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

[sad1e]

Any ideas which 150's will be out around Cardiff tomorrow and if so what diagrams/ headcodes are the running as , as I would like to catch a few.

 

[SWML9102]

Rhymney to Bridgend currently is 4 diagrams daily for the 1tph service to Bridgend. So if 4 car 756s or 231s won't fit in the VoG bay platform at Bridgend, TfW need to get some 150s through C6 overhauls, as there's not enough 3 car 756s in the fleet to run a full daily service on Penarth - Coryton / Caerphilly and Rhymney to Bridgend.

The east facing bay platform at Bridgend, which is used for VoG services (platforms 1A) is about 90 m, and more than long enough for 4-car flirts. It sees 4-car 150s regularly. I think the longest I have seen there would be 150+153+153.

I wonder if someone has got confused with the west facing bay (Platform 3). That's around 60 m, so you would even struggle with a 3-car Flirt there. The only time it is ever used is during disruption or engineering works, when the Maesteg line is run as a shuttle from Bridgend. It does mean, when the 231s eventually start running to Maesteg, there may be an issue with them using Platform 3 on the rare occasions it might be needed. Maybe something being looked at following the trial overnight 231 tests to Maesteg?

 

[The_Train]

AT06 has been added to the system this evening. Shown as vehicles 153568 and 153327

Presumably 153568 has come from 153968?

 

[sd0733]

Presumably 153568 has come from 153968?

Correct. In recent years its gone from 153368 to 153968 to 153568, now part of AT06

 

[The_Train]

Correct. In recent years its gone from 153368 to 153968 to 153568, now part of AT06

Thank you

 

[158822]

Does anyone know what unit is running 5Z84 10:43 Machynlleth carriage sidings to Cardiff Canton sidings?

 

[sd0733]

Does anyone know what unit is running 5Z84 10:43 Machynlleth carriage sidings to Cardiff Canton sidings?

158818

 

[tfw756rider]

Does anyone know what unit is running 5Z84 10:43 Machynlleth carriage sidings to Cardiff Canton sidings?

158818

What's the purpose of the move?

 

[158841]

What's the purpose of the move?

Hopefully just a quick check up or something being fitted as there’s a similar move back to Shrewsbury tonight as 5Z97 so hopefully it’ll be back up north tonight

 

[158822]

Which TfW 158s have had C6 overhauls done and which still need doing? Thanks in advance for any info.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Dec 2025 ==

Does anyone know why so many 158s are out of service lately? Will they not be getting spare parts in if they are being replaced in September anyway?

 

[Razorblades]

Does anyone know why so many 158s are out of service lately? Will they not be getting spare parts in if they are being replaced in September anyway?

A quick check showed 17 of the 22 in service today (14), yesterday (+2) or on Monday (+1), so only 5 inactive and the longest of those since 29th November, so hardly startling figures.

Anyway, they'll each need putting back together before they're handed back to their owner, otherwise Angel Trains will be making a claim!

 

[Snow1964]

Anyway, they'll each need putting back together before they're handed back to their owner, otherwise Angel Trains will be making a claim!

Its not automatic that they need to be fixed, depends what clauses in lease say (which is not public), but for trains that are around 35 years old, might be option to settle and hand back in scrap condition.

Then there is also a settlement clause (normally for accident write offs), and clearly in some cases (especially near end of life) it is cheaper to pay the settlement than buy parts and expensively repair.

But there is recent overhaul tender for Wales 158s for upto 3 years from 1st April 2026, so in theory could be retained until early 2029. Logically wouldn't be wasting their time looking at this if they hand to hand them back in March, so must be a lease continuation (although don't know how long for)

 

[Rhydgaled]

there is recent overhaul tender for Wales 158s for upto 3 years from 1st April 2026, so in theory could be retained until early 2029. Logically wouldn't be wasting their time looking at this if they hand to hand them back in March, so must be a lease continuation (although don't know how long for)

TfW's lease on 'their' 24 class 158s has already been extended at least once. The initial fleet tables (published before Covid I think) had the Lease End Date for the 158s as 31/10/2022. According to an FOI response from TfW in 2025, the lease was not due to expire until 30/04/2027 (ie. still over a year away). However, if I recall correctly the class 175s went to Chrysalis Rail at Landore for quite a while beyond their removal from TfW service so perhaps the 'overhaul tender' for the 158s is actually going to be something similar to that (though I'd much rather the 158s remain in TfW service)?

