TfW 175 shortages

[Anonymous10]

I notice some going missing again from the Marches today. Does anyone know what has happened to reduce the booked allocations versus what RTT was showing last night?

Damage to the ohle between cardiff and Newport I believe.

 

[Dai Corner]

I notice some going missing again from the Marches today. Does anyone know what has happened to reduce the booked allocations versus what RTT was showing last night?

Damage to the ohle between cardiff and Newport I believe.

Relief lines still closed between Ebbw Jn and Rumney Bridge Jn but Mains are open. Holyheads not operating south of Shrewsbury.

Depending on which Journeycheck you read, due to a lineside fire, OHLE damage or signalling fault. Presumably the first caused the other two.

 

[MP393]

I notice some going missing again from the Marches today. Does anyone know what has happened to reduce the booked allocations versus what RTT was showing last night?

Signalling issues at in the Ebbw Jn area near Newport due to a lineside fire has affected the allocations, the Cardiff - North Wales services aren’t running, only the Manchester’s so there are a few swaps and changes.

 

[Topological]

Thank you all for your replies.

Still not 100% sure that this should have impacted trains starting West of Cardiff this morning, but can definitely understand it makes it difficult with anything passing through the affected area.

Those units that do run through from Cardiff to Newport will presumably be busy, so it is good to see GWR have trains running through.

 

[Anonymous10]

Relief lines still closed between Ebbw Jn and Rumney Bridge Jn but Mains are open. Holyheads not operating south of Shrewsbury.

Depending on which Journeycheck you read, due to a lineside fire, OHLE damage or signalling fault. Presumably the first caused the other two.

Tfw journey check I use

 

[Dai Corner]

Tfw journey check I use

Scroll down to the Other Train Operators and read what CrossCountry and Great Western say.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Thank you all for your replies.

Still not 100% sure that this should have impacted trains starting West of Cardiff this morning, but can definitely understand it makes it difficult with anything passing through the affected area.

Those units that do run through from Cardiff to Newport will presumably be busy, so it is good to see GWR have trains running through.

Pembrey and Burry signal box was closed for about an hour this morning due to the signaller breaking down on way to work

 

[redrobbo2]

Re: 175113 at Llandovery on Saturday - a complete shambles!

This was only the second time - to my knowledge - that a 175 had worked Down from Shrewsbury. 175003 did 2V06 on 17 March and had precisely the same problem at Llandovery. 175009 had worked 2M04 from Carmarthen on Saturday morning - the first time a 175 has worked an Up service - and without any difficulties being pretty much on time throughout.

Firstly, the Sectional Appendix covering the Central Wales line - unless it has been changed recently - doesn't allow 175s (and many other types of DMU) on the line because, amongst other issues, the Down platform at Llandovery might scratch the paintwork. The signaller at Pantyffynnon obviously knew this and set the points at the northern end so 175113 was diverted into the Up platform. However, try as they might on both sides of the crossing, the TfW crew couldn't get the pull switch on the down side to work and so the barriers wouldn't come down. [Probably because the track circuit next to the switch and the switch are linked, and as the unit was on the other line...]

After conversations with the signaller, Network Rail was called out and operated the switch manually (the TfW crew not having a key to that particular locked box) to bring the barriers down and 175113 moved forward to where it just fitted on the Up platform. More trouble ensued as the crew seemed to have difficulties in obtaining permission to enter the Llandovery - Llandeilo section. Eventually 175113 departed some 79 minutes late but spent another 69 minutes in Llandeilo and eventually reached Carmarthen some 2h42 late.

Problems didn't end with 175113: 153361 on 2M10 collapsed in a heap at Llandovery dumping its few passengers for a long wait or expensive taxi (fairly normal on the Heart of Wales) and ran back ECS as 5V10 to Carmarthen, thus leaving southbound passengers at Llanwrtyd with the same predicament as 150240 was turned back there.

But for those of us who have the misfortune to live by the Heart of Wales line such a shambles is a day-to-day occurrence, and no trains but buses again this coming week. There have only been three days since November last year when all the trains at Llandovery have run their timetabled course and been on time! Locals don't use the trains and visitors are currently advised to keep well clear!

 

[Jez]

I notice some going missing again from the Marches today. Does anyone know what has happened to reduce the booked allocations versus what RTT was showing last night?

Maybe a result of the engineering works over the weekend between Llanelli and Swansea has put some sets out of place? What started in Carmarthen this morning would have been there since Friday evening?

