Recent content by Mark Carter

Does anyone know why this service is almost always Class 150 or Class 153 rather than Class 197 ?. It is formed from the Swanline service 2B68 and returns from Milford back to Cardiff as 2B26 and hence back to the depot ? Thanks for any help

I drove today from Hereford to Shrewsbury up A49 and whilst passing Bromfield noticed an unidentified class 158 crawling towards Leominster . On Realtime trains this looks to be 5Z50 which is stated to be 40mph max and only for today. Does anyone know the reasoning for the low speed , just...

So I went on it today , here is the report. 2 pairs of active travel class 153 AT03 and AT05. 20 mins late from depot and at Llanelli. Train stopped at Llangenech when the southbound class 150 was given priority so 1.04 late leaving Pontardullais. The service train was heading north was only 7...

It would seem they stayed there yesterday. Timings are different for yesterday and tomorrow rather than today

From TFW Journeycheck, how ridiculous 23:15 Cardiff Central to Swansea due 00:45 23:15 Cardiff Central to Swansea due 00:45 will be delayed at Briton Ferry and is expected to be 61 minutes late. This is due to passengers causing a disturbance on this train.

I felt the braking was late and very hard. Items were sliding off tables. Having been on that route several times the train certainly entered the station much faster than I ever remembered. Weather was bright dry and sunny. I was under the impression that the conductor went to the rear cab to...

I decided to take a trip Bristol TM to Oxford on the new Saturday only direct service yesterday 28.09 on the 10.18 departure with 800008. The train was well loaded, but no onboard computers working for seat reservations or carriage letters. As we approached Chippenham I thought we were going a...

I was going Pembroke Dock to Swansea. Huge gap for holiday visitors both morning and afternoon My point is that the average customer does not have a clue if he is relying on the main timetable

So I was trying to book the 10.00 GWR Pembroke Dock to Swansea tomorrow, no sign of it. There are no strikes and it is still listed to 9th September in the main timetables. Any idea why it is not running or even showing as cancelled. TFW have seemingly removed their services at those times for...

The special train has already been cancelled for tomorrow. Heart of Wales had buses all weekend. Closure by stealth? Also TFW have been selling discounted tickets for the show although still £30 so if train is cancelled do customers get a refund on those as well? You would have thought for the 4...

I see the first day of the annual 06.57 Cardiff Central to Builth Road and this evenings return has been cancelled this morning due to staff shortages for the busiest week by far on the Heart of Wales line. The other services appear to be single class 153. Then 2 later return journeys only run...

I spoke to a conductor recently. The policy is that the 153/9 units can work in tandem with another compliant unit so if with a 153/3 the situation is the same as a 150, 2 coaches, 1 disabled toilet. !53/9 are allowed on their own as long as the journey does not exceed 19 minutes

If you want to see inconvenience, come down to the other end of the TFW area, Carmarthen to Milford haven, where all trains are buses today to save units. 28 minutes wait for another train would be a luxury

There is a catering depot at Carmarthen, but there is usually no catering westbound from there

Should be interesting tomorrow when the Milford Haven branch should reopen after a 5 week shut down. If there were cancellations with this being bus operated for 5 weeks what chance is there for tomorrow. Bet the bus companies are laughing. Does anyone know how much of the line has been completed?