ATW Premier Service

[merlodlliw]

You cannot compare it with WSMR

Yes I fully agree, no comparison, just imitation, I must have put the quote in a" moment of madness"






Anyhow we have a good story of the first day of service by colleague George Jones who spent the evening at Wrexham General, & Adam Barnard who travelled on the new set
George notes: 'This picture was only possible(http://www.nwrail.org.uk/nwnews.htmGeralds Big Day)) because the terminating Virgin Train from Euston had not arrived despite being on the board as due on time 20:38. The Holyhead-bound train went forward into the single-line section towards Chester without waiting, and the stopping train to Shrewsbury (150 257) which is worked by a train used during the day on the Bidston line, and starts from Wrexham rather than Chester to make a path for the Virgin train, departed without waiting, from platform 3. Two lads for Gobowen were left behind as they sat out the train sequence on platform 1 ignoring the information on the screens until too late.'

[10 October was a bad day for Virgin's North Wales trains. A blockage of the line between Crewe and Chester had thrown the service into chaos, with some trains diverted via Warrington, and Platform 12 at Crewe full of four Voyager units at one stage. It looks as though the 18:10 Euston - Wrexham / Holyhead was either cancelled or terminated short.]

 

[Rhydgaled]

Bit disapointed that nwnews did not cover the short-formed Gerald (only 2 standard class coaches) to answer my question of whether it is temporary (as I asked before, are disabled toilets present, if they aren't it suggests an extra coach with such facilities included will likely be added when available).

 

[merlodlliw]

Bit disapointed that nwnews did not cover the short-formed Gerald (only 2 standard class coaches) to answer my question of whether it is temporary (as I asked before, are disabled toilets present, if they aren't it suggests an extra coach with such facilities included will likely be added when available).

I will ask Charlie Hume editor for you.
and his reply below

Hello Bob,

Sorry about that, but I tried and failed to find out the facts
going on, so decided not to mention it until I could get my hands
on more info.

I suppose the other coaches are not finished.

Charlie

 

[Rhydgaled]

I will ask Charlie Hume editor for you.
and his reply below

Hello Bob,

Sorry about that, but I tried and failed to find out the facts
going on, so decided not to mention it until I could get my hands
on more info.

I suppose the other coaches are not finished.

Charlie

Thanks.

 

[Kingston Flyer]

as I asked before, are disabled toilets present, if they aren't it suggests an extra coach with such facilities included will likely be added when available.

When the WAG set ran in past me as I waited to leave Cardiff on the 18:12, the second coach had a disabled emblem next to the door. (Formation as DVT, second, second, buffet first, 67003)

 

[merlodlliw]

When the WAG set ran in past me as I waited to leave Cardiff on the 18:12, the second coach had a disabled emblem nest to the door. (Formation as DVT, second, second, buffet first, 67003)

Well spotted,Ive passed on the info to Editor North Wales Rail news


Bob

 

[krus_aragon]

I happened to be at Cardiff Central at six this evening, and had a little nosey. The Gerallt Gymro was stood at platform 2, DVT leading (so the below relates to the left hand side when on board, facing the DVT and standard class)

There are wheelchair signs on both the standard class carriages (12177 and 12178) by the doors at the dvt end. One table and pair of chairs in each is absent at that end to give space for a wheelchair. The carriages seem to be done to a common design.

In the first class carriage (10249) there was a missing seat with wheelchair sign within the carriage at the engine end (opposite the buffet), with the table retained for the at seat dining service. There wasn't a sign at the door, though.

Looking from outside, I didn't get the impression that the toilets of the standard class had been expanded to accommodate a wheelchair inside. I didn't get a look at the first class toilet, but seeing a linen cupboard opposite it I doubt that it has been expanded either.

 

[anthony263]

The loco hauled set was used on a test trip down to Swansea yesterday.

That would explain why I saw it leaving Canton depot at around 11:30 yesterday morning

 

[merlodlliw]

The loco hauled set was used on a test trip down to Swansea yesterday.

That would explain why I saw it leaving Canton depot at around 11:30 yesterday morning

That would be interesting,start it at Swansea with trolley service to Cardiff,hence the logo, this eight hour downtime is well silly with overcrowded trains, ATW pay for it to Swansea & get the revenue, or am I being too realistic.

Bob

 

[anthony263]

I think starting the wag from Swansea would be a good idea.

however I think it would struggle to keep to the tight timings if it was to work the swanline service from Swansea at 17:10.

Of course the 17:10 could be sped up by missing the swanline stations with the exception of Pyle and ATW run an additional service from Swansea at 17:35 using a class 150 or something which wouldnt be too crowded because of the FGW london service which would have departed at 17:28 carrying a lot of the passengers for Neath etc.

Another option could be to copy chiltern and fit the atw mk3's with powered doors which should help keep the dwell times down.

 

[PHILIPE]

You wouldn't start it from Swansea at 17 10 and run fast with hardly any passengers. as it is a Swanline station commuter service. Run a train at 17 35 with what ? You say 150 - what are you going to cancel to provide it ?

