 car 165 diagrams are (sometimes)scheduled on the Cardiff - Portsmouth route, I know that 3 car 158s also run, I have never myself seen a 5 car 158 on this route, have they ever?

Not to my knowledge since the timetable changeover.

The remaining 3-car sets (in post 53) are Exeter based, for Devon / Cornwall services. The Cardiff-Portsmouth services turn out 158s (2-car or 4-car), or 165 / 166 sets varying 2-, 3- 4- or 5-car combinations.

 

[fgwrich]

Not to my knowledge since the timetable changeover.

The remaining 3-car sets (in post 53) are Exeter based, for Devon / Cornwall services. The Cardiff-Portsmouth services turn out 158s (2-car or 4-car), or 165 / 166 sets varying 2-, 3- 4- or 5-car combinations.

It does still occasionally happen - I travelled on a 5 car 158 set a few weeks back (the 6th) on the 20:23 Portsmouth - Cardiff service.

 

[Sun Chariot]

It does still occasionally happen - I travelled on a 5 car 158 set a few weeks back (the 6th) on the 20:23 Portsmouth - Cardiff service.

Interesting. Thanks. I'll keep a close eye on Realtime Trains' set consist info, in case a similar 158 3+2 consist turns up before the days become too grey and unphotogenic.

 

[fgwrich]

Interesting. Thanks. I'll keep a close eye on Realtime Trains' set consist info, in case a similar 158 3+2 consist turns up before the days become too grey and unphotogenic.

Annoyingly I thought I'd screenshotted it but I cant find it and RTT has timed out now. It certainly gave me a bit of a run down the platform to ask the guard if I could use it as SWR had very much gone up the creek that evening.

 

[Anonymous10]

I am aware that 5 car 165 diagrams are (sometimes)scheduled on the Cardiff - Portsmouth route, I know that 3 car 158s also run, I have never myself seen a 5 car 158 on this route, have they ever?

Yes I took one a few months ago

 

[Incogcyclist79]

Annoyingly I thought I'd screenshotted it but I cant find it and RTT has timed out now. It certainly gave me a bit of a run down the platform to ask the guard if I could use it as SWR had very much gone up the creek that evening.

Hi fgwrich this link should work.

Realtime Trains | 1F34 2023 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central | 06/09/2023

Real-time train running information for 1F34 2023 departure from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central on 06/09/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[fgwrich]

Hi fgwrich this link should work.

Realtime Trains | 1F34 2023 Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central | 06/09/2023

Real-time train running information for 1F34 2023 departure from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central on 06/09/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Perfect, cheers. Thought the rear unit was 760 but couldn’t remember which of the /9s had escaped from Devon.

 

[Pokelet]

This has probably been mentioned before, and I know they might not initially be cleared for the southern part of the route but 175's ran as 5 cars would be ideal for this route, better than a 165/6 and probably similar to a 158. GWR have experience with the 180's and I seem to remember they really improved the reliability when they took them back from Hull Trains.q

 

[JonathanH]

This has probably been mentioned before

It has been mentioned before, and discredited before.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...otential-solutions.252805/page-8#post-6403386

 

[Snow1964]

If look at today as an example from Portsmouth

1F06 5car, 165+166
1F08 5car, 165+166
1F10 2car, 165 (failed at Westbury, WSB-CDF canx)
1F12 3car, 166
1F14 3car, 158/9
1F16 3car, 166
1F18 3car, 165
1F20 3car, 165
1F22 (repeats, as 1F06)

So basically got 2 5car, nil 4car, 5 3car, 0.5 2car, 0.5 no car
an average of 3.25 cars per train

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

If look at today as an example from Portsmouth

1F06 5car, 165+166
1F08 5car, 165+166
1F10 2car, 165 (failed at Westbury, WSB-CDF canx)
1F12 3car, 166
1F14 3car, 158/9
1F16 3car, 166
1F18 3car, 165
1F20 3car, 165
1F22 (repeats, as 1F06)

So basically got 2 5car, nil 4car, 5 3car, 0.5 2car, 0.5 no car
an average of 3.25 cars per train

That's quite a few Turbos and less 158s than is booked.

