Keolis/Amey to take over Wales and Borders

[Darandio]

I wonder what the NR operator code will be?
AW won't do (though they have been using GR on the ECML since GNER disappeared).

LM still remains. There is every chance it will just stay as it is.

 

[Llanigraham]

I wonder what the NR operator code will be?
AW won't do (though they have been using GR on the ECML since GNER disappeared).

AW = All Wales!

 

[pdeaves]

AW won't do (though they have been using GR on the ECML since GNER disappeared).

Why won't it do? After all, as you say, other old codes hang around for a while. As well as LM mentioned by Darandio, LE is still used for Greater Anglia. Northern, Scotrail and South Western use the same codes as their predecessors. If you are bothered by the letters matching Arriva Trains Wales, think of it instead as All Wales!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Why won't it do? After all, as you say, other old codes hang around for a while. As well as LM mentioned by Darandio, LE is still used for Greater Anglia. Northern, Scotrail and South Western use the same codes as their predecessors. If you are bothered by the letters matching Arriva Trains Wales, think of it instead as All Wales!

We're heading a bit towards the 2-letter airline codes which don't bear any resemblence to the name of the airline. For instance while easyJet likes to use the 3 character code EZY their 2 character code is U2 - is Stelios perhaps a fan? And Ryanair is FR...surely the initials of a rude phrase people might use towards them when charged more fees

 

[507021]

Apologies if this has been mentioned already, is there any confirmation of class numbers for the new trains yet?

 

[sw1ller]

230......... oh wait, you said new.

 

[craigybagel]

Apologies if this has been mentioned already, is there any confirmation of class numbers for the new trains yet?

Logic would suggest 197 for the CAFs and 756 for the Stadlers (one number higher then the similar units on order for WMT and Greater Anglia respectively) - although they might go down a different route especially for the diesel only Stadlers.

 

[Rhydgaled]

The winter concessionary schemes for bus pass holders on the Heart of Wales,Cambrian Coast, Conway Valley and Wrexham and Bidston have been confirmed.

Aren't some of those year-round schemes? I know HOWL is winter-only, but I thought some lines were free for pass holders even in summer.

I wonder what the NR operator code will be?
AW won't do (though they have been using GR on the ECML since GNER disappeared).

What was the code for the previous (National Express?) 'Wales & Borders Trains' franchise? Could that be brought back?

 

[pdeaves]

What was the code for the previous (National Express?) 'Wales & Borders Trains' franchise? Could that be brought back?

It was WB.

 

[Llanigraham]

Aren't some of those year-round schemes? I know HOWL is winter-only, but I thought some lines were free for pass holders even in summer.

Certainly was winter only for the last 2 years.

 

[PR1Berske]

It was WB.

So it will likely be WB. Very unlikely to be the dual language WBCG

 

[craigybagel]

I would expect TW myself - or possibly even TC to please the Welsh speakers

 

[mmh]

Aren't some of those year-round schemes? I know HOWL is winter-only, but I thought some lines were free for pass holders even in summer.

It's year round for the Conwy Valley line. And everyone with a bus pass uses the bus, not the train I'm afraid.

What was the code for the previous (National Express?) 'Wales & Borders Trains' franchise? Could that be brought back?

Does it matter?

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

- or possibly even TC to please the Welsh speakers

Top Cat...??!!!

 

[Gareth Marston]

Aren't some of those year-round schemes? I know HOWL is winter-only, but I thought some lines were free for pass holders even in summer.

These localized bespoke schemes can be a real pain as people don't understand them or are passed misinformation on them by other members of the public. Were not in any of these scheme areas but people are forever coming in and asking as "they've been told" that they can travel for free on the train. Folk come in expecting to travel to Cardiff from Newtown for nothing because their over 60.

 

[Dai Corner]

These localized bespoke schemes can be a real pain as people don't understand them or are passed misinformation on them by other members of the public. Were not in any of these scheme areas but people are forever coming in and asking as "they've been told" that they can travel for free on the train. Folk come in expecting to travel to Cardiff from Newtown for nothing because their over 60.

