CAF class 197 Civity for TfW: News and updates on introduction.

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And so it begins

 

[anthony263]

Staff reported the 1st trip on 197004 was pretty full

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Something seems to be happening.

Screenshot from realtime trains attached. Seems to be at North Llanrwst 15 minutes late then nothing else showing

 

[Bob Price]

Looking at the Railcam site things seem to be going OK. Couple of YouTubers on board, Jen On The Move and Chris

 

[Bletchleyite]

Staff reported the 1st trip on 197004 was pretty full

That's probably a first. That 05whatever is an ECS in service because it might as well be (that's why it only does the main stations).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Nov 2022 ==

Staff reported the 1st trip on 197004 was pretty full

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Nov 2022 ==

Something seems to be happening.

Screenshot from realtime trains attached. Seems to be at North Llanrwst 15 minutes late then nothing else showing

That (not the delay, the "no reports") is or rather was normal for the line, the only place a report is sent in is North Llanrwst signal box. There's a GPS function that drives the PIS as well (which gives you times for the other stations if e.g. you look at last week) but perhaps this is off or not fitted at present, or the link is down, or (I forget) RTT gets updated later.

 

[Mzzzs]

Does anyone know what times the train will be out tomorrow?

 

[krus_aragon]

So nice of them to send the first unit out in service when I have a morning off. I'll have to toddle down to meet it at Llandudno when it comes in...

Does anyone know what times the train will be out tomorrow?

If it's out, it'll be the same times, as there's only one diagram that operates the Conwy Valley services.

 

[CardiffKid]

That's probably a first. That 05whatever is an ECS in service because it might as well be (that's why it only does the main stations).

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ECS?

 

[EngFocus]

Managed to make it just about, with a little help.

 

[Bletchleyite]

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ECS?

Empty Coaching Stock, sorry. That is, it's not *really* a service train, but it is run as one because it's got a driver and a guard and someone might find it useful.

 

[CardiffKid]

Thanks

 

[krus_aragon]

So I had a quick look on board after it pulled in: nice enough, but not pop-your-socks-off fantastic or anything. The engine noise felt quite loud in the cabin (with the doors open), but I tend to be sensitive to noticing that. Timetables didn't suit a quick trip out to the Junction and back without an hour's fester, so that'll have to wait for another time.

One odd thing I noticed was the use of two ramps to allow wheelchair access: one regular ramp up to the broad external step, then a small second one on top leading into the saloon.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

PIS not working, either inside or out.
Seats better than 195.

Power points more accessible than 195, on a module under the seat in front.
Coat hooks, electronic seat reservations ("No Data").
Power and WiFi working.
Maybe 40-50 on board 1020 ex Llandudno.

Beautiful morning in the Conwy valley, sunny with a bit of mist.
Due to turn wet later.

Ride quite poor on jointed track.
Not really typical of where 197s will mostly work.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

PIS not working, either inside or out.

Like the trains they replace then.

 

[EngFocus]

They did have the PIS screens working during the test run on the Wrexham-Bidston line, but unfortunately developed a fault, nothing too serious just a line of code probably needs tweaking.

Overall they're not bad, ride is rough if sat about the bogies, but if you're sat towards the middle of the carriage it's not too bad. Not as good as a 175, but they'd take some beating

 

[Dai Corner]

Do we know the reason for the late running earlier?

 

[anamyd]

Couple of YouTubers on board, Jen On The Move and Chris

Chris?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

PIS has burst into life now we've changed ends at Blaenau.
However the voice version omits the actual station name you are at or approaching!
Blaenau invisible in the fog and drizzle.

There is a "food area" opposite the bike storage, maybe for storing a trolley.
The conductor was grumbling about the design of the ramp facilities while loading a wheelchair.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

PIS has burst into life now we've changed ends at Blaenau.
Blaenau invisible in the fog and drizzle.

Oh dear. Is Elin the English-speaking voice as feared?

 

[Kite159]

I wonder how well the PIS will cope with the request stops on that line.

 

[Bob Price]

First of many videos to come on the 197's being introduced on the Conway Valley line from Jen on the Move

 

[EngFocus]

PIS has burst into life now we've changed ends at Blaenau.
However the voice version omits the actual station name you are at or approaching!
Blaenau invisible in the fog and drizzle.

There is a "food area" opposite the bike storage, maybe for storing a trolley.
The conductor was grumbling about the design of the ramp facilities while loading a wheelchair.

Food area can store a trolly and there's a large water tank as well.

