ATW Bases and crew changes

[luke1420]

hello,

I have traveled between ManPic and Shrewsbury a couple of times this year and i was just wondering on a route such as ManPic - Milford haven where do the Drivers and guards change? I am Pretty sure i have seen Guards changing a Shrewsbury on some services but don't think i have ever seen drivers change their.

So could anybody shine a light on where the ATW bases are and where the driver and guards work to/from the bases?

Thanks,

 

[TheWalrus]

I'm not entirely sure but I think probably at Cardiff, Swansea and Carmarthen and possibly Crewe?

 

[PHILIPE]

Not Swansea. Depots are at Crewe, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and Carmarthen. Shrewsbury drivers may have a little involvement between Shrewsbury and Crewe but they do not work south of Shrewsbury although the guards do.
Changes may take place place at Swansea on occasions but they would be Cardiff or Carmarthen crews. Only Crewe, I believe, work between Crewe and Manchester.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Not Swansea. Depots are at Crewe, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and Carmarthen. Shrewsbury drivers may have a little involvement between Shrewsbury and Crewe but they do not work south of Shrewsbury although the guards do.
Changes may take place place at Swansea on occasions but they would be Cardiff or Carmarthen crews. Only Crewe, I believe, work between Crewe and Manchester.

What about Chester, and Cardiff-Holyhead workings?

 

[156441]

ATW have bases on that line of route at Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and Carmarthen.

Crewe changes happen at all of these locations dependant on the diagram.

 

[red2005]

Shrewsbury drivers sign all the way through to pic via Stockport and wilmslow

Only Crewe conductors take services take you through from Crewe to Manchester although there are rumours Chester conductors will be signing that route to Manchester also as well as via Warrington.

Shrewsbury conductors do sign down to Cardiff so you will have seen changes there and Shrewsbury is also where some Cardiff guards travelling north take personal needs breaks

 

[PHILIPE]

ATW have bases on that line of route at Chester, Crewe, Shrewsbury, Cardiff and Carmarthen.

Crewe changes happen at all of these locations dependant on the diagram.

If you want to include Cardiff to Holyhead route as well as Manchester Picc there are also Depots at Holyhead and Llandudno Jn.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Shrewsbury drivers sign all the way through to pic via Stockport and wilmslow

Only Crewe conductors take services take you through from Crewe to Manchester although there are rumours Chester conductors will be signing that route to Manchester also as well as via Warrington.

Shrewsbury conductors do sign down to Cardiff so you will have seen changes there and Shrewsbury is also where some Cardiff guards travelling north take personal needs breaks

Talking to a Shrewsbury conductor I know last week at Aberystwyth who told me that they were know covering Wrexham to Bidston turns, they also do heart of Wales as far as Llandeilo. Seen him in Piccadily, BHM INtL and Cardiff Central over the years.

 

[headshot119]

Yes Shrewsbury have recently learnt the Bidston to take the pressure off of Chester.

I'd be interested to know what depots sign what etc.

 

[PHILIPE]

Talking to a Shrewsbury conductor I know last week at Aberystwyth who told me that they were know covering Wrexham to Bidston turns, they also do heart of Wales as far as Llandeilo. Seen him in Piccadily, BHM INtL and Cardiff Central over the years.

The HOW Line is to Llanwrtyd where the Up and Down trains cross and they change over with Carmarthen crews. 2 of the 4 per day cross here and the other 2 cross at Llandrindod Wells.

 

[luke1420]

So Crewe men will work the service from Crewe to pic then back to Crewe where another team take over? Also do Crewe sign south as far as Cardiff or will the Crewe men swap at shrewsbury?

 

[PHILIPE]

Crewe crews work to Cardiff, probably half the trains, shared with Cardiff and a few Shrewsbury Guards.

 

[swcovas]

The HOW Line is to Llanwrtyd where the Up and Down trains cross and they change over with Carmarthen crews. 2 of the 4 per day cross here and the other 2 cross at Llandrindod Wells.

