ATW stock allocation questions

[ValleyLines142]

The 1434 will most probably be a 175, which doesn't have plug sockets.

All 158s have plug sockets at tables only.

I've never travelled on the loco hauled service, so couldn't comment sorry!

 

[Y Ddraig Coch]

The 1434 will most probably be a 175, which doesn't have plug sockets.

All 158s have plug sockets at tables only.

I've never travelled on the loco hauled service, so couldn't comment sorry!

The loco hauled service is kitted out the same as the refurbished 158's with the well padded seats with headrests and power sockets at tables.

 

[Iskra]

Great, thanks for your help.

 

[Gareth Marston]

Which is why it ran extra trains, and it had as many units out as possible, and extra crews out to work them. As did LM. Units were shuffled around over several days to have as much capacity as possible available for Cosford.

I was commenting on announcements. Cosford Air Show is an example of where extra trains capacity are provided being on a Sunday it can be done.

 

[SprinterMan]

It is currently impossible to get advance tickets/reservations on the southbound WAG train due to an error in the system.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/P40621/2015/06/24/advanced

Passenger Information
Retail Service ID AW5003
Seating: first & standard
Unknown reservation code between Holyhead and Chester
Reservations recommended from Chester
Restaurant for First Class passengers

I have notified ATW of this but it is yet to be seen if they do anything about it. I recently managed to purchase a Bangor to Weymouth advance ticket which uses this train, which seemed to exist only because of the correct reservations available on the FGW trains. I have no reservation at all for the WAG train. It is a shame ATW still have these errors present.

Adam

 

[ValleyLines142]

With Bangor only being the second stop on this train, will there be hundreds getting on at Holyhead first? If not, I imagine there'll still be plenty of decent seats still available at Bangor.

 

[SprinterMan]

With Bangor only being the second stop on this train, will there be hundreds getting on at Holyhead first? If not, I imagine there'll still be plenty of decent seats still available at Bangor.

It is not the seat I care about, but I need to explain to the guard why I have an advance ticket valid on a train with seat reservations with no seat reservations. ATW don't normally do "real" seat reservations anyway. The WAG pay ATW a lot of money to run this train and they can't even organise it so advance tickets are available. Seems absurd to me....

 

[TDK]

It is not the seat I care about, but I need to explain to the guard why I have an advance ticket valid on a train with seat reservations with no seat reservations. ATW don't normally do "real" seat reservations anyway. The WAG pay ATW a lot of money to run this train and they can't even organise it so advance tickets are available. Seems absurd to me....

Could you provide evidence that the WAG actually pay ATW to run the service or do they pay for the service and ATW run it - there is a huge difference.

 

[PHILIPE]

I have noticed quite a number of cancellations/bustitution recently due train crew shortages. Depots involved seem to be Carmarthen and to a lesser degree, Machynlleth. Also a number on the Marches

 

[craigybagel]

Lots of small issues adding up together at a bad time. Some new traincrew have passed out over the last few weeks though with more in training so things should get better soon,especially as summer ends.

 

[PHILIPE]

Lots of small issues adding up together at a bad time. Some new traincrew have passed out over the last few weeks though with more in training so things should get better soon,especially as summer ends.

Cheers for that and keeping us informed..

 

[PHILIPE]

Journey Check giving strange reason for lack of catering on Heart of Wales today - Forecast of high winds

 

[craigybagel]

Just a suspicion but it may well be that one of the Carmarthen based stewards who work the line was unable to make it in today due to the weather? I did see that message and wonder the same thing myself.

 

[trainophile]

You get some very strange "reasons" on the ATW Journey Check, e.g. a current one...

15:14 Newport South Wales to Manchester Piccadilly due 18:18
This train will call additionally at Leominster, Wem and Nantwich.
This is due to a fault on this train.

What? hock:

 

[Parallel]

You get some very strange "reasons" on the ATW Journey Check, e.g. a current one...



What? hock:

I agree that it's not worded well, but I remember seeing an earlier service today to Manchester was terminated early or missed out stops (can't remember which) due to a train fault, so that is possibly what they mean. If this was a reason, would "train fault on an earlier service" be able to be inputted, or can they only select from a few reasons?

They go into detail regarding tresspasser issues usually listed under "More information" - I have seen both "Due to children playing chicken on the tracks" and "Due to a deranged woman on the tracks" previously!!

 

[PHILIPE]

I agree that it's not worded well, but I remember seeing an earlier service today to Manchester was terminated early or missed out stops (can't remember which) due to a train fault, so that is possibly what they mean. If this was a reason, would "train fault on an earlier service" be able to be inputted, or can they only select from a few reasons?

They go into detail regarding tresspasser issues usually listed under "More information" - I have seen both "Due to children playing chicken on the tracks" and "Due to a deranged woman on the tracks" previously!!

The cause given is the root cause so in this case it would appear to be the result of another train's fault.

 

[craigybagel]

You get some very strange "reasons" on the ATW Journey Check, e.g. a current one...



What? hock:

The cause given is the root cause so in this case it would appear to be the result of another train's fault.

It was indeed. The train in front failed at Hereford and was restarted at Shrewsbury with another unit. The 1514 picked up its Leominster call, and had passengers from the previous train who'd wanted Wem and Nantwich so it stopped there to drop them off. As it turned out, there were people for Whitchurch as well so it also stopped there.

