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

[GWVillager]

People more familiar with the 19x will likely have a better idea, but could that be part of the Air Conditioning? Most random noises I typically attribute to air con/circulation systems.

I believe it is, yes. You get it on the 196s as well, though I can’t say I’ve ever heard it on a 195.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

I believe it is, yes. You get it on the 196s as well, though I can’t say I’ve ever heard it on a 195.

Also happens on 195s. I also assume it’s the air conditioning.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I can’t say I’ve ever heard it on a 195.

I used to get a 195 for my commute before a timetable change so that's why I thought air con, I thought it was either that or the AWS but I had a feeling that would be more identifiable by someone on these forums.

 

[BenBracken]

Ever been to Tenby in January? It’s closed Traffic down there is very seasonal, whereas Haverfordwest/Milford has a greater volume of commuters, workers associated with the oil and gas industry, students etc. Fishguard has foot passengers for the ferry, more so than Pembroke Dock as the line runs right to the terminal. Haverfordwest station always has a buzz of people on it anytime there is a train and is the only one in Pembrokeshire left with a booking clerk!

I may have answered my own question again, about the introduction of 197s on PD branch, going for May 2024 to get them on there for the summer season. Are there any know issues at all with any of the platforms or tunnel? I know the IETs had a few issues initially. Was great to see them back down there this year on the summer Saturdays service again.

 

[berneyarms]

I may have answered my own question again, about the introduction of 197s on PD branch, going for May 2024 to get them on there for the summer season. Are there any know issues at all with any of the platforms or tunnel? I know the IETs had a few issues initially. Was great to see them back down there this year on the summer Saturdays service again.

There were no issues about Narberth Tunnel and the IETs - it was a load of unsubstantiated rumours. It required no modification work.

 

[The_Train]

Took a 197 for the first time today - 197047 between Cardiff and Carmarthen this afternoon. The ride quality for a new train was absolutely shocking it was particularly bad west of Swansea. I was sat above the bogies, but the clanking, banging and “hunting” of the bogies could be clearly felt inside the train and through the seat Has anyone else experienced this dubious ride quality? The interior is just like a GWR IET… hard, thin seats and cheap plastic fittings that annoyingly rattle when the train is travelling at speed. I certainly wouldn’t fancy a long journey on one of these all the way from West Wales to Manchester. Whatever happened to passenger comfort? I’ll 100% be opting for the 67 and MK IV sets if I need to travel up the Marches line in the future.

I've not experienced a 197 yet but it doesn't surprise me to read this considering how bad the ride quality is on the 195s and more particularly the 331s. Going over any sort of points/junctions on a 331 feels like hitting a large pothole when driving on our roads - utterly horrendous!

 

[Rhydgaled]

There were no issues about Narberth Tunnel and the IETs - it was a load of unsubstantiated rumours. It required no modification work.

The Narberth tunnel IEP claims did turn out to be rumours, but they were not entirely unsubstantiated. "Unsubstantiated" means "not supported or proven by evidence" and in that case I'm pretty sure the rumours were supported (though not proven) by evidence. Wasn't there a map, published by the DfT, which showed which routes would be cleared for the new IEP trains with their 26m carriages (and Carmarthen to Pembroke Dock was not shown as being cleared on said map)?

The fact remains that it is a tight tunnel; however since the class 800s and 802s have been found to fit after all the Cavity Abominations will probably also fit just fine.

 

[Thunderer]

Ever been to Tenby in January? It’s closed Traffic down there is very seasonal, whereas Haverfordwest/Milford has a greater volume of commuters, workers associated with the oil and gas industry, students etc. Fishguard has foot passengers for the ferry, more so than Pembroke Dock as the line runs right to the terminal. Haverfordwest station always has a buzz of people on it anytime there is a train and is the only one in Pembrokeshire left with a booking clerk!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Oct 2023 ==


They have an annoying whine that goes off randomly as well!

