Transport for Wales Class 231 / 756 Stadler FLIRTs

[Welshguy1048]

How do you already know?

@tfw756rider

I asked on the Non Urgent TOPS Requests thread on here.

Dave

 

[tfw756rider]

@tfw756rider

I asked on the Non Urgent TOPS Requests thread on here.

Dave

Ah yes, thought you might have done

Someone I know has told me that it's actually only one 231 on it though (even if two were planned).

Edit: He thinks that 37510 is dragging 231002 but he's not sure.

 

[Anonymous10]

I see another schedule is in for 756004 to run to rhymney then bridgend, is this the start of training runs of mainline or further testing?

 

[Welshguy1048]

Filmed at Prestatyn, North Wales

23/04/26 - ROG Class 37 - 37510 & TfW Class 231 - 231002 - Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car M.D.

 

[BillStampy]

Filmed at Prestatyn, North Wales

23/04/26 - ROG Class 37 - 37510 & TfW Class 231 - 231??? - Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car M.D.

231002, 005 was left behind at Canton and is likely the reason of a late departure of nearly an hour.

 

[Welshguy1048]

231002, 005 was left behind at Canton and is likely the reason of a late departure of nearly an hour.

@BillStampy

Thank you

Appreciate all your help

Dave

 

[Cardiff123]

Another 756/1 testing or training run, Rhymney to Barry to Bridgend tonight.
Hopefully these runs will mean there's a chance of 756s starting in service on the VoG this summer.

Realtime Trains | 5Q30 2058 Rhymney to Bridgend | 28/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q30 2058 departure from Rhymney to Bridgend on 28/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Apr 2026 ==

Are there any regular scheduled diagrams for 756s on Rhymney - Barry Island / Bridgend from the May timetable change?

 

[BillStampy]

756112 been put to work on Barry Island services from this afternoon and is currently scheduled to work to Rhymney after it's next loop down to Barry. Fingers crossed!

 

[tfw756rider]

Does anyone know what the situation is with the Class 231 hybrid/bi-mode conversion stuff? Today (13/5/26) is now nearly 2 weeks since the decision deadline of the 30/4/26.

 

[MikePJ]

No idea. We have the TfW board minutes as far as February and the 231 conversion isn't mentioned in any of the unredacted sections.

 

[BillStampy]

Reportedly 231009 that ran last night 5Z00 Canton - Ebbw, 5Z01 return.
231011 has been allocated to run 5Z05 Canton - Cheltenham overnight today, 5Z06 return.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2026 ==

I can't keep up with this stuff.

Realtime Trains | 5Z05 1507 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Maesteg | 17/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z05 1507 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Maesteg on 17/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z06 1613 Maesteg to Cardiff Canton Sidings | 17/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z06 1613 departure from Maesteg to Cardiff Canton Sidings on 17/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

DAYLIGHT testing returning to Maesteg on Sunday for the Class 231s, first time in almost 3 years if I remember correctly.

 

[tfw756rider]

14/05/26 - ROG Class 37 - 37501 & TfW Class 231 - 231010 - Cardiff Canton Sdgs to Holyhead Car M.D.

Apologies if you didn't know about what was presumably 231002's return drag on the 1/5/26 because I didn't link the schedule - I had a lot on.

Here it was anyway:

Realtime Trains | 5Q77 1355 Holyhead Car. M.D. to Cardiff Canton Sidings | 01/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q77 1355 departure from Holyhead Car. M.D. to Cardiff Canton Sidings on 01/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Then an outward drag was scheduled for the 2/5/26 but was cancelled:

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 1056 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car. M.D. | 02/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 1056 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car. M.D. on 02/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Scheduled again for the 14/5/26 and ran this time (what you videoed):

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 1019 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car. M.D. | 14/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 1019 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Holyhead Car. M.D. on 14/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[BillStampy]

Bit disappointed as 231008 does a no-show on the test run this afternoon. Spent a good hour waiting but nonetheless...!

Guess I'll have to wait a bit longer.

 

[Bob Price]

Bit disappointed as 231008 does a no-show on the test run this afternoon. Spent a good hour waiting but nonetheless...!

Guess I'll have to wait a bit longer.

If you go to Real Time trains and use the detail view you can see if the service is running. I use Railcam to do the same, but that is a subscription service.

