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Ex LNER (and Grand Central) Mark 4 sets for TfW

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sd0733

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MP393 said:
I guess with it now sticking to this diagram it gets it back home to ATC which may make a Loco change easier if there’s one knocking about.
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Yes, that's indeed the plan. Get it to Crewe tonight and swap for 67025 which is spare on ATC, 67010 will now go onto HD07 and 67012 will now go onto locoless HD04 which is on exam so just needs power.
HD02 is also planned back out on the 16:49 from Cardiff tonight.
 
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Jamesrob637

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I asked back on 21.08 when the 14:49 from Cardiff and corresponding 18:30 from Manchester were due to change to booked Mk4 operation. Haven't received a definitive answer yet.
 
BillStampy

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Jamesrob637 said:
I asked back on 21.08 when the 14:49 from Cardiff and corresponding 18:30 from Manchester were due to change to booked Mk4 operation. Haven't received a definitive answer yet.
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The first date I can see on RTT is the 9th of September, since the first week of September shows the North services as standard only and South bound as Standard and First, so I'm unsure about it. But the one with all First and Standard seating is the 9th. So potentially then. Might be wrong though..
 
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sd0733

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BillStampy said:
The first date I can see on RTT is the 9th of September, since the first week of September shows the North services as standard only and South bound as Standard and First, so I'm unsure about it. But the one with all First and Standard seating is the 9th. So potentially then. Might be wrong though..
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That was a date that has been mentioned in the past. First Class fares are available but no advances, once they start to appear it'll be more of a definite.
It would seem the sudden drop of availability/reliability this last week has damaged confidence for the extra set, diagram coverage had been 100% for the month, the only subs were a couple of sets getting stranded by infrastructure issues and were offset by a couple of sets covering for 197s to get them back but this last week has seen several faults and failures.

For the time being the diagram is now booked a 4-car 197 so at least its better capacity wise than the 2/3 it was but hopefully the extra diagram comes out very soon, a definitive date can't be given at this point though as there isn't one just yet.
 
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BillStampy

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sd0733

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Jamesrob637 said:
OK I'm cautiously optimistic for week commencing 9th of September. Thanks all.
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Currently, it looks as if plans have changed (again) and now for a few reasons including the latest spell of poor reliabiltity it's looking more and more unlikely to happen then.

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Due to HD07 not being repaired in time from its parking brake issues the diagram starting with 04:35 from Canton and ending with the evening Swansea will be a unit tomorrow (Saturday). There is a spare set at Crewe but using that unbalance things on Sunday/Monday
 
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BillStampy

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Jacob Porrett said:
Crewe depot today (30/8/24):
67012 HD04
67020 HD02
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I believe HD04 is under a light or heavy exam at the moment after arriving from Holyhead, so that'll stay there for a bit longer. HD06 was there too until running 1V31 to Cardiff. HD02 is also out and about running. Unless HD01 is a spare set on Crewe, then I don't know. HD03 is also out and about on the Swansea start, with HD05 at Holyhead. The other diagram is covered by 2x 153s thanks to HD07 not being fixed in time.
 
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raveon

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I was booking into 1st on the 0830 from Manchester to Cardiff this morning, looking forward to a nice breakfast….I’m now sat on a cramped & noisy 2 car 153 :{; to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Is it worth complaining or will they just shrug their shoulders and say ‘short notice changes can happen due to operational reasons blah blah…’
 
BillStampy

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raveon said:
I was booking into 1st on the 0830 from Manchester to Cardiff this morning, looking forward to a nice breakfast….I’m now sat on a cramped & noisy 2 car 153 :{; to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Is it worth complaining or will they just shrug their shoulders and say ‘short notice changes can happen due to operational reasons blah blah…’
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If I was you I'd complain and ask for a refund of your first class ticket back down to the price of standard, as I believe TfW do offer that when something replaces a Mark 4.
 
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There is still a set of mk4s at Bristol Barton Hill, although if they are just parked or actively being worked on, I don't know.

When I passed yesterday morning an XC 170 was there too.


BillStampy said:
If I was you I'd complain and ask for a refund of your first class ticket back down to the price of standard, as I believe TfW do offer that when something replaces a Mark 4.
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The published policy says only repaid difference to a walk up standard fare, and nothing if that was more than First class advance fare

Can I claim compensation if I paid for a First Class seat and there were none available?​

If you have paid for a First Class ticket and no First Class seats are available (or where a First Class carriage was advertised but not available), then you will be able to claim through the TRAIN COMPANY for the difference in fare between your fare and a walk-up standard class fare for the same service. Please note that occasionally a promotional or Advance First Class fare can be cheaper than the walk-up Standard Class fare and in these cases you may not be entitled to any money back.
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Envoy

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raveon said:
I was booking into 1st on the 0830 from Manchester to Cardiff this morning, looking forward to a nice breakfast….I’m now sat on a cramped & noisy 2 car 153 :{; to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Is it worth complaining or will they just shrug their shoulders and say ‘short notice changes can happen due to operational reasons blah blah…’
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Which just goes to show that we still can’t trust TfW to deliver.
 