 

[anthony263]

You wouldn't start it from Swansea at 17 10 and run fast with hardly any passengers. as it is a Swanline station commuter service. Run a train at 17 35 with what ? You say 150 - what are you going to cancel to provide it ?

I meant if ATW had any units available although I know it is very unlikely otherwise they would be using them to strengthen other services already.

Anyway I know the 17:10 is a swanline commuter service seeing as I used to travel on it regulary.

 

[merlodlliw]

I meant if ATW had any units available although I know it is very unlikely otherwise they would be using them to strengthen other services already.

Anyway I know the 17:10 is a swanline commuter service seeing as I used to travel on it regulary.

Did not the Wag Ex 2 175 start from Swansea before the new timetable then run 1821 to Holyhead, so what's stopping the 67 & DVT, out of interest.

Bo9b
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You wouldn't start it from Swansea at 17 10 and run fast with hardly any passengers. as it is a Swanline station commuter service. Run a train at 17 35 with what ? You say 150 - what are you going to cancel to provide it ?

Well passenger count does not apply to the Wag Ex, as its a bankrolled O/A,pax or no pax, it runs,

 

[Rhydgaled]

You wouldn't start it from Swansea at 17 10 and run fast with hardly any passengers. as it is a Swanline station commuter service. Run a train at 17 35 with what ? You say 150 - what are you going to cancel to provide it ?

What runs the 17:10 at the moment? If the WAG took the 17:10 departure slot, could the replacement 17:35 Swanline service proposed use whatever unit is currently diagramed on the 17:10, or is that needed leaving Cardiff before it would reach there with a 17:35 departure from Swansea?

 

[krus_aragon]

What runs the 17:10 at the moment? If the WAG took the 17:10 departure slot, could the replacement 17:35 Swanline service proposed use whatever unit is currently diagramed on the 17:10, or is that needed leaving Cardiff before it would reach there with a 17:35 departure from Swansea?

It's a 153 or 150, and terminates at Cardiff. It then runs to the depot (or did so yesterday, at least). I don't see any obvious problems with retiming it to 17:35, running after the Paddington service.

 

[merlodlliw]

It's a 153 or 150, and terminates at Cardiff. It then runs to the depot (or did so yesterday, at least). I don't see any obvious problems with retiming it to 17:35, running after the Paddington service.

Anything can happen, I was informed yesterday ATW have not signed off the Dec timetable even for consultation(if it occurs) yet, with 7 weeks left.

Bob

 

[PHILIPE]

Assume that the Pocket Timetables will have to be sent to the printers with inaccuracies in them as for Septenber.

 

[Penmorfa]

That would be interesting,start it at Swansea with trolley service to Cardiff,hence the logo, this eight hour downtime is well silly with overcrowded trains, ATW pay for it to Swansea & get the revenue, or am I being too realistic.

Bob

Is'nt the problem here that the set would get no maintenance as Canton is the only place it can be done?

 

[Rhydgaled]

Is'nt the problem here that the set would get no maintenance as Canton is the only place it can be done?

They will have two sets when all the mark3s are done though, and there'd still be quite a gap from it reaching Cardiff at around 10am to departing around 4pm (to get to Swansea to form the 17:10 from Swansea) for them to do very light maintenance or swap sets.

 

[merlodlliw]

Assume that the Pocket Timetables will have to be sent to the printers with inaccuracies in them as for Septenber.

I don't know what the situation is with ATW, no other tocs appear to have this problem, current we have senior ATW Managers telling a few rugs & others, no change on their lines, which is not good enough.
The Dee/Seven line will have changes from Dec 12/13 especially on public holidays,this is being kept close to ATWs chest after the September cock up.no one on our local Seven/Dee rug has yet been approached.

So I agree with seven weeks left to Dec timetables, the print run must be imminent.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Is'nt the problem here that the set would get no maintenance as Canton is the only place it can be done?

I don't know what maintenance would be required as the sets only run under 400 miles a day five days week,the current down time is eight hours, with two sets on the go,I imagine water/derv etc is all that is required on a daily basis,the mark 3s will be either energised by hard wire or attached to the 67 I presume at Canton, it appeared the old 57s were never switched off. I don't see a problem running the train to Swansea from Canton as Rhydgaled says. I appreciate its a different class of train, but voyages run Holyhead/Euston twice a day & are serviced in rotation

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Plenty of down time for Gerald today.
The Up train was a 175 this morning (no first/catering), running 30min late on the coast.
As a result the Wrexham-Birmingham 158 starter missed its front portion at Shrewsbury by about 20 minutes (I had caught this, the HHD-BHI via Crewe, at Flint).
The Wrexham-Birmingham unit was terminated at Shrewsbury and everybody booted out onto the LM stopper.
It was then pressed into service straight away to substitute for the following Manchester-Carmarthen 175 which expired at Shrewsbury (dumped in the sidings later).
All this without a scrap of PIS on any of the 158s.

