231005 returned yesterday from Holyhead and 756007 has been at Canton since the 6th of July.
Is that the £46m from the spending review last year? If so I don't think there's discussions as much as it's been promised?
Maesteg - Ebbw Vale is 4 diagrams, another 3 needed for Cardiff - Cheltenham. I believe long term plan for Ebbw Vale - Newport is to use 197s, but if they were 231 as well that would be another 2.
Quite often now seeing one or two 231s on TAM and one or two 756s on Rhymney-Barry each day
Quite often now seeing one or two 231s on TAM and one or two 756s on Rhymney-Barry each day
756107 and 756114 were on that route on Monday, I travelled on 756114 out of Barry Island in the afternoon. The difference from the days of a solo 150/2 was enormous!
Do we know when the Canton wheel lathe is due to be back in service?
Later in 2026. It's actually a machine replacement with a brand new machine, the 1984 one failed in March 2026 (about 6 months earlier than was expected) following its first major overhaul in 2019.
Do you know if the new wheel lathe is part of the new £12 million bogie drop at Canton recently officially opened?
I don't think so, no. The bogie drop is a new extension to the depot, whereas the new wheel lathe is going in the original building in the same space as the old one and I believe it's not actually part of the bogie drop project or cost figure. Happy to be corrected of course.
756s have been running regular turns Rhymney & Bargoed to Barry Island for some 4 or 5 weeks.
Bridgend is Cardiff Mainline and I dont think training has started yet?
Training (I believe!) commences on Monday with 3Gxx headcodes from Canton.