Can't see anything booked on the Ebbw line today

 

[BillStampy]

One question - Who works the services to Barry Island, is it done by Valley crews or Mainline (I'm aware VOG is done by mainline).

Another one for anyone who has knowledge on it, how far along is Flirt mainline training anyway? It seems quite limited in terms of test runs.

 

[craigybagel]

One question - Who works the services to Barry Island, is it done by Valley crews or Mainline (I'm aware VOG is done by mainline).

Another one for anyone who has knowledge on it, how far along is Flirt mainline training anyway? It seems quite limited in terms of test runs.

Barry Island is Valleys only.

 

[Last Hurrah]

Are TFW going ahead with proposal to fit a pantograph to the 231 fleet ?

 

[tfw756rider]

Does anyone know what the situation is with the Class 231 hybrid/bi-mode conversion stuff? Today (13/5/26) is now nearly 2 weeks since the decision deadline of the 30/4/26.

No idea. We have the TfW board minutes as far as February and the 231 conversion isn't mentioned in any of the unredacted sections.

Are TFW going ahead with proposal to fit a pantograph to the 231 fleet ?

We didn't know 5 days ago and we still don't know now. Also, I believe it's pantographs and transformers.

 

[Tram Inn SB]

Are TFW going ahead with proposal to fit a pantograph to the 231 fleet ?

From a source yes they are, however whether they get sent back to the European mainland or the work carried out locally he didn’t know.

Excellent news though, it’ll allow the 231 fleet to be used more efficiently over to Bristol Parkway and Temple Meads allowing some extension of internal diagrams.

Please don’t ask me to “state my source” he likes his job. It’ll be public so enough.

 

[Adlee Turner]

For anyone interested, there will be an 8-car 231 tomorrow from Rhymney sidings to Cardiff Canton (231001 + 231003) due to leave at 13:17 on 5Q02. Usually it is normally 1x 231 but due to 231003 failing during morning prep in Rhymney sidings Saturday morning, it requires rescuing.

Realtime Trains | 5Q02 1317 Rhymney Sidings to Cardiff Canton Sidings | 31/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q02 1317 departure from Rhymney Sidings to Cardiff Canton Sidings on 31/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[tfw756rider]

For anyone interested, there will be an 8-car 231 tomorrow from Rhymney sidings to Cardiff Canton (231001 + 231003) due to leave at 13:17 on 5Q02. Usually it is normally 1x 231 but due to 231003 failing during morning prep in Rhymney sidings Saturday morning, it requires rescuing.

Realtime Trains | 5Q02 1317 Rhymney Sidings to Cardiff Canton Sidings | 31/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Q02 1317 departure from Rhymney Sidings to Cardiff Canton Sidings on 31/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Showing as having been operated by 231001+231001 for some reason.

 

[Last Hurrah]

From a source yes they are, however whether they get sent back to the European mainland or the work carried out locally he didn’t know.

Excellent news though, it’ll allow the 231 fleet to be used more efficiently over to Bristol Parkway and Temple Meads allowing some extension of internal diagrams.

Please don’t ask me to “state my source” he likes his job. It’ll be public so enough.

Looking ahead to when the 231 fleet is in use on SW mainline for Bristol Parkway/Temple Meads, Cheltenham/Gloucester services, could a 5th car be added to each set should passenger numbers increase with the new stations being proposed

 

[Caaardiff]

Looking ahead to when the 231 fleet is in use on SW mainline for Bristol Parkway/Temple Meads, Cheltenham/Gloucester services, could a 5th car be added to each set should passenger numbers increase with the new stations being proposed

There are no confirmed plans to run Flirts to Bristol, its just rumour. The new services in December are 2 car 197s from West Wales, which will be cosy.
4 cars is plenty for Cheltenham, Maesteg and Ebbw Vale services.

 

[trainspotter4]

There are no confirmed plans to run Flirts to Bristol, its just rumour. The new services in December are 2 car 197s from West Wales, which will be cosy.
4 cars is plenty for Cheltenham, Maesteg and Ebbw Vale services.

Slightly off-topic but has TfW Bristol services been delayed from September to December now? Didn't know this and back on-topic, is it also December for the 231s to move to mainline (if all is well)?

