I did see 2x150s working a Birmingham International - Chester service earlier; the service that calls at all stations between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury; then non stop to Crewe. This must be one of the few times 150s make it to Birmingham with ATW!
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PHILIPE
Veteran Member
It sounds like the one which is booked 158+150
ValleyLines142
Established Member
An excellent suggestion.
3 car 175 on 0845 Cheltenham to Maesteg this morning. Usually a Pacer! What an improvement!
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Luxury at it's best
RTT says 2L69 Cheltenham to Maesteg is a pacer. As I'm sitting on it I can safely say it's a 158! Tables! Plug sockets! I'm gutted to have to change at Bridgend (although I'll be catching the next HST)
ValleyLines142
Established Member
RTT doesn't show what exactly is booked to work a service, only what it is timed for. A 142, 143, 150, 158 or even a 175 could be on 2L69 (although this is usually a Pacer so today the 158 you're on must have replaced the 175 that was on it earlier today).
I think an announcement should be made about this on the forum with regards to timings on RTT, as I've seen this discussion crop up at least seven times. Certainly not anyone's fault though as these messages are spread all across the forum, but a general announcement would make the situation clearer.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
To be quite honest, Dan, I don't know whose responsibility this would. Just try hammering the message home, perhaps. There is normally a common timing class used for all trains of a particular nature on a particular route, i.e. FGWs local trains to Paignton, 14x is used. Many of the trains are worked by 150s or 153s but 14x is the standard timings used and fits all.
I recall a Poster a few years ago saying on another Forum that a particular FGW train was booked for a 143/150/153/155/156. Actually it was booked for a 158 !!
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Absolutely fuming. Currently on the 2013 Cardiff to Milford Haven, which is a pair of 175s. We are all in the front two coaches which are full and standing. The 3 car unit is locked OOU on the back!! How ridiculous!!
craigybagel
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Unfortunate as it is, I suspect the issue is the platform lengths at Pontyclun, Llanharan,Pencoed and Pyle. I'd be surprised if all, or indeed any of them, can take 5 x 175.
EDIT: As per the sectional appendix.
PONTYCLUN, LLANHARAN, PENCOED, PYLE, BRITON FERRY, SKEWEN AND LLANSAMLET STATIONS
No train longer than four coaches may stop at these stations.
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headshot119
Established Member
As mentioned platform lengths are the issue.
It's hard on this route, the three car will come off at Carmarthen, if you use it between Cardiff Central and Carmarthen instead of the two car you then have the issue of getting everyone into the right set if they are heading towards Milford Haven. Made worse by the tight time at Carmarthen.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
Just annoying as the sets were really the wrong way around!
But from a customer point of view, it is a real kick in the teeth when you see an empty train just hooked on the back doing nothing!
But from a customer point of view, it is a real kick in the teeth when you see an empty train just hooked on the back doing nothing!
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
No. They were the right way round. There is a fuelling/mileage issue which necessitates the 3 Car coming off at Carmarthen which means it has to be rear ex Cardiff to be leading on arrival at Carmarthen after reversal Swansea.
Surprised to learn this train so full though.
I had the misfortune of travelling on a 150 from Manchester to Cardiff yesterday. The journey was also booked to be around 40 mins longer due to the diversion via Chester (assume engineering works between Shrewsbury and Wilmslow/Manchester). The only good thing about was it was a 4 car (2 x 150s) which was just as well as it was fairly heavily loaded between Manchester and Chester given it was taking both passengers travelling to South Wales and Chester/North Wales. . It has come up from Cardiff, terminated on platform 13 then went out to the sidings and came in on platform 14.
As if having to put up with a 150 wasnt bad enough the service was delayed 25 mins at Chester waiting for the driver who had apparently been delayed on another service. So i missed my connection at Cardiff and got home over an hour later than planned. At least I should be entitled to some compensation for that. Another bad point was there was no catering facilities available between Manchester and Cardiff whatsoever, unacceptable IMO for such a long journey. The guard told me they have a lot of problems with teh 175s at the moment, and even said 150 is a horrible train for such a long journey! The only good thing as i said was it wasnt full and overcrowded between chester and cardiff due to 4 cars.
There were also problems on Saturday, i was on the 0855 Swansea-Manchester and it was terminated at Cardiff due to a fault. it was then replaced by a 2 car 175, fortunately not very heavily loaded from Cardiff so i got a seat but it was full and standing from Newport. The guard was very apologetic tho and actually explained it was booked for 3 cars but had a fault so in order to avoid cancelling they had found a 2 car set. She apologised that there would be no catering, no seat reservatons and asked people to remove bags from seats etc so every seat could be taken. I thought she handled it very well actually as a few people looked very annoyed at not having the right seats.
As if having to put up with a 150 wasnt bad enough the service was delayed 25 mins at Chester waiting for the driver who had apparently been delayed on another service. So i missed my connection at Cardiff and got home over an hour later than planned. At least I should be entitled to some compensation for that. Another bad point was there was no catering facilities available between Manchester and Cardiff whatsoever, unacceptable IMO for such a long journey. The guard told me they have a lot of problems with teh 175s at the moment, and even said 150 is a horrible train for such a long journey! The only good thing as i said was it wasnt full and overcrowded between chester and cardiff due to 4 cars.