 

[voyagerdude220]

Re: 175113 at Llandovery on Saturday - a complete shambles!

Many thanks for the interesting information.

Maybe TFW would be best to avoid sending 175s along the HOW line, unless they really had to?

 

[craigybagel]

Maybe TFW would be best to avoid sending 175s along the HOW line, unless they really had to?

They already do. If a 175 goes down there, you can bet there's a good reason for it.

 

[Jez]

I didnt realise there was an issue with 175s being used on the HOWL (unlike the 158s)..I just assumed they were rarely used as it was a waste or resources using them on such a slow rural line. Plus most HOWL services are single 153s so wouldn't need a 2 or 3 car 175.

 

[Topological]

Maybe a result of the engineering works over the weekend between Llanelli and Swansea has put some sets out of place? What started in Carmarthen this morning would have been there since Friday evening?

That was my thinking, but of course they would have known what was there (or not) when uploading the diagrams yesterday. In the end it seems the explanation was a late opening for the signal box at Kidwelly and associated needs for other units to step in.

I did just see a 175/1 on the delayed 1750. As i'm on a flexible ticket I took the GWR.

Felt for the people stood at Llansamlet and Skewen would would have been waiting a long time for that 175 to turn up.

 

[33017]

Re: 175113 at Llandovery on Saturday - a complete shambles!

This was only the second time - to my knowledge - that a 175 had worked Down from Shrewsbury. 175003 did 2V06 on 17 March and had precisely the same problem at Llandovery. 175009 had worked 2M04 from Carmarthen on Saturday morning - the first time a 175 has worked an Up service - and without any difficulties being pretty much on time throughout.

Firstly, the Sectional Appendix covering the Central Wales line - unless it has been changed recently - doesn't allow 175s (and many other types of DMU) on the line because, amongst other issues, the Down platform at Llandovery might scratch the paintwork. The signaller at Pantyffynnon obviously knew this and set the points at the northern end so 175113 was diverted into the Up platform. However, try as they might on both sides of the crossing, the TfW crew couldn't get the pull switch on the down side to work and so the barriers wouldn't come down. [Probably because the track circuit next to the switch and the switch are linked, and as the unit was on the other line...]

After conversations with the signaller, Network Rail was called out and operated the switch manually (the TfW crew not having a key to that particular locked box) to bring the barriers down and 175113 moved forward to where it just fitted on the Up platform. More trouble ensued as the crew seemed to have difficulties in obtaining permission to enter the Llandovery - Llandeilo section. Eventually 175113 departed some 79 minutes late but spent another 69 minutes in Llandeilo and eventually reached Carmarthen some 2h42 late.

Problems didn't end with 175113: 153361 on 2M10 collapsed in a heap at Llandovery dumping its few passengers for a long wait or expensive taxi (fairly normal on the Heart of Wales) and ran back ECS as 5V10 to Carmarthen, thus leaving southbound passengers at Llanwrtyd with the same predicament as 150240 was turned back there.

But for those of us who have the misfortune to live by the Heart of Wales line such a shambles is a day-to-day occurrence, and no trains but buses again this coming week. There have only been three days since November last year when all the trains at Llandovery have run their timetabled course and been on time! Locals don't use the trains and visitors are currently advised to keep well clear!

175s have been cleared through the down platform in Llandovery since 2021.

Several 175s have worked the line previously including one day about 10 years ago (when Loughor Viaduct was being replaced) when two crossed at Llanwrtyd.

 

[Topological]

Realtime Trains | 1V42 1230 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central | 17/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 1V42 1230 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central on 17/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If that was true it would be funny, single 153 on the 12:30 and 20:30 from Manchester

 

[chiltern trev]

I know the maintenance is contracted out but the contracting party still need to have proper oversight of the contractor such that appropriate levels of safety and availability are provided. The ORR seem to think TfW have a case to answer as they have issued them with an improvement notice.

I agree.

There are 2 sides to every contract:
(1) the party executing the work and
(2) the party who wishes the work to be done - who as stated above needs to properly monitor and check the work is being done to the requirements.

 

[MP393]

Realtime Trains | 1V42 1230 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central | 17/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 1V42 1230 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central on 17/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If that was true it would be funny, single 153 on the 12:30 and 20:30 from Manchester

It’s now 175109, being swapped from the solo 153 on 1V31 Crewe - Cardiff, at Shrewsbury.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Realtime Trains | 1V42 1230 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central | 17/05/2023

Real-time train running information for 1V42 1230 departure from Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central on 17/05/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If that was true it would be funny, single 153 on the 12:30 and 20:30 from Manchester

Funny all the while you're not the one who has to take it.