Yes I heard that..it sounds like a vacuum cleaner starting up I thought it was the air conditioning? Yes 100% with you on that one…it is annoying and it seems to occur every few minutes

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Yes I heard that..it sounds like a vacuum cleaner starting up I thought it was the air conditioning? Yes 100% with you on that one…it is annoying and it seems to occur every few minutes

The 195s and 331s also make the sudden WHOOOSH sound too.

 

[sd0733]

197106 is now accepted.

106 was due to enter service on 03:51 Chester to Manchester this morning but failed before departure and was replaced by 102.

Next ones should be 197103 and 197108.

197115 has been delivered to Crewe

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

197102 and 197106 are now accepted.

106 was due to enter service on 03:51 Chester to Manchester this morning but failed before departure and was replaced by 102.

Next ones should be 197103 and 197108.

197115 has been delivered to Crewe

Thank you very much for this update

 

[sd0733]

Thank you very much for this update

Slightly jumped the gun on 102, was actually replaced by 002 but was a typo on the log .

102 is in the process though so shouldn't be far off along with the other two mentioned.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

106 has started this morning on 0552 Chester to Manchester.

 

[BenBracken]

This may have been discussed elsewhere and sound like a daft question but how come the 197s don’t have yellow ends? I thought it was a big safety thing for the track workers? Or has that policy gone now on the UK network?

 

[L401CJF]

This may have been discussed elsewhere and sound like a daft question but how come the 197s don’t have yellow ends? I thought it was a big safety thing for the track workers? Or has that policy gone now on the UK network?

If the headlights meet a certain spec then the yellow ends arnt required, if I remember rightly.

 

[AdamWW]

If the headlights meet a certain spec then the yellow ends arnt required, if I remember rightly.

That's my understanding.

And it seems that the 398's turned out not to meet them and have had yellow paint added (temporarily?) to the fronts.

 

[CardiffKid]

And it seems that the 398's turned out not to meet them and have had yellow paint added (temporarily?) to the fronts.

Yes temporarily, should be sorted by the time they make it (eventually) into service.

 

[Jez]

Took a 197 for the first time today - 197047 between Cardiff and Carmarthen this afternoon. The ride quality for a new train was absolutely shocking it was particularly bad west of Swansea. I was sat above the bogies, but the clanking, banging and “hunting” of the bogies could be clearly felt inside the train and through the seat Has anyone else experienced this dubious ride quality? The interior is just like a GWR IET… hard, thin seats and cheap plastic fittings that annoyingly rattle when the train is travelling at speed. I certainly wouldn’t fancy a long journey on one of these all the way from West Wales to Manchester. Whatever happened to passenger comfort? I’ll 100% be opting for the 67 and MK IV sets if I need to travel up the Marches line in the future.

I had a ride from Neath to Carmarthen and back on 197s in both direction today. I sat above the bogie on the return journey and I did notice the ride quality was shall we say eventful! I moved seats at Pembrey and it was much better. The trains are definately quieter West of Swansea compared to East of Swansea.

Good to see so many 197s in service in South/West Wales. There were 3 different 197s at Swansea when i alighted there on the return journey.

 

[Thunderer]

I had a ride from Neath to Carmarthen and back on 197s in both direction today. I sat above the bogie on the return journey and I did notice the ride quality was shall we say eventful! I moved seats at Pembrey and it was much better. The trains are definately quieter West of Swansea compared to East of Swansea.

Good to see so many 197s in service in South/West Wales. There were 3 different 197s at Swansea when i alighted there on the return journey.

You noticed it too then? Yes, its a far less “eventful” ride if you sit in the middle of the coach and not above the bogies lesson learned for me for the next time I travel on a 197

 

[childwallblues]

197009 and 197020 are on the Chester to Liverpool Lime Street today. I think this is 020 first time on the service.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

197009 and 197020 are on the Chester to Liverpool Lime Street today. I think this is 020 first time on the service.

Fairly sure 020 has been up there before... its been in service for months now.

 

[BenBracken]

You’ve answered your own question. The shuttles are because the 197s now work the bulk of the service and can’t go forward to Milford until December. The remaining 175/1s go off lease at the end of October (All 175/0s and most 175/1s already gone) and that lease cannot be extended. In my opinion, running Carmarthen to Milford shuttles is a lot better than even longer with clapped out 150s doing the full route.