 

[Cowley]

Just a reminder that there’s a speculative thread for that kind of thing here:

15X Fleet future & withdrawal

What confirmed plans are there to replace the BR built 15X class of DMU's in the coming years? 150/1s & 150/2s are now 40+ years old 153s are 38 years old 156s are 38 years old 158s are 35 years old As far as I know, TfW are the only operator with confirmed plans to withdraw and replace their...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[tfw756rider]

What number of 150s and what number of 153s are in service with Transport for Wales as of the 19/1/26?

 

[Razorblades]

What number of 150s and what number of 153s are in service with Transport for Wales as of the 19/1/26?

This site is your friend:

Train Allocations Lookup | Rail Record

Search UK Train Schedules By TOPS Number, Show Loco Allocations and Unit History | Train Tracker | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

 

[tfw756rider]

This site is your friend:

Train Allocations Lookup | Rail Record

Search UK Train Schedules By TOPS Number, Show Loco Allocations and Unit History | Train Tracker | Rail Record

live.rail-record.co.uk

Thanks, but it only let me look up a couple of units and then asked me to pay £3.49...

Searching on Realtime Trains on the 19/1/26 instead, 14 of the "originally" 36 150s are showing as in service:

150242/245/252/256/258/259/260/262/267/279/280/282/283/285

22 of the 150s are showing as no allocation, but we know that one of those (150231) has been withdrawn from Transport for Wales / National Rail and is now a heritage unit.

So if you or someone else could let me know what the status of the remaining 21 150s is (I know that at least some have been withdrawn / scrapped, but which ones / how many?), I'd appreciate it a lot:

208/213/217/227/229/230/235/236/237/240/241/250/251/253/254/255/257/264/278/281/284

(Just focusing on the 150s for now - I'm not sure why the 153s aren't in the thread title).

 

[Lewisham2221]

(Just focusing on the 150s for now - I'm not sure why the 153s aren't in the thread title).

There's no immediate plans to withdraw the remaining 153s?

 

[sd0733]

A current fleet status for 150s and 153s for whats currently shown:

150208- Canton since 16/01
150242- In Service
150245- In service
150251- Canton since 30/12
150252- In service
150256- In service
150258- In service
150259- In service
150260- In service
150262- In service
150264- Canton since 30/12
150267- In service
150278- Canton since 30/12
150279- In service
150280- In service
150282- In service
150283- In service
150284- Canton since 17/01
150285- In service


153323- In service paired with 153906
153325- Landore since 06/11
153329- In service paired with 153914
153361- Landore since 14/11
153369- Canton since 20/11
153906- In service paired with 153323
153913- Landore since 14/11
153914- In service paired with 153329

Also 153320/333/367/909/910/921/922/926/935 which are long term stored at Landore and haven't moved As far as im aware since first stood down.

AT01 In service
AT02 In service
AT03- Canton since 13/01
AT04- 552 at Canton since, 382 at Crewe
AT05- In service
AT06- In service
153312 AT spare at Landore.

 

[StripeyNick]

Thanks, but it only let me look up a couple of units and then asked me to pay £3.49...

Searching on Realtime Trains on the 19/1/26 instead, 14 of the "originally" 36 150s are showing as in service:

150242/245/252/256/258/259/260/262/267/279/280/282/283/285

22 of the 150s are showing as no allocation, but we know that one of those (150231) has been withdrawn from Transport for Wales / National Rail and is now a heritage unit.

So if you or someone else could let me know what the status of the remaining 21 150s is (I know that at least some have been withdrawn / scrapped, but which ones / how many?), I'd appreciate it a lot:

208/213/217/227/229/230/235/236/237/240/241/250/251/253/254/255/257/264/278/281/284

(Just focusing on the 150s for now - I'm not sure why the 153s aren't in the thread title).

From that list, 208, 251, 264, 278 & 284 are still at Canton..... whether or not they are stored, I don't know. 251 is.

217, 241, 254 & 257 are at Landore awaiting their fate.