Not sure if still the same but in the past Salop crews "knew the road" as far as Llanwrtyd and crews from south as far as Llandrindod. Cant imagine this is any different now in view of Philipe's comments above. One of problems in trying to facilitate an improvement in the tt is that it would involve crew training to take crews beyond these points.

 

[PHILIPE]

Correct. As I stated 2 change over a Llanwrtyd and 2 at Llandrindod Wells.
Shrewsbury and Carmarthen crews.

 

[Hyphen]

I can only speak for the drivers side of things (I have no idea about guards although I'd imagine they're probably similar) but ATW have driver depots at:
Carmarthen, Cardiff, Treherbert, Rhymney, Shrewsbury, Machynlleth, Pwllheli, Crewe, Chester, Holyhead and Llandudno Junction. Not all of these sign the Marches, though!

As for crew changes, for Marches trains(*) these take place at Shrewsbury, Cardiff, Chester, Crewe and Carmarthen. There are a couple of diagrams where Carmarthen crew are relieved by Cardiff crew at Swansea, as this is interworked with a Swanline on the Cardiff side. I presume there's something else interworked on the Carms side too.

* Cardiff drivers in this link sign Man Pic-Milford Haven and Holyhead-Cardiff routes interchangeably, as well as signing others such as Cheltenham stoppers, Swanline stoppers and Cardiff-Bridgend via Barry (Vale of Glamorgan).

Gerald is signed solely by Cardiff and Holyhead drivers (can't speak for guards).

 

[PHILIPE]

I thought Crewe drivers were also involved with Gerallt.

 

[craigybagel]

Crewe drivers work Gerald from Chester to Cardiff, Cardiff drivers take it back from Cardiff to Chester. Holyhead drivers work it from Holyhead to Chester both directions. Its a Holyhead guard between Holyhead and Chester, and a Shrewsbury guard between Chester and Cardiff both directions.

On the Marches for drivers, Cardiff sign Cardiff to Crewe, Shrewsbury sign Shrewsbury to Manchester, and Crewe sign all the way from Cardiff to Manchester.

For guards it's a little different, Cardiff guards to Cardiff to Crewe, Shrewsbury guards also do Cardiff to Crewe, and Crewe guards go all the way from Cardiff to Manchester.

All 3 depots drivers and guards do Shrewsbury up to Chester, but none go down the North Wales line so a Chester, Llandudno Junction or Holyhead crew will take over at Chester on those services.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Correct. As I stated 2 change over a Llanwrtyd and 2 at Llandrindod Wells.
Shrewsbury and Carmarthen crews.

Shrewsbury and Carmarthen for drivers, but on the guards side Crewe sign it as well. First two trains are Crewe guards, and the second two are Shrewsbury. Both swapping with Carmarthen guards at Llandrindod (1st and 3rd) or Llanwrtyd (2nd and 4th).

 

[merlodlliw]

Crewe drivers work Gerald from Chester to Cardiff, Cardiff drivers take it back from Cardiff to Chester. Holyhead drivers work it from Holyhead to Chester both directions. Its a Holyhead guard between Holyhead and Chester, and a Shrewsbury guard between Chester and Cardiff both directions.

I often chatted to the Shrewsbury guard working the 0600 Wrexham to Chester , he then worked Gerald from Chester ex 0715(class 57) via Crewe to Cardiff.

 

[PHILIPE]

Obviously your cosy chats, Bob, were before Gerallt was routed via Wrecsam.

 

[craigybagel]

Their diagram is still pretty similar now even after the Wrexham diversion.

 

[merlodlliw]

Obviously your cosy chats, Bob, were before Gerallt was routed via Wrecsam.

Correct,I presume the same occurs now. At the time I used my over 60s card to Cardiff via Gerald.,it made a change from the 0630 ex Wrexham which stopped at all stations.

The new over 60s ATW card is now on sale,but not before 0930 on the Cardiff run.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Correct,I presume the same occurs now. At the time I used my over 60s card to Cardiff via Gerald.,it made a change from the 0630 ex Wrexham which stopped at all stations.

The new over 60s ATW card is now on sale,but not before 0930 on the Cardiff run.

Book to Newport and then buy a normal return from there.