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raveon said:
I was booking into 1st on the 0830 from Manchester to Cardiff this morning, looking forward to a nice breakfast….I’m now sat on a cramped & noisy 2 car 153 :{; to say I’m disappointed is an understatement. Is it worth complaining or will they just shrug their shoulders and say ‘short notice changes can happen due to operational reasons blah blah…’
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Very disappointing that this still happens many months on.

At the very least you will be entitled to a refund of the difference in price between standard and first class, but you may get more as a gesture of goodwill if you write a strong complaint. I wouldnt bother on social media as you tend to get a 1 line reply about them having many trains out for repair and how things will get better when all new trains are in service. You would be better off emailing or writing to TFW.

Ususally a 3 car 197 is provided when the MK4 isnt available and in my opinion I think 197s are obviously better than any Sprinter. But the 197s seem to be struggling themselves to cover their own diagrams recently. So they have had to resort to a pair of 153s.
 
Topological

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Is the problem 197s, or is it that 197s are still working diagrams in South Wales that are meant to be operated with one of the other new fleets?

It might help if TfW got all the Cambrian 197s into service.
 
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Topological said:
Is the problem 197s, or is it that 197s are still working diagrams in South Wales that are meant to be operated with one of the other new fleets?

It might help if TfW got all the Cambrian 197s into service.
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Well at the moment 197s are booked onto a few routes that will eventually be operated by other fleets - not just in the South but the 2 that are on Bidston as well. But they seem to be struggling to cover even their current booked workings.

MK4 availability has been very good recently so its disappointing it isnt at the moment.
 
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The thing with these Mk4's is that every couple of weeks we seem to have the same discussion about poor reliability, then there will be a short period where reliability is really good and even maybe a spare set, then back to square one about poor reliability. Sad to say I don't think there'll ever be a time where there will be a long term consistently good service from these sets no matter how much work or modifications is put into them.

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Topological said:
Is the problem 197s, or is it that 197s are still working diagrams in South Wales that are meant to be operated with one of the other new fleets?

It might help if TfW got all the Cambrian 197s into service.
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197 availability in general has taken a dip over the past few weeks.
The 197's that are covering for other fleets are the ones that would've allowed the much needed 4, 5 & 6 car Manchester - North Wales & South Wales services.
The Cambrian ones can only enter service when the Cambrian is ready for them as they are being maintained by Machynlleth Depot. Chester don't have the capacity to take on them as well.
 
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Topological

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The decision to use Chester over a brownfield site (a la Maliphant in Swansea compared to Landore, for example) has again created a cost to TfW. I hope that if nothing else, we will look at rail-connected sites when introducing new fleets over trying to balance everything from existing facilities.

Getting more Mk4 from LNER seems an option, but hopefully an eye is being placed on the future post Mk4 on TfW and the transition there will not be so reliant on everything working perfectly at every stage.
 
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sd0733

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BillStampy said:
I believe HD04 is under a light or heavy exam at the moment after arriving from Holyhead, so that'll stay there for a bit longer
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HD04 is on a B (heavier) exam so will be there for around a week more.

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BillStampy said:
Unless HD01 is a spare set on Crewe
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Yes HD01 is spare at Crewe quite suprised it's not been used on a part diagram really.

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Jez said:
MK4 availability has been very good recently so its disappointing it isnt at the momoment.
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It is really. Availability for the 4 diagrams had been at 100% for the month of August until just a few days ago. It's still around 95% coverage though.

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Caaardiff said:
The thing with these Mk4's is that every couple of weeks we seem to have the same discussion about poor reliability, then there will be a short period where reliability is really good and even maybe a spare set, then back to square one about poor reliability.
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1 diagram has been swapped it's miles away from being back at square one. Unfortunately Saturdays are the most vulnerable as it requires an extra set as one Is in Holyhead.
There's 2 servicable spare sets today even one in Holyhead and one in Crewe. There's been a couple of issues, yes, but that doesn't put them to anywhere near where things were a few weeks/months back.
 
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raveon

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Jez said:
Very disappointing that this still happens many months on.

At the very least you will be entitled to a refund of the difference in price between standard and first class, but you may get more as a gesture of goodwill if you write a strong complaint. I wouldnt bother on social media as you tend to get a 1 line reply about them having many trains out for repair and how things will get better when all new trains are in service. You would be better off emailing or writing to TFW.

Ususally a 3 car 197 is provided when the MK4 isnt available and in my opinion I think 197s are obviously better than any Sprinter. But the 197s seem to be struggling themselves to cover their own diagrams recently. So they have had to resort to a pair of 153s.
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Thanks; I will do this.
To add insult to injury, when I politely enquired if I could have some complementary refreshments from the trolley in-lieu of the lack of FC service, I was offered either Tea/Coffee OR a biscuit OR a packet of crisps. So no biscuit with my cup of tea :( .
….Which I thought was unbelievably poor customer service given the negligible cost vs the opportunity to redeem some goodwill.
 
Envoy

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It seems to me that we can’t recommend to those we know that they should try out these Mk4 trains for fear that they end up on 2 coach 153’s - as raveon has today. Things are still unreliable with the 197’s with many services on The Marches operating as 2 coaches.

Yesterday I saw a 2 coach 150 arrive at CDF from Milford Haven - rammed with people standing.
 
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