ATW Premier Service

[TDK]

I suppose that makes sense then. Would be great to see a 9 Coach Premier Service one day.

If it had 9 coaches it would limit the station stops due to short platforms

 

[Goatboy]

If it had 9 coaches it would limit the station stops due to short platforms

Not that I don't think 9 coaches is complete overkill, but why? FGW regularly stop HST's at stations not long enough for HST sets. Nobody seems to die or even get slightly injured as a result

 

[merlodlliw]

As an aside ATW DVT driver training is still in operation, useful for this Saturday specials when Gerald remains in the North on all the runs between Holyhead and Crewe to cater for large numbers of extra ferry traffic foot pax.

I picked up the driver training & Pics in this weeks North Wales rail newsboard


Bob

 

[quarella]

Not that I don't think 9 coaches is complete overkill, but why? FGW regularly stop HST's at stations not long enough for HST sets. Nobody seems to die or even get slightly injured as a result

There is some form of grandfather rights. I.E If an HST has always called although overlength it can continue to do so but no stations with short platforms may start to be used.
A few years ago FGW fitted selective door opening to their HST fleet to enable them to call at stations such as Worle.

 

[merlodlliw]

There is some form of grandfather rights. I.E If an HST has always called although overlength it can continue to do so but no stations with short platforms may start to be used.
A few years ago FGW fitted selective door opening to their HST fleet to enable them to call at stations such as Worle.

If you recall VT would not stop its ten coachers at Prestatyn, due to the short platform repair situation at the time, although Prestatyns down platform is very long, or was.

No Vts or 9 or ten up ATWs will call if the platform can not accommodate at any North Wales Station. A Colleague reminded me of the 20 coach trains running during the war in North Wales

 

[Goatboy]

There is some form of grandfather rights. I.E If an HST has always called although overlength it can continue to do so but no stations with short platforms may start to be used.
A few years ago FGW fitted selective door opening to their HST fleet to enable them to call at stations such as Worle.

Makes sense.

Not that I really 'get' the whole grandfather rights thing at times. Either its safe or its not. If its not safe, then it should not be allowed, ever. If it is safe, it should always be allowed, not purely through 'grandfather rights'.

 

[krus_aragon]

No Vts or 9 or ten up ATWs will call if the platform can not accommodate at any North Wales Station.

I'm not quite following that bit. ATW stop at short platforms in North Wales: anything longer than a pacer stopping at Llanfairpwll needs selective door opening.

 

[Rhydgaled]

anything longer than a pacer stopping at Llanfairpwll needs selective door opening.

Do all ATW units (except Pacers) have SDO then, or can 150s not stop at Llanfairpwll?

 

[PHILIPE]

Passengers on a 150 can be directed to one of the traincrew doors as in the case of Gilfach Fargoed in the Cardiff Valleys.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
According to ATW Website, 18 21 Cardiff to Holyhead reported as being formed with 3 carriages instead of 4 and only 2 Second Class vice 3. I would assume that it is still the 67 & DVT but with a vehicle short, especialllly as there is no reference to amended catering. Reason goven is earlier train fault.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Do all ATW units (except Pacers) have SDO then, or can 150s not stop at Llanfairpwll?

Not wishing to state the obvious, but Pacers and 150s are both very rare on Anglesey, so the question is largely academic.

 

[PHILIPE]

Pacers are rarer than rare. In other words not at all. ATW Pacers can't even get up there due to route availability.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Oh well, there you go! I'd never seen one anywhere in North Wales, but didn't have the knowledge to realize that they can't actually get there at all.

 

[merlodlliw]

I'm not quite following that bit. ATW stop at short platforms in North Wales: anything longer than a pacer stopping at Llanfairpwll needs selective door opening.

They are only two or three cars, VTs dont call at any station marked X

 

[PHILIPE]

Pacers are rarer than rare. In other words not at all. ATW Pacers can't even get up there due to route availability.

Pacers worked along the North Wales coast in the days prior when NW Rail operated the service. Butt now, of course, all ATWs are in the South. It's not the North Wales Coast line itself that prevents them, fortunately !!!

 

[Michael.Y]

All ATW units capable of serving Anglesey have Single Door Opening (150/153/158/175). 150s have a local panel on every other door and as such the guard can use them if he/she cannot get to the crew door in time. They are also used on the short platforms of the HoWL and the Cheshire/Shropshire border town stations like Prees, Wem and Yorton.

As mentioned, any pax requesting Conwy, Llanfair PG or Valley are directed towards the leading door of Coach B for Single Door Opening procedure on 3-car 175s.

 

[PHILIPE]

All ATW units capable of serving Anglesey have Single Door Opening (150/153/158/175). 150s have a local panel on every other door and as such the guard can use them if he/she cannot get to the crew door in time. They are also used on the short platforms of the HoWL and the Cheshire/Shropshire border town stations like Prees, Wem and Yorton.

