TfW withdrawals (Now just 150/158s to go)

[BillStampy]

150235 has just left Landore a matter of minutes ago on the way to Unimetals, at least half of it!

 

[Roger B]

150235 has just left Landore a matter of minutes ago on the way to Unimetals, at least half of it!

Can you tell us which half, please?

 

[T74]

Can you tell us which half, please?

57235 . Look complete underneath. Would of thought they would take bits of for rest of fleet . Is it defo going to unimetals

 

[BillStampy]

57235 . Look complete underneath. Would of thought they would take bits of for rest of fleet . Is it defo going to unimetals

Absolutely sure, I've just viewed a picture on Facebook and it's joined the others at Unimetals

 

[T74]

Absolutely sure, I've just viewed a picture on Facebook and it's joined the others at Unimetals

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Aug 2025 ==

No probs thanks for info

 

[Roger B]

57235 . Look complete underneath. Would of thought they would take bits of for rest of fleet . Is it defo going to unimetals

Many thanks, T74

 

[animationmilo]

Does anyone know when AT06 will be ready and what is happening with 153914 and all the withdrawn 153s in Landore please

 

[Jez]

Noticed no less than 3 150s at Neath within about 10 minutes of each other. The 1644 to Cardiff and 1649 to Milford Haven both vice a 197 and the 1639 Swansea vice an AT set.

Considering they have no booked workings this way at the moment they are still very regular visitors.

 

[BillStampy]

Does anyone know when AT06 will be ready and what is happening with 153914 and all the withdrawn 153s in Landore please

568 is complete at Landore, 327 did some movement this week. But that's for the AT thread.

I'm not sure what is going on with 914, I saw it yesterday parked up outside the Pullman depot at Canton.

 

[sd0733]

568 is complete at Landore, 327 did some movement this week. But that's for the AT thread.

I'm not sure what is going on with 914, I saw it yesterday parked up outside the Pullman depot at Canton.

153329 is also now at Canton. I believe that once enough 150s are withdrawn it will allow a ffew non AT 153s back into service as there will be space at Canton, which ones and which routes im not sure of.

 

[Anonymous10]

153329 is also now at Canton. I believe that once enough 150s are withdrawn it will allow a ffew non AT 153s back into service as there will be space at Canton, which ones and which routes im not sure of.

So more 153s will come back? But not as active travel? That is interesting.

 

[BillStampy]

So more 153s will come back? But not as active travel? That is interesting.

Believe it's part of the demand by the Welsh Government for TfW to have more stock, so the short term solution is just bring the 153s back until they can get more, that's my understanding anyway. It's also why the 153s were put into warm storage at Landore so they could easily run on back when required.

 

[sd0733]

So more 153s will come back? But not as active travel? That is interesting.

I believe thats still the intention, yes. Almost everyone that realistically needs to sign 153s whereas 150 knowledge outside the south is fast disappearing so a few 153s are more flexible. Also running AT units semi regularly to the likes of Cheltenham and Ebbw vice 197s with effectively 1.5 coaches of seats is terrible capacity so 2 (or 3) standard 153s coupled together could be more useful in many ways

 

[Jez]

Believe it's part of the demand by the Welsh Government for TfW to have more stock, so the short term solution is just bring the 153s back until they can get more, that's my understanding anyway. It's also why the 153s were put into warm storage at Landore so they could easily run on back when required.

It also makes sense to keep hold of the 153s a bit longer instead of the 150s as the AT sets will be used for the Heart of Wales and Crewe stoppers so train crew will remain competent on them for the moment.

 

[BillStampy]

I believe thats still the intention, yes. Almost everyone that realistically needs to sign 153s whereas 150 knowledge outside the south is fast disappearing so a few 153s are more flexible. Also running AT units semi regularly to the likes of Cheltenham and Ebbw vice 197s with effectively 1.5 coaches of seats is terrible capacity so 2 (or 3) standard 153s coupled together could be more useful in many ways

Living along the Ebbw Vale to Maesteg route, whenever an AT set turns up I always think "Oh cool" but then I think "Oh this won't be fun" - it's regularly overcrowded and can feel really busy even on quieter hours, not great!

 

[sd0733]

Another 153 looks to be heading to Canton tomorrow. 150258 is heading down to Landore as 5Z58, returning as 5Z13 so presumably will be 153913.

 

[Anonymous10]

Another 153 looks to be heading to Canton tomorrow. 150258 is heading down to Landore as 5Z58, returning as 5Z13 so presumably will be 153913.

I assume that unit will work coupled to a 150?

 

[sd0733]

I assume that unit will work coupled to a 150?

Yes the 150s go both ways, acts as insurance for a unit that hasn't been used in a while but also as a taxi for the driver!

 

[Cardiff123]

153329 is also now at Canton. I believe that once enough 150s are withdrawn it will allow a ffew non AT 153s back into service as there will be space at Canton, which ones and which routes im not sure of.

