TfW Crewe to Lichfield TV ECS moves

[transportphoto]

Good morning,

Transport for Wales are operating a series of Crewe to/from Lichfield Trent Valley 3Mxx moves today. Any ideas what for?

Examples: 3M00 0827 Crewe South Yard to Lichfield Trent Valley (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V43263/2025-09-27/detailed), and 3M01 0948 Lichfield Trent Valley to Crewe (https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V43262/2025-09-27/detailed).

 

[Turbo004]

Drivers are route learning from Crewe to Central Rivers depot. Some TfW trains are tyre turned at Central Rivers.

 

[gazthomas]

Hopefully the Holyhead facility will be online soon, negating this

 

[Class 170101]

Hopefully the Holyhead facility will be online soon, negating this

The Route learning to Central Rivers would suggest it probably won't be available soon.

 

[Turbo004]

From what I hear the facility at Holyhead should be ready very shortly. I recently heard October this year. Tyre turning is planned to still continue at Central Rivers after the facility at Holyhead has opened. I presume this is due to the quantity of trains which need tyre turning.

 

[Russel]

Hopefully the Holyhead facility will be online soon, negating this

Always good to have multiple options available though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2025 ==

What stock did TFW use for these?

 

[Turbo004]

Always good to have multiple options available though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2025 ==

What stock did TFW use for these?

A 197 has been regularly used Monday to Saturday for at least the past month.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Always good to have multiple options available though.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 27 Sep 2025 ==

What stock did TFW use for these?

I’m assuming 197s as there have been 158s out covering Manchester - N Wales runs today.

 

[sd0733]

I’m assuming 197s as there have been 158s out covering Manchester - N Wales runs today.

That was just down to engineering works. The 197 thats used for these training runs isnt in passenger service at the moment

 

[Sonyman66]

I photographed 197007 on this diagram on the 13th September. It stops just North of Lichfield Trent Valley Station before reversing and crossing over to return to Crewe. During the week it runs into Central Rivers Depot.

 

[185]

Just passed a 2-car WCML at Norton Bridge-ish on the down slow.

 

[Iron_Duke]

197 after tyre turning at Central Rivers. I understand these are ROG moves at the moment but transferring to TfW work once the route learning is complete.

 

[Suraggu]

197 after tyre turning at Central Rivers. I understand these are ROG moves at the moment but transferring to TfW work once the route learning is complete.

TfW contracted ROG for the Chester Depot/Crewe - Central Rivers tyre turning moves until July of this year where TfW started undertaking these moves.

 

[craigybagel]

Hopefully the Holyhead facility will be online soon, negating this

The Route learning to Central Rivers would suggest it probably won't be available soon.

From what I hear the facility at Holyhead should be ready very shortly. I recently heard October this year. Tyre turning is planned to still continue at Central Rivers after the facility at Holyhead has opened. I presume this is due to the quantity of trains which need tyre turning.

Central Rivers is a long term plan. A separate drivers link has been created at Crewe that includes this work, and a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to make it all happen. You don't want all your eggs in one basket when it comes to tyre turning, and lathe availability is at a premium in the UK

197 after tyre turning at Central Rivers. I understand these are ROG moves at the moment but transferring to TfW work once the route learning is complete.

TfW have had enough drivers since the Summer to cover it themselves, and ROG are no longer involved. Training up the remaining drivers will just make it easier to cover. The training runs are due to finish later this month as the last of the current batch of drivers are trained up.