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

Robert Mann

Robert Mann

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Llandudno
Does anyone know what happened with 197111? It was running 1H91 1542 Llandudno to Manchester Airport yesterday but terminated at Warrington Bank Quay before later running ECS as 5H91 Warrington Bank Quay to Crewe Carriage Sidings where it seemed to have failed outside Stockport and terminated there where it was still there as of 1030 this morning.

Does anyone know why they would have been moving it to Crewe Carriage Sidings as opposed to Chester (where the depot for the 197s is) and then why they'd move it via Manchester and Stockport rather than just going south to Crewe. And also does anyone know what has happened since? As I haven't seen any paths leaving Stockport today that would fit for a move.
 
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craigybagel

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Robert Mann said:
Does anyone know what happened with 197111? It was running 1H91 1542 Llandudno to Manchester Airport yesterday but terminated at Warrington Bank Quay before later running ECS as 5H91 Warrington Bank Quay to Crewe Carriage Sidings where it seemed to have failed outside Stockport and terminated there where it was still there as of 1030 this morning.

Does anyone know why they would have been moving it to Crewe Carriage Sidings as opposed to Chester (where the depot for the 197s is) and then why they'd move it via Manchester and Stockport rather than just going south to Crewe. And also does anyone know what has happened since? As I haven't seen any paths leaving Stockport today that would fit for a move.
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There was a fault with the unit, the nature of which meant it could only be driven from one end - hence being sent to Crewe via Manchester. I'm not sure why it only got to Stockport in the end, but it's still there in the bay platform tonight.
 
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Anonymous10

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@craigybagel @sd0733 may be able to help
158822 said:
Does anyone know how many 197s are south of the block?
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craigybagel said:
There was a fault with the unit, the nature of which meant it could only be driven from one end - hence being sent to Crewe via Manchester. I'm not sure why it only got to Stockport in the end, but it's still there in the bay platform tonight.
Click to expand...
could have been crew disruption due to the flooding? Also assuming itll need picking up by another 197?
 
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craigybagel

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Anonymous10 said:
@craigybagel @sd0733 may be able to help
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Not sure on that one I'm afraid. Most of them will be the other side of the Crewe - Chester block that's also been on over the weekend.
Anonymous10 said:

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could have been crew disruption due to the flooding? Also assuming itll need picking up by another 197?
Click to expand...
A spare driver was sent to Warrington to take it all the way back to Crewe (from the depot that signs the route in it's entirety) so no issues there. RTT suggests a further problem with the traction.
 
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Anonymous10

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craigybagel said:
Not sure on that one I'm afraid. Most of them will be the other side of the Crewe - Chester block that's also been on over the weekend.

A spare driver was sent to Warrington to take it all the way back to Crewe (from the depot that signs the route in it's entirety) so no issues there. RTT suggests a further problem with the traction.
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No problem, does that mean canton are pushed for units around south wales?

In previous years the south has relied on its fleet of 150s and 153s but thats no longer possible.

I do personally think that whilst the decision not to clear 197s for the Heart of Wales line is understandable, that its going to be felt through the next few days. I do feel it would be useful to have a second route for 197s to get south.
 
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sd0733

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158822 said:
Does anyone know how many 197s are south of the block?
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Looks to be 22 197s south of the block, 16 2 car and 6 3 car.

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craigybagel said:
There was a fault with the unit, the nature of which meant it could only be driven from one end - hence being sent to Crewe via Manchester. I'm not sure why it only got to Stockport in the end, but it's still there in the bay platform tonight.
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Locked transmission. Likely to require a wheelskate move back to Crewe/Chester. Stockport is keeping the skating teams busy at the moment!
Very lucky it failed completely not once but twice in and around stations.