Speaking to people that have been using the service this week it doesn’t sound like there’s always a shiny 197 pulling up in Carmarthen. The connection I caught up on Monday was twin 153s all the way to Manchester and apparently they have made people wait 40 mins in Carmarthen to get back on the same train to Milford!

 

[Jez]

Speaking to people that have been using the service this week it doesn’t sound like there’s always a shiny 197 pulling up in Carmarthen. The connection I caught up on Monday was twin 153s all the way to Manchester and apparently they have made people wait 40 mins in Carmarthen to get back on the same train to Milford!

Not every service will be able to be a 197 just yet as there are still only so many of them in service at the moment. But there has been a massive stepping up this week with more than half of services Cardiff/Swansea to Carmarthen formed of 197s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2023 ==

You noticed it too then? Yes, its a far less “eventful” ride if you sit in the middle of the coach and not above the bogies lesson learned for me for the next time I travel on a 197

yes same here. I moved seats at Pembrey to the middle of the other carriage for this very reason!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2023 ==

A quick question re overnight arrangements for the 197s. Are 197s able to stable overnight in Carmarthen as ive noticed the early services seem to be Sprinters at the moment.

 

[anthony263]

Not every service will be able to be a 197 just yet as there are still only so many of them in service at the moment. But there has been a massive stepping up this week with more than half of services Cardiff/Swansea to Carmarthen formed of 197s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2023 ==


yes same here. I moved seats at Pembrey to the middle of the other carriage for this very reason!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Oct 2023 ==

A quick question re overnight arrangements for the 197s. Are 197s able to stable overnight in Carmarthen as ive noticed the early services seem to be Sprinters at the moment.

Some problems this morning. 197002 was supposed to do the 0535 Cardiff Central to Carmarthen service then.the 0759 Carmarthen to Cardiff service. However it didn't depart Cardiff till 0639 and the 0759 was worked by a pair of class 153s instead

 

[Diedinium]

Interesting thing I've noticed for today by the way:

Realtime Trains | 1W59 1343 Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly | 22/10/2023

Real-time train running information for 1W59 1343 departure from Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly on 22/10/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

RTT is saying that the 1343 Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly service is going to be a 5 car 197 formation made of 104 + 042. Can anyone confirm if this actually runs? Also, is this the first time a 5 car 197 has run on the Cardiff - Manchester route?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Interesting thing I've noticed for today by the way:

View attachment 145216

Realtime Trains | 1W59 1343 Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly | 22/10/2023

Real-time train running information for 1W59 1343 departure from Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly on 22/10/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

RTT is saying that the 1343 Swansea to Manchester Piccadilly service is going to be a 5 car 197 formation made of 104 + 042. Can anyone confirm if this actually runs? Also, is this the first time a 5 car 197 has run on the Cardiff - Manchester route?

If it does run as such, I imagine the 2 car will be locked out, as only cleared up to 4 car max in service. Unless things have changed.

 

[Diedinium]

If it does run as such, I imagine the 2 car will be locked out, as only cleared up to 4 car max in service. Unless things have changed.

Yep, it changed to 042 and 047, now a 4 car formation - must've been a mistake from RTT or NR train assignment system.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Yep, it changed to 042 and 047, now a 4 car formation - must've been a mistake from RTT or NR train assignment system.

Won’t be a mistake by RTT. It displays the data it is fed by the TOCs. Will have been an updated allocation.

 

[sd0733]

If it does run as such, I imagine the 2 car will be locked out, as only cleared up to 4 car max in service. Unless things have changed.

Still 4 car max. Its swapped to a 4 car anyway now.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 22 Oct 2023 ==

Yep, it changed to 042 and 047, now a 4 car formation - must've been a mistake from RTT or NR train assignment system.

104 was on the diagram earlier in the day rather than a 2 car so everything is showing right and was still shown on internal systems too.
It's now been swapped off the diagram and the 2 car put in its place and the allocations visible updated.

 

[Envoy]

Why does it take so long to allow a 5 car train? I thought they had selective door opening for short platforms.