Is TfW the last TOC to use single car units?

[Purple Train]

Moderator note - split from:

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

Mod Note: Posts #1 - #8 originally in this thread. Especially as the service is usually standing room only as far as Cwmbran in standard class. No, I think the best thing would be too do it the same as it is now with the MKIIIs, with a view to adding a 5th composite car in the future if...

www.railforums.co.uk

TFW certainly operate a very good number of services where 2 coaches is significantly more than adequate.
We will see once all 197’s are in service wether or not they did their sums correctly.

Isn't TfW the only TOC left that regularly operates 1-coach services?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Isn't TfW the only TOC left that regularly operates 1-coach services?

No theres also National Express and Megabus.

(OK I'll get my coat).

But your probably correct, not many one coach units (153s) left for the railways to use elsewhere.

 

[Purple Train]

No theres also National Express and Megabus.

(OK I'll get my coat).

Surely they should be 1-coach plus 1-recovery truck?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Surely they should be 1-coach plus 1-recovery truck?

Nah the passengers just get out and push, not on the railways though.

 

[Lurcheroo]

Isn't TfW the only TOC left that regularly operates 1-coach services?

Yep, and on those services, it’s very nearly even ever half full. Used as single units on HOW and SHR-CRE shuttle.

 

[Purple Train]

Yep, and on those services, it’s very nearly even ever half full. Used as single units on HOW and SHR-CRE shuttle.

Is Coryton still single-coach nowadays?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Is Coryton still single-coach nowadays?

Earlier this year I had 150s but I think a 153 once.

 

[Purple Train]

Earlier this year I had 150s but I think a 153 once.

Interesting. And is it also 150s now on the line through Danescourt?

 

[Peter Sarf]

Interesting. And is it also 150s now on the line through Danescourt?

I don't know as not local. But I was near Birchgrove and travelling there before about June this year. Mainly the Bay now when not in Croydon.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Interesting. And is it also 150s now on the line through Danescourt?

Coryton - Radyr via Danescourt is booked to use three single 153/9s. So is Cardiff Bay, although this is curiously a 150 on the weekend.

 

[Purple Train]

Coryton - Radyr via Danescourt is booked to use three single 153/9s. So is Cardiff Bay, although this is curiously a 150 on the weekend.

Aren't 153/9s the non-PRM units?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Aren't 153/9s the non-PRM units?

Yes. Well, no - they are PRM compliant but in order to get that status they don’t have a toilet anymore. Probably best expanded on elsewhere though as it would be unfortunate if we disrupted the thread

-

A 197/1 is on the last train to Hereford tonight. This and the last from Shrewsbury to Cardiff is usually always a Sprinter. I have never known either to be a CAF before.

 

[Anonymous10]

Aren't 153/9s the non-PRM units?

Yes. However the journey time is relatively short with high frequency in parts.

 

[Dai Corner]

Isn't TfW the only TOC left that regularly operates 1-coach services?

Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town by WMR? Though I think they actually subcontract it out.

 

[AdamWW]

Yep, and on those services, it’s very nearly even ever half full. Used as single units on HOW and SHR-CRE shuttle.

And the Cardiff Bay shuttle and City Line, where they are regularly far more than half full in the rush hour. Though not leaving people behind like they sometimes used to before Covid.

 

[Purple Train]

Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town by WMR? Though I think they actually subcontract it out.

Oh of course! They certainly used to subcontract it out.

 

[Bob Price]

153303 at Coryton photographed from Whitchurch station. They are regulars on the line. I am not sure three car 756's will be needed for this part of the line but welcome out to Penarth.

 

[L401CJF]

Yep, and on those services, it’s very nearly even ever half full. Used as single units on HOW and SHR-CRE shuttle.

The Shrewsbury Crewe shuttle is booked 197 now I believe

 

[Purple Train]

153303 at Coryton photographed from Whitchurch station. They are regulars on the line. I am not sure three car 756's will be needed for this part of the line but welcome out to Penarth.

Goodness, with a three-coach train parked strategically you could almost just walk in at one end at Coryton and out at the other end at Whitchurch!

How long has it been 153s?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The Shrewsbury Crewe shuttle is booked 197 now I believe

150 217 doing the honours today...

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Stourbridge Junction - Stourbridge Town by WMR? Though I think they actually subcontract it out.

Oh of course! They certainly used to subcontract it out.

Indeed - the fantastic Stourbridge Shuttle is contracted out to and run by Pre Metro Operations Ltd. (PMOL)

 

[Bob Price]

Goodness, with a three-coach train parked strategically you could almost just walk in at one end at Coryton and out at the other end at Whitchurch!

How long has it been 153s?

Quite a while now, mainly due to the 150's being needed for the Pontypridd services. You can see Rhiwbina from the other end of the platform. They are all very close together.

 

[Towers]

Coryton - Radyr via Danescourt is booked to use three single 153/9s. So is Cardiff Bay, although this is curiously a 150 on the weekend.

Blimey, 3x153s on the line to Cardiff Bay is a bit of a capacity overkill!!

Sorry; carry on!

 

[aem7ac]

ScotRail have an agreement with ASLEF that prevents single-car 153 operation, don't they?

Additionally, if you counted Locomotive Services Limited as a TOC (which they technically are), they operate a bubble car.

 

[hexagon789]

ScotRail have an agreement with ASLEF that prevents single-car 153 operation, don't they?

The agreement is over the use of the small cab except for shunting operations.

As using only one cab is of course not practical on the mainline, that produces a de facto ban against single car use.

 

[Towers]

The agreement is over the use of the small cab except for shunting operations.

As using only one cab is of course not practical on the mainline, that produces a de facto ban against single car use.

Back in the days of 153s operating at other TOCs it was frequently said that the small cab was actually the more comfortable of the two!

 

[RailWonderer]

Related but why are they retaining 153s on the HOW line? After a one in a generation fleet replacemement this seems like a massive missed opportunity to modernise a line which won't get any attention for years. I'm surprised (and would be upset if I was a rural Welsh traveller) that they aren't being replaced.

 

[renegademaster]

Parry people movers and WMT

 

[Nick Ashwell]

Related but why are they retaining 153s on the HOW line? After a one in a generation fleet replacemement this seems like a massive missed opportunity to modernise a line which won't get any attention for years. I'm surprised (and would be upset if I was a rural Welsh traveller) that they aren't being replaced.

It's cost related and the fact they're losing the 170s originally designated to take over.

I recall reading about doubling up 153s (using the ones without toilets) in the same way as Scotrail plan on using them for cycles but may be wrong?

 

[ASharpe]

A few weeks back I thought I saw a 153 coupled up to a non cab part of another sprinter(?). It was dark and it went past quick but the sight of it jarred. Any ideas what I might have seen and how it came about.