Class 197 (CAF Civity) trip planning, reports and travel experiences

[Jez]

Boarded 197114 at Cardiff this evening (delayed 2015 Maesteg service), was then informed there were faults with the train and was being taken out of service and the replacement train was directly in front of us (197124 which was originally scheduled to do the 2107 to Swansea) Was there really a fault with 114 or was that just an excuse to passengers because 124 was blocking the platform and TFW didnt want to look bad in front of customers getting them to move without a reasonable reason. RTT is still showing 114 as going to Maesteg but it was definately 124 as I was on it! I sat in standard plus all the way to Bridgend so im assuming the Swansea service then swapped with Maesteg and RTT hasnt yet updated.

It would have been easier simply to move 124 into the sidings at Cardiff so 114 could have continued to Maesteg as originally planned, unless of course there really was a fault with 114. A nice ride in Standard Plus anyway. I was originally get the MK4 at 1947 but that appears to have been cancelled from Cardiff-Swansea this evening. In fairness there did seem to be a lot of delayed and cancelled services this evening but this just shows that Cardiff Central isnt anywhere near large enough to cope with the amount of trains both terminating and running to the West.

 

[Topological]

Boarded 197114 at Cardiff this evening (delayed 2015 Maesteg service), was then informed there were faults with the train and was being taken out of service and the replacement train was directly in front of us (197124 which was originally scheduled to do the 2107 to Swansea) Was there really a fault with 114 or was that just an excuse to passengers because 124 was blocking the platform and TFW didnt want to look bad in front of customers getting them to move without a reasonable reason. RTT is still showing 114 as going to Maesteg but it was definately 124 as I was on it! I sat in standard plus all the way to Bridgend so im assuming the Swansea service then swapped with Maesteg and RTT hasnt yet updated.

It would have been easier simply to move 124 into the sidings at Cardiff so 114 could have continued to Maesteg as originally planned, unless of course there really was a fault with 114. A nice ride in Standard Plus anyway. I was originally get the MK4 at 1947 but that appears to have been cancelled from Cardiff-Swansea this evening. In fairness there did seem to be a lot of delayed and cancelled services this evening but this just shows that Cardiff Central isnt anywhere near large enough to cope with the amount of trains both terminating and running to the West.

I was on the cancelled 19:47 and ended up leaving Cardiff on a delayed 20:40 GWR. Horrible thunderstorms from Ludlow through towards Newport and the train was slowed as a result. Had already been late out of Piccadilly and stuck behind a freight between Crewe and Shrewsbury. Good job the train is comfortable as I was on it a long time.

Cardiff was really letting GWR down though the 19:40*, 20:10*, 20:40* and 21:10* all ended up leaving within about 20 minutes of each other. Mine being the 20:40 and leaving just after 21:00. Watching Traksy the 19:40 had been sat a long time and seemed to leave at 20:40 ish, whilst the 20:10 was in platform 4 when my Mk4 set pulled in to platform 2.

 

[Jez]

I was on the cancelled 19:47 and ended up leaving Cardiff on a delayed 20:40 GWR. Horrible thunderstorms from Ludlow through towards Newport and the train was slowed as a result. Had already been late out of Piccadilly and stuck behind a freight between Crewe and Shrewsbury. Good job the train is comfortable as I was on it a long time.

Cardiff was really letting GWR down though the 19:40*, 20:10*, 20:40* and 21:10* all ended up leaving within about 20 minutes of each other. Mine being the 20:40 and leaving just after 21:00. Watching Traksy the 19:40 had been sat a long time and seemed to leave at 20:40 ish, whilst the 20:10 was in platform 4 when my Mk4 set pulled in to platform 2.

I ended up on the heavily delayed 1940 between Bridgend to Port Talbot (which was my destination). Arrived at Port Talbot about 2120, over an hour late! Im unsure why the 1940 sat at Cardiff for so long it arrived around 2020 so already very late but sat there until 2050 it seems. I switched to the Maesteg service as figured that was going to leave first and better to get to Bridgend if none of the Swansea trains were moving. Plus I prefer a 197 to a GWR.

Re the 197s, there seemed to be a lot at Central around 2000 - a pair of 2 cars on a very delayed 2005 Manchester service and another 2 car (I think) going to Holyhead and there were a lot of terminating 197s on 3/4. I wonder if there was a fault on 197114 or whether they realised it was blocked in by 197124 and the only choice was to move everyone to that train and for it to go to Maesteg. And we were told luckily a replacement has been found for the cancelled train with the fault!

