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

[Bob Price]

Interesting to see the early Chester Crewe shuttle is four cars, leaving two at Crewe for a later service. First time I've seen four in service together.

 

[Techniquest]

I've just gone and looked at RTT, it appears I may have to do a smaller leap on the 197 than planned but it'll just be nice to get one done on my local line at long last.

Got to feel for those passengers on the 197 out of Holyhead who will have to change trains in Chester!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I've just gone and looked at RTT, it appears I may have to do a smaller leap on the 197 than planned but it'll just be nice to get one done on my local line at long last.

Got to feel for those passengers on the 197 out of Holyhead who will have to change trains in Chester!

I doubt the second 197 will wait either, so they’ll probably be left at Chester for quite a while, or told to change again at Shrewsbury

 

[Caaardiff]

It's an hour late so no chance of it waiting.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It's an hour late so no chance of it waiting.

Yes, so it'll be onto the 1136 Birmingham service (158820) for a change at Shrewsbury then. That in itself is very ironic, as the 1136 also started from Holyhead as a very delayed 197 (197004) which is now forty minutes late.

Unlike the Holyhead service, the set swap at Chester was planned of course, as 197s can't go to Birmingham yet, but very much like the Holyhead service, those who boarded before Chester will now also miss the train that their original 197 is being swapped for.

So the 158 will be filled with 197009s passengers instead of 197004s passengers. Somewhat ironic, although perhaps it's just as well that the second 197 will miss it, else it would no doubt be rammed.

The train taking over HHD - CDF has left Chester - 6L - but no allocation is provided. Hopefully it is 019 as planned.

Realtime Trains | 1T94 1020 Chester to Cardiff Central | 12/06/2023

Real-time train running information for 1T94 1020 departure from Chester to Cardiff Central on 12/06/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Techniquest]

Well I've just seen that too, and I had just positioned myself for a journey to Leominster to pick it up. Given the allocation has now gone, I've voted against it.

67010 is making a mighty big noise on the 103x towards Cardiff though, which was worth coming down for!

 

[anthony263]

Yes, so it'll be onto the 1136 Birmingham service (158820) for a change at Shrewsbury then. That in itself is very ironic, as the 1136 also started from Holyhead as a very delayed 197 (197004) which is now forty minutes late.

Unlike the Holyhead service, the set swap at Chester was planned of course, as 197s can't go to Birmingham yet, but very much like the Holyhead service, those who boarded before Chester will now also miss the train that their original 197 is being swapped for.

So the 158 will be filled with 197009s passengers instead of 197004s passengers. Somewhat ironic, although perhaps it's just as well that the second 197 will miss it, else it would no doubt be rammed.

The train taking over HHD - CDF has left Chester - 6L - but no allocation is provided. Hopefully it is 019 as planned.

Realtime Trains | 1T94 1020 Chester to Cardiff Central | 12/06/2023

Real-time train running information for 1T94 1020 departure from Chester to Cardiff Central on 12/06/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Photo on Facebook class 197 group shows it as 019

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Well I've just seen that too, and I had just positioned myself for a journey to Leominster to pick it up. Given the allocation has now gone, I've voted against it.

67010 is making a mighty big noise on the 103x towards Cardiff though, which was worth coming down for!

Its 197019

 

[Plodster]

1v92 was swapped at Chester due to the booked driver not signing 197.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

1v92 was swapped at Chester due to the booked driver not signing 197.

Yes, we’ve discussed how it became a 158 instead Shame they allocated a driver who can’t do them yet.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Well I've just seen that too, and I had just positioned myself for a journey to Leominster to pick it up. Given the allocation has now gone, I've voted against it.

67010 is making a mighty big noise on the 103x towards Cardiff though, which was worth coming down for!

You should do that journey! It's definitely 019, allocation is showing on the old schedule rather than the new one.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Photo on Facebook class 197 group shows it as 019

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Its 197019

I have now also seen this picture. We’ve finally got a 197 going to Cardiff!

 

[Techniquest]

You should do that journey! It's definitely 019, allocation is showing on the old schedule rather than the new one.

I took advantage of the sunshine to top up my cycling mileage before the day's second coffee

I see it's running around 12 late at present, which is good as it gives me extra time for the rather delayed coffee to kick in. Looks like I might be able to get 67010 back from Abergavenny, which is mighty tempting.

Such a shame I don't have the time today to take it all the way to Cardiff as I would have liked to!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I took advantage of the sunshine to top up my cycling mileage before the day's second coffee

I see it's running around 12 late at present, which is good as it gives me extra time for the rather delayed coffee to kick in. Looks like I might be able to get 67010 back from Abergavenny, which is mighty tempting.

Such a shame I don't have the time today to take it all the way to Cardiff as I would have liked to!

Will look forward to seeing any photos of the 197 if you get some

 

[Jez]

A 158 from Chester. Almost a joke at this point.

I agree. Its VERY frustrating!!

I am not going to make any plans to ride a 197 seen as I have before. Will just wait until they are introduced to the Swansea-Cardiff route (unless I happen to be in Cardiff for something and one turns up to Newport or something!)

 

[Western 52]

Will look forward to seeing any photos of the 197 if you get some

197019 picture taken by a friend from his house half mile north of Cwmbran.

 

[Techniquest]

Will look forward to seeing any photos of the 197 if you get some

I've been a busy ol' bee since the 197 left over 2 hours ago. I have got a video clip, but given it's recorded from a road bridge the noise probably won't be clear anyway.

