Whats train crew competence like up there? Some north depots are loosing competence on the 150s.
I suspect Jake means the 150s that are still in service. It was a daily occurrence until around April. The best hope now is class 197s being signed off to Birmingham. If class 756 diagrams ramp up in December, there will be 150s to cover 197s in south Wales.
Believe the plan is to try and use pairs of 153s to strengthen the 158s on Birminghams with 150s backfilling on the valleys/south wales as and when they get displaced by 756s.
Yes you’re correct.
I think it has just returned from its major overhaul so will be moved north, probably tomorrow, to boost the Cambrian services.
That's showing as 158836 not 150217, 217 is showing on Fishguard
Will that need to be swapped at Chester as I didn't think the North Wales depots signed 150s anymore?
Interesting, it's showing the 158 allocated to go to Birmingham and then down the Cambrian...
It's a little complicated. Crewe and Shrewsbury are the only depots in the North that will be retaining 150 & 153 knowledge for now, at the others it will drop off traincrew's cards when they go so long without working them. There's still probably a few crews left who have worked them recently enough that they're still competent, but that number is falling.
RTT has updated now to show the 150 did Cardiff-Chester. I wonder what the plan is for the 150 now, back down to Cardiff?
I had a feeling the North depots like Llandudno Junction and Chester would lose their competency on 150s. Its been so long since ive heard of one up that way.
Yeah, 150217 back as 5J15 Shrewsbury to Cardiff Central
Did this move happen please?Looks to be working to Landore tomorrow, atleast it can't stalk me anymore!
trainlogger.co.uk
It did, as far as I know that’s the last one before 2025.
When i passed last Tuesday they were still at landore, quite a few now.
Not unless the c6 gets paid for.
They're having useful spares taken off them first. The lease company that own the vehicles are scrapping them, not the train operating companies, because it would cost too much to keep them running. Remember they are nearly 40 years old
Hopefully clearance for 'the English end' of the Birmingham route should be relatively easy given that 196s are cleared between Salop and Brum. Are there any big issues for the rest of it?
It was almost half an average lifetime scarily.... I remember how modern the 150s seemed when they were first introduced.
The big laugh I had with the 150/2s, was when York Works rang Derby Loco up, and asked about progress on the bogies. Bodyshells were ready. No-one had actually told Derby Loco to build the bogies. Soon got them underway with a bit of overtime thrown in.
