Lost 2 engines en-route. 175s really don't like anything resembling a bit of warm weather.
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TfW 175 shortages
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The Vee
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Ok, thank you
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Yikes! Let's hope this is not an issue on the 197s!
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
I was wondering! It was left running in P4 for a bit but after a while, I noticed that it had turned itself off so must have lost the 3rd. No staff had attended to it as the driver left it there.
175 availability seemed to have got better a few weeks ago but now it seems like there are less out in service again now. I think they need about 14 diagrams for the new timetable tomorrow. With that and 197s not being available they are really going to struggle I think.
According to TFW Journey Check there are 8 cancellations tomorrow most of which are in West Wales. Plus another 10 or so shorter workings, again mostly West Wales or Heart of Wales line. No changes listed for Birmingham-Shrewsbury.
craigybagel
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There was a tweet, since deleted, from TfW saying no service Shrewsbury to Birmingham all week. There was also a briefing to that effect sent to WMR staff. Hopefully it was sent in error.
Well TfW have been p coding things in the recent past.
If they end up as p-codes I think there will be a very unhappy WMT depot as I am informed this happened Easter time. Allegedly Good Friday, TFW withdrew all their Bham services and WMT crews as a result had full and standings all day with some issues. At least on my patch we have multiple operators running between most of our busiest routes so if one falls, the others can all take up a smaller amount of slack.
Dai Corner
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I suppose they'll get their own back on the forthcoming strike days when TfW will have to carry the WMT passengers as well as their own between Brum and Shrewsbury?
I suppose it would balance out that way. I would think though that strikes aren't seen as "sticking it to TfW" (I'd hope not) given why they're being called (the national dispute). On reflection, things would improve if WMT reintroduced more trains there. I believe pre Covid there were two departures an hour - one that was all stops, and one a limited fast service? That and if WMT worked with TFW to organise so that their two-three trains an hour were spaced out around the clock as opposed to ten mins between two and then fifty mins with nothing.
Anonymous10
Established Member
To be fair if tfw are short of stock it might not be so much pass the buck to wmt as there's another toc available to travel on and freeing up as many units as possible
Topological
Established Member
It is similar if they cancelled Crewe to Manchester and left that to the local trains. As long as they allowed the connections then there would be a unit saved. Better if it was not necessary, but could be done.
Another less politically acceptable is Cardiff to Swansea where the GWR trains could cope with the numbers. If only Swanline ran then that would not be a major imposition.
Seems things are tight already today with 1W13 only doing Swansea to Cardiff and seemingly nothing onward from there. Going to very cosy on the 2 carriages that are forming the next train.
Still should not be talking about this because the 175s should have been maintained properly.
Another less politically acceptable is Cardiff to Swansea where the GWR trains could cope with the numbers. If only Swanline ran then that would not be a major imposition.
Seems things are tight already today with 1W13 only doing Swansea to Cardiff and seemingly nothing onward from there. Going to very cosy on the 2 carriages that are forming the next train.
Still should not be talking about this because the 175s should have been maintained properly.
Swanline actually starts back today.
Looks like they have managed a 3 car formation of a 150+153 on two of the Swanline services the 0906 and 1306 from Swansea to Cardiff. And the 1705 which goes to Cardiff today rather than Chester is a 150. Anyone know what's on the other Swanline services? The 1105 and 1505?
william.martin
On Moderation
I live on the rural part of the shrews to Brum line and the trains are already full to standing, just having an hourly 4 car 196 would almost certainly mean turning passengers down in the peak.
It has been a struggle having TFW running 2 cars's down there although not running at all will be a disaster.
It has been a struggle having TFW running 2 cars's down there although not running at all will be a disaster.
Topological
Established Member
The Marches are going wrong again.
Following 1W13 only making it to Cardiff, the following train 1W54 spent more than 20 minutes at Swansea and is now not going to leave Cardiff until 08:20 at the earliest. That is after they have substituted the 158 + 153 + 153 for a 150. Presumably now that will spin round at Wilmslow. (EDIT: Crewe termination today)
Very frustrating because the rule about 1 hour delay for ticket acceptance should be clear, but they spent so long trying to work out what was happening that another possible connection for Manchester went. Finally on the 09:09 from BPW having had the option to be on the 07:09 if it had not been for the 60+ rule.
Following 1W13 only making it to Cardiff, the following train 1W54 spent more than 20 minutes at Swansea and is now not going to leave Cardiff until 08:20 at the earliest. That is after they have substituted the 158 + 153 + 153 for a 150. Presumably now that will spin round at Wilmslow. (EDIT: Crewe termination today)
Very frustrating because the rule about 1 hour delay for ticket acceptance should be clear, but they spent so long trying to work out what was happening that another possible connection for Manchester went. Finally on the 09:09 from BPW having had the option to be on the 07:09 if it had not been for the 60+ rule.
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To answer my own question re Swanline RTT is showing a single 153 ran the 1105 Swansea-Cardiff. Nothing showing for the 1505 to Chester yet.
Looks like no 175s on Maesteg today (not surprising since there are so little in service and they have kept some 170s). Looks like all 3 170s are out today, 2 on Maesteg-Cheltenhams and the other on Ebbw Vale. The other 2 Ebbw Vale diagrams are 150s and the other Maesteg's mostly 150s plus a 158.