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like lack of rolling stock (yet again) today for some workings, but why schedule mix of 2car and 5car 158s, why not swap the 3car and single 2car

1F06 3car blue 166
1F08 3car 166
1F10 4car 158
1F12 5car 158
1F14 3car 166
1F16 4car 158
1F18 2car 158
1F20 nothing yet allocated

Interestingly 165s have become much more rare (thankfully as only ever fitted out for short journeys)

 

[Sun Chariot]

158959 is becoming regular on this route.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Sep 2023 ==

165s have become much more rare (thankfully as only ever fitted out for short journeys)

165103 is rostered for 1F11 Cardiff-Pompey and, I presume, it will be allocated to 1F20 Pompey-Cardiff.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Interestingly 165s have become much more rare (thankfully as only ever fitted out for short journeys)

While 2 cars have, because of GWR infuriatingly ditching plans for a consistent 5 car service, unfortunately 3-165s seem to turn up very regularly in lieu of 166s these days.

 

[Sun Chariot]

While 2 cars have, because of GWR infuriatingly ditching plans for a consistent 5 car service, unfortunately 3-165s seem to turn up very regularly in lieu of 166s these days.

I.agree it's rare to see a single 2-car 165 on the service. They do appear fairly regularly mated with a 3-car 165/166; examples are attatched on posts #23 and #57.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I.agree it's rare to see a single 2-car 165 on the service. They do appear fairly regularly mated with a 3-car 165/166; examples are attatched on posts #23 and #57.

I’m aware they’re diagrammed to run, but on a far more minor scale than originally intended.

 

[158760]

I.agree it's rare to see a single 2-car 165 on the service. They do appear fairly regularly mated with a 3-car 165/166; examples are attatched on posts #23 and #57.

Rare, but unfortunately not unseen. Have been stuck onboard a 2 car turbo from Westbury - Portsmouth and it’s very unpleasant at the best of times. Going back to the old Turbo vs Sprinter argument but I’d choose 158 any day of the week. The 3 seat is used as a 2 seat and the 2 seat is used as a 1: on paper higher capacity but not in practice.

 

[Sun Chariot]

When I was young, a "twin Turbo" was a high performance car. These days, it's a cruel joke by the rostering dept...

First occasion that I have seen 6 carriages rostered onto a Portsmouth-Cardiff turn.

 

[Sun Chariot]

RTT shows a pair of 2-car 165s (137+136) for 1F15 (11:30 Cardiff-Pompey) - and a pair of 1589xx (958+951) on 1F09 (08:28 Cardiff-Pompey).

Here are Exeter exiles 158958 (as a 2-car) + 158951, shortly before crossing onto Portsea Island and to their destination.

 

[Snow1964]

Service is a shambols of short trains today
eg towards Portsmouth

1F01 2 cars
1F03 2 cars
1F05 2 cars
1F07 3 cars
1F09 2 cars
1F11 3 cars
1F13 4 cars
1F15 4 cars
1F17 2 cars
1F19 2 cars
1F21 2 cars

earlier in 2023 they changed from 5car to 4car formations, now look how short they are, not really acceptable for a regional inter city service serving 7 cities, to be treated like a local branch line.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Service is a shambols of short trains

Definitely more 2-car services cropping up, these past few days. Yet,.today also has a middle-of-day (I presume lower patronage) service comprising 6 cars. Here's RTT info.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Definitely more 2-car services cropping up, these past few days. Yet,.today also has a middle-of-day (I presume lower patronage) service comprising 6 cars. Here's RTT info.

That 6 car is nothing to do with patronage but to move a defective set back from Fratton to Bristol, the extra 3 car will more than likely be locked out of use.

 

[Sun Chariot]

That 6 car is nothing to do with patronage but to move a defective set back from Fratton to Bristol, the extra 3 car will more than likely be locked out of use.

Makes sense, I wondered why the inbound to Pompey was only a 3-car.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Would that achieve much ? That problem seems far more widespread than GWR. For example whenever there’s a heatwave the newly refurbished 11 car & original 9 car Pendilinos appear to suffer air conditioning failures in various coaches with no opening windows to mitigate either.