Attached are photos of 197019 taken from the road bridge just south of Hereford station I tried to justify the near £16 day return to Abergavenny, but I just couldn't do so with the limited time I would have in Abergavenny to do some exploring. The photos had to do, the Emergency Backup Fund has been left intact. If it had been on a day off, I'd have been on it but I have work this afternoon.

 

[Dan G]

Just to be clear – as today's posts are somewhat confusing! – 197019 has operated from Holyhead to Cardiff (and is now on its way back) today, and this is a first for a 197?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Just to be clear – as today's posts are somewhat confusing! – 197019 has operated from Holyhead to Cardiff (and is now on its way back) today, and this is a first for a 197?

It's operated from Chester to Cardiff, and yes, it is the first 197 to operate south of Shrewsbury in service.

197009 was booked to run from Holyhead to Cardiff but terminated at Chester an hour late due to trespass, so just did Holyhead to Chester.
197004 also did Holyhead to Chester half an hour later on the delayed Birmingham service. It's regular for a 197 to do this stretch. They do most of the work on the North Wales routes, apart from most Birminghams which are 158s. Those that aren't are 197 to Chester and 158 from Chester to Birmingham.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Are the diagrams due to be the same tomorrow?

 

[Anonymous10]

197019 picture taken by a friend from his house half mile north of Cwmbran.

This makes me think of the line "the future is nie old man" they've finally entered revenue service in South Wales.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

This makes me think of the line "the future is nie old man" they've finally entered revenue service in South Wales.

And not a minute too soon, either!

 

[Jez]

Fab news that a 197 has made it to Newport and Cardiff for the very first time in passenger service. A total of 30 weeks since they were first introduced into passenger service on the Conwy Valley branch line.

Today is certainly another milestone in the long drawn out introduction of the 197s to TFW. Hopefully introduction will get faster from now on in and they are soon on Manchester-Cardiff/Milford/Carmarthen etc!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Hopefully introduction will get faster from now on in and they are soon on Manchester-Cardiff/Milford/Carmarthen etc!

Swanline first, I believe, though that's just from what I've been hearing. Limited daily services, with the bulk of Swanline remaining 153 for now.

 

[sd0733]

Are the diagrams due to be the same tomorrow?

Yes look to be the same all week.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Yes look to be the same all week.

Thank you much appreciated .

 

[CaergwrleKen]

Unfortunately until some more 197s are accepted this is only going to stretch the TFW fleet to an already overstretched limit. Doesn’t appear to be any multiples along North Wales today, all trains look overcrowded.

 

[The_Train]

I'm not sure there should be any sort of excitement about TfW managing to run a 2 car unit from Holyhead all the way down to Cardiff, irrelevant of whether it is a new train or not.

 

[Jez]

Swanline first, I believe, though that's just from what I've been hearing. Limited daily services, with the bulk of Swanline remaining 153 for now.

That's correct. Booked for the two afternoon Swanlines that end up going to Chester (1505 from Swansea and 1645 ish from Llanelli). The rest are booked for 153s but its not uncommon for a 150 to turn up on any of them.

Is the issue between Shrewsbury and Manchester the entire route or just between Shrewsbury and Crewe they arent cleared?

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I'm not sure there should be any sort of excitement about TfW managing to run a 2 car unit from Holyhead all the way down to Cardiff, irrelevant of whether it is a new train or not.

I think the excitement is that they finally managed to get one to Newport/Cardiff, two of the main stations on the TFW network, in passenger service at long last. Chances are it would have been a 2 car of something anyway so not a lot of difference in capacity but a much nicer train.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

That's correct. Booked for the two afternoon Swanlines that end up going to Chester (1505 from Swansea and 1645 ish from Llanelli). The rest are booked for 153s but its not uncommon for a 150 to turn up on any of them.

Is the issue between Shrewsbury and Manchester the entire route or just between Shrewsbury and Crewe they arent cleared?

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I think the excitement is that they finally managed to get one to Newport/Cardiff, two of the main stations on the TFW network, in passenger service at long last. Chances are it would have been a 2 car of something anyway so not a lot of difference in capacity but a much nicer train.

I believe Shrewsbury all the way to Manchester via Crewe is not yet signed off for passenger service despite training runs going on constantly.

 

[Jez]

Unfortunately until some more 197s are accepted this is only going to stretch the TFW fleet to an already overstretched limit. Doesn’t appear to be any multiples along North Wales today, all trains look overcrowded.

Are there still only 15 of the 2 carriages accepted into passenger service? No sign of any 3 cars yet?

If they have all of the North Wales-Manchester, Liverpool, Conwy Valley, Crewe-Chester plus now 3 on Cardiff-Holyhead that doesnt leave a lot of capacity for double sets running on the North Wales Coast.

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I believe Shrewsbury all the way to Manchester via Crewe is not yet signed off for passenger service despite training runs going on constantly.

Thanks. i suppose not too much of an issue at the moment given they wont have any booked workings on the Milford-Manchester route until later in the year and most of the Shrewsbury-Manchesters are either MK4 or run through to/from West Wales.

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I've been a busy ol' bee since the 197 left over 2 hours ago. I have got a video clip, but given it's recorded from a road bridge the noise probably won't be clear anyway.

Attached are photos of 197019 taken from the road bridge just south of Hereford station I tried to justify the near £16 day return to Abergavenny, but I just couldn't do so with the limited time I would have in Abergavenny to do some exploring. The photos had to do, the Emergency Backup Fund has been left intact. If it had been on a day off, I'd have been on it but I have work this afternoon.

Good photos! I cant wait for the first one to turn up on my local route (Swanline!). Im going to try on ride one the first day of service if I can.