 

[Lurcheroo]

I wonder if there was a fault on 197114 or whether they realised it was blocked in by 197124 and the only choice was to move everyone to that train and for it to go to Maesteg. And we were told luckily a replacement has been found for the cancelled train with the fault!

I can’t say for certain, but I can’t see anything relating a fault to 114 (doesn’t mean there wasn’t a fault though). It would be hell of a lot easier and less disruptive to switch trains than to start shunting units around when the station is already very busy.
Telling passengers it’s got a fault and there’s a replacement May just be the guard giving passengers an easier pill to swallow (and I would do the same truthfully).

 

[AdamWW]

Telling passengers it’s got a fault and there’s a replacement May just be the guard giving passengers an easier pill to swallow (and I would do the same truthfully).

I've had a few times when I've been on what should have been a through service and had to change trains. Nobody seemed to feel it necessary to lie to us about the reasons and I'm glad they didn't.

If it has to happen it has to happen - my only complaint is when they announce it just before arrival and I have to rush to pack things away to get off.

If there's a train ready and waiting for us to change onto I find it very hard to believe that the decision was only made at the last minute.

 

[Lewisham2221]

I can’t say for certain, but I can’t see anything relating a fault to 114 (doesn’t mean there wasn’t a fault though). It would be hell of a lot easier and less disruptive to switch trains than to start shunting units around when the station is already very busy.
Telling passengers it’s got a fault and there’s a replacement May just be the guard giving passengers an easier pill to swallow (and I would do the same truthfully).

Depends if "fault" was the exact word used? "Problem" or "something wrong" with this train would imply a fault, but wouldn't strictly be incorrect in the situation (but now we're staying into the railway telling blatant lies again! )

 

[Caaardiff]

I ended up on the heavily delayed 1940 between Bridgend to Port Talbot (which was my destination). Arrived at Port Talbot about 2120, over an hour late! Im unsure why the 1940 sat at Cardiff for so long it arrived around 2020 so already very late but sat there until 2050 it seems. I switched to the Maesteg service as figured that was going to leave first and better to get to Bridgend if none of the Swansea trains were moving. Plus I prefer a 197 to a GWR.

Re the 197s, there seemed to be a lot at Central around 2000 - a pair of 2 cars on a very delayed 2005 Manchester service and another 2 car (I think) going to Holyhead and there were a lot of terminating 197s on 3/4. I wonder if there was a fault on 197114 or whether they realised it was blocked in by 197124 and the only choice was to move everyone to that train and for it to go to Maesteg. And we were told luckily a replacement has been found for the cancelled train with the fault!

That may answer your question there. There was a lot of disruption around South Wales last night after heavy rain. The marches was closed at one point. The congestion at Cardiff may have meant due to lack of platforms another train was put in front of yours, blocking it in.

 

[Jez]

I can’t say for certain, but I can’t see anything relating a fault to 114 (doesn’t mean there wasn’t a fault though). It would be hell of a lot easier and less disruptive to switch trains than to start shunting units around when the station is already very busy.
Telling passengers it’s got a fault and there’s a replacement May just be the guard giving passengers an easier pill to swallow (and I would do the same truthfully).

That was my thought too. Saying the train has a fault and they have managed to find a replacement sound a lot better than we are blocked in by another train and the only way you are going to get home is by moving to the train in front.

 

[Lurcheroo]

I've had a few times when I've been on what should have been a through service and had to change trains. Nobody seemed to feel it necessary to lie to us about the reasons and I'm glad they didn't.

I’ve worked enough trains where they should be going through to Birmingham but are being set swapped at Shrewsbury meaning everyone has to change, to tell you that there is a) sometimes not enough time to try and explain the truth to everyone that asks why or B) it’s not worth the hassle because you guarantee some tw*t is going to argue / have a go at you.

If it has to happen it has to happen - my only complaint is when they announce it just before arrival and I have to rush to pack things away to get off.

If there's a train ready and waiting for us to change onto I find it very hard to believe that the decision was only made at the last minute.

Sometimes I would know leaving Machynlleth and I would do a full ticket check and explain to everyone individually. Sometimes I’d get a. All leaving Welshpool, and I’d leave the ticket machine and just speak to very one individually, other times, I’d be 2 minutes from Shrewsbury and get a phone call to tell me, which doesn’t give me a lot of options other than to try and make an announcement with the instructions.

