Transport for Wales Class 230

[John R]

I think the renaming idea has come from the Welsh side.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==


Investment is already planned to address the issues that place timetabling constraints.

Namely the access to the works sidings at Padeswood, which atm is very cumbersome and occupied the main line for too long.

 

[Jez]

I noticed today on Wrexham to Bidston it was 2 x 230's and 1 x 197. Is there still officially a 197 booked or was this just covering? I know the plan was to go back to 3 of the 230's in service daily.

 

[sd0733]

I noticed today on Wrexham to Bidston it was 2 x 230's and 1 x 197. Is there still officially a 197 booked or was this just covering? I know the plan was to go back to 3 of the 230's in service daily.

Looks to be a short term plan in for 1 197 diagram this week which starts in Chester, spends the day on Bidstons before ending in Holyhead.
Obviously the weeks can roll on! The long term diagrams for this timetable are 3 230s.

 

[Zontar]

There's been a few instances of 230s being taken out of service recently due to smoking bogies. My dad saw one yesterday and it was taken out of service. The guard told him this wasn't the first time it had happened. Does anyone have any info as to the causes?

 

[Caaardiff]

Some sort of grease NR use on the track or points doesn't go well with the 230s it seems.

 

[40029 Saxonia]

No trains today on the Bidston line due to the storm (the wind-speed here is zero and there's hardly any snow on the ground!). Its a bit inconvenient for those who need to travel especially as there are no replacement buses. On Wednesday there were two 197s on the line, so I wonder if 230 availability is also playing a factor?

 

[Peter Sarf]

No trains today on the Bidston line due to the storm (the wind-speed here is zero and there's hardly any snow on the ground!). Its a bit inconvenient for those who need to travel especially as there are no replacement buses. On Wednesday there were two 197s on the line, so I wonder if 230 availability is also playing a factor?

I wonder where the crew have to come from and/or the units have to come from (197s particularly, 230s more local).

 

[Zontar]

I think this storm is very convenient. 2 days down time so they can sort the fact they have no working 230s.

 

[WirralLine]

No trains today on the Bidston line due to the storm (the wind-speed here is zero and there's hardly any snow on the ground!). Its a bit inconvenient for those who need to travel especially as there are no replacement buses. On Wednesday there were two 197s on the line, so I wonder if 230 availability is also playing a factor?

On Wednesday all 3 were 197s, no 230s available. Unsure how the situation is now.

I wonder where the crew have to come from and/or the units have to come from (197s particularly, 230s more local).

Majority of the crew is Chester based, the odd working is Shrewsbury (guards, don't think Shrewsbury drivers sign it). The 230s come from Birkenhead and the 197s come from Chester.

 

[DavidGrain]

So crews have to be ferried from Chester to Birkenhead to operate the 230s.

 

[Turbo004]

So crews have to be ferried from Chester to Birkenhead to operate the 230s.

Only at the start and end of the day. Also if there is a set swap midway through the day.

 

[Jez]

On Wednesday all 3 were 197s, no 230s available.

Blimey thats bad! Especially at the 197s are also often covering for MK4's at the moment.

 

[Invincible]

From RTT looks like 230007 and 230010 are in service today with one 197.

 

[CaergwrleKen]

Blimey thats bad! Especially at the 197s are also often covering for MK4's at the moment.

The new thing for TFW now is to use the 197 from the new Wrexham to Chester service if the 230 has failed. It has been as bad as ever for the 230s in the last couple of weeks but still people will makes excuses for them.

 

[Russel]

Haven't really been following these units much, but reading through the last few pages, all I can say is what a shambles...

I wonder if TFW are wishing they ordered a couple of extra 197s instead?

 

[Zontar]

The new thing for TFW now is to use the 197 from the new Wrexham to Chester service if the 230 has failed. It has been as bad as ever for the 230s in the last couple of weeks but still people will makes excuses for them.

Another failed today?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Haven't really been following these units much, but reading through the last few pages, all I can say is what a shambles...

I wonder if TFW are wishing they ordered a couple of extra 197s instead?

It is somewhere up thread but the 197s could not stick t the required schedule (it has had to be relaved)

But the words bespoke, microfleet and now supplier gone bust spring to mind.

Speculation alert :-
I think TfW will hang on to these (they own them) until the obvious to many happens - Merseyrail take over with (bigger ?) battery 777s.
(fingers crossed for a through service to Liverpool).

