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

Peter Sarf

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So it looks like 197024 has gone to Shrewsbury and been exchanged for 197039 now at Machynlleth.

(for anyone who did not get an alert the above post by @tfw756rider contains many auto-merged posts subsequent to the original posted on Thursday 09/04/2026).
 
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tfw756rider

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So it looks like 197024 has gone to Shrewsbury and been exchanged for 197039 now at Machynlleth.

(for anyone who did not get an alert the above post by @tfw756rider contains many auto-merged posts subsequent to the original posted on Thursday 09/04/2026).
Yep, so now I believe that it's 197029, 197030 and 197039 on the Cambrian.

And the 3C07s have now been added, so there are now 28 upcoming schedules:

Mon 20/4/26

Tue 21/4/26

Wed 22/4/26

Thu 23/4/26

Fri 24/4/26

I note again that on the Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu, there are scheduled simultaneous starts - [3C00 1557 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth] and [3C06 1557 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli].

I wonder if they actually plan to run, say, 197029+197030 on the Aberystwyth at the same time as 197039 on the coast / Pwllheli? Though of course one of them would have to depart from Machynlleth slightly later than the other.

Or is it more a case of "schedule both 1557s but choose which one we actually run on each day?"
 

sd0733

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Yep, so now I believe that it's 197029, 197030 and 197039 on the Cambrian.

And the 3C07s have now been added, so there are now 28 upcoming schedules:

Mon 20/4/26

Tue 21/4/26

Wed 22/4/26

Thu 23/4/26

Fri 24/4/26

I note again that on the Mon/Tue/Wed/Thu, there are scheduled simultaneous starts - [3C00 1557 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Aberystwyth] and [3C06 1557 Machynlleth Carr. Sdgs to Pwllheli].

I wonder if they actually plan to run, say, 197029+197030 on the Aberystwyth at the same time as 197039 on the coast / Pwllheli? Though of course one of them would have to depart from Machynlleth slightly later than the other.

Or is it more a case of "schedule both 1557s but choose which one we actually run on each day?"
The 20th is when the full start of training is planned to begin so there should be a lot more activity from then with them.
 

tfw756rider

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The 20th is when the full start of training is planned to begin so there should be a lot more activity from then with them.
Yeah, thanks - your information is very much appreciated as always :) I just wonder exactly how much they're likely to do on each day in the week.

On the Mon-Thu, the scheduled outward departures from Machynlleth are an 0924 Aberystwyth, and a "simultaneous" 1557 Aberystwyth and 1557 coast/Pwllheli (but again, if the two 1557s actually ran at the same time, one would have to depart from Machynlleth slightly later than the other).
 
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I note that engineering works are taking place on the Cambrian from 13-22 May.
Are these related to 197 introduction, or some other infrastructure work?

Annoying as it's the one week this year I needed to use it!
 

158822

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15:57 to Aberystwyth and 15:57 up the coast could start together and split at Machynlleth.
 

Peter Sarf

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15:57 to Aberystwyth and 15:57 up the coast could start together and split at Machynlleth.
They are both starting from Machynlleth anyway.

Machynlleth is where a split of service from further East happens normally and after a split one or other service leaves slightly later having originated in the system at Machynlleth even though it was a portion from further East.

My money is on, as @tfw756rider says, one or other running only. But if both run then I suppose it is no big deal if one is a wee bit late as far as Dovey Junction.
 

Caaardiff

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@Peter Sarf they could still run from the sidings to Machynlleth together then split.
Looking at the schedules they "pass" the station, so won't be stopping to split.
Only one of those schedules will be used as they clash off the Depot and through the station.
 

tfw756rider

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Looking at the schedules they "pass" the station, so won't be stopping to split.
Only one of those schedules will be used as they clash off the Depot and through the station.
I'll probably prioritise the coast then, as I've seen a lot of the Aberystwyths now. Thanks (and to others) :)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

Mon 20/4/26

Tue 21/4/26

Wed 22/4/26

Thu 23/4/26

Fri 24/4/26
In the addition to the above 28 schedules, a 29th has been added:

Machynlleth sidings-Aberystwyth-Shrewsbury-Machynlleth sidings
 
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wythallpaul

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Not sure if I've ever noticed this before on the same day - However Today (15/04/2026) we have:-
197114 working Crewe to Shrewsbury Local Trains.
197119 working Crewe to Chester Shuttles.
197111 working Chester to Liverpool Shuttles.

A couple of Diagrams on the Cardiff to Holyhead Circuit are 2 Car 197's & a couple of Holyhead to Birmingham International Trains are showing (According to RTT) as single 158's Throughout & we all know how busy those Trains can get between Shrewsbury & Birmingham.

