Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 Stadler FLIRTs

[chrisjo]

Well, she was female had small hands and fingers due to biological differences between men and women and didn't obviously have the force needed to press both the buttons simultaneously with one hand!
Does this explanation pass your 'woke' filter

Well it certainly clarifies your point, which is all I asked. Thanks.

 

[MikePJ]

I seem to recall that TfW have been negotiating with the unions to allow drivers to release doors, which would speed things up a lot.

 

[jammmmmsssssss]

I agree (and yes, AFAIK it's driver open and close in GA land, on all trains, whether they carry a guard or not).

Yes the driver controls the doors, but the guard (if there is one) can control the doors if the cameras break

 

[Pete_uk]

Could there not be a 'it's safe to release the doors when we stop' button the driver can press to speed things up?

 

[MikePJ]

Could there not be a 'it's safe to release the doors when we stop' button the driver can press to speed things up?

It’s not a technical problem but a employer-vs-union problem. RMT are very resistant to anything that diminishes the role of guard/conductor and so everything has to be painfully negotiated, and at present the working practice is that the conductor must make the decision about opening the doors. I think that change is coming but I’m not sure exactly when.

 

[tigermonstera]

I think that change is coming but I’m not sure exactly when.

Perhaps after all old rolling stock has been phased out?

 

[Cardiff123]

It’s not a technical problem but a employer-vs-union problem. RMT are very resistant to anything that diminishes the role of guard/conductor and so everything has to be painfully negotiated, and at present the working practice is that the conductor must make the decision about opening the doors. I think that change is coming but I’m not sure exactly when.

The 398s in future could be an even bigger battle - ideally they will be suited to Driver Only Operation. The RMT are completely opposed to that on existing routes that are guard operated.
But driver open, guard close makes much more sense for the 231s and 756s.

 

[MrCheeseGrater]

There's another Coryton/Penarth/Caerphilly set of test runs booked for Sunday, starting at the very civilised hour of 1042 from Canton, and continuing until 1821. Hopefully the issues with the overhead line have been resolved.

Realtime Trains | Departures from Cardiff Queen Street all day on 13/07/2025

Train information at Cardiff Queen Street all day on 13/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I have just seen 756005 (on 5Q11 1121 Coryton to Penarth) between Coryton and Whitchurch travelling at low speed with its pantograph down. It was very quiet so I assume it was on battery. Doesn't look as though the OHLE issues are sorted yet.

Realtime Trains | 5Q11 1121 Coryton to Penarth | 13/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q11 1121 departure from Coryton to Penarth on 13/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[J663738]

At Penarth, 005 came alive,
A 756 on its test drive.
It beeped with delight,
But gave staff quite a fright—
When it thought it could do 95!

 

[AdamWW]

I have just seen 756005 (on 5Q11 1121 Coryton to Penarth) between Coryton and Whitchurch travelling at low speed with its pantograph down. It was very quiet so I assume it was on battery. Doesn't look as though the OHLE issues are sorted yet.

Interesting. The pantograph was up on the previous test run.

 

[Bikeman78]

Just because the gap fillers are a good thing doesn't mean they don't add to dwell time.
It's made worse by the fact that the whole filler-out-door-open....warning-sound-door-shut-fillter-in cycle has go be gone through twice, once for the local door and once for the rest of the train.
Shame that you can't press a door open button and have the gap filler go out at the same time as the one for the local door.

It will be lovely if the increased acceleration means that the Coryton line will be able to have a timetabled service. We will see.

As I mentioned on the 777 thread, having all the steps (on the correct side before anyone points that out!) slide out straight away when the doors are released would save valuable seconds. Most of them would be extended before the passengers pressed the open button.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Jul 2025 ==

I timed the time from stop to start at a number of stations while on a 231 yesterday (service was late, so not purposely held)
All were between 45 seconds and 60 seconds.

For comparison, I've timed 150s on the Coryton line, Typical dwell times are 45 seconds. It's notable that the performance has improved since the 153s have gone. I reckon a 150 will easily knock off 60 seconds from Heath to Coryton and vice versa compared to a 153. Doesn't sound much but every little helps.

 

[AdamWW]

As I mentioned on the 777 thread, having all the steps (on the correct side before anyone points that out!) slide out straight away when the doors are released would save valuable seconds. Most of them would be extended before the passengers pressed the open button.

It doesn't seem to cause problems with wearing out door motors having them auto-close so quickly after being opened, but the step motors must be much more fragile affairs not to be exercised unnecessarily.

 

[tfw756rider]

At Penarth, 005 came alive,
A 756 on its test drive.
It beeped with delight,
But gave staff quite a fright—
When it thought it could do 95!

I don't get the last line?

 

[800001]

I don't get the last line?

Fast acceleration? Wants to go faster than its allowed to?

 

[J663738]

Over the top speed maybe??
I wouldn't take it too literally.

 

[tfw756rider]

 

[J663738]

Another 3 carriage 756 on test this afternoon, this time its # 006's turn. (previously # 001 and # 005)
If only one of them could run with passengers!

PS is there a 007 I wonder?

 

[nigelsporne]

Is the launch to Coryton tomorrow still a possibility?

 

[J663738]

Is the launch to Coryton tomorrow still a possibility?

Suppose it could be, we'll have to wait until later this evening when RTT will show the train types etc.
Thinking about it, Monday from a publicity point of view would make much more sense (though its riskier if things go wrong) though I doubt they will make any fuss, since they missed their initial start date.

 

[StripeyNick]

756006 during it's very brief turnaround at Penarth earlier this afternoon

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Another 3 carriage 756 on test this afternoon, this time its # 006's turn. (previously # 001 and # 005)
If only one of them could run with passengers!

PS is there a 007 I wonder?

They go up to 756 007, so yes - there is...

 

[J663738]

I see on RTT's for today's schedule on PEN-CRY-CPH that one train throughout the day is not listed as a 150, but it does not say what train it actually is?
I wonder are TfW doing a low key Monday launch after all?

 

[Bob Price]

Can't see that in RTT this morning. Let's see how the week goes.

 

[BillStampy]

Can't see that in RTT this morning. Let's see how the week goes.

I've heard Wednesday, I'm not entirely sure, but apparently!

 

[nigelsporne]

With the closure of the line north of Caerphilly 231s have become thin on the ground with most services in the hands of 150s. An obstruction at Queen Street disrupted services this afternoon and caused delays and cancellations. No sign yet of 756s on the Coryton line. Hopefully tomorrow!

 

[Cardiff123]

With the closure of the line north of Caerphilly 231s have become thin on the ground with most services in the hands of 150s. An obstruction at Queen Street disrupted services this afternoon and caused delays and cancellations. No sign yet of 756s on the Coryton line. Hopefully tomorrow!

I guess TfW timed this closure to deliberately coincide with the school holidays, which makes sense as there will be more people travelling throughout the day, and especially to Barry Island. The perfect time to put the service back with 2 car 150s.

 

[Caaardiff]

756005 in passenger service on Coryton - Penarth - Caerphilly today

 

[nigelsporne]

A three car off to Coryton this morning also one to Caerphilly.

 

[AdamWW]

A three car off to Coryton this morning also one to Caerphilly.

The same one: Caerphilly-Penarth-Coryton-Penarth-Caerphilly and repeat.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 23 Jul 2025 ==

Looks as if it's planned to go out of service at Cardiff Central at 19:19 with the remainder of the services for the evening run by 150s.

 

[nigelsporne]

756005 and 6 on the Penarth circuit.