ATW stock allocation questions

[PHILIPE]

Sorry no, I just got on it when it pulled in . Not everyone knows what Class they are travelling in, especially mere passengers like myself .

It got us there on time though, whatever it was .

Sorry. I thought everybody on the Forum was a "Buff".
There was a recent instance on another Forum of a member reporting seeing a strange looking combo of a 158 with another 158 coach attached to it going through Bath, I think it was. He had never seen or heard of a GWR 158/9 before. The poster admitted having no real interest in Units.

 

[Llanigraham]

Sorry. I thought everybody on the Forum was a "Buff".
There was a recent instance on another Forum of a member reporting seeing a strange looking combo of a 158 with another 158 coach attached to it going through Bath, I think it was. He had never seen or heard of a GWR 158/9 before. The poster admitted having no real interest in Units.

Nope!!
Even as a signalman all I knew was some had flat fronts with a door in the middle, and some had a sloping front, and then there were tractor type things pulling freight.

I often have to Google classes mentioned on here to see what they are like.

 

[PHILIPE]

Short formed (2 vice 4) on Maesteg to Cheltenham trains according to ATW Journey Check. At least it shows they have made an effort for Cheltenham Races.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Had 175112 on the 2131 Bridgend to Cardiff last night, 1914 ex-Milford Haven, which made a stop at Ninian Park due to engineering work!! Fantastic stuff!!

 

[PHILIPE]

Had 175112 on the 2131 Bridgend to Cardiff last night, 1914 ex-Milford Haven, which made a stop at Ninian Park due to engineering work!! Fantastic stuff!!

It's been booked to stop at Ninian Park since December Timetable:-

Extract of a post in the December 2015 Timetable Alterations thread:-

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=119484&highlight=Ninian+Park&page=7

One interesting change seems to be the provision of a number of additional early morning and late evening services for Ninian Park (Cardiff) (station code NNP). The following trains will now call there once the new timetables take effect:

Mondays to Fridays:
0535 Cardiff Central - Milford Haven (calls at 0539)
0642 Cardiff Central - Pembroke Dock (calls at 0645)
1914 Milford Haven - Cardiff Central (calls at 2153)
2115 Maesteg - Cardiff Central (calls at 2204)
1959 Tenby - Cardiff Central (calls at 2249)

Saturdays:
2115 Maesteg - Cardiff Central (calls at 2206

From ATW Website Train alterations December Timetable:-

• Some West Wales services will also call additionally at Ninian Park station for operational reasons.
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Short of drivers this week. Cardiff WAG had to run via Crewe this morning.

 

[Jez]

150258 on 1730 Manchester to Cardiff!!!! YUCK!!

I think that might have been the case Monday as well, the 11xx ex Milford service was certainly a 150 when i saw it at Neath. Unless it was swapped at Cardiff then it would have formed the 1730 back.

A 2 car 150 not only short formed but not the best for such a long journey. At least it better than the train being cancelled

 

[PHILIPE]

I think that might have been the case Monday as well, the 11xx ex Milford service was certainly a 150 when i saw it at Neath. Unless it was swapped at Cardiff then it would have formed the 1730 back.

A 2 car 150 not only short formed but not the best for such a long journey. At least it better than the train being cancelled

Crewe Junction signal box was closed overnight due to staff illness. This meant that the 0449 Crewe - Milford Haven, booked for a 175, had to start from Shrewsbury with a 150. That's the same diagram that forms the 1730 Manchester Cardiff.

That was the story for Saturday and same applied Monday.

 

[headshot119]

1W91 (The morning Wag) delayed 20 minutes this morning waiting for a driver.

Waiting at Wrexham General for it, hopefully the stopper to Birmingham doesn't get let out in front.

I'm not having much luck lately, my last three or four journeys have suffered due to missing train crew.

EDIT

They put the WAG out in front of the Birmingham stopper, so hopefully we'll make up some time between Wrexham and Cardiff.

 

[PHILIPE]

1W91 (The morning Wag) delayed 20 minutes this morning waiting for a driver.

Waiting at Wrexham General for it, hopefully the stopper to Birmingham doesn't get let out in front.

I'm not having much luck lately, my last three or four journeys have suffered due to missing train crew.

EDIT

They put the WAG out in front of the Birmingham stopper, so hopefully we'll make up some time between Wrexham and Cardiff.

I touched on earlier that there seem to be driver shortage problems this week. Back to WAG, ran via Crewe yesterday due Driver shortage.

 

[headshot119]

I touched on earlier that there seem to be driver shortage problems this week. Back to WAG, ran via Crewe yesterday due Driver shortage.

I don't understand how running via Crewe makes up for a driver shortage?

Surely they don't have anyone who signs 67+DVT that doesn't sign via Wrexham? Or was it to do a driver swap at Crewe vice Chester.

 

[PHILIPE]

I don't understand how running via Crewe makes up for a driver shortage?

Surely they don't have anyone who signs 67+DVT that doesn't sign via Wrexham? Or was it to do a driver swap at Crewe vice Chester.

We don't know that, the reason would be internal and possibly drivers may have had to be juggled about. A Crewe driver works forward from Chester so perhaps there was no driver available at the appropriate time who could be at Chester and work to Cardiff. Juggling often has to be done to keep trains going in the event of a shortage.