 

[Adlee Turner]

Showing as having been operated by 231001+231001 for some reason.

Yeah, in the end 5Q02 was just 231001 on its own. It was in the platform at Rhymney ready to couple up but unfortunately, 231003 didn’t have enough power to shunt from the sidings so was left there. Luckily, a technician came later and fixed a part and it ended up travelling down later that day on its own as 5Z03.

 

[tfw756rider]

Does anyone know what the situation is with the Class 231 hybrid/bi-mode conversion stuff?

No idea.

Are TFW going ahead with proposal to fit a pantograph to the 231 fleet ?

From a source yes they are

Now officially confirmed in this RAIL magazine article:

Transport for Wales confirms '231' fleet will become bi-modes​

By David Stubbings, 3 June 2026

Transport for Wales has confirmed it is planning to convert its Class 231 diesel-electric units into bi-modes.

The fleet of 11 Stadler-built sets will have pantographs fitted over the coming years after TfW decided to activate a Hybrid Variation Agreement with the manufacturer.

Class 231s currently operate alongside ‘756s’ and Class 150s in South Wales but are due to move onto more main line and Vale of Glamorgan Line services once Class 398 tram-trains are rolled out on the South Wales Metro.

TfW Chief Commercial Officer, Alexia Course, said: "We can confirm that work is being mobilised to convert our Class 231 fleet into hybrid trains, following approval and funding from the Welsh Government and agreement with our delivery partners.

"This programme will reduce reliance on diesel, cut emissions and noise, and give us greater flexibility to operate the fleet more efficiently across the network, supporting our longer-term decarbonisation ambitions.”

Course said work will be “delivered on a phased basis over several years”.

 

[BillStampy]

Bi-Mode has been given the Green light for the Class 231 units:

Transport for Wales confirms '231' fleet will become bi-modes

Operator to fit pantographs to Class 231 FLIRT sets over the coming years.

www.railmagazine.com

Transport for Wales has confirmed it is planning to convert its Class 231 diesel-electric units into bi-modes.

The fleet of 11 Stadler-built sets will have pantographs fitted over the coming years after TfW decided to activate a Hybrid Variation Agreement with the manufacturer.

Class 231s currently operate alongside ‘756s’ and Class 150s in South Wales but are due to move onto more main line and Vale of Glamorgan Line services once Class 398 tram-trains are rolled out on the South Wales Metro.

TfW Chief Commercial Officer, Alexia Course, said: "We can confirm that work is being mobilised to convert our Class 231 fleet into hybrid trains, following approval and funding from the Welsh Government and agreement with our delivery partners.

"This programme will reduce reliance on diesel, cut emissions and noise, and give us greater flexibility to operate the fleet more efficiently across the network, supporting our longer-term decarbonisation ambitions.”

Course said work will be “delivered on a phased basis over several years”.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2026 ==

From a source yes they are, however whether they get sent back to the European mainland or the work carried out locally he didn’t know.

Excellent news though, it’ll allow the 231 fleet to be used more efficiently over to Bristol Parkway and Temple Meads allowing some extension of internal diagrams.

Please don’t ask me to “state my source” he likes his job. It’ll be public so enough.

I've just seen this as an aside, at least it's been made public now.

 

[trainspotter4]

Definitely nice to see them officially confirm that now; I was reading the proposal documents/consultation responses for West Wales-Bristol Temple Meeds. There is mention in that (in a response to Network Rail) about future Burns stations, that Cheltenham services potentially will extend to Birmingham Moor Street so this conversion will definitely help save fuel for them to reach Birmingham should that materialise as we know Flirts have less range (ish) I believe versus something like a 197, and generally makes sense for the routes they will run. Mainline operation for 231s is from the December timetable change, right?

Source: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/defaul...lemental-agreement-consultation-responses.pdf (Page 17)

 

[Richard Scott]

Bi-Mode has been given the Green light for the Class 231 units:

Transport for Wales confirms '231' fleet will become bi-modes

Operator to fit pantographs to Class 231 FLIRT sets over the coming years.

www.railmagazine.com

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Jun 2026 ==


I've just seen this as an aside, at least it's been made public now.

Really can't understand why they weren't built to hybrid specification in the first place.

 

[enapace]

Is this to basically limit the amount of diesel they use ?