Transport for Wales Class 230

[CaergwrleKen]

There is no chance of any short journeys and turnback as there are no crossovers on the route there used to be one at Penyffordd but it’s gone and they used to turn back at Dee Marsh if they were running late but it’s not allowed any more so that’s a no. Some people commenting just don’t understand the layout of the route. I have also heard from the staff that there might be a 197 on the route this week let’s see

 

[DLAYKEGER]

The major reason for the Wirral section being quieter is two issues. You can drive across Wirral to Spiital, Eastham Rake, Bromborough and Hooton and get 8 trains an hour to Liverpool without the risk of being stuck at Bidston for a connection for around an hour + when trains on the borderlands are cancelled / really late. Secondly in the bad old days of arriva, trains got turned round at Shotton on a regular basis and did not run on the Wirral section, when running late. There would be demand with a decent service as places like Heswall are rich commuter towns in West Wirral. During a fuel blockade when petrol was scarse I heard 90 commuters turned up at Heswall to get a 7am train to Liverppol, rather than drive across Wirral or into Liverpool. There used to be a signal box and a switch at Heswall in the times of the Iron ore trains to the Steelworks but was removed years ago. At one point extra trains subsidised by Merseyside County ran. I think they turned around at Heswall. Maps in 1977 showed the Borderliand lne in Wirral Line Green with thick lines and running into Birkenhead North.

Running an extra service on the Wirral section (to provide a more competetive roughly every 20mins service to Shotton by using say a 777 battery train as an infil it could be a goer to stop people driving across wirral to other lines. That would need extra signals, and would require the 230s to run to time on the the new 45 min timetable along the full line and 2 way running between Dee Marsh and Shotton to turn around a 777 which I doubt is possible.. Hopefully the every 45min service using 230s will kickstart people using the line again after the own goals by TFW that wrecked demand. Then they can look to enhance services further. I can only hope

 

[RacsoMoquette]

It would be an absolute joy to see the line operating reliable Class 230s solely, Recently I travelled on 230008 from Bidston to Wrexham General on the day of the 5:08 Sunset farewell tour on the 29th October and it struck me at just how splendid those TFW 230s are. Apart from some antisocial youth behaviour around Neston and Shotton, and the occasional water ingress through a light fitting on the rear coach of the train, the journey was nippy, quick of the mark and excellent for the passenger, aswell as our guard being positive about how the units are now performing, however did say full 230 operation being unlikely due to 230006 being canibalised

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

It would be an absolute joy to see the line operating reliable Class 230s solely, Recently I travelled on 230008 from Bidston to Wrexham General on the day of the 5:08 Sunset farewell tour on the 29th October and it struck me at just how splendid those TFW 230s are. Apart from some antisocial youth behaviour around Neston and Shotton, and the occasional water ingress through a light fitting on the rear coach of the train, the journey was nippy, quick of the mark and excellent for the oupassenger, aswell as our guard being positive about how the units are now performing, however did say full 230 operation being unlikely due to 230006 being canibalised

You don't often see the word "reliable" in the same sentence as "Class 230".

 

[RacsoMoquette]

I do have faith in the 230s operating reliably, especially how LNWRs examples reliability significantly improved in the months leading up to Vivarails administration.

 

[43096]

I do have faith in the 230s operating reliably, especially how LNWRs examples reliability significantly improved in the months leading up to Vivarails administration.

The improvement on the Bedford-Bletchley sets was down VivaRail’s engineers, who have a good record of improving reliability. They are now working elsewhere, with reliable fleets.

 

[L401CJF]

It would be an absolute joy to see the line operating reliable Class 230s solely, Recently I travelled on 230008 from Bidston to Wrexham General on the day of the 5:08 Sunset farewell tour on the 29th October and it struck me at just how splendid those TFW 230s are. Apart from some antisocial youth behaviour around Neston and Shotton, and the occasional water ingress through a light fitting on the rear coach of the train, the journey was nippy, quick of the mark and excellent for the passenger, aswell as our guard being positive about how the units are now performing, however did say full 230 operation being unlikely due to 230006 being canibalised

The general consensus from the paasengers onboard are still very much positive regarding the 230 interiors etc, they are popular. The poor reliability on the line over the last year has unfortunately put some people off for good.

The 230s themselves arnt causing much trouble at the moment.

230006 was being put back together and intended to go into service at some point, no idea how far along it is.

Leaking from light fittings is a known issue with Air con plumbing, apparently waiting some sort of piping modification.

Antisocial behaviour has always been an issue on this line, but has become really big issue this year. There was a big security and police operation on evening trains during the summer due to the sheer number of feral youths being abusive and vandalising etc.

Luckily seems to have calmed down now but unfortunately the line will never be free of it.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Antisocial behaviour has always been an issue on this line, but has become really big issue this year. There was a big security and police operation on evening trains during the summer due to the sheer number of feral youths being abusive and vandalising etc.

Luckily seems to have calmed down now but unfortunately the line will never be free of it.

Was there once a graffiti problem on some of the Class 230 units parked outside a depot?

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Does anyone know if that alleged Class 197 operated on the Borderlands Line this week?, as the where rumours stating that one may be used.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Does anyone know if that alleged Class 197 operated on the Borderlands Line this week?, as the where rumours stating that one may be used.

I thinkk this week one is now diagrammed BUT its been substituted all/most of those days. Check on RTT.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Does anyone know if that alleged Class 197 operated on the Borderlands Line this week?, as the where rumours stating that one may be used.

Substituted this week due to a lack of available 197s due to wheel flats.

 

[Invincible]

full 230 operation being unlikely due to 230006 being canibalised

Depending on what parts are missing, could TfW and GWR come to some arrangement to use some parts from the units parked at Reading, until new parts are sourced from suppliers which TfW, GWR and SWR may need at sometime?

