Catering Facilities

[whole diary]

[Jez]

Im just wondering which train services in Wales are meant to have catering/trolley facilities on services and which arent.

I know the majority of West/South Wales to North Wales/Manchester services do, as do the Cardiff to Portsmouth services (although i believe at weekends they often have no catering?). And of course the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) have a buffet car and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services all have catering.  Any other services are supposed to in Wales?

[Mookiemoo]

Im just wondering which train services in Wales are meant to have catering/trolley facilities on services and which arent.

I know the majority of West/South Wales to North Wales/Manchester services do, as do the Cardiff to Portsmouth services (although i believe at weekends they often have no catering?). And of course the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) have a buffet car and XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) services all have catering.  Any other services are supposed to in Wales?

not 100% sure but i know you cant rely on arriva trolleys - there may or may not be one and if there is then it may only be part of the journey.

[inspector_blakey]

The Manchester to Milford Haven/Carmarthen trains generally have a reasonably reliable trolley service, at least as far as Carmarthen and sometimes further as well.

Trolley turn up more or less at random on other West Wales services (SWA^» (Swansea - next trains)/CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains) to Pembroke Dock and Fishguard): sometimes they are there on services that are not advertised to carry one, other times they're not there when they should be!  It seems to depend on who's available at the Carmarthen catering depot.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

heart of wales line usualy has one, they get on at Newport early, go up to shrewsbury, then down the heart of wales, and back to Newport. All on the same train, usually a 143. (Trolly on a 143, there's posh!)

Also, the Holyhead -Cardiff engine & coaches with 1st class has a restaurant!

bouncy!

[thetrout]

One lesson I learn't the hard way was Tea and Class 143's do not mix...!

[Jez]

Thanks for that. I never realised the heart of wales line had a trolley. I have never been on that service but would like to as ive heard its nice. I think none of the other valley/rural lines have catering facilities?

Do Maesteg - Cheltenham Spa have a catering facility as this service covers quite a distance, a wide range of stations and are generally run by 158s or 150s.

[inspector_blakey]

Wow, I didn't realize that 143s were getting deployed on the Central Wales Line these days, thought it was all 1-car 153s. Wouldn't fancy a 4-hour-plus bounce. Must be a decidedly tricky job for the person manning the trolley.

Is the local initiative where the station agent running the booking office at Llandrindod Wells also provided a trolley service on some trains still going?

[Hafren]

Wow, I didn't realize that 143s were getting deployed on the Central Wales Line these days, thought it was all 1-car 153s. Wouldn't fancy a 4-hour-plus bounce. Must be a decidedly tricky job for the person manning the trolley.

I've never seen a 143 - it's usually a 153, with the odd 150. Would the crews at the northern end even have the traction knowledge?

Going by the last few weeks, it would appear that one of the Saturday Pembroke Dock diagrams is now a Pacer. That might find itself carrying a trolley. Must be fun - a 2-car 15X can be full on Summer Saturdays - a Pacer might be a bit cramped! Good view though.

[Jez]

I hadnt realised they used 143's on the heart of Wales line either - thought they were all 153's!  There cant be many diagrams on that service anyway as I think there is only 4 services a day in each direction (with one service extending to Cardiff Central per day)

Are the Pembroke Dock services usually 158's or 150's?

But yes I did wonder if the Cardiff-Cheltenham section of the Maesteg-Cheltenham service had catering facilities.

[Lee]

I read an interesting piece the other day - http://www.teletext.co.uk/regionalnews/wales/e707cfdaf71b78facc2b1455879197df/MP+trains+are+overcrowded.aspx

According to the above article, passengers on the Heart of Wales line are apparently in mortal danger from overcrowding, and a new TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) entitled "Arriva Trains West" appears to have been created...