There were also problems on Saturday, i was on the 0855 Swansea-Manchester and it was terminated at Cardiff due to a fault. it was then replaced by a 2 car 175, fortunately not very heavily loaded from Cardiff so i got a seat but it was full and standing from Newport. The guard was very apologetic tho and actually explained it was booked for 3 cars but had a fault so in order to avoid cancelling they had found a 2 car set. She apologised that there would be no catering, no seat reservatons and asked people to remove bags from seats etc so every seat could be taken. I thought she handled it very well actually as a few people looked very annoyed at not having the right seats.
Gareth Marston
Established Member
Ive seen a couple of times now units being swapped over in Shrewsbury and everyone in the Birmingham bound train from the Cambrian having to swap into the unit that's arrived from Birmingham and vice versa. Two 4 car loads of passengers a lot irregular long distance travelers with luggage and bemused colliding with each other between the south end of Platform 4 and Platform 5 is not a pretty site.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
From that point of view yes but in terms of capacity I'm on the right lines (pardon the pun). As for why it was busy, that was probably because it's May bank holiday weekend. This service is fairly well respectfully loaded anyway plus it also nows calls at Pontyclun, Llanharan and Pencoed (the last of the day to do so too), giving passengers from Cardiff a later service on Sundays, as previously the last service was the 1806.
Yuck to all of that!
When I had a 150 to Manchester on a Saturday in February there was also no catering. I complained to ATW as we had a 150 AND no catering and they gave me RTV's in return! I'd do the same as to have a 150 is completely unacceptable for such a long distance train on top of no catering on a journey that is already diverted an hour longer than usual.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
I don't think the lack of catering was due to a 150 as I have been on the route on a 150 and had a trolley. There seem from Journey Check quite a few catering staff shortages recently.
craigybagel
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None booked to Manchester on a Saturday (or indeed any other day except Sunday) so it would have been due to a lack of anything else more suitable - it's either a 150 or a cancellation! I do agree though that it's not the most ideal unit for such a long run though.
Indeed it is the norm for the stewards to still travel when a 150 turns up. Almost all seats have some form of table at least so there is still space for hot drinks. They're booked to travel on the daytime Fishguard that was a 150 until recently and they are meant to be on at least some of the Sunday Manchester trips.
CC 72100
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So would you rather a 150 with no catering or no train at all?
headshot119
Established Member
Reading Dan's posts it certainly seems that what he wants at times.
There is no great conspiracy at ATW when it comes to putting 150s on long distance services, I'd much rather be able to travel than deal with a cancellation. (And I've done a 150 Wrexham - Cardiff / Shrewsbury - Cardiff a few times now)
Incidentally I wish a 153 would turn up sometime, I'd be up for some dogbox thrash down the Marches
CC 72100
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That's my view - I'd be pretty annoyed if a 150 turned up when I was expecting 158/175 standard of comfort, but to complain because the company sent a substitute as opposed to doing sweet FA - step to far. As I said, 150 is better than no train.
ValleyLines142
Established Member
It wasn't a step too far at all; to have no catering on a journey of almost four hours is completely unacceptable, regardless of the excuse. Not only was there too short of a dwell time at stations along the route to pop into a station cafe and get a drink, but it was also the 0540 from Cardiff on a Saturday morning, of which there were no shops open in Cardiff at that hour beforehand to stock up on provisions! Furthermore, I was ill anyway at the time and was dehydrated!
In fairness to ATW they replied, apologising and agreeing that it was not acceptable, which it wasn't!
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CC 72100
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It's not a life or death situation! I'm sure most people accept that you cannot guarantee a certain level of catering, and while it is a disappointment, I find it hard to accept it as 'completely unacceptable'.
A 150 with no catering or sit at Cardiff for another hour waiting for a train that will have double the amount of people on it. I'm sure you'll agree that the best course of action was taken.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
The symbol in the Timetable at the head of the train column denotes catering for all or PART of the journey. At that time of the morning there was possibly no catering scheduled until at least Shrewsbury. Catering tends to be less available early morning and late night. There is a symbol in the column for this train. If a member of staff fails to show up that is out of the control of the TOC.
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ValleyLines142
Established Member
It is when I was ill at the time!
Also, it's not about catching the next service an hour later as we were on Advanced tickets.
CC 72100
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I meant in terms of ATW turning round as saying "Oh we haven't got a 175 - tell you what, because the alternative would mean sending a 150 up there with no catering, we'll cancel it instead".
As I said earlier on, when they are between a rock and a hard place, do you want?
a) a 150 with no catering
b) no train. Sorry. Catch the next one. It will be busier than normal, we did have a substitute train available but we guessed that you'd prefer to wait for a 'proper' one.
The phrase 'cutting some slack' comes to mind - I strongly doubt there was a great conspiracy that morning and all the 175s were secretly hiding in Cardiff Canton.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
If, as Dan says, I was ill at the time, I'd either not travel or make my own arrangements. Relying on catering is setting yourself up for disappointment.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
Indeed it is the norm for the stewards to still travel when a 150 turns up. Almost all seats have some form of table at least so there is still space for hot drinks. They're booked to travel on the daytime Fishguard that was a 150 until recently and they are meant to be on at least some of the Sunday Manchester trips
This, by the way, has already been posted by Craigybagel.
This, by the way, has already been posted by Craigybagel.
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