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

[sd0733]

Are we any closer to more 3 cars being introduced into service that could mitigate the effects of this slightly?

Lots of sets building up at Crewe where CAF usually do the Acceptance but seem to have a shortage of them actually making it through at the moment. Unsure what units are at what stage now.

 

[Jez]

Even if they could get them to 3 or 4 carriages on all Manchester-South Wales that would be something.

 

[iceolate]

I've noticed the 197s on the Manchester to Cardiff route frequently only have a single toilet in operation usually the smaller non-PRM one and occasionally none working at all. Why are these toilets so unreliable, is it a waste capacity issue or faulty equipment?

 

[sd0733]

I've noticed the 197s on the Manchester to Cardiff route frequently only have a single toilet in operation usually the smaller non-PRM one and occasionally none working at all. Why are these toilets so unreliable, is it a waste capacity issue or faulty equipment?

Unfortunately the toilets are atrociously unreliable. There's investigations going on by the cubicle manufacturers to find out why but as it stands they have fault after fault and its rare not to have reset them multiple times on a trip to keep them in service.
It is on occasions due to tank capacity particularly after disruption but generally the things aren't working for long enough to get full! Hopefully a fix will be found soon to improve them as it's causing massive problems and regular toilet stops causing delays.

 

[BenBracken]

I've noticed the 197s on the Manchester to Cardiff route frequently only have a single toilet in operation usually the smaller non-PRM one and occasionally none working at all. Why are these toilets so unreliable, is it a waste capacity issue or faulty equipment?

The unit I travelled on Saturday afternoon had faults with the toilets. One was blocked and neither had running water. Guard said this was fairly common and tends to happen towards the end of the day.

 

[iceolate]

Unfortunately the toilets are atrociously unreliable. There's investigations going on by the cubicle manufacturers to find out why but as it stands they have fault after fault and its rare not to have reset them multiple times on a trip to keep them in service.
It is on occasions due to tank capacity particularly after disruption but generally the things aren't working for long enough to get full! Hopefully a fix will be found soon to improve them as it's causing massive problems and regular toilet stops causing delays.

Thanks for the explanation, hopefully a solution can be found soon so I don't have to watch my liquid intake too closely!

 

[nwales58]

CAF = Come And Fix it

At the bottom of the fault list are the fold down tables.

Anyone know the manufacturer’s spec for the torque setting to keep them from falling down?

Ill take a 10mm Allen key with me next time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2024 ==

Lack of toilets is serious for anyone over 70. Is TfW recommending we don’t travel?

 

[Anonymous10]

CAF = Come And Fix it

At the bottom of the fault list are the fold down tables.

Anyone know the manufacturer’s spec for the torque setting to keep them from falling down?

Ill take a 10mm Allen key with me next time.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2024 ==

Lack of toilets is serious for anyone over 70. Is TfW recommending we don’t travel?

I've used the 197s several times, all using my 16" laptop and never had an issue with the airline seat tables.

 

[nwales58]

I've used the 197s several times, all using my 16" laptop and never had an issue with the airline seat tables.

Whatever was operating BFF-LLJ this morning, 4 in a row, and another on rhe Nory Coadt last week. CAF clearly have worse problems to solve.

 

[sd0733]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2024 ==

Lack of toilets is serious for anyone over 70. Is TfW recommending we don’t travel

No. With most of the faults if you speak to the Guard they'll potentially be able to reset them. Failing that if it can't be fixed then toilet stops would be arranged at the bigger stations where facilities exist.
It's far from ideal I'd agree. Hopefully CAF and the toilet manufacturer can find a fix as soon as possible with them.

 

[FrodshamJnct]

No. With most of the faults if you speak to the Guard they'll potentially be able to reset them. Failing that if it can't be fixed then toilet stops would be arranged at the bigger stations where facilities exist.
It's far from ideal I'd agree. Hopefully CAF and the toilet manufacturer can find a fix as soon as possible with them.

Overheard a conversation between a passenger and the guard yesterday whereby the 197 had run into an issue with the sander/emergency brake at Runcorn East. He mentioned that the driver had been able to sort it by a reset of the unit.

 

[Western 52]

I imagine that doing a reset of the unit is rather like rebooting a computer? That often solves IT issues.

 

[childwallblues]

When did 197107enter service please?

 

[6Gtraincrew]

When did 197107enter service please?

06/01/24

 

[childwallblues]

06/01/24

Many thanks.

 

[Dan G]

Unfortunately the toilets are atrociously unreliable. There's investigations going on by the cubicle manufacturers to find out why but as it stands they have fault after fault and its rare not to have reset them multiple times on a trip to keep them in service.
It is on occasions due to tank capacity particularly after disruption but generally the things aren't working for long enough to get full! Hopefully a fix will be found soon to improve them as it's causing massive problems and regular toilet stops causing delays.

