Yes. Largely irrelevant for trying to materially enhance Cardff to Bristol services
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GWR accused of disrupting Wales-England train links by Welsh Government
- Thread starter Meole
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Snow1964
Established Member
Not sure why, but TfW has now added a page for Newport to Bristol on their website
tfw.wales
Not sure if this being added has any significance, (timing or pending announcement etc) as TfW don't currently operate the route, and promoting other operators services seems a strange move.
Newport to Bristol | Transport for Wales
Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times
tfw.wales
Not sure if this being added has any significance, (timing or pending announcement etc) as TfW don't currently operate the route, and promoting other operators services seems a strange move.
WelshBluebird
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Jan 2010
- Messages
- 5,576
Not sure if its linked but the TfW West Wales to Bristol services are showing from the December timetable change on Real Time Trains.Not sure why, but TfW has now added a page for Newport to Bristol on their website
Newport to Bristol | Transport for Wales
Transport for Wales | Buy Cheap Train Tickets and Check Train Times
Not sure if this being added has any significance, (timing or pending announcement etc) as TfW don't currently operate the route, and promoting other operators services seems a strange move.
tfw756rider
On Moderation
Thanks, here are some example schedules:
1R05 1235 Cardiff Central to Bristol Temple Meads on Sun 13/12/26
1R06 1339 Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central on Sun 13/12/26
1R52 0916 Bristol Temple Meads to Fishguard Harbour on Mon 14/12/26
1R09 1002 Fishguard Harbour to Bristol Temple Meads on Mon 14/12/26
1R58 1500 Bristol Temple Meads to Milford Haven on Mon 14/12/26
1R11 1153 Milford Haven to Bristol Temple Meads on Mon 14/12/26
1R62 1908 Bristol Temple Meads to Maesteg
Not yet determined.
fishwomp
Established Member
Does it? The clue should be in the name. TfW is owned by the Welsh Government, its objective is per https://tfw.wales/about-us/transparency/who-we-are
You can't develop integrated rail services without marketing those operated by others - such as the bus network.. so GWR services should be getting some help!
Interesting that these all stop at Stapleton Road but not Lawrence Hill. I think all current services stop at both or neither.
It is a bit weird to be promoting routes you don't serve, even from an integrated transport perspective. There's also a Cardiff to Bristol page too, these are perhaps early launches of pages they want when their service is running.
Them being in RTT is interesting though I'm guessing there's precedent for proposed services showing up and then not being approved. I wonder if they'll actually have the 197s available to run the service?
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I wonder what GWR makes of the plan for additional stopping services that will serve the burn stations into Bristol too.
Them being in RTT is interesting though I'm guessing there's precedent for proposed services showing up and then not being approved. I wonder if they'll actually have the 197s available to run the service?
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I wonder what GWR makes of the plan for additional stopping services that will serve the burn stations into Bristol too.
Snow1964
Established Member
I wonder if the aim is to help people in eastern side of Bristol get to Cardiff etc, its relatively easy to find unrestricted (free) on street parking near Stapleton Road station. For many it would be much quicker than getting a bus to Temple Meads to travel to Wales (and of course not having to rely on a bus-train connection makes journey lot more reliable)
The TfW brand is used by the national multi-modal Welsh transport authority as well as one of several cross-border train operating companies operating in Wales. It isn’t that unreasonable in the first role to be providing information on how to buy tickets to a nearby destination even if that service isn’t operated through its second role.
Plus there is still sales commission to be earned even on other operators’ services.
Plus there is still sales commission to be earned even on other operators’ services.
Do they connect with Severn Beach line trains they would otherwise miss at Temple Meads?
zwk500
Veteran Member
I suspect the aim is to offer interchange to Clifton Down.
Snow1964
Established Member
Yes and No
TfW need to get the 398s into service, and get the 197s working properly (far too many are stopped awaiting repairs). 197s have not yet started on Cambrian either.