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Anonymous10 said:
I do personally think that whilst the decision not to clear 197s for the Heart of Wales line is understandable, that its going to be felt through the next few days. I do feel it would be useful to have a second route for 197s to get sosouth
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The decision is to clear them for the Heart of Wales and certain infrastructure issues were sorted ages ago during a block down there. The teams are extremely busy and they've been working on other routes to clear recently so it's in the queue waiting but will happen in due course.
Unless the block goes on for several more days, which isnt currently expected, there shouldn't be an issue. Only 16 diagrams seem to be required in the South so plenty of units to cover that.
 
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tfw756rider

tfw756rider

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Thanks @Jacob Porrett :)

@158822, Today's (Mon 17/11/25) 3C15 0423 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs ran (so presumably 197029+197030 have both left the Cambrian together), yet RTT says This service was cancelled due to the signalbox not being open (OL). :lol:

Realtime Trains | 3C15 0423 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs | 17/11/2025

Real-time train running information for 3C15 0423 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs on 17/11/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk www.realtimetrains.co.uk
 
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wythallpaul

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tfw756rider said:
RTT says This service was cancelled due to the signalbox not being open (OL).
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RTT just Regurgitate Data supplied to them by the Operating Companies.
Dud Gen in = Dud Gen out.
More & more examples of wrong Unit Numbers or Train Reporting Times just Stopping in the Middle of Nowhere are being supplied on a Daily Basis. Not helped by the Recent bad Weather of Course.

Edit. Thanks for telling us it ran by the way. That's Really useful Information.
 
tfw756rider

tfw756rider

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chrisjo said:
RTT does also give the actual timings of the supposedly cancelled working though.
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Exactly, hence how I knew that it ran!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

wythallpaul said:
RTT just Regurgitate Data supplied to them by the Operating Companies.
Dud Gen in = Dud Gen out.
More & more examples of wrong Unit Numbers or Train Reporting Times just Stopping in the Middle of Nowhere are being supplied on a Daily Basis. Not helped by the Recent bad Weather of Course.

Edit. Thanks for telling us it ran by the way. That's Really useful Information.
Click to expand...
Ah, yeah, thanks.

Welcome :lol:
 
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Gordonman

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Long term stored 197004 back in service today.

Currently working 1W18 Milford Haven - Manchester from Swansea.

First bit of positive news from TFW for a while!!
 
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Gordonman

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197036 197021 5Z97 Cardiff Canton - Chester TMD.

Must have found some space at Chester to finally repair 197021 which has been OOS since mid September
 
chrisjo

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You would think that CAF had some sort of document that told them what size numbers to use, but apparently not. Also, what's with the red gaffer-tape on 110 (I know it's been out-of-action for quite a while now)?

1763897015670.png

Chester, 30-Oct-25.

Edit: 1 week earlier....

1763897554139.png
 
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Peter Sarf

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chrisjo said:
You would think that CAF had some sort of document that told them what size numbers to use, but apparently not. Also, what's with the red gaffer-tape on 110 (I know it's been out-of-action for quite a while now)?

View attachment 192727

Chester, 30-Oct-25.

Edit: 1 week earlier....

View attachment 192728
Click to expand...
Looks like in the first picture the red tape is where the bodyside camera is removed (camera ? still visible in the second picture).

Have to say those grey unit numbers are hard to see on a off-white background in poor light !.
Don't they think about us spotters :wub:.
 
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800001

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Peter Sarf said:
Looks like in the first picture the red tape is where the bodyside camera is removed (camera ? still visible in the second picture).

Have to say those grey unit numbers are hard to see on a off-white background in poor light !.
Don't they think about us spotters :wub:.
Click to expand...
Yes, looks like camera removed. Some plastic placed over it held by the red tape.
 
tfw756rider

tfw756rider

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chrisjo said:
You would think that CAF had some sort of document that told them what size numbers to use, but apparently not. Also, what's with the red gaffer-tape on 110 (I know it's been out-of-action for quite a while now)?

View attachment 192727

Chester, 30-Oct-25.

Edit: 1 week earlier....

View attachment 192728
Click to expand...
197016 has the big numbers as well.
 
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Jez

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Think they are short of 197s again as I could only find 39 in service today on RTT. 24 x 2 car and 15 x 3 car.
 
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