Class 230 units training/introduction on the Borderlands line: updates

[D821]

Thanks Dstock7080 - I wasn't aware of that.

With introduction into service postponed again, what are the current locations of 230006 to 230010?

Many thanks

230010 is outside Birkenhead North as is 07, I think.

 

[wobman]

230010 is outside Birkenhead North as is 07, I think.

There should be 4 at Birkenhead North depot, 2 outside and 2 in the shed then 1 unit at crewe. All 5 can't fit at Birkenhead North at the same time apparently

 

[Zontar]

230010 is outside Birkenhead North as is 07, I think.

Which is the one that recently caught fire? Was it the same one that caught fire in wrexham?

 

[wobman]

One solution that could save the 230's either sell them to the Americans or take put the gen sets and put 3rd rail shoes back.
They can recharge at Bidston station or go into the sidings, then they will have enough charge to do 1 run.

 

[Wyrleybart]

230011 is extant and with 002 in Pennsylvania.

Thanks
Whilst I had seen that Vivarail were planning to convert another set of D78s into another battery unit for Pennsylvania, i wasn't expecting it to have 230 series numbers.

Thanks again

 

[D821]

Which is the one that recently caught fire? Was it the same one that caught fire in wrexham?

It was 07, I couldn't see any burn marks on it this morning, though!

It has just struck me how large and close to the outside of the unit the exhausts are, though. They have "hot, do not touch", or something similar on them but someone is bound to ignore that at some point. It's also not written in Welsh, I saw.

 

[Wyrleybart]

It was 07, I couldn't see any burn marks on it this morning, though!

It has just struck me how large and close to the outside of the unit the exhausts are, though. They have "hot, do not touch", or something similar on them but someone is bound to ignore that at some point. It's also not written in Welsh, I saw.

That is because the Welsh speakers are more savvy, and know not to touch hot exhausts

 

[Zontar]

It was 07, I couldn't see any burn marks on it this morning, though!

It has just struck me how large and close to the outside of the unit the exhausts are, though. They have "hot, do not touch", or something similar on them but someone is bound to ignore that at some point. It's also not written in Welsh, I saw.

I had a nose round the outside ofone when it was parked up in the bay platform at wrexham last year. The exhaust is also right next to the radiator!!

 

[Roger B]

There should be 4 at Birkenhead North depot, 2 outside and 2 in the shed then 1 unit at crewe. All 5 can't fit at Birkenhead North at the same time apparently

230010 is outside Birkenhead North as is 07, I think.

Many thanks D821 and Wobman,

I'll get myself over there and see what I can see ....

 

[Ribbleman]

Is there anything new to substantiate the rumour that in the continued absence of Class 230 units, TfW are to borrow 2 x Class 150 from Northern? I find this hard to believe given Northern’s own stock shortage due to continuing Class 769 failures and the delayed transfer of more Class 156 from East Midland.

 

[wobman]

Is there anything new to substantiate the rumour that in the continued absence of Class 230 units, TfW are to borrow 2 x Class 150 from Northern? I find this hard to believe given Northern’s own stock shortage due to continuing Class 769 failures and the delayed transfer of more Class 156 from East Midland.

That's the rumour coming from people inside TFW, a temporary hire of 2x150s from Northern until August. So the tfw 2x150s can strengthen the valleys and the northen 2x150s go on the Wrexham-Bidston’s due to the 230's being grounded again.

 

[Ribbleman]

That's the rumour coming from people inside TFW, a temporary hire of 2x150s from Northern until August. So the tfw 2x150s can strengthen the valleys and the northen 2x150s go on the Wrexham-Bidston’s due to the 230's being grounded again.

Northern have today confirmed that 2 x 150/2 units will be taken from the Neville Hill allocation and loaned to TfW for Bidston-Wrexham services as substitutes for the still unavailable Class 230s. This is said to be possible as a result of service reductions east of the Pennines.

 

[craigybagel]

Northern have today confirmed that 2 x 150/2 units will be taken from the Neville Hill allocation and loaned to TfW for Bidston-Wrexham services as substitutes for the still unavailable Class 230s. This is said to be possible as a result of service reductions east of the Pennines.

Are they specifically just for Bidston or are they going to be in a pool with the other TfW 150s? It'll be a nightmare for the guards not having intermediate door panels on that route....

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Imagine if one turns up for Manchester Milford or Holyhead Cardiff/Llaneli, as the TfW 150s often do!

 

[D821]

What happened to the units serving the line before the 230s arrived?

 

[wobman]

What happened to the units serving the line before the 230s arrived?

They are both allocated to the valleys route for strengthening

 

[wobman]

Are they specifically just for Bidston or are they going to be in a pool with the other TfW 150s? It'll be a nightmare for the guards not having intermediate door panels on that route....