The no part is, TfW announced about year ago was getting 3 year lease extension options on 158s so they could keep them until something like mid 2028 if other trains were still struggling
197s starting on Cambrian re-arranges the fleet but doesn't change the overall numbers. Even with the 158s, TfW is really struggling at the moment. To some extent due to the hot weather, I know, but today 4 routes are part-suspended due to lack of units, and there are no pairs of 197s on CDF-MAN.
Isn't part of this the wheel lathe not being available at Canton?
I did read somewhere that 398s being introduced apparently allows for 1 spare 197. Now I'm not sure how that maths works but I'm guessing it's the 231s moving to mainline that moves some 197s around for use.
If the service was operated by 158s at least the Cardiff to Bristol one that could be useful but I don't think anyone signs them other than Cambrian now.
I did read somewhere that 398s being introduced apparently allows for 1 spare 197. Now I'm not sure how that maths works but I'm guessing it's the 231s moving to mainline that moves some 197s around for use.
If the service was operated by 158s at least the Cardiff to Bristol one that could be useful but I don't think anyone signs them other than Cambrian now.
The only true heat related TfW alterations I can see are the Cambrians. When the clouds return we’ll still be seeing the ‘normal’ cancellations on Ebbw-Newport, Wrexham shuttle, Blaneau and Cheltenham and the Cambrian running 2 vice 4.
There are far deeper TfW maintenance issues than some sunshine.
The 398 introduction means the 231's will move to the mainline services they were intended for, meaning about 9 197's released.
Those 197's will be used for West Wales - Bristol and also more capacity on North Wales services.
150's and 153's are also struggling as they have no aircon and becoming very hot during the heatwave.
From what I can work out there are only 5 158's in service, apparently due to aircon issues on those. That means several 197's are covering the off Cambrian 158 work.
On top of that has been the recent CAF strikes which will likely slow down repairs and maintenance, as they are also having gearbox issues with a fair few units parked up awaiting repairs.
The 197's are not a reliable unit. There are quite a few ETCS 197s covering for the other stopped units. When the Cambrian switch happens TFW are going to be in big trouble unless the 197 reliability improves.
A number of 153's have also been brought back from storage in Landore to boost the numbers, with a lot more services in South Wales seeing 15x fleet replacing 197s.
It's also the ideal change-station for people coming from/going to the Severn Beach line.
Unless you’re a wheelchair user or have mobility issues, as the gap from the train to the platform is absolutely enormous at Stapleton Road
WelshBluebird
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Jan 2010
- Messages
- 5,576
It is at temple meads too mind you!
In terms of wheelchair users services calling at both should have ramps.
Farigiraf
Member
Any reason why they can't stop at Patchway? SWML pathing constraints?
zwk500
Veteran Member
In some hours, the London Paddington service is tight behind the service towards Bristol Temple Meads.
e.g. 1R07 Fishguard - Bristol TM passes Patchway 11:16:30, 1L15 Carmarthen - London Paddington passes 11:21:00, and headway is (IIRC) 3 minutes there, meaning 1R07 would need to lose no more than 90 secs in the stop to avoid hitting 1L15 back, when the normal time loss is 2 mins.
There may also be constraints because the signal for the junction in the South/Eastbound direction is behind the platform, so the train locks the junction up while calling there towards Bristol.
Probably capacity issues as well as patching issues, but if anyone has any suggestions for any such additional calls, feel to post a thread in the Speculative Discussion section.
The pathing looks really tight. Departing just 3 minutes after the Portsmouth - Cardiff services at Bristol in some hours. And those GWR services aren’t well known for their timekeeping.
I just noticed the paths have been entered onto RTT for December as discussed in this thread.
It seems most of them are an extension of the West Wales to Cardiff service (the ones that dont go to Manchester) with two previously withdrawn Carmarthen to Cardiff services reinstated.
I hope there will be enough units available given how many short forms and cancellations there are currently.
It seems most of them are an extension of the West Wales to Cardiff service (the ones that dont go to Manchester) with two previously withdrawn Carmarthen to Cardiff services reinstated.
I hope there will be enough units available given how many short forms and cancellations there are currently.
Well - the more demand there is, the greater the argument for doing something about that.