Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 Stadler FLIRTs

[anthony263]

Allocation for today:

2F00 is 756117 (05:16 Ponty - Cdf)
2M00 is 756115 (05:26 Cdf - Merthyr)

756107 is one of the two unit's out on training runs

 

[meld3]

Allocation for today:

2F00 is 756117 (05:16 Ponty - Cdf)
2M00 is 756115 (05:26 Cdf - Merthyr)

115 seems to have been swapped with 116

 

[val_screamz]

Hey, I'm new here, literally made this account because I wanted to join the discussion, despite lingering on this site for so long as a guest.

I was also on the 10:59 756107 from Merthyr Tydfil on launch day (15th November 2024) doing some filming for YouTube under a new channel me and a friend run, as someone who's grown up with the Valley Lines, it's nice to see some genuine improvements! I'd like to thank all the people I met that day, railfans and staff alike.

Also it seems today that one of the trains on the Merthyr Line has been canceled due to a breakdown (code M8), it doesn't say on Realtime Trains what train this is but I imagine it's a class 756 having teething issues..? Purely speculation though, feel free to correct me.

Also just a fun little note - 756107 was named Billstein between me and a few friends of mine, with humorous and respectful intent.

I spoke to a Stadler engineer and he said that they can get from the electricity north of Cardiff to Barry island and back on battery power. (The 756’s will be used on the Barry Island to Rhymney route). I don’t think they have done a proving run via the Vale of Glamorgan Coast Line to Bridgend & back. The sooner they are introduced on this line - the better and with a half hourly service. It sure would help save Cardiff Airport if the management could show to prospective airlines a modern train fleet with level boarding running every half hour - albeit with the 2 mile shuttle bus from Rhoose station. It is also tough on the people in Llantwit Major & Rhoose who now see Pontypridd & Caerphilly having several trains per hour whilst they only get one. The line is also a short cut between Barry and Bridgend for west Wales.

Looks no 756’s out today (Saturday 16 November) which is disappointing for those wishing to try them out who have been working all week. It is also disappointing in view of the increased flow of people into Cardiff in the run up to Christmas - plus a rugby match tomorrow.

I wonder how many new toilets have been built at stations but I guess that is one for the Metro Infrastructure thread. Anyway, below is a photo of the toilet on the 756 which is excellent - although I think it would be for the best of the seat were left upright.

It's a shame, although I think you can say the same thing about a lot of lines in Wales, and the UK in general, dare I say - a lot of them just get pushed to the side and forgotted about.

Realistically thinking I imagine they'd be getting the class 231s or 756s someday, or atleast something new, probably going to be a while though unfortunately, not entirely sure about their plans for that line - but considering that Transport for Wales wants to replace their entire former fleet inherited by Arriva Trains Wales they'll do something, just hope they don't wait too long, that line needs more care and it's a shame it's barely changed in the past decade. At least the 756s are running again today though, I imagine they'll probably be dabbling in and out of service for a little, we'll have to wait and see.

 

[hexagon789]

Also it seems today that one of the trains on the Merthyr Line has been canceled due to a breakdown (code M8), it doesn't say on Realtime Trains what train this is but I imagine it's a class 756 having teething issues..? Purely speculation though, feel free to correct me.

Class 150 actually!

Hey, I'm new here, literally made this account because I wanted to join the discussion, despite lingering on this site for so long as a guest.

And welcome to the forum!

 

[WelshBluebird]

So if they are planning on rolling out 14 756s onto the the Aberdare, Merthyr and Treherbert lines does that completely replace the 150s or does it leave some still trundling along the valley lines?

 

[val_screamz]

Class 150 actually!


And welcome to the forum!

Ah, makes sense!

 

[MikePJ]

A question for the railway professionals on the thread: with the electrification of the Coryton line and Rhymney line as far as Caerphilly being (apparently) completed, is it necessary for drivers to have a practical training session to drive an electric train on those routes if they already are qualified on the train (but on a different route) and on the route (but on diesel traction)? Is it enough to have driven a 756 up and down the Aberdare line and to already sign Coryton on a 153 before driving a 756 to Coryton, or would they need go out with an instructor or manager first?