The rest have been scrapped

 

[DBS92042]

From that list, 208, 251, 264, 278 & 284 are still at Canton..... whether or not they are stored, I don't know. 251 is.

217, 241, 254 & 257 are at Landore awaiting their fate.

The rest have been scrapped

150208 and 150284 have been in service in the last few days, the others at Canton haven't seen service since the end of 2025

 

[Jez]

Thanks for the list @sd0733 - Do the 153s that are not AT sets have diagrams or are they just to help cover for an other sets out of service?

 

[sd0733]

Thanks for the list @sd0733 - Do the 153s that are not AT sets have diagrams or are they just to help cover for an other sets out of service?

None show as non-AT 153s. Both pairs out today are on 150 diagrams now.

 

[Jez]

None show as non-AT 153s. Both pairs out today are on 150 diagrams now.

Thanks. It sounds like they are just providing extra capacity and cover when needed

 

[Snow1964]

Tfw have issued a tender for class 158 (44 vehicles + spares), transition and redelivery maintenance from 1 June 2026 to 31 Dec 2027

I am guessing they are planning to hand back class 158s during those 19 months. (I think they have 48 vehicles, but clearly 4 are now classified as spares)

Class 158 Transition and Redelivery Maintenance Addendum Notice by TRANSPORT FOR WALES RAIL LIMITED (UTILITY BUYER)​

1 buyer​

• Transport for Wales Rail Pontypridd

Description​

Transport for Wales Rail Ltd (TfWRL) (the Contracting Authority) is carrying out a procurement advertised via Sell2Wales, under the Open Procedures of the Procurement Act 2023 to procure Class 158 Transition and Redelivery Maintenance Project on forty-four (44) rolling stock vehicles and spares owned by Transport for Wales Rail Limited.

Lot Division​

1	158 Transition Maintenance Value: £2M Please refer to etender wales for ITT Award Criteria Quality _ Price _
2	158 Redelivery Value: £2M please see ITT on etender wales Award Criteria Quality _ Price _

CPV Codes​

• 50200000 - Repair, maintenance and associated services related to aircraft, railways, roads and marine equipment
• 34000000 - Transport equipment and auxiliary products to transportation

Indicators​

• An E-Auction may be used.
• Restrictions apply to the lot award allocation.

Other Information​

** PREVIEW NOTICE, please check Find a Tender for full details. ** Closing Date

Reference​

• ocds-h6vhtk-0607ef
• FTS 004803-2026

Domains​

• tfw.wales
• find-tender.service.gov.uk
• tfwrail.wales
• legislation.gov.uk
• etenderwales.ukp.app.jaggaer

Status​

This tender is open for application.
The deadline is in 49 days.

History​

• 20 Jan 2026 - Addendum Notice

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2026/W04/862978440

 

[Anonymous10]

Tfw have issued a tender for class 158 (44 vehicles + spares), transition and redelivery maintenance from 1 June 2026 to 31 Dec 2027

I am guessing they are planning to hand back class 158s during those 19 months. (I think they have 48 vehicles, but clearly 4 are now classified as spares)

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2026/W04/862978440

Likely the crash damaged units perhaps?

 

[43096]

Tfw have issued a tender for class 158 (44 vehicles + spares), transition and redelivery maintenance from 1 June 2026 to 31 Dec 2027

I am guessing they are planning to hand back class 158s during those 19 months. (I think they have 48 vehicles, but clearly 4 are now classified as spares)

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2026/W04/862978440

They had 48 vehicles. The four vehicles from the Talerddig crash were off leased last year - presumably after insurance formalities were sorted out.

 

[Razorblades]

Tfw have issued a tender for class 158 (44 vehicles + spares), transition and redelivery maintenance from 1 June 2026 to 31 Dec 2027

I am guessing they are planning to hand back class 158s during those 19 months. (I think they have 48 vehicles, but clearly 4 are now classified as spares)

https://bidstats.uk/tenders/2026/W04/862978440

Fragmentation of the railways. the gift that keeps on giving.

 

[158822]

@43096 Do you know when the lease of 158824+158841 was actually terminated?

 

[43096]

@43096 Do you know when the lease of 158824+158841 was actually terminated?

I believe it was autumn 2025.