They can, but on the bus not the train!

 

[craigybagel]

Top Cat...??!!!

Trafnidiaeth Cymru

 

[krus_aragon]

Top Cat...??!!!

Probably Trafnidiaeth Cymru. Although it could also be named after the MP for Monmouth...

 

[JetStream]

On a 158 yesterday, I saw Trafnidiaeth Cymru/Transport for Wales on the digital display.

 

[rich.davies]

Not sure if this has been posted anywhere before, but the website for the operator is live at tfwrail.wales (or tfwrail.wales/subscribe-cy.html in Welsh) and there are also a Facebook and a Twitter account with those names.

Would it not make sense to just rename arriva's current Twitter and Facebook accounts when the new franchise takes over.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

Would it not make sense to just rename arriva's current Twitter and Facebook accounts when the new franchise takes over.

They might do that, but I guess they wanted to secure the name before anyone else registers it. I think the same happened when South Western Railway took over from South West Trains. There was a private South Western Railway account before the change-over and the names were swapped

 

[ooo]

Does it matter?

Indeed. Is there actually anywhere the general public will normally come across the codes?

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Indeed. Is there actually anywhere the general public will normally come across the codes?

In the NR and local timetables.

 

[Cardiff123]

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-trains-like-ford-escort-15219703

We're not getting our excuses in early, but................

Welsh trains 'like Ford Escort with 300,000 miles on the clock and broken clutch' says country's transport boss.
“I think people need to be aware that we’ve bought a Ford Escort with 300,000 miles on the clock for months and the clutch is on the way out,” said TfW chief executive James Price.

“We’re taking over at the most difficult time of the year. I’m not trying to get my excuses in first. We’re looking to provide a really high quality service. We’re doing everything we can to make it better. I just want people to be aware of the challenges we face.

“Arriva haven’t been commercially incentivised to leave the fleet in the best possible state that it normally would be in. That’s because they’re not running it any more this year.”

 

[CardiffKid]

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/welsh-trains-like-ford-escort-15219703

We're not getting our excuses in early, but................

If only the Welsh Government had anticipated this problem - you know the problem people have been predicting for years and years now.

 

[CardiffKid]

Just saw a Class 143 go past with a big black sticker/laminate covering almost the whole side of the train saying something like: “TFW - The Start of a New...”

 

[krus_aragon]

Just saw a Class 143 go past with a big black sticker/laminate covering almost the whole side of the train saying something like: “TFW - The Start of a New...”

...el?
...sflash?
...t sanctuary?

I hope they put the rest of the laminate on soon.

 

[CardiffKid]

The train was moving, as was the one I was on so I couldn’t see it full.

 

[Sir_Sheep]

...t sanctuary

 

[Dai Corner]

I've just received this email from ATW

Important Customer Contact Information
Dear

As a recent customer/contact of Arriva Trains Wales, we have some exciting news for you and don't want you to miss out on important information.

From 14th October 2018, rail services throughout Wales and Borders will be operated by Keolis Amey Operations / Gweithrediadau Keolis Amey Limited (operating as Transport for Wales Rail Services).

As a valued Arriva Trains Wales customer, we would like to give you the opportunity to make sure you are able to learn about and benefit from the improvements to your future local train services.

So, to stay up to date with emails from Transport for Wales Rail Services about exciting special offers, projects and upcoming events, simply click the link below to subscribe. It's really easy and all done in just 3 clicks:


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Can't wait to find out more? Coming down the track very soon are some really exciting changes, including:

• £738m investment to transform the South Wales Valley lines to enable improved journey times and more trains every hour

• £800m investment to ensure that 95% of journeys are on new trains

• 29% more services every weekday

• 61% more services on Sundays

• 600 new jobs

• £194m investment in stations and building of at least five new stations

… and that's not all. These changes will be implemented over the next few years, so make sure you subscribe by clicking here to keep up-to-date with the latest news.

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Yours,
The Arriva Trains Wales team