I wonder what the issue was with the 0545 Carmarthen to Manchester and the long wait at Swansea. It seems the 0603 from Carmarthen to Cardiff overtook it at Swansea. Also it seems the Manchester service from Swansea about 9ish started from Cardiff Central today at 0953. Fortunately there was a 3 car on the Swanline around that time which must have helped.
Edit 1729 - The 150S Chester was a 150.
And the 1638 Llanelli (Swanline) has been cancelled at Swansea 'due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train'. I dont get this, is this because its meant to be a 197/175 and replaced with a 150. It was a minute early getting to Swansea. Not a great start to the new timetable!
Looks like no 175s on Maesteg today (not surprising since there are so little in service and they have kept some 170s). Looks like all 3 170s are out today, 2 on Maesteg-Cheltenhams and the other on Ebbw Vale. The other 2 Ebbw Vale diagrams are 150s and the other Maesteg's mostly 150s plus a 158.
I wonder what the issue was with the 0545 Carmarthen to Manchester and the long wait at Swansea. It seems the 0603 from Carmarthen to Cardiff overtook it at Swansea. Also it seems the Manchester service from Swansea about 9ish started from Cardiff Central today at 0953. Fortunately there was a 3 car on the Swanline around that time which must have helped.
Edit 1729 - The 150S Chester was a 150.
And the 1638 Llanelli (Swanline) has been cancelled at Swansea 'due to the planned train being replaced with a slower train'. I dont get this, is this because its meant to be a 197/175 and replaced with a 150. It was a minute early getting to Swansea. Not a great start to the new timetable!
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Topological
Established Member
What has happened today?
I just looked at departures from Manchester and IF the 1830 runs it will only be the 3rd train to Cardiff since 10:30 this morning. The 14:30 and 15:30 having run late.
I just looked at departures from Manchester and IF the 1830 runs it will only be the 3rd train to Cardiff since 10:30 this morning. The 14:30 and 15:30 having run late.
SuperLuke2334
Established Member
1830 cancelled on JourneyCheck. There has been a lot of issues today with significantly late running today for some reason. They were running relief lines only Newport - Cardiff and vv, but as craigybagel said above, it shouldn't have made more than a few minutes difference.
Topological
Established Member
Yes, lost a couple of minutes on the GWR this morning and most coming through Bristol Parkway were a couple of minutes late.
It just feels like the whole service is too fragile at the moment when it ran fine last year.
Dai Corner
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New timetable that people aren't used to yet and may be tweaked if necessary. The Mains being closed between Newport and Cardiff doesn't help of course.
Topological
Established Member
Indeed the 1830 was cancelled and the 1930 for good measure.
I hope things will get better but it looks like the 06 Northern to Crewe is the only way to get to a TfW train.
I hope things will get better but it looks like the 06 Northern to Crewe is the only way to get to a TfW train.
Been reading this forum with interest following nightmare journey yesterday from Shrewsbury to Newport - cancelled train at 11.05 due to crew shortage, following service absolutely rammed - from reading other posts this appears to be the norm for TFW Rail? Looks like its no better than when it was run by Arriva - and I thought Cross Country from where I live in Bristol was bad, how wrong can you be 
L
Welcome to the forum. Yes it's been really bad recently and no sign if improving anytime soon. Not until the 197s are able to take over the full service.Been reading this forum with interest following nightmare journey yesterday from Shrewsbury to Newport - cancelled train at 11.05 due to crew shortage, following service absolutely rammed - from reading other posts this appears to be the norm for TFW Rail? Looks like its no better than when it was run by Arriva - and I thought Cross Country from where I live in Bristol was bad, how wrong can you be
Envoy
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So, here we are in late a May 2023 and still no 197’s operating south of north Wales > Manchester and the 67’s with Mk4’s unreliable. Crews still not trained on the new traction and many 175’s out of service. Could it get any worse than Arriva days = Yes. If you have a car on any of the routes TfW operate - it would be wise to use it and don’t even think about trains. (Plenty of 150’3/153’s were operating mainline services over the weekend).
Topological
Established Member
So far so different to yesterday it seems.
1W13 was a 175/1 and made it past Newport with only a 1 minute delay.
Really makes you wonder what happened yesterday and why no one actually said anything other than blaming Newport, which this morning's evidence suggests was not actually the problem.
1W13 was a 175/1 and made it past Newport with only a 1 minute delay.
Really makes you wonder what happened yesterday and why no one actually said anything other than blaming Newport, which this morning's evidence suggests was not actually the problem.
Techniquest
Veteran Member
Let's hope yesterday was just a major glitch and all goes well again. I'm back on TfW tomorrow and I'm hoping to avoid any major issues.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Update since earlier, as I now have a photo of 175107 parked up in bay platform 4 at Hereford
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Update since earlier, as I now have a photo of 175107 parked up in bay platform 4 at Hereford
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Good to hear its been better today.
The 3 major issues affecting TFW are the issues with the MK4's, 197s and 175s. Until 2 of those 3 issues are sorted out then I cant see the end of 150s and 153s being used on long distance routes unfortunately. The question is will we see the 175s return to a normal full service or will it be like this until the 197s can fully take over.
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