 

[Lurcheroo]

A question for the railway professionals on the thread: with the electrification of the Coryton line and Rhymney line as far as Caerphilly being (apparently) completed, is it necessary for drivers to have a practical training session to drive an electric train on those routes if they already are qualified on the train (but on a different route) and on the route (but on diesel traction)? Is it enough to have driven a 756 up and down the Aberdare line and to already sign Coryton on a 153 before driving a 756 to Coryton, or would they need go out with an instructor or manager first?

I do not know for certain, but my money is on, even if it is not required, all drivers will be going with an instructor to drive the line on electric before they are allowed to on their own.

 

[MikePJ]

I do not know for certain, but my money is on, even if it is not required, all drivers will be going with an instructor to drive the line on electric before they are allowed to on their own.

Thanks very much! That sounds like sensible practice.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Thanks very much! That sounds like sensible practice.

No problem, yes absolutely. And if it turns out they’re not then any driver that said to their manager they weren’t happy/ comfortable, then they would almost certainly have an instructor arranged to go with them.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Is fourteen enough to facilitate the full Aberdare, Treherbert and Merthyr service then? I assume Cardiff Bay Pontypridd will be 150s and likely from May pairs of 153s until the 398s come into service.

Is something being done between now and May to allow 153s to work to Pontypridd then (as far as I'm aware, 153s are not cleared north of Taff's Well)?

It's a shame, although I think you can say the same thing about a lot of lines in Wales, and the UK in general, dare I say - a lot of them just get pushed to the side and forgotted about.

Realistically thinking I imagine they'd be getting the class 231s or 756s someday, or atleast something new, probably going to be a while though unfortunately, not entirely sure about their plans for that line - but considering that Transport for Wales wants to replace their entire former fleet inherited by Arriva Trains Wales they'll do something

If you're talking about the Vale Of Glamorgan line (Cardiff-Barry-Bridgend) then that (along with the branches to Penarth and Barry Island) is the route the class 756s were ordered to run (which is why they have a diesel engine, since there are currently no plans to electrify that section).

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Is something being done between now and May to allow 153s to work to Pontypridd then (as far as I'm aware, 153s are not cleared north of Taff's Well)?

Ah, I didn't realise it was north of Taff's Well, I thought it was north of Pontypridd.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Ah, I didn't realise it was north of Taff's Well, I thought it was north of Pontypridd.

Ah, I could be wrong; it's just something I remember reading here or another forum (or maybe even YouTube/Flickr comments) so I'm not sure how accurate the source was.

 

[Bikeman78]

Is fourteen enough to facilitate the full Aberdare, Treherbert and Merthyr service then? I assume Cardiff Bay Pontypridd will be 150s and likely from May pairs of 153s until the 398s come into service.

I think it's nine for Aberdare to Merthyr and five for Cardiff to Treherbert. Class 150s will still be needed for Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay, along with Penarth to Coryton/Caerphilly and some turns on the Rhymney line.

 

[AdamWW]

I think it's nine for Aberdare to Merthyr and five for Cardiff to Treherbert. Class 150s will still be needed for Pontypridd to Cardiff Bay, along with Penarth to Coryton/Caerphilly and some turns on the Rhymney line.

The latter two could also be run with 153s.

 

[Envoy]

Incredible that BBC Wales Today did not cover the introduction of electric trains on the valley lines. Makes me wonder what kind of editorial staff they have in their newsroom as Wales Today was mainly taken up with more mundane things yesterday.

Meanwhile, ITV Wales News at 6 did an excellent job of reporting on the introduction of the 756’s on the valley lines - including on train interviews with James Price and Ken Skates.

WalesonLine have excellent coverage of this historic event. BBC Wales take note!