I've heard they are just specifically for the Bidstons, they will be attached to other northern units at Chester for returning to the depot for maintainance etc
The lack of the intermediate door controls was a concern last time ATW had Northern 150s, it's especially problematic on the Wrexham-Bidston’s

 

[Ribbleman]

Are they specifically just for Bidston or are they going to be in a pool with the other TfW 150s? It'll be a nightmare for the guards not having intermediate door panels on that route.

Sorry, I’ve no more information than in my previous posting. That came from Northern. Perhaps someone from TfW could enlarge?

 

[Mollman]

What happened to the units serving the line before the 230s arrived?

Cover here:

That's the rumour coming from people inside TFW, a temporary hire of 2x150s from Northern until August. So the tfw 2x150s can strengthen the valleys and the northen 2x150s go on the Wrexham-Bidston’s due to the 230's being grounded again.

 

[childwallblues]

Are they specifically just for Bidston or are they going to be in a pool with the other TfW 150s? It'll be a nightmare for the guards not having intermediate door panels on that route....

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2022 ==

There is one in each carriage surely?

 

[craigybagel]

I've heard they are just specifically for the Bidstons, they will be attached to other northern units at Chester for returning to the depot for maintainance etc
The lack of the intermediate door controls was a concern last time ATW had Northern 150s, it's especially problematic on the Wrexham-Bidston’s

Thanks, that seems pretty logical

There is one in each carriage surely?

TfW's own units have 2 per side per carriage - one in the vestibule next to the cab, and one on the passenger doors at the other end of the car. On a service with frequent stops like Bidston, it makes a difference

 

[DavidGrain]

I know that the 230s are to a TfW spec but there was a problem on the Marston Line 230s that the guard told me about in that there were no door control units on the disabled access door so the guard had to walk between the doors when dealing with wheelchairs. I don't know if that has been resolved.

 

[tomm]

Local news report with photo: https://www.wrexham.com/news/delays...-new-hybrid-230-class-breaks-down-206393.html

Seems to have been in the loop at Croes Newydd.

Was it 230010 what caught fire.

 

[Zontar]

Class 197s out on the bidston line today. Not seen a 230 for weeks. Is this a hint of the future?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Class 197s out on the bidston line today. Not seen a 230 for weeks. Is this a hint of the future?

I don’t necessarily think this constitutes a 230 demise; it makes sense to clear 197s for the route for flexibility reasons - in case of a shortage of 230s in future, or indeed for in the long term when the 230s become too old to run reliably. Although, having said that, they don’t seem to be wonderfully reliable now.

 

[Zontar]

I don’t necessarily think this constitutes a 230 demise; it makes sense to clear 197s for the route for flexibility reasons - in case of a shortage of 230s in future, or indeed for in the long term when the 230s become too old to run reliably. Although, having said that, they don’t seem to be wonderfully reliable now.

Of course. But as the 230s are already 3 years late, and have never run reliably, you can see where this is going.

The 150s on order from northern haven't appeared yet, but after craven arms taking out 2 units, they may be needed asap.

 

[DavidGrain]

I think it was probably more a case of what stock was available and the crews trained on them.

 

[Caaardiff]

Class 197s out on the bidston line today. Not seen a 230 for weeks. Is this a hint of the future?

No doubt that's what will happen. The 230 program has been worse than the 769 program and TfW are looking to get shot of them ASAP as the class 231s come into service which were intended for other routes.
I can see 197s slowly coming into service on Blaenau and Bidston first now and hopefully TfW will give up on he vanity project of the 230s.

 

[wobman]

No doubt that's what will happen. The 230 program has been worse than the 769 program and TfW are looking to get shot of them ASAP as the class 231s come into service which were intended for other routes.
I can see 197s slowly coming into service on Blaenau and Bidston first now and hopefully TfW will give up on he vanity project of the 230s.

I've heard the 230's have to run in service and fail in service to enable tfw to get rid of them, it's all about contractual commitments apparently.
There is 4 sitting around at Birkenhead North depot and 1 at crewe lnwr depot, all still grounded and costing tfw money.

The fact being 230's are over 3 years and counting late, plus they have cost TFW a huge amount of money. Then there's the impact on other services we're the displaced 150s from the Bidstons we're intended to be utilised.

I hope the 197s arrive later this year and help strengthen tfws services, as tfw struggle for units as it is that's caused by the 5 x 230's not being in service.

 

[JetStream]

Class 197s out on the bidston line today. Not seen a 230 for weeks. Is this a hint of the future?

Probably, there's some stop boards on the Borderlands line that have 197 rather than 230 on them.

My gut is 150s will remain in place until 197s take over, besides the potential for a brief period of 230s to prove they're not up to it.