Recent content by craigybagel

I'm not aware of any circumstances where self dispatch would be allowed at Cardiff Central. It would be especially problematic as ECS services require the dispatchers to activate the RA indicators. As others have stated, it is regularly used for certain TfW services at Shrewsbury in the early...

Even if there were paths,I doubt there are enough freight drivers available to pilot. I would be amazed if between TfW and Avanti we end up with much more than 2 tph.

I love that even Railway herald are throwing shade at WCR here: At the end of the day - why on earth would anyone trust WCR with any kind of exemption? They should consider themselves fortunate they're even allowed on the mainline at all

As I understand things, it's mostly demolition of the roofs at the South end of the platforms rather than renewal or replacement. Sadly we have to wait a little longer for that particular work - even though it needed doing yesterday.... There is a team working on the logistics for TfW at the...

Everybody wants trains to everywhere else and woe betide anyone who suggests streamlining things in a more simple matter. This is the cheapest way to achieve it - bearing in mind it's already a hugely subsidised network before you start trying to run 5 cars from Manchester through to Milford...

I was going to suggest again that the next challenge would be discovering whether or not CAF can build DOO cameras that are fit for purpose, but it would appear that the RMT are still making this issue moot for now. On 196s, Superpower is currently inhibited - the units are locked in Eco mode...

Crewe drivers have had no booked work on 150 or 153 since May. It's a year before competency is lost so for now between the random substitutions and the units coming North from Canton to visit the lathes (as well as the weekly 150 that visits Crewe ETD the 153s that went to Holyhead lathe were...

It's 5 years since they were ordered, 2 years since they were built, and beyond some trials still no confirmation that anybody actually wants to use them long term. It's pretty hard to see a rationale for ordering any more.....

It's a rare enough move now that the traincrew were contacted in advance to confirm they were still competent.

The long term replacement plan is a unit that can run all the way through to the Liverpool Loop line - which is likely to be some form of battery fitted EMU.

I've deleted the outdated HST reference at GWR Plymouth, and added in the extra details for Penzance, thanks for letting me know. My personal belief is that only routes signed by regular drivers in a link with actual booked work (or with Route Refresh days) should count, and not whatever extra...

It was ATW who put DAS in, not just on 175s but on 150s, 158s and the MKIII DVT's as well. I don't know anything official about how successful it was, but people may be able to draw their own conclusions given how the user licence was allowed to lapse. It's also built into the cabs of the 197s...

As far as this forum is concerned, it's one person, who's been called out multiple times by other posters, including some who are TfW employees. Both ASLEF & RMT have engaged with TfW throughout the process of getting the new units into service on the Valleys, notably without much arguing from...

Thanks both, I'll update.

At least some of the September and October course drivers have been contacted and gone through medicals, so whilst not 100% set in stone it's likely you'll be waiting for a subsequent course I'm afraid.