 

[Bletchleyite]

First of many videos to come on the 197's being introduced on the Conway Valley line from Jen on the Move

Surprised that towards the end that was a first trip - it was dark on the truly stunning bit! I thought most enthusiasts would know about the line's qualities.

The interior looks beyond stark. A poor effort compared to the 196 I think.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Oh dear. Is Elin the English-speaking voice as feared?

Well, the Welsh male voice seems the same as on all TfW stations.
The English female voice is new to me, and is rather clipped and harsh with a Welsh accent, quite unlike the softer voice of "Ruth" on the 175s.
She also loses the last letter of "Transport for Wale".

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Well, the Welsh male voice seems the same as on all TfW stations.
The English female voice is new to me, and is rather clipped and harsh with a Welsh accent, quite unlike the softer voice of "Ruth" on the 175s.
She also loses the last letter of "Transport for Wale".

Oh dear. That sounds horribly like Elin, that you’ll hear on MK4s. Don’t get me wrong, the Welsh accent is lovely, but Elin’s voice is grating. Though it’s not as bad as the pitchy voice that says “This platform slopes towards the track, etc.”

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First of many videos to come on the 197's being introduced on the Conway Valley line from Jen on the Move

Nice video from Jen on the Move there. Noticed the engines seemed quite noisy, especially when she was talking it sounded rather harsh in the background. The 195 doesn’t seem that loud when you’re on it though, so perhaps it’s just that way on video.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Interesting to see the armrests being so low as to render them pointless for anyone relatively tall - one of my gripes with the 175s!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interesting to see the armrests being so low as to render them pointless for anyone relatively tall - one of my gripes with the 175s!

They're standard Fainsa Sophias. Of all my criticisms of that seat the armrests aren't one.

The higher ones on the Compin seats on e.g. Southern Electrostars are great for tall people but way too high for "normal" people. Thus I think there has to be a compromise. In the end they're more about dividing personal space than actually resting your arm.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Overall, the 197 didn't seem to me to be an advance in ambience on the 175s I used to/from Llandudno.
Obviously better than any sprinter. The toilet area was much better than that on a 158 and big wide doors help.
I noticed a 150 on a Llandudno-Manchester Airport working [maybe the branch train on its day off?], so there's plenty to do to eliminate those.

Mostly, the dynamic noises were the same as the 195, including the sudden whirring of motors (aircon is it, or brakes?).
The train lost time on all legs today, which is hard to understand.
It can obviously get to the low line speeds involved (45/50mph) quite easily.
The time must have been lost in station overtime, including a couple of wheelchairs. Rail conditions weren't great (drizzle, big leaf fall).
Connections were lost at LLJ on the return journey, with the TfW Birmingham train not held - some glum faces.
There were lots of staff fussing around, and crew changes at LLJ, but no media scrum - maybe they were on the first train at 0530!

If you always wanted to know the Welsh for See It, Say It, Sorted, it's in the pic below.
I didn't hear the audio equivalent so maybe they are not needed when it's on a screen.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I think they've chosen a very stark and utilitarian standard colour scheme - too much white, grey and stark red, almost monochromatic. By constrast, West Midlands Trains have got the interior ambiance of the 196 very, very right. Without changing *anything* else, a less harsh colour scheme would have given a far greater feeling of quality.

TPE are the masters of this - their interiors look super-posh despite being basically the same as these units!

I like the leather headrests - that does look classy - but I think it may end up being the only thing I like about these units.

 

[krus_aragon]

If you always wanted to know the Welsh for See It, Say It, Sorted, it's in the pic below.
I didn't hear the audio equivalent so maybe they are not needed when it's on a screen.

I'm pretty sure I've heard it spoken recently too, possibly on a MkIV rake.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

TPE are the masters of this - their interiors look super-posh despite being basically the same as these units!

Their 802s certainly don't. The contrast between a Nova 1 and Novi 2/3 is astounding. You have lovely cream topped seats that look very smart, lashings of classy fake wood, wonderful leather seats in first class, the black PIS board blends in nicely and the orange text is subtle enough (unlike glaring oversized green text), so is the lighting. The 802 has the most boring interior of any 100mph+ train running today.

I agree that the rest of their fleet is nice and that the grey is rather dull; perhaps they decided understated would be better after decades of corporate turquoise and green. I'd personally have gone for a focus on the red rather than the grey though.

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I'm pretty sure I've heard it spoken recently too, possibly on a MkIV rake.

The MKIV announcements are torturous and enough alone to motivate me to deliberately choose a 175 on a long journey over one of the hauled sets.