 

[craigybagel]

Gerald is off to the Rugby again tomorrow all being well.

 

[PHILIPE]

Gerald is off to the Rugby again tomorrow all being well.

Leaving Holyhead at the unearthly time of 0545

 

[craigybagel]

Leaving Holyhead at the unearthly time of 0545

Indeed, they seem to be going for a change of tactic - in the past its been used on one of the last trains available before the match, not one of the first.

The following service, 0635 from Holyhead, is due to be strengthened to 2 x 175.

 

[Welshman]

Gerald is off to the Rugby again tomorrow all being well.

Isn't he coming back?
Can't find him on RTT.

 

[PHILIPE]

Isn't he coming back?
Can't find him on RTT.

1W88 at 1830. Not all alterations get into RTT until the last moment as it is only an internal system..

 

[Welshman]

Ah.
Thank you.

 

[Bungle965]

I believe that it is something to do with that being the only path available for ATW.
Sam

 

[headshot119]

Indeed, they seem to be going for a change of tactic - in the past its been used on one of the last trains available before the match, not one of the first.

The following service, 0635 from Holyhead, is due to be strengthened to 2 x 175.

Indeed it's running as a 5 car 175.

Not often you see them in multiple at Wrexham general!

 

[craigybagel]

There's another 5 car set running around today as well, can't remember which one it's on. At least with it being pre planned they can roster 2 guards to it as well.

 

[PHILIPE]

Quite a few cancellations/or part cancellations on the Cardiff Valleys this afternoon and evening due shortage of drivers. Highlighted due to being a Rugby International Day.

 

[cadoxton]

Observed that this mornings first train of the day from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff (2F02) was a pair of 158's.
Now, I've seen the usual 150, or on occasion a 150+153, 150+pacer, pacer+pacer, even the odd single 175 or 158, but never before a pair of 158s.

This, of course must be strengthening for the early afternoon rugby, but I wonder which services did they pull the 158s from?
And why were they on the 0640 service (I know we like to start early, but this is before breakfast )?

I can only guess to get them into position for further trips up the valley?

 

[berneyarms]

Observed that this mornings first train of the day from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff (2F02) was a pair of 158's.
Now, I've seen the usual 150, or on occasion a 150+153, 150+pacer, pacer+pacer, even the odd single 175 or 158, but never before a pair of 158s.

This, of course must be strengthening for the early afternoon rugby, but I wonder which services did they pull the 158s from?
And why were they on the 0640 service (I know we like to start early, but this is before breakfast )?

I can only guess to get them into position for further trips up the valley?

Sets generally stay out all day - they don't head back to the depot so they start whenever the link starts.

 

[PHILIPE]

Observed that this mornings first train of the day from Ebbw Vale to Cardiff (2F02) was a pair of 158's.
Now, I've seen the usual 150, or on occasion a 150+153, 150+pacer, pacer+pacer, even the odd single 175 or 158, but never before a pair of 158s.

This, of course must be strengthening for the early afternoon rugby, but I wonder which services did they pull the 158s from?
And why were they on the 0640 service (I know we like to start early, but this is before breakfast )?

I can only guess to get them into position for further trips up the valley?

They possibly didn't pull them from anywhere in particular. There may have been too many in the wrong place and not enough in others.

 

[PHILIPE]

ATW have been suffering a large number of cancellations and curtailed train services recently due to traincrew shortage. It's noted that West Wales and Heart of Wales trains seem to be affected on a Saturday. For 2 days, there were 2 trips in each direction cancelled between Machynlleth. Some Marches line services are having portions of their journeys canned.

 

[trainophile]

ATW have been suffering a large number of cancellations and curtailed train services recently due to traincrew shortage. It's noted that West Wales and Heart of Wales trains seem to be affected on a Saturday. For 2 days, there were 2 trips in each direction cancelled between Machynlleth. Some Marches line services are having portions of their journeys canned.

I noticed that last Thursday on the ATW journey checker. My usual 1430 Man Picc to Milford Haven was terminated at Crewe. Would have been a royal PITA if I had been on it as I often am, and trying to get to Hereford. Suppose I'd have had to either wait an hour for the next one (which would have been rammed, it often is by Crewe anyway, never mind if the previous one was cancelled), or prevail upon VTWC or LM to take me to Birmingham.

Goodness knows what people heading further south had to do .

 

[headshot119]

ATW have been suffering a large number of cancellations and curtailed train services recently due to traincrew shortage. It's noted that West Wales and Heart of Wales trains seem to be affected on a Saturday. For 2 days, there were 2 trips in each direction cancelled between Machynlleth. Some Marches line services are having portions of their journeys canned.

A few Valley Lines services cancelled today due to a shortage of guards according to announcements.

 

[craigybagel]

New batch of guards due out imminently for various depots. Won't fix everything but will hopefully help a little. Things are pretty desperate of late though.

 

[PHILIPE]

New batch of guards due out imminently for various depots. Won't fix everything but will hopefully help a little. Things are pretty desperate of late though.

Shortage of drivers mentioned also as reason on Journey Check.

 

[Arglwydd Golau]

Is there a stock shortage also? Last Wednesday, travelling to Chester from Bangor and return, I had a 150 both ways...replacing LHCS outward and 175 on return. It's many years since that happened to me. (Oddly enough I preferred the 150 to the 175!)