Must have a Trainee in Control Today!

1I14 now sorted. 2 Trains being Swapped at Shrewsbury around about 12-30. Pair of 158's off 1D13 going Straight back to Birmingham International, Single 158 off 1I14 Going Straight back to Holyhead.
Clarification - 1I14 0925 Holyhead (HHD) to Birmingham International (BHI).
Clarification - 1D13 1108 Birmingham International (BHI) to Holyhead (HHD).
Not Great However if one of the Trains uses Platform 3 at Shrewsbury.

Could do the same thing with 1I18/1D14 at around about 14-30.
 
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tfw756rider

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Machynlleth sidings-Aberystwyth-Shrewsbury-Machynlleth sidings
197039 solo

Partially cancelled (presumably due to late running) - ran Machynlleth sidings-Aberystwyth-Machynlleth
 
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wythallpaul

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The off Topic bit about the 158's on 1I14/1D13.

If you're Interested when I saw 197039 at Shrewsbury on Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th last week prior to it going onto the Cambrian it had 'No Multi' crosses in the Cab facing Wellington. Couldn't see if the other Cab had it also.
 

tfw756rider

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If you're Interested when I saw 197039 at Shrewsbury on Tuesday 7th & Wednesday 8th last week prior to it going onto the Cambrian it had 'No Multi' crosses in the Cab facing Wellington. Couldn't see if the other Cab had it also.
197039 has non-multi crosses at both ends, seen in the Aberystwyth area.

I doubt that one coupler is (let alone both couplers are) non-functioning on a 2025 unit, I think what's more likely is that it's to do with software version differences.

See the attached photo of 197029+197030 in multi despite a non-multi cross in the secondman's windscreen of 197029 (it was taken in January 2026 at Dovey Junction) - according to a Cambrian guard, they were running the same software version as each other, which was a different version to what other 197s were running, and that meant that, even though they had "non-multi" crosses, they could run in multi with each other but not other 197s.
 

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wythallpaul

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See the attached photo of 197029+197030 in multi despite a non-multi cross in the secondman's windscreen of 197029 (it was taken in January 2026 at Dovey Junction) - according to a Cambrian guard, they were running the same software version as each other, which was a different version to what other 197s were running, and that meant that, even though they had "non-multi" crosses, they could run in multi with each other but not other 197s.

Now that is Interesting. Does this have any implications as to what 197024 can do now that it is back off the Cambrian?
 

Peter Sarf

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See the attached photo of 197029+197030 in multi despite a non-multi cross in the secondman's windscreen of 197029 (it was taken in January 2026 at Dovey Junction) - according to a Cambrian guard, they were running the same software version as each other, which was a different version to what other 197s were running, and that meant that, even though they had "non-multi" crosses, they could run in multi with each other but not other 197s.

Now that is Interesting. Does this have any implications as to what 197024 can do now that it is back off the Cambrian?
I wonder if the software version can be reverted. Otherwise the 197s currently used on Cambrian tests cannot later cover for other 197s on the rest of TfW. Will this be a new issue ?.

It does suggest another software version will need to be rolled out for the entire 197 fleet. That is unless, in the future, 197003 & 197022-197041 can never multi with other 197s on non Cambrian services on the rare occasions that they might be used on non Cambrian services.
 

tfw756rider

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I wonder if the software version can be reverted. Otherwise the 197s currently used on Cambrian tests cannot later cover for other 197s on the rest of TfW. Will this be a new issue ?.

It does suggest another software version will need to be rolled out for the entire 197 fleet. That is unless, in the future, 197003 & 197022-197041 can never multi with other 197s on non Cambrian services on the rare occasions that they might be used on non Cambrian services.
Non-Cambrian services of course meaning services not on the Cambrian-Birmingham / Holyhead/Chester-Birmingham interworked 'circuit'.
 

Peter Sarf

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Non-Cambrian services of course meaning services not on the Cambrian-Birmingham / Holyhead/Chester-Birmingham interworked 'circuit'.
I am thinking the ETCS 197s (ie 197003, 197022-041) won't even be able to interwork with other 197s on Holyhead/Chester-Birmingham if those are ever more than just 2car ?.
 

MP393

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Not sure if I've ever noticed this before on the same day - However Today (15/04/2026) we have:-
197114 working Crewe to Shrewsbury Local Trains.
197119 working Crewe to Chester Shuttles.
197111 working Chester to Liverpool Shuttles.

