TfW ‘Active Travel’ Class 153 progress updates

[strettonarms96]

Likewise curious about rollout? Not seen anything yet?

 

[StripeyNick]

Two of what I presume are the active travel units were outside Landore this afternoon......well, there were 2 freshly painted units visible though it wasn't possible to see anything of a new livery

 

[Bob Price]

Update. Two are done and were supposed to be launched last month, but were delayed due to election purdah - no good news during elections. They are due to be out testing first week of August. Two more are nearly complete and will follow.

 

[StripeyNick]

Update. Two are done and were supposed to be launched last month, but were delayed due to election purdah - no good news during elections. They are due to be out testing first week of August. Two more are nearly complete and will follow.

Sounds like someone was at the RCTS meeting last night! Lol

 

[BenBracken]

That’s great news. The next obvious question is are there any pictures floating around?! These will be a great addition to the HoWL as getting a bike in and about of a standard 153 is pretty awkward and trying to get out of the train via the narrow gangway is a pain and you end up right in the way of the guard. Will be interesting to see if this encourages more cyclists onto the line, I’ve not seen many bikes on there, it’s usually just me with one. Has the introduction of the Scotrail ones seen a visible improvement in cyclist numbers?

 

[StripeyNick]

That’s great news. The next obvious question is are there any pictures floating around?! These will be a great addition to the HoWL as getting a bike in and about of a standard 153 is pretty awkward and trying to get out of the train via the narrow gangway is a pain and you end up right in the way of the guard. Will be interesting to see if this encourages more cyclists onto the line, I’ve not seen many bikes on there, it’s usually just me with one. Has the introduction of the Scotrail ones seen a visible improvement in cyclist numbers?

I don't think any have surfaced. The guys at Landore are pretty good at keeping things secret. From what I could see of freshly painted units outside the depot the other week, the look to have a base colour of light bluey grey

 

[Anonymous10]

I don't think any have surfaced. The guys at Landore are pretty good at keeping things secret. From what I could see of freshly painted units outside the depot the other week, the look to have a base colour of light bluey grey

Quite they have done a good job of hiding it away from view with their shed and the stored 175s..

 

[BenBracken]

Just passed Landore on the train but didn’t get my phone out quickly enough. They are tucked in on the siding between the main sheds, from what I glimpsed there seemed to be a fresh paint job, looked blueish.

 

[Western 52]

Just passed Landore on the train but didn’t get my phone out quickly enough. They are tucked in on the siding between the main sheds, from what I glimpsed there seemed to be a fresh paint job, looked blueish.

Yes, I saw them there this morning. Looks like light blue with red doors.

 

[Jez]

Look forward to seeing them. When i passed Landore earlier on the train I could only see a MK4 set (LNER) and some 150s!

 

[strettonarms96]

Do we know what this is coming up the HOWL? Presumably a 153?

 

[Scottish-Exile]

Do we know what this is coming up the HOWL? Presumably a 153?

950 001 the TRU

 

[50002Superb]

352 looks the closest.

Externally it appears good to go.

 

[BillStampy]

Realtime Trains | 5F78 0835 Landore T.M.D. to Cardiff Central | 15/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5F78 0835 departure from Landore T.M.D. to Cardiff Central on 15/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Potential test run of an Active Travel 153, I saw it yesterday and does look fairly ready to go. Booked a Sprinter.

 

[Scottish-Exile]

Potential test run of an Active Travel 153, I saw it yesterday and does look fairly ready to go. Booked a Sprinter.

No. This is a shakedown run for 175 002 & 175 108

Active Travel runs may happen next week. Final decision on Friday.

 

[BillStampy]

No. This is a shakedown run for 175 002 & 175 108

Active Travel runs may happen next week. Final decision on Friday.

Ah okay, thanks for telling me what it is though! Caught a look at one of them yesterday aboard an IET, it does look good!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Aug 2024 ==

Realtime Trains | 3K00 0709 Landore T.M.D. to Cardiff Canton Sidings | 20/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 3K00 0709 departure from Landore T.M.D. to Cardiff Canton Sidings on 20/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Okay this time, first proper 153 (hopefully) movement, Landore to Canton.

 

[Scottish-Exile]

Okay this time, first proper 153 (hopefully) movement, Landore to Canton.

That won't be running. There will however be a later 175 shakedown run again to Cardiff & back. 175 111 & 114 departing LE 08:35

 

[RetroCrowe]

There's been a couple of RTT paths that looked like they might've been the first 153 test runs, but ended up being a false alarm - but these two next week look like the most promising to date, going up and down the HoW.

Realtime Trains | 3K02 0917 Swansea to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs | 21/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 3K02 0917 departure from Swansea to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs on 21/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 3K03 0950 Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs to Landore T.M.D. | 22/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 3K03 0950 departure from Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs to Landore T.M.D. on 22/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Scottish-Exile]

3K00, 01, 02 & 03 were indeed paths for the first proving runs of 153 531, however there are some last minute hoops & hurdles to complete before it can go out for a run. Hopefully not long now.

 

[DelW]

3K00, 01, 02 & 03 were indeed paths for the first proving runs of 153 531, however there are some last minute hoops & hurdles to complete before it can go out for a run. Hopefully not long now.

What are the changes that mean the units need to make solo ECS proving runs? I'd assumed that they were mechanically unchanged and that only the interiors had been modified, but maybe that's wrong. If the only changes were internal, presumably the only testing needed would be using them to carry passengers (or possibly staff volunteers simulating passengers).

 

[StripeyNick]

What are the changes that mean the units need to make solo ECS proving runs? I'd assumed that they were mechanically unchanged and that only the interiors had been modified, but maybe that's wrong. If the only changes were internal, presumably the only testing needed would be using them to carry passengers (or possibly staff volunteers simulating passengers).

The units came from store and haven't run for quite some time so I'd assume they'd need a bit of a shakedown to make sure all's well

 

[DelW]

The units came from store and haven't run for quite some time so I'd assume they'd need a bit of a shakedown to make sure all's well

Ah, I'd assumed they'd been taken from TfW's regular fleet. It makes sense if they've been in storage.

 

[StripeyNick]

Ah, I'd assumed they'd been taken from TfW's regular fleet. It makes sense if they've been in storage.

No, they're ex-Northern ones which I think came from storage at Long Marston

 

[AllWork]

Regarding the TfW Active Travel carriages which were due to be in place on the HoW line - does anyone have any updates?

Thanks!

 

[berneyarms]

Every post above yours is discussing them.

 

[AllWork]

Every post above yours is discussing them.

Yes. Mine got merged in to this thread (which I’d missed) so now I look like an idiot but there we go

 

[berneyarms]

Yes. Mine got merged in to this thread (which I’d missed) so now I look like an idiot but there we go

Ah no bother at all - you’re up to date!

 

[BenBracken]

Have any been out on runs yet? Passed Landore the other day and it looked like they were back in a shed!

 

[Jez]

I thought these were meant to have entered service by now? TFW dont seem to be able to introduce any fleet on time!

 

[sd0733]

I thought these were meant to have entered service by now? TFW dont seem to be able to introduce any fleet on time!

They were but various issues have held lots of projects up. Its not really a TfW thing, fleet introductions new and old for the last few years across the board have been pretty dismal.
AFAIK many of the delays have been supply chain and paperwork related.