I agree that it's not worded well, but I remember seeing an earlier service today to Manchester was terminated early or missed out stops (can't remember which) due to a train fault, so that is possibly what they mean. If this was a reason, would "train fault on an earlier service" be able to be inputted, or can they only select from a few reasons?

They go into detail regarding tresspasser issues usually listed under "More information" - I have seen both "Due to children playing chicken on the tracks" and "Due to a deranged woman on the tracks" previously!!

I'm pretty sure they can put in "technical problem on a previous train" or something along those lines - I suspect tonight someone just pressed the wrong button. My personal favourite was the "Boat on the line" down the Blaneau Ffestiniog branch a couple of years ago during one of its many flooding incidents.

 

[krus_aragon]

They go into detail regarding tresspasser issues usually listed under "More information" - I have seen both "Due to children playing chicken on the tracks" and "Due to a deranged woman on the tracks" previously!!

Did she have an old piano playing dramatic music as the train approached? :P

 

[PHILIPE]

Noticed on Saturday 28th quite a number of cancellations due to shortage oc Conductors. Journey Check tonight is listing a number for Monday also which seem to centre round Shrewsbury.

 

[craigybagel]

At least part of the reason i suspect is the Shrewsbury Crewe line being shut for 9 days. It adds 2 hours to every Manchester Cardiff roundtrip which means more crews are required

 

[tiptoptaff]

Should be alleviated soon as the Guards in training at Cardiff currently are to go to the Mainline side straight away, which will result in more crews available for the Marches route

 

[craigybagel]

Should be alleviated soon as the Guards in training at Cardiff currently are to go to the Mainline side straight away, which will result in more crews available for the Marches route

I'd heard rumours, is that definitely happening this time? If it is, it'll be a while till they're out, the route card for Cardiff mainline conductors is pretty long! Shrewsbury do have another guard passing out in the next few weeks though.

 

[66737]

Should be alleviated soon as the Guards in training at Cardiff currently are to go to the Mainline side straight away, which will result in more crews available for the Marches route

I'd heard rumours, is that definitely happening this time? If it is, it'll be a while till they're out, the route card for Cardiff mainline conductors is pretty long! Shrewsbury do have another guard passing out in the next few weeks though.

What I have been told the last conductor course had 2 for valleys 3 for Cardiff mainline 3 for Chester 1 for Shrewsbury and 1 for Holyhead. They should be out mid to late January

 

[CromptonLad]

They recruited last week for about 5 at Shrews. I went for the DMI, sadly didn't get it.

God help the new traineess if they have to go onto mainline to Cardiff straight away on the rugger days though.

EDIT: Said that as simply, had read about some issues on very busy sporting days when it was very very crowded. Had been surprised that the issues had happened but then again, massive demand can overwhelm anyone I guess. But good luck to them.

SECOND EDIT: Having had a brainwave and realising how the initial post could in a sweep be read very wrongly - and no
way in as intended.

Think before you type kids. Nothing malicious intended in my version 1 of the post post - but could have been construed as such. *facepalms*

 

[craigybagel]

What I have been told the last conductor course had 2 for valleys 3 for Cardiff mainline 3 for Chester 1 for Shrewsbury and 1 for Holyhead. They should be out mid to late January

They're route learning at the moment. I'm just surprised about guards going straight to mainline - for the last few years all new starters have gone to the valleys.

They recruited last week for about 5 at Shrews. I went for the DMI, sadly didn't get it.

God help them.

God help them?

 

[ValleyLines142]

At least part of the reason i suspect is the Shrewsbury Crewe line being shut for 9 days. It adds 2 hours to every Manchester Cardiff roundtrip which means more crews are required

I did notice this. Was going to go to Manchester tomorrow for the day but I realised trains are going via Wrexham, adding at least an hour on. Not only does the first train from Cardiff not get to Manchester until 1.15 tomorrow, but I'd probably end up on a sodding 150!

So I'm going Monday instead on services which are almost exclusively 175s. My favourite DMUs (along with the 185)

 

[PHILIPE]

ATW Journey Check showing some strange trains. Either a system glitch or somebody not input correctly:-

12 23 Cardiff Cen to Onibury
22 36 Cardiff Cen to Bentham Farm Crossing

 

[Jez]

I did notice this. Was going to go to Manchester tomorrow for the day but I realised trains are going via Wrexham, adding at least an hour on. Not only does the first train from Cardiff not get to Manchester until 1.15 tomorrow, but I'd probably end up on a sodding 150!

So I'm going Monday instead on services which are almost exclusively 175s. My favourite DMUs (along with the 185)

Almost exclusively. Last night I caught the train from Swansea at 1858 and it was something that has become rare on this service a 158. A nice surprise.

I much prefer a 158 to a 175, perhaps because i travel on 175s so much i get fed up of them but I was thinking the other day how tired the 175s are looking compared to a 158. Time for a refresh i think.

 

[Llanigraham]

ATW Journey Check showing some strange trains. Either a system glitch or somebody not input correctly:-

12 23 Cardiff Cen to Onibury
22 36 Cardiff Cen to Bentham Farm Crossing

Not sure about the Onibury one, but could the other be engineering work?

 

[PHILIPE]

Not sure about the Onibury one, but could the other be engineering work?

A passenger train ? Apart from these two there are several other strange locations, and in the journey details, lots of gateposts mentioned.