I can’t talk for all three at once, but those three diagrams are useful for units which have low exam miles, need to end at Chester for CAF, or have issues such as toilets locked OOU and need shorter journeys to minimise disruption but can still remain in service or swapped out easily when another unit becomes available
 

Peter Sarf

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I can’t talk for all three at once, but those three diagrams are useful for units which have low exam miles, need to end at Chester for CAF, or have issues such as toilets locked OOU and need shorter journeys to minimise disruption but can still remain in service or swapped out easily when another unit becomes available
I also think newer units (recently into service ETCS ones) seem to at first work diagrams keeping them nearer to Chester and certainly away from long distance. That's just for a few days.
 

wythallpaul

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I also think newer units (recently into service ETCS ones) seem to at first work diagrams keeping them nearer to Chester and certainly away from long distance. That's just for a few days.
Post 10,195 details the Folly of not doing the above. The entry of 197023 into Service did not end well.
 

sd0733

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Software updates have been done a couple of times previously to the fleet and means units of that software version can only work with other units of the same software version for a short period whilst theyre all updated.

The new version improves the way ASDO functions with different formations so once its all signed off will be rolled out to all units. There will need to be a couple of tests done at non-Cambrian stations done first to check everything functions as expected.
 

XFeed

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I can’t talk for all three at once, but those three diagrams are useful for units which have low exam miles, need to end at Chester for CAF, or have issues such as toilets locked OOU and need shorter journeys to minimise disruption but can still remain in service or swapped out easily when another unit becomes available

I don`t think you are very far away with your assumption as this procedure has regularly been carried out by Chester depot as a way of keeping certain units nearby and often on OAB diagrams - OAB Out and Back.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

I doubt that one coupler is (let alone both couplers are) non-functioning on a 2025 unit.

I wouldn`t be so sure ;)

Couplers have regularly been an issue for a number of reasons with various rework campaigns, not as troublesome as toilets though.
 
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tfw756rider

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Couplers have regularly been an issue for a number of reasons with various rework campaigns, not as troublesome as toilets though.
I did wonder :p Seems to be a well-hidden problem though - as far as I've seen, they seem to work fine when coupling and uncoupling is done in South Wales.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==

31 upcoming 197 Cambrian schedules:

Thu 16/4/26

Mon 20/4/26

Tue 21/4/26

Wed 22/4/26

Thu 23/4/26

Fri 24/4/26
 
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Bevan Price

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I am thinking the ETCS 197s (ie 197003, 197022-041) won't even be able to interwork with other 197s on Holyhead/Chester-Birmingham if those are ever more than just 2car ?.
ETCS 197s seem to run quite happily with 3 coach 197.1s, as do non-ETCS 197.0s, so why shuld there be a problem with mixing the two types of 197.0s ??
 

Peter Sarf

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ETCS 197s seem to run quite happily with 3 coach 197.1s, as do non-ETCS 197.0s, so why shuld there be a problem with mixing the two types of 197.0s ??
Answer
Differenr Software under testing.
As in some of the ETCS 197s have a different software version. Looks like 197024(maybe) 197029, 197030 & 197039 38 are incompatible with all other 197s. They are the ones currently used on Cambrian testing West of Machynlleth.

From other postings it does appear it may be a non-issue if the same software version is rolled out to all 197s eventually.

In the meantime (while 158s still rule Cambrian) it does mean the above three/four 197s are unlikely to stray onto other services on TfW. So hard to see them outside Cambrian routes. Other ETCS 197s have been used extensively on other TfW services but I feel the three/four mentioned above will not be so likely to inter-work. Granted the ETCS equipment was I believe disabled (more than just switched off) on ETCS 197s that are still interworking.

Eventually of course all the ETCS 197s will be concentrated on Cambrian where they are meant to be. Plus trips to Chester for the depot there I suppose.

EDIT 15:19
corrected 197038 to 197039
 
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Caaardiff

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Answer

As in some of the ETCS 197s have a different software version. Looks like 197024(maybe) 197029, 197030 & 197038 are incompatible with all other 197s. They are the ones currently used on Cambrian testing West of Machynlleth.

From other postings it does appear it may be a non-issue if the same software version is rolled out to all 197s eventually.

In the meantime (while 158s still rule Cambrian) it does mean the above three/four 197s are unlikely to stray onto other services on TfW. So hard to see them outside Cambrian routes. Other ETCS 197s have been used extensively on other TfW services but I feel the three/four mentioned above will not be so likely to inter-work. Granted the ETCS equipment was I believe disabled (more than just switched off) on ETCS 197s that are still interworking.

Eventually of course all the ETCS 197s will be concentrated on Cambrian where they are meant to be. Plus trips to Chester for the depot there I suppose.
There's enough ETCS 197s floating about to cover other work until the Cambrian switch. Software updates are relatively easy to do and can be switched at any time.
 

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