 

[Techniquest]

175113 was a pleasureable journey on the 0856 from Hereford this morning, took that to Shrewsbury and no issues endured No idea what happened to 175112 on the 0830 from Piccadilly, that was rather late!

 

[voyagerdude220]

175113 was a pleasureable journey on the 0856 from Hereford this morning, took that to Shrewsbury and no issues endured No idea what happened to 175112 on the 0830 from Piccadilly, that was rather late!

Delay on Trust on the 08:30 attributed to "Cab Safety." So presumably some sort of train fault.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

175113 was a pleasureable journey on the 0856 from Hereford this morning, took that to Shrewsbury and no issues endured No idea what happened to 175112 on the 0830 from Piccadilly, that was rather late!

Fire alarms went off and there was a 'smell' but unsure on what actually happened as it kept carrying on.

 

[Andrew*Debbie]

Edit - there are a couple of 175s on Cardiff-Holyhead services too . Unsure if any others in North Wales, looked to be all 197s from a quick look at RTT.

175009 this morning on 1V94 the 0805 Hollyhead to Cardiff service.
I cycled to work on Tuesday, but Real Time Trains say 197007 operated 1V94 but only as far as Chester. I spotted 197007 at Bangor heading towards Cardiff (1V98) around 17:00 filling in for what is nominally a Mark 4+Class 67.

Monday we had 150231. It didn't reach Cardiff but instead terminated at Shrewsbury. TfW and Real Time trains both say this was due to a fire. There was a fault with overhead wires somewhere just beyond Shrewsbury, so perhaps the "fire" wasn't on 150231. < shrug >

 

[Topological]

Fire was at Newport, threw everything into a mess.

I travelled through on Monday evening and there is definitely some damage to electrical equipment around west of Newport. Was on the fast line side where I saw a cabinet that looked like it had burned out. Close to the transformers there. Whether that is the fire being talked about I do not know though.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Fire was at Newport, threw everything into a mess.

I travelled through on Monday evening and there is definitely some damage to electrical equipment around west of Newport. Was on the fast line side where I saw a cabinet that looked like it had burned out. Close to the transformers there. Whether that is the fire being talked about I do not know though.

It would be yes.

 

[Dai Corner]

Fire was at Newport, threw everything into a mess.

I travelled through on Monday evening and there is definitely some damage to electrical equipment around west of Newport. Was on the fast line side where I saw a cabinet that looked like it had burned out. Close to the transformers there. Whether that is the fire being talked about I do not know though.

There are pictures of burnt-out signalling equipment in this local press article.

LOOK: Severe damage caused by fire on railway ahead of Beyoncé concert

Severe damage has been caused by a fire along a Gwent railway.

www.southwalesargus.co.uk

The trackside fire between Cardiff and Newport has severely damaged signalling equipment.

Network Rail told the Argus yesterday that disruption was due to end at 4pm however disruption is now estimated to last through to next week.

 

[Techniquest]

I had 175107 on the 0923 (I think) Cardiff Central to Holyhead today, travelled a good way on it. A nice journey, only issue being the lavatory in coach C being out of water.

I also got some photos of 175s in store at Holyhead, looked to only be a few left now. The one nearest camera here was 175005, the others I don't know.

 

[TPO]

I agree.

There are 2 sides to every contract:
(1) the party executing the work and
(2) the party who wishes the work to be done - who as stated above needs to properly monitor and check the work is being done to the requirements.

Also some very specific Regulatory requirements about railway undertakings ensuring contractors carrying out safety critical work do so properly, goes rather beyond standard contracting. From memory the relevant clause is reg 5(1)(d) of ROGS. The Rail Industry Standard RIS-2750-RST supports this.

TPO

 

[The Vee]

Hi,
Does anyone know if 175002 is still at Llandore and if so is it visible from outside please?
Tia

 

[Scottish-Exile]

Hi,
Does anyone know if 175002 is still at Llandore and if so is it visible from outside please?
Tia

Yes it is
No it's not

 

[SuperLuke2334]

175107 broken down in Hereford P4 today. Some sort of failure somewhere along the line. Not a good day for the 175s with so few out.