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Does anyone have a list of how many 197s are stabled at each location overnight? It would be interesting to see a comparison of how many 175s were stabled overnight at these locations. I think at the moment 197s are stabled at Canton, Carmarthen, Chester, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Holyhead, Llandudno Junction and possibly Hereford?
I don't have the numbers to hand but all of those locations are correct. Hereford sees two units for about 3 hours in the middle of the night
Bear in mind the 197s aren't just a direct replacement for the 175s, a point I think that has been missed by several posters here. In terms of heavy maintenance, Chester depot is now responsible for more than double the units it had before, but in terms of purely stabling units the uplift is nowhere near as large, since the 197s are also replacing various types of Sprinters.
The 197s are also more spread out overnight than than the 175s were. As an example, normally no 175s spent the night in Crewe, and only one was at Shrewsbury. Now it's normal for multiple 197s to spend the night in both locations - and the storage space available at those locations has increased as well.
I don't have the numbers to hand but all of those locations are correct. Hereford sees two units for about 3 hours in the middle of the night
Bear in mind the 197s aren't just a direct replacement for the 175s, a point I think that has been missed by several posters here. In terms of heavy maintenance, Chester depot is now responsible for more than double the units it had before, but in terms of purely stabling units the uplift is nowhere near as large, since the 197s are also replacing various types of Sprinters.
The 197s are also more spread out overnight than than the 175s were. As an example, normally no 175s spent the night in Crewe, and only one was at Shrewsbury. Now it's normal for multiple 197s to spend the night in both locations - and the storage space available at those locations has increased as well.
Thanks. I had a feeling Hereford had units for this service overnight.
I was aware that 197s were also replacing some of the 150s and 153s (Conwy Valley, Chester Shuttle and Pembroke Dock/Swanline to name a few) as well as all 158s. It would just be interesting to get a comparison and see exactly how many each location has. The 175s starting at Crewe used to run ECS from Chester I think. Clearly now some spent the night at Crewe.
Also Carmarthen must have a few more 197s than the 175s they had. I believe a 158 and a couple of 150s or 153s used to be at Carmarthen overnight. Now I think its one AT set, a 150 and the rest 197s.
That one does seem to be a weekend only thing.
On a Saturday night the last one from Chester stables in Piccadilly, shunting from 13 to the bay platforms before attaching to the 13:30 to Swansea, Sunday night it goes to the Airport and stables before forming the 05:25 departure in the morning.
Monday to Friday the last one is a 158 from Birmingham which turns round at Piccadilly and forms an 00:24 to Chester with an early departure from Chester at 03:51 Tuesday to Friday mornings.
It would be interesting to see a comparison of how many 175s were stabled overnight at these locations. I think at the moment 197s are stabled at Canton, Carmarthen, Chester, Shrewsbury, Crewe, Holyhead, Llandudno Junction and possibly Hereford?
Regarding the maximum number of units permitted at any one time on Chester depot is 13 or 14, I can`t remember which one, comprising a mixture of 2 and 3 cars. There is a way of getting around this maximum number and that`s by stabling units on the reception road of the depot which technically is not the depot. Maximum number isn`t counted as the number of carriages like it maybe at other locations ?
Alstom very rarely enforced the maximum number of units on depot at any one time but CAF do, once capacity is reached its then a case of one off and one on scenario, that`s one of the reasons units enter service from the middle yard and station.
From what I’ve heard, and I do stress this is purely anecdotal, the vehicle limits became more a focus of discussion after the tragic incident at Tyseley a few years ago. I believe the RAIB cited the depot going over capacity as a contributing factor (obviously not the main one) so lots of other depot operators have looked at their operations and gone back to insisting on what they’re designed for rather than taking extra units, which is completely understandable if that is the case.
Basically, from what I understand, it's a combination of a few things, like them being stored for a long time not being good for them, units failing to do their fault-free mileage to the point where the required mileage has had to be reduced, something to do with replacement windscreens causing water leaks which may have damaged some electricals, and inconsistencies with coupler electrical wiring causing issues with multiple working.