As mentioned, any pax requesting Conwy, Llanfair PG or Valley are directed towards the leading door of Coach B for Single Door Opening procedure on 3-car 175s.

Welcome back, Michael Y. We have missed your contribution to the Forum over the last few months.

 

[Michael.Y]

Welcome back, Michael Y. We have missed your contribution to the Forum over the last few months.

Many thanks, although my posting will be more sporadic and perchance less confrontational than before.

 

[67012]

All ATW units capable of serving Anglesey have Single Door Opening (150/153/158/175). 150s have a local panel on every other door and as such the guard can use them if he/she cannot get to the crew door in time. They are also used on the short platforms of the HoWL and the Cheshire/Shropshire border town stations like Prees, Wem and Yorton.

As mentioned, any pax requesting Conwy, Llanfair PG or Valley are directed towards the leading door of Coach B for Single Door Opening procedure on 3-car 175s.

I would say Wem station could accomadate 4 possibly 5 coach trains.

 

[Michael.Y]

I would say Wem station could accomadate 4 possibly 5 coach trains.

Perchance I mean Wrenbury. Don't work the Cheshire/Shropshire local stoppers much.

 

[headshot119]

Pacers are rarer than rare. In other words not at all. ATW Pacers can't even get up there due to route availability.

Sorry what route availability prevents them being used along the North Wales coast line ?

Having checked the sectional appendix class 14X DMUs have no route restrictions along the coast.

 

[SprinterMan]

Sorry what route availability prevents them being used along the North Wales coast line ?

Having checked the sectional appendix class 14X DMUs have no route restrictions along the coast.

They are certainly cleared for the route, but I think that no ATW crews sign both the North Wales Coast line and pacers.

Adam

 

[PHILIPE]

Please read my earlier posts. I'll repeat. Agree Pacers are OK on North Wales Coast Line but ATW Pacers are all in South Wales and cannot get there from South Wales due route availability.

 

[Michael.Y]

In other words, it's the Marches line that's the problem - Philipe is inferring that Pacers cannot travel from either:
Newport to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury to Wrexham/Chester
Shrewsbury to Crewe
or Crewe to Chester.

 

[krus_aragon]

In other words, it's the Marches line that's the problem - Philipe is inferring that Pacers cannot travel from either:
Newport to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury to Wrexham/Chester
Shrewsbury to Crewe
or Crewe to Chester.

Newport to Shrewsbury is the problem. NR's baseline declaration lists then as not cleared between Sutton Bridge Jn and Maindee West Jn exclusive. They COULD come up the Heart of Wales, except drivers at the north end don't sign them as traction. (I've known them go as far north as Llandrindod when the line was closed there for engineering work.)

 

[SovietGaz]

Well I'm on the WAG Express now. Shame there's no dinner tonight. Just an open buffet as the chef isn't travelling so feel a bit palmed off there but other than that its not bad.

 

[PHILIPE]

Newport to Shrewsbury is the problem. NR's baseline declaration lists then as not cleared between Sutton Bridge Jn and Maindee West Jn exclusive. They COULD come up the Heart of Wales, except drivers at the north end don't sign them as traction. (I've known them go as far north as Llandrindod when the line was closed there for engineering work.)

The3y are, I believe, cleared between Newport and Craven Arms but not north of there. They do, although sesonal only, work up as far as Hereford.

 

[Michael.Y]

The3y are, I believe, cleared between Newport and Craven Arms but not north of there. They do, although sesonal only, work up as far as Hereford.

Regular on the Saturday Abergavennys too.

 

[krus_aragon]

The3y are, I believe, cleared between Newport and Craven Arms but not north of there. They do, although sesonal only, work up as far as Hereford.

This document (p7) was the source for my statement, but the restrictions are written a bit ambiguously. I'm sure it's drivers' traction/route knowledge that is the overarching factor here.

 

[PHILIPE]

They are cleared as far as Craven Arms to the boundary wwith the old Midland Railtrack (Now Network Rail) Zone and cl;eared again north of Shrewsbury at the boundary with the old North West Railtrack Zone. They worked Wrexham to Bidston when the route was operated by First North West. It is virtually a narrow strip running across the country through Shrewsbury. If movements have had to be made for reasons such as transfers or Works, special dispensation has had to be arranged Much of this is Railtrack Zopne banning, another example being FGW Pacers not allowed to work beyond Warminster, the boundary with Railtrack Southern who barred them completely from their Zone.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

This document (p7) was the source for my statement, but the restrictions are written a bit ambiguously. I'm sure it's drivers' traction/route knowledge that is the overarching factor here.

Taken literally, this document only restricts Pacers between Sutton Bridge Jn and Severn Bridge Jn in Shrewsbury.

And other gems, like Voyagers being limited to 100mph between Paddington and Reading.
Can't have those "nasty little trains" outperforming our HSTs...