The ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) pembroke dock diagrams today were 1 x 150 and 2 x pacers (both 142, ive noticed 142 usually get used on Pembroke/Swansea rather than 143s, the swanline was a 142 also today).

I travelled to Tenby today using the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) HST^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)), first time ive travelled west of Swansea on a FGW service. It was fairly well used but plenty of empty seats. Most of the platforms west of Swansea are not long enough for all carriages to be on the platform but the train staff are very good at ensuring passengers leaving the train are in the right place to get off.

The return journey (1655 from Tenby) was a pacer. It was very busy but not every seat was taken so not too bad. I imagine it will get busier in July/August. What i found odd waas that the pacer rrived at Carmarthen at around 1745 then everyone travelling beyond Carmarthen was told to get the 1807 service (3 car 175) and the pacer going onwards to Swansea wasnt departing until 1833 but its still a through train from Pembroke Dock to Swansea, would be better if it was Pembroke to Carmarthen then terminates and then a separate service from Carmarthen to Swansea later on. A few people were confused why they had to change when it says Swansea on the front of the train.

The Gloucester-Fishguard service (leaves Swansea around 5pm) was a 2 car 175 today. Rare to see a 175 on this service its usually a 158 or 150. Rare for a 175 to cover a 158 diagram, usually its the other way around!

Its turns out that particular diagram we discussed last week was 2 x 150s.

Does anyone know what is booked for the Pembroke Saturdays services - i know in the week they are 2 pacers and a 150 but wondered if that was the case on a Saturday.

Does anyone know what is booked to run the Sunday 1135 Cardiff-Manchester and 1530 Manchester-Cardiff return? Thanks.

No. If you dont count the Swanline 150 diagram, then 2 diagrams, both of which are both booked 153.

As I posted above the 8 HOW journeys (4 up and 4 down) are covered by 3 diagrams, one covering 2 journeys (1 up 1 down) and the other 2 each covering 3 journeys.

On Sundays I think a 150 and a 153 are booked to cover the 2 journeys in each direction. 

Its a shame the HOW doesnt have a better service, I certainly think at least a 2 hourly Swansea or Llanelli to Llandovery service should run in addition to the current services. But then someone would have to pay for the running costs as well as supply more sprinters.

The HOW could technically have 2 diagrams but it currently has 3 as one swaps with Swanline. All 3 diagrams are involved with Swanline at some point of the day in order to swap a 153 between Canton and Shrewsbury each day.

Currently I think the diagrams are as follows

Diagram 1 - 150 (off the overnight fishguard and pemb dock previous day)

0434 Swansea-Shrewsbury
0900 Shrewsbury-Swansea-Newport
14xx Newport-Swansea-Llanelli
16xx Llanelli-Swansea-Cardiff Central

Diagram 2 - 153

07xx Cardiff-Swansea
0916 Swansea-Shrewsbury
1404 Shrewsbury-Swansea
1821 Swansea-Shrewsbury

Diagram 3 - 153

0519 Shrewsbury-Swansea-Newport
10xx Newport-Swansea
1316 Swansea-Shrewsbury
1805 Shrewsbury-Swansea
2032 Swansea-Cardiff Central

I understand the set that goes up to Shrewsbury the next day does the Shrews-Crewe Local. And then comes back down as the first HOW the day after that.

Its very rare that ive seen 158s on the Manchesters at all recently, apart from the ones booked on Saturday and Sundays.  Well done to ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) for having extra capacity on this service.

Thanks. So the 153s should be 2 on Coryton, 1 Cardiff Bay, 1 Crewe Local and 2 HOW. That leaves 2 spare - 1 for maintenance? and possibly 1 for use on Ebbw Vale services?  its seems half of the 153 fleet will now be based in the Cardiff area!

absolutely, i would rather stand than be sat uncomfortably.

Any news on what will form the Pembroke Dock Diagrams when they increase to 2 car?

I would rather a 153 to a pacer any day of the week 

The 1710 has been booked for a 150 for sometime now anyway 

I very rarely use Pembroke Dock services to be honest just curious to know what stock is going to be used. I just dont think pacers are ideal for this journey.

I really hope its not pacers on a regular basis. They are awful and should be just used on short journeys in Cardiff.  Even the Saturday swanline shouldnt be a pacer but a 150 IMO^▸ ('in my opinion').

Hopefully 2 150s and a double 153, so whatever goes onto the HOW the next morning will be 2 car and then doing the 1710 Swanline.

I knew some/most Ebbw Vales has extra capacity on Saturdays but didnt know they did it during the week.

Is a 153 now "officially" booked for Cardiff Bay? I know when Bubbles was still around but often out of action a 153 would usually stand in but wasnt "officially" booked as the 121 was.  Its been a 153 every time ive seen it during the past few months but a pacer has been used in the past on occasions.

If a 153 is on Cardiff Bay and one on Ebbw Vale as you say there arent many left for elsewhere. My guess is if all Pemb Dock trains are going to be 2 car from next week then the remaining 153s would be 3 on HOW and 1 on Crewe local - not sure where the other 2 would go?  I think one is booked for maintenance and I know Coryton has one on a Saturday.

I could be wrong but arent some Gowerton stops no longer request stops but now just regular stops? I think the HOW ones are still request tho?

I noticed the 1435 Ebbw Vale service was a 3 car - 158 and 153 - today, didnt know they did that apart from weekends, thought it was booked 2 car.

Any news on what will be diagrammed for Pembroke Dock from next week as all services are meant to be increased to 2 car. I have noticed the Fishguard/Pembroke that splits at Carmarthen in the morning is more often than not a 150 and 153 which means at least one of the diagrams is usually already 2 car.

I also noticed looking at the journey planner there is a new swanline service from Cardiff-Swansea leaving Cardiff at 0714 arriving into Swansea at 0830 so extra capacity for Swanline in the morning peak. The Milford Haven Service that leave Cardiff around 0750 also appears to still be making Swanline stops on weekdays but not on Saturdays. So on Saturdays a longer gap from 0714 to 0914 but in line with the 2 hour stopping pattern, whilst on weekdays it will be 0714, 0750ish and 0914.

This means the 0916 HOW is no longer a through service from Cardiff Central, on weekdays or Saturdays. I assume the set used for the 0714 Swanline will sit in Swansea from 0830 and then go on to form the 0916. So a set will still move from Canton to Shrewsbury via HOW but we lose the through journey opportunity.