TFW Assisted Dispatch

[Jez]

Could anyone advise me which TFW stations (those TFW manage in both Wales and England) require compulsory assisted dispatch of their trains (and any other TOC that serve the station too).

I am guessing Cardiff Central, Swansea, Chester for definite. Also Shrewsbury ive heard all TFW must have assisted dispatch but West Midlands services the conductor can self dispatch from the bay platforms.

Im sure ive seen conductors self dispatch at Bridgend, Neath and Port Talbot but this may depend on how many carriages - certainly the VOG service on platform 1A at Bridgend being 2 cars ive seen it being dispatched by the conductor.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

[Parallel]

I believe Carmarthen is (or was) mandatory for GWR services, noting a few years ago, when Carmarthen was unstaffed, GWR services were starting and terminating at Swansea due to ‘a shortage of station staff.’

 

[Jez]

I believe Carmarthen is (or was) mandatory for GWR services, noting a few years ago, when Carmarthen was unstaffed, GWR services were starting and terminating at Swansea due to ‘a shortage of station staff.’

Thanks. Maybe due to the GWR train being longer? Im sure ive seen self dispatch at Carmarthen but not sure. I will have to pay more attention next time i go.

 

[godfreycomplex]

Edited after I read the question (d'oh!)

The (publically available) Sectional Appendix states that staff, if present, must dispatch at

Newport (platforms 2 and 3. Self dispatch from 1 and 4 unless Mark 4)
Cardiff Central
Bridgend
Port Talbot Parkway (self dispatch 2200-0600)
Neath (" ")
Swansea
Shrewsbury
Machynlleth

 

[Jez]

Edited after I read the question (d'oh!)

The (publically available) Sectional Appendix states that staff, if present, must dispatch at

Newport (platforms 2 and 3. Self dispatch from 1 and 4 unless Mark 4)
Cardiff Central
Bridgend
Port Talbot Parkway (self dispatch 2200-0600)
Neath (" ")
Swansea
Shrewsbury
Machynlleth

I wonder if there are any circumstances when self dispatch is used if no staff present. I cant recall ever seeing a train dispatched at Cardiff Central with no platform staff.

At Neath certainly late at night ive seen the conductor self dispatch.

 

[Towers]

I believe Carmarthen is (or was) mandatory for GWR services, noting a few years ago, when Carmarthen was unstaffed, GWR services were starting and terminating at Swansea due to ‘a shortage of station staff.’

I don’t know how far back you’re thinking, but HSTs of course would have meant that dispatch requirements might have been very different to what they are today!

 

[MP393]

I wonder if there are any circumstances when self dispatch is used if no staff present. I cant recall ever seeing a train dispatched at Cardiff Central with no platform staff.

At Neath certainly late at night ive seen the conductor self dispatch.

Shrewsbury have a few exceptions for self dispatch, mainly early morning & late at night where there’s a clash with limited staff on.

 

[tfw756rider]

Edited after I read the question (d'oh!)

The (publically available) Sectional Appendix states that staff, if present, must dispatch at

Newport (platforms 2 and 3. Self dispatch from 1 and 4 unless Mark 4)
Cardiff Central
Bridgend
Port Talbot Parkway (self dispatch 2200-0600)
Neath (" ")
Swansea
Shrewsbury
Machynlleth

I believe that the South Wales stations mentioned, and Shrewsbury, use the traditional baton and whistle method or whatever it is, but I haven't seen that at Machynlleth. There, I've seen staff watch trains to see if they depart OK, but that's about it. This is with a different signalling system of course.

 

[Parallel]

I don’t know how far back you’re thinking, but HSTs of course would have meant that dispatch requirements might have been very different to what they are today!

This was since GWR extended more of their Swansea services to Carmarthen using IETs.

Image shows an extract from Journey Check where a GWR service is started from Swansea instead of Carmarthen in 2023.

 

[Harpo]

The (publically available) Sectional Appendix states that staff, if present, must dispatch at

“…staff, if present,”

So, not compulsory. Why is it even in the Sectional Appendix?

 

[tutacre]

Could anyone advise me which TFW stations (those TFW manage in both Wales and England) require compulsory assisted dispatch of their trains (and any other TOC that serve the station too).

I am guessing Cardiff Central, Swansea, Chester for definite. Also Shrewsbury ive heard all TFW must have assisted dispatch but West Midlands services the conductor can self dispatch from the bay platforms.

Im sure ive seen conductors self dispatch at Bridgend, Neath and Port Talbot but this may depend on how many carriages - certainly the VOG service on platform 1A at Bridgend being 2 cars ive seen it being dispatched by the conductor.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

Chester is not compulsory for all operators - Merseyrail sorts themselves out.

 

[warwickshire]

Is Wilmslow one, Wilmslow has dispatchers,

 

[styles]

I am guessing Cardiff Central, Swansea, Chester for definite.

Merseyrail self-dispatch at Chester, but they have pretty much exclusive use of platform 7 so it's easy to ignore them

 

[Jez]

Thanks to everyone for the information.

Does anyone know about Swansea? I always thought it was compulsory dispatch due to the curve on the platform? Last time i was there i saw two dispatchers dispatching the GWR service which was 10 carriages.

 

[tfw756rider]

Is Wilmslow one, Wilmslow has dispatchers,

Wilmslow is a Northern-managed station.

 

[Jez]

Wilmslow is a Northern-managed station.

I believe Northern Dispatchers dispatch TFW services at both Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow and Avanti dispatch at Crewe, Warrington and Stockport.

Does anyone know any other stations? Cheltenham and Gloucester its GWR I assume and will be when TFW start at Bristol Temple Meads. What about Manchester Oxford Road is that Northern?

 

[Fokx]

I believe Northern Dispatchers dispatch TFW services at both Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow and Avanti dispatch at Crewe, Warrington and Stockport.

Does anyone know any other stations? Cheltenham and Gloucester its GWR I assume and will be when TFW start at Bristol Temple Meads. What about Manchester Oxford Road is that Northern?

Manchester Oxford Rd is Northern for all operators

 

[Sheridan]

I believe Northern Dispatchers dispatch TFW services at both Manchester Piccadilly and Wilmslow and Avanti dispatch at Crewe, Warrington and Stockport.

Does anyone know any other stations? Cheltenham and Gloucester its GWR I assume and will be when TFW start at Bristol Temple Meads. What about Manchester Oxford Road is that Northern?

At Liverpool Lime Street it’s Northern. (Avanti have their own dispatchers who only do their own services.)

Runcorn is Avanti.

 

[Krokodil]

I wonder if there are any circumstances when self dispatch is used if no staff present.

Chester and Holyhead occasionally have staffing shortages on nights and some TfW trains self-dispatch as a result. I'm not sure that Avanti permit it at Holyhead however, I recall them running empty to/from Bangor when Holyhead is short. Llandudno Junction is compulsory dispatch during staffing hours (something like 5-23 Mon-Sat, 9am start Sun)

 

[Fokx]

Chester and Holyhead occasionally have staffing shortages on nights and some TfW trains self-dispatch as a result. I'm not sure that Avanti permit it at Holyhead however, I recall them running empty to/from Bangor when Holyhead is short. Llandudno Junction is compulsory dispatch during staffing hours (something like 5-23 Mon-Sat, 9am start Sun)

Colwyn Bay is also assisted dispatch

 

[Krokodil]

Colwyn Bay is also assisted dispatch

Not for TfW services. Avanti pays for TfW's Bangor, Colwyn Bay and Rhyl staff to dispatch its trains during staffing hours (which don't cover all of Avanti's services).