 

[Caaardiff]

I think TfW will hang on to these (they own them) until the obvious to many happens - Merseyrail take over with (bigger ?) battery 777s.

Or could TFW just take on some 777s using Birkenhead depot as they do now?

 

[Sam 76]

Or could TFW just take on some 777s using Birkenhead depot as they do now?

The issue with the 777s is that an undersized fleet and demanding schedule has meant faults on all units have never been ironed out.

Given the 777/1s struggles on the Headbolt sector it’s a big risk and arguable the 230s would be more reliable

 

[Wyrleybart]

Or could TFW just take on some 777s using Birkenhead depot as they do now?

I assume LCR don't have an excess of 777/1s (battery) anyway, but the lead time from order to delivery is probably two years, then there is crew training, and almost certainly a charging rail or two installed by Network Rail somewhere on the route between Bidston and Wrexham. The charging rail(s) would cost millions to Network Rail with a multi year lead time - evidenced the time it has taken to get 230001 to run ECS from Ealing Broadway as I dont think it has carried any farepayinmg passengers yet. .

Hope I am wrong but pessimistically I don't see an alternative

 

[trainspotter4]

It is somewhere up thread but the 197s could not stick t the required schedule (it has had to be relaved)

But the words bespoke, microfleet and now supplier gone bust spring to mind.

Speculation alert :-
I think TfW will hang on to these (they own them) until the obvious to many happens - Merseyrail take over with (bigger ?) battery 777s.
(fingers crossed for a through service to Liverpool).

I'll be surprised if TfW were to give up this route like that, I do think (speculation still) long-term as mentioned by James Price in the Green Signals interview, a TfW version/sub-class of the 777s also maintained at Birkenhead. We know a through service to Liverpool is planned as apart of Network North Wales but let's be fair this is dependent on this 'potential' 777 fleet as I don't think they could clear the 230s to there? Might be wrong, the only time where I see TfW transferring this to Merseyrail is if they couldn't actually get hold of the rolling stock (Merseyrail does have an option on their existing order for 777s still). But back to 230s, anyone know the current issue they're having with these as it's back down to 2 units a day (as mentioned none at one point available)..?

 

[WirralLine]

There was a 230 in Crewe ETD when i went past last week, presumably waiting for a turn on the wheel lathe.

 

[FrontSideBus]

Just heard on the radio that the line between Bidston and Wrexham is blocked... due to, you guessed it! A broken down train

 

[WirralLine]

It would appear one of them has suffered hot brakes (again) and gone back to the depot. The other one has been pulled in too because theres no others available to rescue it if it breaks.

 

[Ribbleman]

I'll be surprised if TfW were to give up this route like that, I do think (speculation still) long-term as mentioned by James Price in the Green Signals interview, a TfW version/sub-class of the 777s also maintained at Birkenhead. We know a through service to Liverpool is planned as apart of Network North Wales but let's be fair this is dependent on this 'potential' 777 fleet as I don't think they could clear the 230s to there? Might be wrong, the only time where I see TfW transferring this to Merseyrail is if they couldn't actually get hold of the rolling stock (Merseyrail does have an option on their existing order for 777s still). But back to 230s, anyone know the current issue they're having with these as it's back down to 2 units a day (as mentioned none at one point available)..?

The thinking at Merseytravel a few years back was that if a through service to Liverpool from Wrexham was to be inaugurated, they would order more battery fitted units from their options with Stadler which would then be subleased to TfW, who would retain operation of the route. I would think that any such order would need to be fitted with toilets.

Passenger carrying vehicles containing diesel fuel are not permitted through the Merseyrail tunnels so using 230s is not possible.

 

[Zontar]

No 230s available today. Bus replacements. Service has massively nose dived again recently.

 

[craigybagel]

006,007 and 009 all visited the lathe Crewe ETD this week which might at least partially explain the lack of availability.

 

[WirralLine]

No 230s available today. Bus replacements. Service has massively nose dived again recently.

More reports of hot brakes im told.

 

[Zontar]

Another unit taken out of action last night due to brake blocks again. What's going on, why are they letting this happen on a daily basis?

 

[WirralLine]

Another unit taken out of action last night due to brake blocks again. What's going on, why are they letting this happen on a daily basis?

And last night (23rd) too.