Cambrian problems

[the-gog]

Not a good day for the railway today. First off, 97303 was supposed to be visiting TnT with 304 on the 1Q13 Derby RTC to Aberystwyth & Mach, except 303's ERTMS played up again at Shrewsbury, so it had to be ripped off. 302 was started up on Coleham, but wasn't attached, and was eventually shut down. 303 toddled off back to Derby l/e so 304 took the train up on its own. It left Salop some 90 min late:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/welsh_snapper/5852508645/in/photostream

Just after it passed me it slammed on the anchors and came to a stop just where the curve enters the Forden straight. It sat there for a while before setting off at a slow speed. Not that it would've made much impact on the timetable, as things went from bad to worse. Some pole of some sort caught fire somewhere between Newtown and Talerddig I think, thus stuffing up pretty much everything from roughly mid-day onwards. The 1G35 was very late leaving Mach and finally got into Salop some 75 late and was terminated there. Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones was on board and wasn't impressed that she missed her Cardiff connection. She's now calling for the hourly service to be introduced on the Cambrian. The 1Q13 is now about 180min late on is schedule, apparently

On related ERTMS news, we've heard that some Cambrian drivers are applying for transfer away from the Cambrian as they're fed up of the delays caused by ERTMS.

Richard

 

[Hydro]

There was issues with 2Q88 last week too, one of the 97's had to be run round and the train double headed. Whether this was an ERTMS issue or traction fault I don't know.

 

[the-gog]

Where was this? It would only be an ERTMS issue of it was at Sutton Bridge Junction or points west thereof.

 

[Hydro]

I honestly don't know, it was passing office chat.

 

[Gareth Marston]

I was told there were 5 out of action 158's on Machynlleth depot this morning - all train faults nothing to do with ERTMS. Though there is a persistent rumour that train faults are getting reported as ertms related.

 

[merlodlliw]

Not a good day for the railway today. First off, 97303 was supposed to be visiting TnT with 304 on the 1Q13 Derby RTC to Aberystwyth & Mach, except 303's ERTMS played up again at Shrewsbury, so it had to be ripped off. 302 was started up on Coleham, but wasn't attached, and was eventually shut down. 303 toddled off back to Derby l/e so 304 took the train up on its own. It left Salop some 90 min late:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/welsh_snapper/5852508645/in/photostream

Just after it passed me it slammed on the anchors and came to a stop just where the curve enters the Forden straight. It sat there for a while before setting off at a slow speed. Not that it would've made much impact on the timetable, as things went from bad to worse. Some pole of some sort caught fire somewhere between Newtown and Talerddig I think, thus stuffing up pretty much everything from roughly mid-day onwards. The 1G35 was very late leaving Mach and finally got into Salop some 75 late and was terminated there. Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones was on board and wasn't impressed that she missed her Cardiff connection. She's now calling for the hourly service to be introduced on the Cambrian. The 1Q13 is now about 180min late on is schedule, apparently

On related ERTMS news, we've heard that some Cambrian drivers are applying for transfer away from the Cambrian as they're fed up of the delays caused by ERTMS.

Richard

11. Elin Jones: What are the Welsh Government’s priorities for the Countryside. OAQ(4)0029(FM)

Elin Jones: In that manifesto, there is no reference to specific railways in rural Wales. In the absence of that, I have a question: do you intend to keep to the commitment made by the former Minister for transport to fund an hourly service on the line between Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury during this financial year?

The First Minister: We are considering that and in addition the additional train services from Fishguard mid September will start in mid September. We are consulting on the timetable at the moment. We want to see the track between Gowerton and Loughor doubled in 2013.

for info

also sent you a PM Gog, too confidential to put up

 

[PR1Berske]

Oh great, me and a mate are supposed to be using this line on a holiday in two weeks time :cry::cry:

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Oh great, me and a mate are supposed to be using this line on a holiday in two weeks time :cry::cry:

Just from casually waiting for a couple of trains to photograph last month (158 near Dovey Jct. and 158 across Barmouth Bridge), they were both running at least 20 minutes late.

...97303 was supposed to be visiting TnT with 304 on the 1Q13 Derby RTC to Aberystwyth & Mach

Slightly off topic, but what is the best source for this information?

 

[PR1Berske]

Just from casually waiting for a couple of trains to photograph last month (158 near Dovey Jct. and 158 across Barmouth Bridge), they were both running at least 20 minutes late.



Slightly off topic, but what is the best source for this information?

Getting there is Preston to Wolverhampton, then Wolves to Mach, then Mach to Porthmadog. As long as only the third of these three elements is late, I'm a happy man :P

 

[quarella]

The 1G35 was very late leaving Mach and finally got into Salop some 75 late and was terminated there. Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones was on board and wasn't impressed that she missed her Cardiff connection. She's now calling for the hourly service to be introduced on the Cambrian.

Surely she would have still missed her Cardiff connection.