Recent content by Jez

25 x 2 car and 18 x 3 cars in service today which means we have 43 covering 49 diagrams. So no wonder we have so many Sprinters about in the South today. When at Swansea earlier I saw more Sprinters than anything else! Does anyone know which 197 is in Landore - I saw it today but wasnt close...

In the long term diagrams (May to September) there are only a few booked workings for the non AT 153 sets from memory. I believe a pair doing one of the Ebbw Vale to Newports and a few on Swanline/West Wales services. Its just as well they have them to cover as today there seems to be lots of...

Looking like 2 diagrams today and the other 2 covered by a unit (0539 from Swansea and 0854 from Cardiff)

Thanks everyone. Some interesting info there. I had a feeling Cardiff Central would not be self dispatch under any circumstances

I believe Northern Dispatchers dispatch TFW services at both Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow and Avanti dispatch at Crewe, Warrington and Stockport. Does anyone know any other stations? Cheltenham and Gloucester its GWR I assume and will be when TFW start at Bristol Temple Meads. What about...

Thanks to everyone for the information. Does anyone know about Swansea? I always thought it was compulsory dispatch due to the curve on the platform? Last time i was there i saw two dispatchers dispatching the GWR service which was 10 carriages.

I wonder if there are any circumstances when self dispatch is used if no staff present. I cant recall ever seeing a train dispatched at Cardiff Central with no platform staff. At Neath certainly late at night ive seen the conductor self dispatch.

I think that one runs ECS from Canton to Llanelli via the district line to maintain route knowledge. Before forming a service back to Cardiff. I believe it then goes onto Pembroke Dock's all day. The last 2 days its been a 150. This morning the 0543 from Swansea was a 150 vice a MK4. But...

Thanks. Maybe due to the GWR train being longer? Im sure ive seen self dispatch at Carmarthen but not sure. I will have to pay more attention next time i go.

Could anyone advise me which TFW stations (those TFW manage in both Wales and England) require compulsory assisted dispatch of their trains (and any other TOC that serve the station too). I am guessing Cardiff Central, Swansea, Chester for definite. Also Shrewsbury ive heard all TFW must have...

Lets hope so. Although there should be enough units to have at least some start on the Cambrian. Today a pair of 153s was seen on a Crewe local working (not all day it seems so perhaps the 197 was taken our of service) and yesterday the 1543 Cardiff-Swansea stopper was a single 153 (actually...

Seems like the 197 shortage continues - today half of the Pembroke Dock-Cardiff's, 2/3 of the Cheltenhams and half of the Maestegs are Sprinters. (OK some at least 1 of the Maesteg's is booked for 150s, possibly one of the Cheltenhams too). But thats a shortage of at least 4 units just checking...

43 of the 197s in service today. The units below are not in service. 006, 008, 009, 010, 012, 013, 014, 018, 020, 021, 027, 028, 029, 030, 031, 033, 035, 037, 039, 041, 045, 046, 048, 049, 051 105, 107, 110, 111, 116, 118, 123, 124, 125 197101 and 197102 im not sure about as both are...

I think the Sunday afternoon service has catering to and from Swansea? Not a chef of course being a Sunday but customer host. But I wondered if the Conductor perhaps would hand out cans of water at the very least to any first class passengers when i seen him carrying one last night...

I happened to use the MK4 service yesterday on a return journey from Cardiff-Port Talbot. I noticed the Conductor/Train Manager carrying a can of Water towards First Class. I wonder if at the minimum they provide Water to customers who are in First Class. I walked through First Class as it is...