 

[merlodlliw]

Plenty of down time for Gerald today.
The Up train was a 175 this morning (no first/catering), running 30min late on the coast.
As a result the Wrexham-Birmingham 158 starter missed its front portion at Shrewsbury by about 20 minutes (I had caught this, the HHD-BHI via Crewe, at Flint).
The Wrexham-Birmingham unit was terminated at Shrewsbury and everybody booted out onto the LM stopper.
It was then pressed into service straight away to substitute for the following Manchester-Carmarthen 175 which expired at Shrewsbury (dumped in the sidings later).
All this without a scrap of PIS on any of the 158s.

Oh dear,might have made more sense running the Wrexham/Birmingham on time ex Wrexham 0747 which is always well loaded with commuters from Wrexham & Gobowen who work in the West Midlands.One of the reasons we got the train to run to Birmingham.

So what happened to the DVT/mark3s/67. No first catering

Bob

 

[krus_aragon]

All this without a scrap of PIS on any of the 158s.

That's the one area of the refurbishment that I'm put off by: The internal LED matrices have a noticeable flicker and the scrolling displays at the front of the train are programmed to spend half their time advertising Arriva's blooming website, rather than telling me where the train's going!

 

[merlodlliw]

That's the one area of the refurbishment that I'm put off by: The internal LED matrices have a noticeable flicker and the scrolling displays at the front of the train are programmed to spend half their time advertising Arriva's blooming website, rather than telling me where the train's going!

Just picked this up from Charlie Hume editor of North Wales rail news who tells me

The loco-hauled was cancelled at Holyhead because of an air leak
on the DVT.

Charlie

Bob

 

[Rhydgaled]

the scrolling displays at the front of the train are programmed to spend half their time advertising Arriva's blooming website, rather than telling me where the train's going!

Agreed, the screens on the ends of class 158 units were much more useful prior to refurbishment, when they just said where the train was going with no scrolling.

There were one or two sets which had LED ones proir to the refurb anyway, which were both easy to read and told you where the train was going without it scrolling off out of view. Why couldn't they have just installed those to all 24 units during the refurb instead?

Interior wise on the refurb 158s, that chime that plays on the rare occasions there is an audio anouncment really annoys me, why can't we have a simple DUR-DUR-DUR followed by Phil Sayers' voice as I used to experience at some SWT stations?

 

[Gareth Marston]

Oh dear,might have made more sense running the Wrexham/Birmingham on time ex Wrexham 0747 which is always well loaded with commuters from Wrexham & Gobowen who work in the West Midlands.One of the reasons we got the train to run to Birmingham.

So what happened to the DVT/mark3s/67. No first catering

Bob

Passed me between Newport and Cwmbran heading south I was on 1405 CDF-Picaddily.

0940 Salop to Milford Haven didn't leave until 1003, passengers de- trained at Salop from a pair of 158's ( ex commuter train from Chester????) which i assume worked through from Manchester as 0830 running late at north end of 7 onto 175007 which we were told had failed earlier at Wem and been repaired. Much whining from elderly couple that sat next to me, going to Bristol and bricking it about connection at Newport. They must have missed it as Portsmouth train was over on 4 at Newport when we pulled into 2. Guards ticket machine apparently "didn't work" so he stayed in cab advising people needing tickets to but them at next station all the way to Cardiff and trolly bloke had no change!

Saw ex WAG2 arrive at CDf pass numbers in low 20's.

 

[Chester025]

Does anyone know whether the WAG was hauled this evening then and what's going to happen tomorrow? I'm planning on going for it in the morning and won't be pleased if it's a cart...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Does anyone know whether the WAG was hauled this evening then and what's going to happen tomorrow? I'm planning on going for it in the morning and won't be pleased if it's a cart...

And to answer my own question this was posted on the ATW website earlier on:

This train has been delayed at Cardiff Central and is now 17 minutes late.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 4 between Cardiff Central and Holyhead. First class not available. Catering is not available between Cardiff Central and Hereford.
Additional Facilities Information:
3 car 175 vice loco and coaches. At seat trolley service available only..
This is due to a train fault. Message Received :24/10/2012 19:34

 

[Rhydgaled]

This train has been delayed at Cardiff Central and is now 17 minutes late.
Will be formed of 3 coaches instead of 4 between Cardiff Central and Holyhead. First class not available. Catering is not available between Cardiff Central and Hereford.
Additional Facilities Information:
3 car 175 vice loco and coaches. At seat trolley service available only..
This is due to a train fault. Message Received :24/10/2012 19:34

4 coaches? Has the Gerald set been made up to 3x TSO + Buffet 1st?

 

[jones_bangor]

4 coaches? Has the Gerald set been made up to 3x TSO + Buffet 1st?

I think that's the eventual plan, but I think with that illogical off-peak departure from Cardiff, 2 standards would be more than enough!!

 

[cymro inside]

yes the third tso is now part of the formation