If a reset of a computer module is required to fix a toilet you have to wonder if things have gone too far!

Though really controlling the power doors, the alarm, monitoring and reporting the tank levels etc. probably do demand computer control.

I hope no-one is getting stuck in them!

 

[Lurcheroo]

I hope no-one is getting stuck in them!

Someone had to be cut out by the fire brigade last week or week before at Cardiff (I think).

 

[sd0733]

I imagine that doing a reset of the unit is rather like rebooting a computer? That often solves IT issues.

Effectively, yes. To be fair it's done on most units. Electrics I've worked in the past used to Pantograph down and back up and 175s often had a "Trip and reset" that cleared most issues. The 197s can have a reasonable amount of their foibles fixed with various on board resets too.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Does anyone know why 1V37 1V38 left Shrewsbury 60L? Not a train fault hopefully?

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Does anyone know why 1V37 left Shrewsbury 60L? Not a train fault hopefully?

Looks like it left 15 late, and made up the time by Cardiff.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Looks like it left 15 late, and made up the time by Cardiff.

Sorry I’ve quoted the wrong headcode. Ironically funny that even the misquoted TfW service was also delayed though.
Let me retrieve the correct one.

Realtime Trains | 1V38 0930 Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen | 27/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 1V38 0930 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen on 27/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

1V38
RTT suggests it remains at Cardiff Central, although it has now gone, about 20L, so some time has been recovered.

Edit: Turns out when I saw it leave, it was empty to the sidings. It has returned to form 1403 Milford Haven, so that Carmarthen service must have been cancelled.

 

[Western 52]

Sorry I’ve quoted the wrong headcode. Ironically funny that even the misquoted TfW service was also delayed though.
Let me retrieve the correct one.

Realtime Trains | 1V38 0930 Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen | 27/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 1V38 0930 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Carmarthen on 27/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

1V38
RTT suggests it remains at Cardiff Central, although it has now gone, about 20L, so some time has been recovered.

Edit: Turns out when I saw it leave, it was empty to the sidings. It has returned to form 1403 Milford Haven, so that Carmarthen service must have been cancelled.

They are running 1Z38 to cover to Carmarthen.

Realtime Trains | 1Z38 1258 Cardiff Central to Carmarthen | 27/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 1Z38 1258 departure from Cardiff Central to Carmarthen on 27/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They are running 1Z38 to cover to Carmarthen.

Realtime Trains | 1Z38 1258 Cardiff Central to Carmarthen | 27/01/2024

Real-time train running information for 1Z38 1258 departure from Cardiff Central to Carmarthen on 27/01/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

On time running from Cardiff and terminating the original service seems a worthy sacrifice to make, keeping the West Wales service on time, and noting that the fact through passengers will have needed to change is mitigated with how soon the Milford service departed after the delayed service arrived. Sensible decision.

 

[craigybagel]

Does anyone know why 1V37 1V38 left Shrewsbury 60L? Not a train fault hopefully?

RTT suggests animals on the line. It lost that hour between Wem and Shrewsbury.

It does show however how fantastic the 197s are at making up time - yes there was some waiting time cut out as well, but a peak of 63 late cut down to 37 by Cardiff is pretty fantastic. I suspect Superpower mode came in to save the day again.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

RTT suggests animals on the line. It lost that hour between Wem and Shrewsbury.

It does show however how fantastic the 197s are at making up time - yes there was some waiting time cut out as well, but a peak of 63 late cut down to 37 by Cardiff is pretty fantastic. I suspect Superpower mode came in to save the day again.

They’re very good trains indeed.

 

[_toommm_]

It does show however how fantastic the 197s are at making up time - yes there was some waiting time cut out as well, but a peak of 63 late cut down to 37 by Cardiff is pretty fantastic. I suspect Superpower mode came in to save the day again.

All stops from Shrewsbury to Cardiff omitted apart from Hereford and Newport.

 

[NigelRail]

1W24 is running 5 car all the way to Manchester according to RTT, is this an error or has it now been cleared?

 

[Bob Price]

1W24 is running 5 car all the way to Manchester according to RTT, is this an error or has it now been cleared?

Cleared. They have been running all week.

 

[MP393]

Cleared. They have been running all week.

5 coaches are not cleared Shrewsbury - Manchester they haven’t operated any more than 4 coaches up to Piccadilly all week.

1W24 is solo 197013

 

[BillStampy]

I heard earlier this month that 197s were supposed to be cleared for Maesteg - Cheltenham by the end of the month, we're nearly at the end of January and nothing has exactly changed. Unless it starts soon, it probably won't happen. Any ideas on when this clearance goes through? Will it be fast enough to finish as they said?