Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 Stadler FLIRTs

[BillStampy]

I think it would be fair to say that this gen comes from a reliable source...

I still think it's more likely they'll be out from Monday, not tomorrow. I feel as if the source is a bit too suspicious to me.

 

[AdamWW]

I still think it's more likely they'll be out from Monday, not tomorrow. I feel as if the source is a bit too suspicious to me.

Either way, presumably having a look tomorrow on Realtimetrains for 3 or 4 (I presume 4 since that's what's been running on test) car trains should show if there are any 756s out in passenger service.
There will likely be a few 4 coach 150 services but it doesn't take long to check that they aren't a 756.

 

[StripeyNick]

From what I've seen, the diagrams starting 2F00 Pontypridd to Cardiff Central and 2M00 Cardiff Central to Merthyr Tydfil should be 756s

 

[BillStampy]

From what I've seen, the diagrams starting 2F00 Pontypridd to Cardiff Central and 2M00 Cardiff Central to Merthyr Tydfil should be 756s

Interesting, we'll see allocations tomorrow morning then!

 

[Caaardiff]

From what I've seen, the diagrams starting 2F00 Pontypridd to Cardiff Central and 2M00 Cardiff Central to Merthyr Tydfil should be 756s

There should be 2 out tomorrow working Merthyr - Cardiff - Aberdare circuits on the diagrams starting with those services above.

 

[Envoy]

Are they having a quiet launch or a big show?

 

[Bob Price]

I would imagine it will be quiet.

 

[BillStampy]

It'll be noticeable once normal commuters see them show up in mass from December I'm sure, for now though I feel as if this'll be a silent launch. Although, a day in history for the valleys for using the electric wires in passenger service I'm sure.

I plan on headed up Merthyr return tomorrow en-route to Newport, stopping off at Central early morning to take a ride then headed off. Hopefully we'll get the allocations!

 

[6Gtraincrew]

From what I've seen, the diagrams starting 2F00 Pontypridd to Cardiff Central and 2M00 Cardiff Central to Merthyr Tydfil should be 756s

2F00 is 756116 (05:16 Ponty - Cdf)
2M00 is 756107 (05:26 Cdf - Merthyr)

 

[Logger79]

I still think it's more likely they'll be out from Monday, not tomorrow. I feel as if the source is a bit too suspicious to me.

The PIC at Barry depot isn't that suspicious

 

[twpsaesneg]

Photos on the Railways in South Wales Facebook group confirm that the first Class 756 passenger services have indeed run this morning

 

[EveningStarr]

Pic below of 756107 on 1A08 Merthyr>Aberdare 0737 this morning at Queen Street.

 

[norbitonflyer]

a day in history for the valleys for using the electric wires in passenger service I'm sure.

They are bimodes, so could be running on diesel.

 

[positron]

They are bimodes, so could be running on diesel.

The engines aren't big enough to do that I don't think, they don't have the fuel capacity to do that route purely on diesel. Else they'd probably have been planned to be out long before.

 

[BillStampy]

They are bimodes, so could be running on diesel.

They do sound oddly quiet to be running on diesel.. (already got a video of one off a mate)

 

[EveningStarr]

756116 on 1A10 0807 at CDQ, half an hour after 756107 in the same direction, meaning anyone who wants to get some miles on both units today won't have long to wait between trips.

 

[StripeyNick]

They are bimodes, so could be running on diesel.

They are tri-modes.....the diesel is only used for back up

 

[MikePJ]

Are these the first battery trains in passenger service in the UK (if we ignore experiments like the 379 IPEMU) since the Royal Deeside BMU?

 

[Carlisle]

No the 777s will be

 

[MikePJ]

No the 777s will be

Thanks! I’d forgotten about Headbolt Lane.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Are these the first battery trains in passenger service in the UK (if we ignore experiments like the 379 IPEMU) since the Royal Deeside BMU?

The 230’s also technically use traction batteries

 

[MikePJ]

The 230’s also technically use traction batteries

True! It’s basically hybrid vs plug-in hybrid…

 

[Lurcheroo]

True! It’s basically hybrid vs plug-in hybrid…

I suppose it is haha!

 

[43096]

Are these the first battery trains in passenger service in the UK (if we ignore experiments like the 379 IPEMU) since the Royal Deeside BMU?

The Class 419 MLVs had batteries for running off the third rail and they have been used (at least in preservation) to operate passenger trains.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Are these the first battery trains in passenger service in the UK (if we ignore experiments like the 379 IPEMU) since the Royal Deeside BMU?

The first battery units would be the TfW class 230s (diesel + battery). But the 756s are the first tri-mode (AC-overhead + diesel + battery).

The 756s only have one pod with a diesel engine in and the other three pods are batteries. So the diesel part is not enough to sustain a proper service all day on its own. The AC-overhead is required to keep them going all day (with or without charging batteries).

 

[positron]

I think it's also the first of its kind discontinuous electrification in the UK. With the automated balises for controlling the pantograph.

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

Anyone got any pantograph up pics of the 756s yet?

 

[Bob Price]

Just did a hop on one and seem most of the passengers are enthusiasts
I'll have a video up at some point, be about 1 minute long.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I think it's also the first of its kind discontinuous electrification in the UK. With the automated balises for controlling the pantograph.

How do the pantographs go up and down on the 755s and the 80x series?

 

[800001]

How do the pantographs go up and down on the 755s and the 80x series?

8X on LNER when changing on the move have balises on the track which send signal to train to raise/lower pantograph.

 

[positron]

Perhaps the uniqueness is the fact they control both the pantograph up and down but also the mechanism to draw power from panto or not, which is used for the Permanently earthed sections?