Cambrian today

[Bletchleyite]

I note that the 1606 Birmingham Intl to the Cambrian (which I was potentially going to use today) has two 153s in the formation:

Realtime Trains | 1625 Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli | 08/07/2022

Real-time train running information for 1625 departure from Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli on 08/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This being the case, I'm guessing there would be a set swap at Shrewsbury with the incoming pair of 158s?

Realtime Trains | 1530 Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street | 08/07/2022

Real-time train running information for 1530 departure from Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street on 08/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Maybe the car is the best plan...

 

[Rich McLean]

I note that the 1606 Birmingham Intl to the Cambrian (which I was potentially going to use today) has two 153s in the formation:

Realtime Trains | 1625 Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli | 08/07/2022

Real-time train running information for 1625 departure from Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli on 08/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This being the case, I'm guessing there would be a set swap at Shrewsbury with the incoming pair of 158s?

Realtime Trains | 1530 Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street | 08/07/2022

Real-time train running information for 1530 departure from Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street on 08/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Maybe the car is the best plan...

Set swaps at Shrewsbury on the Coast - Birmingham - North Wales circuit are a regular occurance when short of 158s.

 

[computerSaysNo]

I know this doesn't really help for today; is it possible to take the 153s over the Cambrian as long as a 158 is leading for both the there and the back?
Although I don't know the line so I don't know if it's possible to do the shuffle or otherwise turn the consist at the western end.

 

[DelW]

I note that the 1606 Birmingham Intl to the Cambrian (which I was potentially going to use today) has two 153s in the formation:

Realtime Trains | 1625 Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli | 08/07/2022

Real-time train running information for 1625 departure from Birmingham New Street to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli on 08/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This being the case, I'm guessing there would be a set swap at Shrewsbury with the incoming pair of 158s?

Realtime Trains | 1530 Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street | 08/07/2022

Real-time train running information for 1530 departure from Aberystwyth and Pwllheli to Birmingham New Street on 08/07/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Maybe the car is the best plan...

Is it really a problem to move from one train to the other at Shrewsbury? They both reverse there, and there's 10 minutes or so to swap trains.

I know this doesn't really help for today; is it possible to take the 153s over the Cambrian as long as a 158 is leading for both the there and the back?
Although I don't know the line so I don't know if it's possible to do the shuffle or otherwise turn the consist at the western end.

Except that it divides at Mach, one unit going to Aberystwyth and the other to Pwllheli.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is it really a problem to move from one train to the other at Shrewsbury? They both reverse there, and there's 10 minutes or so to swap trains.

If, as is likely, it is very busy, yes. Too much risk of a bad seat or even none.

 

[computerSaysNo]

Except that it divides at Mach, one unit going to Aberystwyth and the other to Pwllheli.

Ah, yes I suppose that might be a small issue!

 

[Watershed]

I know this doesn't really help for today; is it possible to take the 153s over the Cambrian as long as a 158 is leading for both the there and the back?
Although I don't know the line so I don't know if it's possible to do the shuffle or otherwise turn the consist at the western end.

In theory yes, in practice no because Machynlleth and Pwllheli traincrew don't sign 153s.

 

[Shrop]

If, as is likely, it is very busy, yes. Too much risk of a bad seat or even none.

Perfect example of our Great British view of travel. Most drivers complain about fuel prices, habits of other drivers, parking costs, cost of servicing, traffic queues, congestion, you name it. But all of these things are so easily just accepted rather than just risk not being able to get a half decent seat on a train at a (likely) far, far lower overall cost.
Oh, the days when we had a railway that just added more coaches or even a relief train to address overcrowding. What an absolutely crazy and wasteful world that must have been!

 

[Jez]

There was a 158 on one of the Pembroke Dock diagrams yesterday. Would make more sense to use this on the Cambrian to Birmingham services to avoid a set swap at Shrewsbury and use the 153 on Pembroke Dock.

 

[PedroHav]

In a similar vein ... Instead of increasing the number of carriages increase the number of trains.
With fuel prices the way they are more people are looking for public transport but with a 2 hourly train service people are put off. Visiting Barmouth or Porthmadog becomes a bit of a nightmare, especially in the evening. And if a train is cancelled it's a 4 hour wait.
Maybe an hourly service isn't possible with passing place difficulties but an increase in services, which I hear the locals have been wishing for so many years, would be a better solution than more carriages and would increase passenger numbers.

 

[Llanigraham]

In a similar vein ... Instead of increasing the number of carriages increase the number of trains.
With fuel prices the way they are more people are looking for public transport but with a 2 hourly train service people are put off. Visiting Barmouth or Porthmadog becomes a bit of a nightmare, especially in the evening. And if a train is cancelled it's a 4 hour wait.
Maybe an hourly service isn't possible with passing place difficulties but an increase in services, which I hear the locals have been wishing for so many years, would be a better solution than more carriages and would increase passenger numbers.

An hourly service is possible, and was being run for most of the day prior to Covid. The problem at the moment is that there are too many 158 units under repair to be able to provide a full service.