 

[Llanigraham]

Correct,I presume the same occurs now. At the time I used my over 60s card to Cardiff via Gerald.,it made a change from the 0630 ex Wrexham which stopped at all stations.

The new over 60s ATW card is now on sale,but not before 0930 on the Cardiff run.

Sorry but do you mean the Club 55 ticket, or something else?
I can't find anything on their web site about it.

Also any idea what time the Gerald leaves Cardiff?

 

[transmanche]

Sorry but do you mean the Club 55 ticket, or something else?
I can't find anything on their web site about it.

The 'over 60s ATW card' is detailed on this page: http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/ATWRailcards/

If you are 60 or over, you are entitled to an Arriva Trains Wales Seniors’ Railcard which gives a 50 per cent discount on Anytime or Off Peak Day Return fares on the Valleys & Cardiff local routes network (except between Cardiff Central, Newport and Cheltenham inclusive (see map on PDF)). The card costs just £5 and is valid for one year.

 

[Greenback]

ATW crews do 'swap over' at Swansea occasionally as Philipe said. I've been on trains that were held there due to the incoming crew being delayed!

You cna also see crew changes at Llanelli, though usually involving HoW services. There also used to be at least one turn with a break at Llanelli.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Correct,I presume the same occurs now. At the time I used my over 60s card to Cardiff via Gerald.,it made a change from the 0630 ex Wrexham which stopped at all stations.

The new over 60s ATW card is now on sale,but not before 0930 on the Cardiff run.

Club 55 OK from 0900 on the Jan-Mar promotion (and anytime west of Chester/Shrewsbury/Neath).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Crewe drivers work Gerald from Chester to Cardiff, Cardiff drivers take it back from Cardiff to Chester. Holyhead drivers work it from Holyhead to Chester both directions. Its a Holyhead guard between Holyhead and Chester, and a Shrewsbury guard between Chester and Cardiff both directions.

On the Marches for drivers, Cardiff sign Cardiff to Crewe, Shrewsbury sign Shrewsbury to Manchester, and Crewe sign all the way from Cardiff to Manchester.

For guards it's a little different, Cardiff guards to Cardiff to Crewe, Shrewsbury guards also do Cardiff to Crewe, and Crewe guards go all the way from Cardiff to Manchester.

It sounds as though there is no crew interworking at Manchester Piccadilly between the North Wales and Marches services.
The physical trains interwork of course, mostly being based at Chester.
The early Chester-Crewe-Manchester Picc-Airport-Llandudno being one.

 

[craigybagel]

Club 55 OK from 0900 on the Jan-Mar promotion (and anytime west of Chester/Shrewsbury/Neath).
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


It sounds as though there is no crew interworking at Manchester Piccadilly between the North Wales and Marches services.
The physical trains interwork of course, mostly being based at Chester.
The early Chester-Crewe-Manchester Picc-Airport-Llandudno being one.

There isn't any. There are no depots that sign all the way from Chester through Manchester and down to Crewe. There is one train on a Friday night though that comes in from the Marches, terminates on platform 14 at Piccadilly and then forms a Chester service, but the crew change over at that point. It's not advertised as a through train but is diagrammed as such.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

There isn't any. There are no depots that sign all the way from Chester through Manchester and down to Crewe. There is one train on a Friday night though that comes in from the Marches, terminates on platform 14 at Piccadilly and then forms a Chester service, but the crew change over at that point. It's not advertised as a through train but is diagrammed as such.

I noticed from RTT an early ECS 158 Crewe-Manchester via Warrington and Eccles.
It's also a diversionary route, frequently used during WCRM.

 

[PHILIPE]

Retention of diversionary route knowledge. I think one at night runs back from Picc to Crewe via Stoke (reverse) and Alsager.

 

[craigybagel]

I noticed from RTT an early ECS 158 Crewe-Manchester via Warrington and Eccles.
It's also a diversionary route, frequently used during WCRM.

Indeed, however the crews at Crewe who work that route don't sign Warrington-Chester, so they can't work the Manchester-Chester services. It is only a diversion route, who's only booked services at the moment are ECS.