Personally if I had the time I would be quite happy to explain the reasons (if I knew) but sometimes it’s a case of , there’s no time, people just need to get off. But some are hellbent on finding out why before they do anything.

 

[Jez]

Depends if "fault" was the exact word used? "Problem" or "something wrong" with this train would imply a fault, but wouldn't strictly be incorrect in the situation (but now we're staying into the railway telling blatant lies again! )

I cant remember the exact words the conductor used over the tannoy but fault was mentioned. I think he said 'unfortunately this train is to be taken out of service due to faults but we have a replacement directly in front of this one' But the way it was said implied there was something wrong with the set itself and it couldnt continue in service rather than the actual fault being it couldnt move because of being blocked in.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Sep 2024 ==

That may answer your question there. There was a lot of disruption around South Wales last night after heavy rain. The marches was closed at one point. The congestion at Cardiff may have meant due to lack of platforms another train was put in front of yours, blocking it in.

Yes makes sense. I just wondered if any of the insiders at TFW had an info on whether this particular set had a fault or everyone moved because 124 was blocking it in on platform 4 at Central.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Sep 2024 ==

Personally if I had the time I would be quite happy to explain the reasons (if I knew) but sometimes it’s a case of , there’s no time, people just need to get off. But some are hellbent on finding out why before they do anything.

Personally my interest in finding out why was as an enthusiast. Otherwise as long as there was a replacement to go forward I wouldnt question it. I was off the train quickly to ensure i got a seat on the replacement set, which was locked for a few minutes anyway. I managed to get a very nice seat in SP.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Personally my interest in finding out why was as an enthusiast. Otherwise as long as there was a replacement to go forward I wouldnt question it. I was off the train quickly to ensure i got a seat on the replacement set, which was locked for a few minutes anyway. I managed to get a very nice seat in SP.

You certainly do get a few who are just curious / enthusiasts (always loved a good chat with them haha!!)
But once you’ve had so many people ask you why, get annoyed, don’t understand and then get shouted and sworn at, it does make you just think “there’s no benefit to explaining the reason to everyone, they just need to change”.

Well at least you got a nice little bonus out of it!

Nothing worse than swapping off onto a shorter train and struggling for a seat.

 

[williamn]

Surprised at these looking quite tatty and fault-ridden already. On one now - no power sockets working, several info screens not working, loo fittings going rusty, hand dryer not working, no water in loo, seals in loo already going mouldy. And it generally looks grubby throughout.

Update: no hand dryer or water working on a second set! Lots of tray tables also no longer remain upright.

 

[Jez]

Ive put this in this thread rather than the main 197 thread as it is more to do with a travel experience/trip rather than roll out of new trains. I hope I have done the right thing!

Had a trip to Carmarthen today and experienced the 'divide and attach' at Swansea both times. 0925 from Neath and 1354 from Carmarthen It seems to go quite smoothly and there were no delays as a result of losing or adding at Swansea. I alighted at Swansea to watch it and then got the 1009 to Carmarthen. On the return i stayed on board. I did notice it happens quite far down the platform at Swansea (and the signs confirm this), meaning quite a walk along the platform for anyone joining or leaving the train. Travelling back from Carmarthen it was a rough ride around Pembrey/Llanelli which ive noticed before but to be fair I was sat above the bogies on the return trip. And the only other place ive really found it quite bad is the Conwy Valley.

Personally I like the new timetable and think the divide and attach works very well. All trains were very quiet, even the section between Swansea and Neath which when a 2 or 3 car at around 3pm was always very busy. Even the 2 cars West of Swansea were lightly loaded overall. So I do think they have the balance right and its worth the effort of dividing and attaching.

I have noticed since the new timetable a lot more trains sitting around Swansea and also today at Carmarthen my first visit since the new TT. Not just 153s for the HOWL but 197s too - there was 197117 I think it was at Platform 4 at Swansea this morning and when i checked RTT it wasnt being used until much later this afternoon. Ditto 197001 sat at Carmarthen. Overall a very enjoyable Monday off work.

 

[childwallblues]

Yesterday I travelled on four coach 1030 from Crewe to Manchester Piccadilly and back at 1130 to Stockport. Units were 197046/037. I travelled on 037 and the only seats available were by the toilet.

By the time the train reached Wilmslow the toilet door close had failed in a part open position. Three young girls came and went in forcing the door closed and then completely open. It remained that way for the rest of the journey to Piccadilly. I moved seats at this point, so I do not know what the outcome was.

As the train was returning to Milford Haven I would like to think that it would only be a restart fix by the guard.