Not sure, but the conductor on the 231 I was on yesterday overrode the autoannouncements between Heath High Level and Central and there was no such problem.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Looking at detailed mode it shows
Could 002 have been initially allocated and has been replaced by 005 and 010 but not de-allocated?
Probably likely!
If I recall correctly, most of the platforms on the Treherbert-Cardiff and Rhymney-Penarth routes (except Gilfach Fargoed) are at least 124m, since platforms shorter than that were extended to accomodate 6-car class 150s at some point during Arriva Trains Wales' franchise after the Welsh Government funded the lease of a small number of additional 150s. An 8-car 231 formation is quite a bit longer than 6-cars of 150 though so wouldn't fit on the platforms - would 8-cars be possible with SDO on services that don't call at Gilfach Fargoed though, for crowd busting after major events in Cardiff?Just looking at RTT and came across this supposed 8-car formation of 2x 231s on a Rhymney service.
Realtime Trains | 1818 Penarth to Rhymney | 05/07/2023
Real-time train running information for 1818 departure from Penarth to Rhymney on 05/07/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Anyone know if this is possible, i.e., whether all stations can cope with 8 cars without SDO? I would imagine Gilfach Fargoed could pose an issue!
Either way, this may not be right - I can see why it could be useful as a stock movement given these units go to Rhymney sidings afterwards...
That's good to know. Not sure about the 8-car formation with SDO; it's certainly very rare (or, more likely an error on RTT).
Cardiff looking very continental today
I honestly doubt it. On board the 231s don’t feel very long distance at all.
Agreed the seats are OK but definitely not as good as I thought they'd be they're more for mid distance.
Based on external looks , I’d agree
I agree and if I had to go a long distance and had a choice, I would choose the 197. When I had a ride on a FLIRT, I was thankful to get back into my car seat.
I wouldn’t because the FLIRT is very distinctive, and I recognise it as the Regional short-distance train of Anglia, the little commuter trains in Switzerland alongside the big IC2000, ICN, ETR 610, etc. and the little commuter trains in Ljubliana alongside the big Slovak Pendolinos and ÖBB stock. I’m used to seeing it as a short distance train and they look it.
So would I, although I like the FLIRTs far, far more than what they replace.
And a nice photo it was too.Getting a bit off topic here tho tbh. Perhaps my fault, but I just wanted to share with yous my pic of the two classes together
But the point was "ask the public", not people on a rail forum who know.
continental? I would have said it looked like the London Underground (white with red ends instead of the normal yellow warning panel end for national rail in GB - yes I know some other new stock like the TPE Nova fleets don't have yellow ends either).Cardiff looking very continental today
(Photo shows a 197 & 231 lined up together at CDF)
Regrding that photo specifically then, as above, the first thing that hits me is the London Underground style colour scheme. Putting that aside though, from that angle I would agree that the FLIRT, with it's pointy nose, looks like the long-distance express. However, show a side view and I would of course say that neither is designed for express services, they both have lots of door for dealing with lots of stops.
I wouldn’t say the FLIRTS have lots of doors or suitability for lots of stops at all; some intermediate vehicles have one per (admittedly smaller) carriage.
Yes, as you say the carriages on a FLIRT are shorter. Also, I'm thinking of the TfW FLIRTs specifically - the carriages with two doors per side have a lot of red (door) on each side. The GA FLIRTs with only one door per car look far more balanced and more like a regional branch line sort of train (I still wouldn't go as far as express though because of how wide those doors are - possibly doesn't help that they are bright red and therefore stand out).
Unfortunately, these numbers are not positioned to assist enthusiasts
Unfortunately, these numbers are not positioned to assist enthusiasts
Even so, it’d be hardly going out of their way. I’m hugely against things being done simply to appease enthusiasts as is well known, but more visible numbers may also be useful to staff who will be aware of which train they need and can therefore look out for it.
Agree, being visible to staff was whole point of numbers?
Originally numbers were created for accountancy purposes - knowing how much had been spent on each item of rolling stock and of course for the maintenance records for it.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
It also ran to Cheltenham Spa yesterdayIt looks like 231007 took a trip to Maesteg over the weekend. A first for the class or has this happened before?
Realtime Trains | 3Z30 1300 Cardiff Canton Sidings to Maesteg | 09/07/2023
Real-time train running information for 3Z30 1300 departure from Cardiff Canton Sidings to Maesteg on 09/07/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