There's an extensive dedicated thread about them elsewhere in this forum. It makes quite depressing reading, including a lot of criticism from an apparently inside source, though some others have disputed some of those statements. It seems to be approaching a crunch time, when either 398s will finally enter service, or stuff will hit the fan with politicians blaming each other or running for cover.
Thanks for this update. Yesterday, TfW social media shared a video asking passengers on the Pontypridd- Treherbert line what they thought of their new trains. Did it mention that the "new trains" are only temporary? There are three diagrams in the system from May, all coming off Taffs Well...
CAF also have a factory in Newport, Wales. Logically it made sense to take over Chester from Alstom and save the expense of building a new Depot that's ready to go, albeit in hindsight might not be big enough for the uplift in units. Would seem a bit inefficient to abandon a relatively new Depot and build a new one, just to say it's in Wales.
As I've pointed out before, Wales & Borders is not a Wales-only operation, and many towns in England are dependent on TfW services, with assets and staff to match.
Chester has as much right to host the CAF depot for TfW as anywhere in Wales, and there are other "English" maintenance facilities used in Crewe (ATC).
I could be wrong, but I also think TfW's e-tickets are issued from somewhere in England.
Most new train fleets are maintained by their manufacturers (eg the 390, 80x and 777 fleets, and GA's Stadlers) and direct TOC maintenance is now a rarity.
I'm not sure of the maintenance arrangements for TfW's Stadler fleets.
153325 and 153909 came back from Landore yesterday and were shoved straight into passenger use a few hours after arriving at Canton!
I wouldn't be surprised if more make their way across.
What a sad state of affairs this is but punters roaming around on clapped out 150s that are well past their sell by date will probably not notice any difference.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 06/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 06/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
As I've pointed out before, Wales & Borders is not a Wales-only operation, and many towns in England are dependent on TfW services, with assets and staff to match.
Chester has as much right to host the CAF depot for TfW as anywhere in Wales, and there are other "English" maintenance facilities used in Crewe (ATC).
I could be wrong, but I also think TfW's e-tickets are issued from somewhere in England.
Most new train fleets are maintained by their manufacturers (eg the 390, 80x and 777 fleets, and GA's Stadlers) and direct TOC maintenance is now a rarity.
I'm not sure of the maintenance arrangements for TfW's Stadler fleets.
I dont think anyone has an issue with a depot in England being the main depot for the 197s. I think its more the fact that Chester cant seem to cope and a 2nd depot in the South should have been opened to help the maintenance of the 197s of which there are 77 of them (not including Machynlleth as a second depot as they will only look after the Cambrian 197s and some of the work will still be done in Chester)
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What a sad state of affairs this is but punters roaming around on clapped out 150s that are well past their sell by date will probably not notice any difference.
I had a 150 today on the 1727 Swansea-Cardiff vice a 197. I also noticed that there is a pair of 150s plus a few single 153s stll at Landore. I assume these 153s will be back in service soon.
Real-time train running information for 3Q81 2052 departure from Crewe South Yard to Shrewsbury on 07/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q82 0048 departure from Machynlleth to Welshpool on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q83 0149 departure from Welshpool to Newtown (Powys) on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q84 0308 departure from Shrewsbury to Crewe South Yard on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q81 2052 departure from Crewe South Yard to Machynlleth on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q82 0048 departure from Machynlleth to Welshpool on 09/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q83 0149 departure from Welshpool to Newtown (Powys) on 09/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q84 0220 departure from Newtown (Powys) to Crewe South Yard on 09/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Yes, 197041 is a fairly recent arrival at Crewe. It will be in Crewe South Yard but sometimes Crewe Carriage Shed/depot. Someone else might know exactly when at each.
Yes, 197041 is a fairly recent arrival at Crewe. It will be in Crewe South Yard but sometimes Crewe Carriage Shed/depot. Someone else might know exactly when at each.