Are any 153/9s coming back into service or have those all be sent off lease or converted as AT units?

 

[sd0733]

Are any 153/9s coming back into service or have those all be sent off lease or converted as AT units?

As far as im aware none of the 153s of any sub class are off lease. So potentially any could come back. If it is 913 tomorrow that would mean 2 /9s (913/914) and 1 /3 (329) will be at Canton.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Believe it's part of the demand by the Welsh Government for TfW to have more stock, so the short term solution is just bring the 153s back until they can get more, that's my understanding anyway.

If so, the Welsh Government has shaken up TfW's plans a fair bit at rather short notice. Even earlier this year, TfW didn't seem to know anything about that; a TfW freedom of information (FOI) response issued in March gave the following information (edited by me here):

Type Of Stock​	Fleet Size​	Leased From​	Lease End Date​
Class 67	14 diesel locomotives	DB Cargo UK	16/10/2033
Mark 4 (Inc. DVTs)	49 vehicles	N/A	N/A (Vests to Minsiters)
Class 153	13x single car DMU	N/A	N/A (Vests to Minsiters)
Class 230	5x three-car DEMU	N/A	N/A (Vests to Minsiters)
Class 150/2	31x two-car DMU	Porterbrook	31/03/2027
Class 153	17x single car DMU	Porterbrook	31/12/2026
Class 158	24x two-car DMU	Angel Trains	30/04/2027

It's also why the 153s were put into warm storage at Landore so they could easily run on back when required.

Based on the above, if TfW have been putting 153s into warm store at Landore then is this a bit of a 'left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing' situation, with the FOI team not having access to the (correct) details? If not, and TfW really were planning for a revival of the leased 153s, they must have been expecting it to be very short since the 153 lease-end-dates come before the class 150 one.

 

[BillStampy]

If so, the Welsh Government has shaken up TfW's plans a fair bit at rather short notice. Even earlier this year, TfW didn't seem to know anything about that; a TfW freedom of information (FOI) response issued in March gave the following information (edited by me here):

Type Of Stock​	Fleet Size​	Leased From​	Lease End Date​
Class 67	14 diesel locomotives	DB Cargo UK	16/10/2033
Mark 4 (Inc. DVTs)	49 vehicles	N/A	N/A (Vests to Minsiters)
Class 153	13x single car DMU	N/A	N/A (Vests to Minsiters)
Class 230	5x three-car DEMU	N/A	N/A (Vests to Minsiters)
Class 150/2	31x two-car DMU	Porterbrook	31/03/2027
Class 153	17x single car DMU	Porterbrook	31/12/2026
Class 158	24x two-car DMU	Angel Trains	30/04/2027

I obviously could be wrong but that's what I can remember off the top of my head - but that's what I can roughly remember. Someone please feel free to look into it further and correct me if I'm wrong.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Sep 2025 ==

Based on the above, if TfW have been putting 153s into warm store at Landore then is this a bit of a 'left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing' situation, with the FOI team not having access to the (correct) details? If not, and TfW really were planning for a revival of the leased 153s, they must have been expecting it to be very short since the 153 lease-end-dates come before the class 150 one.

I believe the 153s going off to Landore was mainly forced due to Canton not having enough space with the rapid introduction of 756s and their space taken up in Canton being significantly larger than a singular 150 (3/4 coaches unit in comparison to 2 coach units) so the obvious decision was to put them down at Landore. As for if they knew they'd bring them back, I couldn't say, but given they were put straight into warm storage indicates they likely did plan for it but on a short notice manner, as previously mentioned.

 

[150249]

Is there a list of the next 150s planned to be withdrawn? I remember seeing something like that a few weeks ago

 

[Jez]

Saw a 150 with the 153 attached passing Neath around 20 minutes or so ago.

 

[Anonymous10]

Anyone know what's working 5z72 canton to landore?

 

[sd0733]

Anyone know what's working 5z72 canton to landore?

AT05.

 

[chrisjo]

AT05.

@Anonymous10 hence the headcode. 5Z72 = 135572

 

[tfw756rider]

So the returning "not for the AT sets" 153s are planned to stay for as long as the AT sets, as in, for some years, until all the 153s are replaced by new units from a second order?

Edit: Someone has pointed out to me (and therefore it has now occurred to me) that the return of the "not for the AT sets" 153s is just [what was announced in June 2025] actually happening:

The Welsh Government has instructed Transport for Wales to begin procurement of more new trains, although those ordered in 2018 will not fully be in service for at least a year. To cover additional services in the shorter term, TfW will extend leases on Class 153 DMUs.

 

[chrisjo]

"TfW will extend leases on Class 153 DMUs"

Hmm. Call me picky, but I fail to see how a 153 qualifies as a DMU!

 

[43096]

"TfW will extend leases on Class 153 DMUs"

Hmm. Call me picky, but I fail to see how a 153 qualifies as a DMU!

It’s a diesel, can be used in multiple, and is a unit.