[Hafren]

The Heart of Wales line uses three diagrams (Mon-Sat). At any one time there are two 153 diagrams on the line, but in the morning workings to/from Cardiff effectively swap a 153. I've seen 2-car (150 or 153+153) on summer Saturdays in the past, but I don't know about this year. I think longer formations are often seen on Sundays, to swap units between Shrewsbury and Cardiff.

Pembroke Dock requires three diagrams - usually a mix of 150 and 153. The diagram that includes the 1751 SWA^» (Swansea - next trains)-PMD tends to be a 153; I believe this forms the overnight Fishguard, before giong on the Heart of Wales line the next day. The others could be a 150 or 153. From recent observation, it looks like one weekday diagram has been 153+153 since May. A recent change has put 175s to/from Manchester on the first and last trains.

On Summer Saturdays Tenby is busy, so there are no single car diagrams. Going by the last few weeks, it looks like the diagrams are 150, 153+153 and 14X (along with FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s two HST^▸ (High Speed Train) turns). Before the major timetable change in Dec 05, there was a 3 car summer Sat diagram, but that doesn't seem to happen much these days. From what I've heard, the 0951 SWA-PMD is overcrowded on a hot day, and could do with strengthening. I couldn't comment on that one (I tend to go out on one of the HSTs), but it's the right time for daytrippers so I can imagine it being busy; coming back early evening, the 2-car sets can be full but not too many standing - but with a hot summer coming up I can imagine them being worse in the holidays this year!

There's no catering advertised on the Cheltenham stoppers, but I don't have first-hand experience of that route.

[Hafren]

According to the above article, passengers on the Heart of Wales line are apparently in mortal danger from overcrowding, and a new TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) entitled "Arriva Trains West" appears to have been created...

Last time I travelled on the HoW^‡(resolve), it was a rammed 153. It was the first May BH weekend - so combination of sunny Saturday, bank holiday and last weekend of free travel for bus pass holders (it's reduced to a discount in summer because there isn't space for them). If it crashed - which obviously happens all the time - some say it would be safer if there's a lot of bodily padding to protect passengers ;-)

I'd certainly suggest that with the predicted high demand this summer, there'll need to be a lot of strengthening on Saturdays. In the past it was possible to release 150s from the Valleys (needed for commuters in the week) to strengthen Heart of Wales and Pembroke Dock workings, but I guess with the growth in local weekend demand around Cardiff over the last few years, more 4-car diagrams are needed there on Saturdays.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

trolly on the blackpool to pic on a 101 with a trolly used to be fun

[Timmer]

Many thanks for you two postings on ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) services on the Heart of Wales and West Wales lines Hafren. Two lines I remember travelling on in my childhood back in BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) days.

[matt473]

I regularly use the HoW^‡(resolve) as I live in the area and it is usually a 153 that runs the service, however a 150 is common, especially on Sundays with special events such as Jazz on the train. Even though the service is busy at times, it is not always that way as it is not conveniantly timed for people to use it for travelling to work so is mainly a leisure line. Local groups are actively seeking more trains a day than increasing the size of trains as they feel services between Llandovery and Swansea for example will benefit people more than longer trains. This is currently being planned from what I have heard with network rail reinstating the loops along the line. Tbh though, usually when I use the service, a 153 will suffice as many people in the area are unaware the train actually runs whilst it is also cheaper to travel on than using bus services or parking in Swansea alone. The HoW has a classic case of not promoting the line to the people that matter most, not leisure tourists but those who could use the service day in, day out. Also, I have never seen a pacer run on the line and doubt I ever will as the service is also used to swap stock in North Wales IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) so a pacer will not travel along the line. That and there is an understanding from what I remember between HOWLTA and ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) to run at least a sprinter on the line.

back on topic, there is a catering service on some trains on the Heart of Wales line but as far as I can tell is hit and miss whther it is on the train as it run independantly from ATW. again, this all stems down to the close relationship with the TOC and HOWLTA who do a fantastic job in improving services on the line.

If anyone would like any more information on the line I will try my best to answer your queries. For a small line there sure is a lot to talk about.