'Absolutely lovely' The Valleys lines get their first sight of electric trains

The new trains are being rolled out across the South Wales Metro and are set to bring in quicker and more frequent journeys for passengers

www.walesonline.co.uk

"The first thing that stands out about the new 'tri-mode' trains is how bright, modern and clean they are compared to the previous stock that ran on the Valleys lines. There is more room in the aisles and doorways and they are generally more comfortable".

 

[GW43125]

08.19 off Barry island being covered by a pair of 153s this morning vice a 231-what's the availability/reliability like at present?

Side note but outside the scope of this thread-theres a 158 filling in on Ebbw Vales for the stolen 153s-bit lost!

 

[Roger B]

Any 756s in service today?

 

[hexagon789]

Any 756s in service today?

Looks like 116 and 117

 

[Roger B]

Looks like 116 and 117

Many thx. Are there any others that are cleared for passinger service?

 

[hexagon789]

Many thx. Are there any others that are cleared for passinger service?

No idea, sorry

 

[Envoy]

If anybody wishes to quickly find out which services are operating with the new Class 756 FLIRT trains - do this - go to the following link and put WNG as the location and select time - such as all day and search. Now look for those with 4 coaches and click on them. It should then tell you if it is a Class 756 and you can see where it will be at different places on it’s route. (Some 4 coach trains might be old Class 150’s - hence the need to click on the train to check).

Realtime Trains | Search

Realtime Trains is an independent source of live realtime running information for the Great British railway network.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[chrisjo]

756105 & 756107 in service today, plus 756115 & 756116 Canton-Aberdare-Canton running empty.

 

[chargesmith]

756105 & 756107 in service today, plus 756115 & 756116 Canton-Aberdare-Canton running empty.

Rode 756107 on my commute home. Very smooth, quiet and quick compared to the 150s. There was a few mins where the public address system was making a whooping noise every 15 seconds which startled and annoyed a few people, suggesting that staff are still finding their feet with the units. Also used contactless PAYG for the first time, this is an underrated positive for removing barriers to people using public transport.

 

[chrisjo]

756115 & 756116 in service today, plus 756114 & 756??? (e.g. 3Z55 1102 ABA - Stormstown Loop) running empty.

 

[val_screamz]

Rode 756107 on my commute home. Very smooth, quiet and quick compared to the 150s. There was a few mins where the public address system was making a whooping noise every 15 seconds which startled and annoyed a few people, suggesting that staff are still finding their feet with the units. Also used contactless PAYG for the first time, this is an underrated positive for removing barriers to people using public transport.

The 756s seem to be very problemtic with the PA system, when I was on 756107 on launch day it kept repeating the announcement a few seconds over and over again, this went on for a minute or two, so it'd just go "Croeso ar fwrdd Trafnidiaeth Cymru" over and over again. Interesting that it seems 756107 is having the most issues, however I imagine these bugs are universal across the whole fleet.

 

[Envoy]

Rode 756107 on my commute home. Very smooth, quiet and quick compared to the 150s. There was a few mins where the public address system was making a whooping noise every 15 seconds which startled and annoyed a few people, suggesting that staff are still finding their feet with the units. Also used contactless PAYG for the first time, this is an underrated positive for removing barriers to people using public transport.

Note that the TfW contactless does not let you have a Railcard discount or for those with the TfW bus pass to have a third off on the valley lines network.

 

[31160]

Any idea when the 231s will be released by the 756s so they can release other stuff?

 

[chargesmith]

Note that the TfW contactless does not let you have a Railcard discount or for those with the TfW bus pass to have a third off on the valley lines network.

That's quite frustrating, although the PAYG fares are significantly cheaper than standard tickets so is this so that people don't end up with a "double discount"?

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

Any idea when the 231s will be released by the 756s so they can release other stuff?

When the OLE is completed to Rhymney, and when the 398s are ready to enter service, both of which are a way off

 

[Trainbike46]

That's quite frustrating, although the PAYG fares are significantly cheaper than standard tickets so is this so that people don't end up with a "double discount"?

If that's true, aren't they just effectively removing railcard discounts?