 

[Zontar]

There had been a lull in the number of failures with the the 230s over the last couple of months. But that honeymoon has gone. I was on one other day and it failed, guard told me that they had had numerous failures all week. I see today is the same.
So....they don't like cold weather, hot weather, pollen and now leaves.

Bag of sh!....t

 

[Peter Sarf]

Depending on what parts are missing, could TfW and GWR come to some arrangement to use some parts from the units parked at Reading, until new parts are sourced from suppliers which TfW, GWR and SWR may need at sometime?

SWR ?.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

SWR ?.

Run the 484s on Island Line, of course.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

I have been monitoring RTT for a large portion of last week and I came to a conclusion that most of the 230 operated diagrams seemed to be running mainly on time, and the units allocated that were operated were mainly 008,007 and 009. I am interested to hear what variety of reliability problems that the units experienced last week?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Run the 484s on Island Line, of course.

DOH, of course - the DC ones I keep (trying to) forget them .

I have been monitoring RTT for a large portion of last week and I came to a conclusion that most of the 230 operated diagrams seemed to be running mainly on time, and the units allocated that were operated were mainly 008,007 and 009. I am interested to hear what variety of reliability problems that the units experienced last week?

Also 230010 was out Wednesday 15/11 iirc. Came off midday as out of hours (I take that to mean due a service). Was moving around Birkenhead North Depot on Thursday 16/11.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Speaking of 230010, it appears to be working at least the morning diagram today with the usual 150. All information reliably sourced from RTT.

 

[L401CJF]

Speaking of 230010, it appears to be working at least the morning diagram today with the usual 150. All information reliably sourced from RTT.

Indeed it appears so according to internal systems. 230008 should be this afternoons unit. I believe the units don't really need swapping mid afternoon anymore but it's been left alone for now. When the new timetable kicks in I'm not sure if they'll still be swapped or if they're going to attempt the full day.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Also to what extent has 230006 been canibalised? Which parts have been taken apart then?

 

[Northerngirl]

As someone that wants to use the line more regularly, I have to say the timetable is a huge improvement in the evenings, as currently there's usually a 2+ hour gap after 6pm, whereas the new timetable seems to be fairly consistent 45 min services.
Also, I can't help but think that if the new station at deeside ever happens, it would be the perfect candidate for where to reverse the 777s, but that's wishful thinking

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Speaking of 230010, it appears to be working at least the morning diagram today with the usual 150. All information reliably sourced from RTT.

Just so you know, this can't always be relied on 100% as the data source from which the website fuels "Know Your Train" is often wrong. For example, I went out to Newport to get on 197045, which was down on RTT as working a service from Holyhead to Cardiff, and 197013 materialised. It turned out 197045 had been on Manchester Llandudno trundles all day instead!

 

[lrailadventure]

Does anyone know if that alleged Class 197 operated on the Borderlands Line this week?, as the where rumours stating that one may be used.

Not sure if it's happened on any previous days, but there is a 197 (197050) out on the borderlands line today. It's currently running around 20 late..

Realtime Trains | 0933 Bidston to Wrexham General | 30/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 0933 departure from Bidston to Wrexham General on 30/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

[A link to Realtime trains for the 0933 Bidston to Wrexham Central operated by 197050]

 

[L401CJF]

Not sure if it's happened on any previous days, but there is a 197 (197050) out on the borderlands line today. It's currently running around 20 late..

Realtime Trains | 0933 Bidston to Wrexham General | 30/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 0933 departure from Bidston to Wrexham General on 30/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

[A link to Realtime trains for the 0933 Bidston to Wrexham Central operated by 197050]

And was cancelled at Wrexham General due to the delay on that link!

 

[lrailadventure]

And was cancelled at Wrexham General due to the delay on that link!

So was the 230 running an hour in front of it.

The line doesn't allow delay recovery with it's ridiculous turn around times and I doubt the ice and slippy rails will be helping the cause this morning...

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Does anybody know what date in December 2023 the new Borderlands Line timetable will come into effect? Apparently utilising two 230s replacing the current one 150 and one 230 diagrams.

 

[Ribbleman]

Does anybody know what date in December 2023 the new Borderlands Line timetable will come into effect? Apparently utilising two 230s replacing the current one 150 and one 230 diagrams.

10th December is the date when many timetables change throughout Britain. The new 45 minute frequency between Bidston and Wrexham requires 2 x 230 and 1 x 197. That is the plan but the continuing awful record of both types of unit on the service must cast severe doubt as to whether that plan will work.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Hopefully if TFW use Class 230 units on more diagrams, maybe reliability will increase due to improved crew familiarization of the units, while surely the engines being used on a more frequent basis will continue to support steady reliability.
A similar story aroused with LNWRs 230s, as initially when one diagram was a train and one a replacement bus reliability was awfully poor, however during the latter half of 2022 when both diagrams were 230s reliability actually improved significantly, just unfortunate that Vivarails demise ceased that positive period for those units.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

10th December is the date when many timetables change throughout Britain. The new 45 minute frequency between Bidston and Wrexham requires 2 x 230 and 1 x 197. That is the plan but the continuing awful record of both types of unit on the service must cast severe doubt as to whether that plan will work.

Unfair castigation of the 197s. The 230 has performed consistently abysmally, we are still in the first week of the 197s being booked for the service and yes, it's lost time, but it's working to 230 timings. The 197s, being a mainline medium/long-distance unit as opposed to a converted metro stock, naturally take longer.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

We are back to the trusty 150 today! Maybe a 197 will be used later, all information reliably taken from RTT.