Recent content by Rhydgaled

My apologies; I've just double-checked the e-mail I read that in and the wording used was that two TfW 158s were 'stored out of use' (at Cardiff Canton). The word "withdrawn" wasn't actually used (in that context at least). I seem to remember that some of the class 91s were run down in a...

Apparently, some of the TfW class 158s are due a C6 but TfW don't want to pay for it - I've read that one or two have already been withdrawn as a result. Others are supposedly getting close to running out of mileage/hours and are being used as little as possible to try and keep them going...

Unless they have updated the livery, don't the IETs have grey stripes instead of yellow for first class? They certainly didn't have yellow stripes when the new First Group GWR green was first introduced. It was absolutely part of the original GWEP plans way back in CP5 (wires from (Heathrow)...

Assuming they are planning to eventually use the 21 ETCS class 197s in the same way the class 158s are/were intended to be used at present then a unit which does Pwllheli to Birmingham International will normally then form a Birmingham to Llandudno (or should that be Llandudno Junction?) working...

Thanks; I thought it might be something like that - not all that different to the yellow and red stripes that used to identify first class / catering areas - although those did normally cover the full length of the coach with a coloured band (even if it changed from being yellow at one end to...

I don't think the TfW 769s were ever intended to be a long-term fixture; weren't some them even supposed to enter service before the Arriva Trains Wales franchise ended? And then KeolisAmey won the contract for the next 15 year concession/franchise/thing with a mass-extinction bid (similar to...

Wikipedia claims that all three Cavity classes are powered by an MTU 6H 1800 R85L engine under each car. However, for some reason for the class 195 and class 196 the power output is given as 390 kW (520 hp) per engine, but for the class 197 it claims 375 kW (503 hp) per engine.

Yes, that's pretty much my understanding from what I've read on this forum (I'm not railway staff so this forum is my main source of info). Thus, I'm wondering if the 158 work that is currently done at Machynlleth could move to Crewe when the 197s take over at Machynlleth. With regard to Crewe...

Yes; although my question is specifically about actually maintaining the fleet (ie. not just overnight stabling in places like Pwllheli, where I assume repairs/exams/overhauls would not normally take place). TfW's fleet appears to be stretched rather thin, even without their proposed future...

There was something odd going on around the time the GWR brand came in, but I can't remember the full details. A small number of units (including at least one 150 and a small number of 166s or 165s I think) were repainted in plain FirstGW blue with pink doors (as per the 'dynamic lines' HST...

Agreed; and the same should apply to things like non-gangwayed stock (eg. TfW FLIRTs and GWR 80x), and new fleet transition periods*. Indeed, even if there is a slim chance that a TOC will actually be able to run a through service they advertise, I think it would be better to advertise that a...

Not just those classes are going/gone; TfW have of course also withdrawn their mark 2 & mark 3 coaches, 170s, 769s, 143s and 142s. Also, I've been led to believe that the two 158s damaged in the collision 2 years ago won't be coming back. Isn't some 158 maintenance also done at Crewe? If so...

A west-facing bay at Cardiff Central doesn't make sense to me at the moment, because the GWML falls to double-track west of Cardiff compared to four tracks east of Cardiff. Until such time as capacity is improved west of Cardiff, an east-facing bay would make more sense as there are loads more...

Although previous Welsh Government(s) have (for example) increased the amount of double track between Wrexham and Chester. Presumably WG is free to divert funds from other things to spend on rail infrastructure should they choose, they just don't get an allocation of money for it from Westminster?

What's in a TOPS number anyway? If I recall correctly, many of the class 175 units are not in their as-built formations. If so, it's possible that half of what was once '175008' is now part of a different unit and '175008' could therefore be in two different locations at once depending on...