I doubt the HVACs were in scope rather than it being a warranty issue.

 

[Snow1964]

Apparently GWR have told some local media that there will be almost 9000 extra seats and 15 extra trains for Bath half Marathon this Sunday.

My first reaction was 600 seats each, about equivalent of 9car 166 !

But I suspect some will be expanded existing services.

Great Western Railway will provide almost 9,000 extra seats to carry runners and supporters to and from Bath this coming Sunday, 15th October, for the Bath Half Marathon.
Providing a quick and reliable way to make it to the start line, and get tired legs home again, GWR will operate 15 more trains on top of the usual Sunday timetable. This is a whopping 50% increase in services between 08:30am and 15:50pm.

Great Western Railway to operate 50% more trains for Bath Half Marathon this weekend

Great Western Railway will provide almost 9,000 extra seats to carry runners and supporters to and from Bath this coming Sunday, 15th October, for the Bath Half Marathon.

www.mnrjournal.co.uk

Looks like there are extra IET timed services 2C01, 2C02 Bristol-Westbury with set down only at Bath Spa tomorrow, although as they appear to be standard class only probably be long DMU formations

Realtime Trains | 2C01 0751 Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury | 15/10/2023

Real-time train running information for 2C01 0751 departure from Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury on 15/10/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also 2V01 and 2V02 Westbury-Bristol, unusually pathed as HST instead of a turbo or IET. But still rare to see IETs working local trains via Trowbridge (on Portsmouth-Cardiff route) instead of 158s and 165x, although as they are also standard class only, be interesting to see what actually turns up.

2C03 and 2V03 appear to be timed for turbos instead

 

[BrianW]

Apparently GWR have told some local media that there will be almost 9000 extra seats and 15 extra trains for Bath half Marathon this Sunday.

My first reaction was 600 seats each, about equivalent of 9car 166 !

But I suspect some will be expanded existing services.

Great Western Railway to operate 50% more trains for Bath Half Marathon this weekend

Great Western Railway will provide almost 9,000 extra seats to carry runners and supporters to and from Bath this coming Sunday, 15th October, for the Bath Half Marathon.

www.mnrjournal.co.uk

Looks like there are extra IET timed services 2C01, 2C02 Bristol-Westbury with set down only at Bath Spa tomorrow, although as they appear to be standard class only probably be long DMU formations

Realtime Trains | 2C01 0751 Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury | 15/10/2023

Real-time train running information for 2C01 0751 departure from Bristol Temple Meads to Westbury on 15/10/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also 2V01 and 2V02 Westbury-Bristol, unusually pathed as HST instead of a turbo or IET. But still rare to see IETs working local trains via Trowbridge (on Portsmouth-Cardiff route) instead of 158s and 165x, although as they are also standard class only, be interesting to see what actually turns up.

2C03 and 2V03 appear to be timed for turbos instead

So, how come these 'extras' can be whistled up at this time, while the service is otherwise so dire?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

So, how come these 'extras' can be whistled up at this time, while the service is otherwise so dire?

Because the specials are using IETs which aren’t normally used on this route.

 

[Wyrleybart]

There is an acute shortage of diesel stock made worse by Turbos going off for their bare minimum refresh

Furthermore even if you do get a seat it's a gamble if you will have a table leg room is woeful and some interiors are the shabbiest most neglected on the network punctuated by horrid announcements

There is NOT an acute shortage of stock, merely the DfT forcing operators to withdraw it from service and hand it back to the owners.
There are 68 perfectly usable trimode cars sat in Long Marston which would actually save a lot of gas oil by running AC Cardiff-Filton and DC Redbridge-Pompey. I believe the other 8 cars are receiving attention in Scotland - possibly because Scotland sometimes have a more enlightened to trains than the English do. Tho problem is the DfT prefer the operators to burn diesel because it gets them off the hook for not electrifying the network.

GWR could continue use of the Castles until they are replaced in a logical fleet renewal. Instead, the farepayers are offered a disgraceful service in exchange for sky high ticket prices while the promised five car Pompeys rarely appear. So let's not pretend there is an acute shortage of stock. It is merely an inept government department