Yes, 197041 is a fairly recent arrival at Crewe. It will be in Crewe South Yard but sometimes Crewe Carriage Shed/depot. Someone else might know exactly when at each.
That one does seem to be a weekend only thing.
On a Saturday night the last one from Chester stables in Piccadilly, shunting from 13 to the bay platforms before attaching to the 13:30 to Swansea, Sunday night it goes to the Airport and stables before forming the 05:25 departure in the morning.
Monday to Friday the last one is a 158 from Birmingham which turns round at Piccadilly and forms an 00:24 to Chester with an early departure from Chester at 03:51 Tuesday to Friday mornings.
Engineering work is taking place between Manchester Piccadilly / Liverpool Lime Street and Chester, closing all lines used by Transport for Wales overnight from Tuesday evening until Friday morning.
Engineering work is taking place between Manchester Piccadilly / Liverpool Lime Street and Chester, closing all lines used by Transport for Wales overnight from Tuesday evening until Friday morning.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Looking more promising for the Cambrian Coast 197s to run today! (Wed 8/4/26)
(Screenshots of Realtime Trains, showing that 197029+197030 / 197030+197029 have been allocated to 3C06 / 3C07)
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Looking more promising for the Cambrian Coast 197s to run today! (Wed 8/4/26)
(Screenshots of Realtime Trains, showing that 197029+197030 / 197030+197029 have been allocated to 3C06 / 3C07)
Yeah, it's not looking good. Now nearly an hour after it should've departed and nothing... Maybe there really is still "a problem at the depot"?
I really thought it was going to run as well, as unlike the previous two times, unit allocations were showing on Realtime Trains, and the headcode showed up on the OpenTrainTimes diagram:
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 06/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 06/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q81 2052 departure from Crewe South Yard to Shrewsbury on 07/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q82 0048 departure from Machynlleth to Welshpool on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q83 0149 departure from Welshpool to Newtown (Powys) on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q84 0308 departure from Shrewsbury to Crewe South Yard on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1558 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C07 1832 departure from Pwllheli to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q81 2052 departure from Crewe South Yard to Machynlleth on 08/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q82 0048 departure from Machynlleth to Welshpool on 09/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q83 0149 departure from Welshpool to Newtown (Powys) on 09/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3Q84 0220 departure from Newtown (Powys) to Crewe South Yard on 09/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
10 cancellations, and 2 partial cancellations that didn't make it onto the Cambrian...
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Sat 11/4/26:
~17:30 - 197039 in Shrewsbury Abbey Foregate sidings
~18:30 - 197030 and 197029 in Machynlleth sidings; 197024 in Machynlleth old locomotive shed
Real-time train running information for 3C00 2016 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs on 12/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C15 0424 departure from Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 13/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C02 0924 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 20/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C03 1023 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 20/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C00 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 20/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 20/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C01 1631 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 20/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C02 0924 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C03 1023 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C00 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C01 1631 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C02 0924 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C03 1023 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C00 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C01 1631 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C02 0924 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 23/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C03 1023 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 23/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C00 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 23/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C06 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli on 23/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C01 1631 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 23/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C02 0924 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 24/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C03 1023 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 24/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C00 1557 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth on 24/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C01 1631 departure from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 24/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
The 3C06s don't yet seem to have 3C07 return counterparts yet though.
Also, on each day, there looks to be an Aberystwyth and a Pwllheli that both start at the same time, and then another Aberystwyth later in the day.
I wonder if it's a case of "schedule everything for every day, but then on each day, only run what we choose to"?
12/4/26 at ~20:05:
197024 at the station end of Machynlleth sidings
(no 197 in Machynlleth old locomotive shed)
197029 and 197030 (uncoupled) at the far / Shrewsbury end of Machynlleth sidings
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Real-time train running information for 3C00 2016 departure from Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs on 12/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Real-time train running information for 3C15 0424 departure from Shrewsbury Abbey Frgte Cs to Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs on 13/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Looks like 197039 is coming onto the Cambrian (as shown in the attached screenshot of the Realtime Trains page of the above schedule):
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