South Wales local services - Pembroke, Fishguard, Swanline, etc.

[whole diary]

[inspector_blakey]

it's only available at ticket offices which are for from numerous in certain parts of Wales

Quite. I think in Pembrokeshire your choices are Haverfordwest and, erm, that's it. Even then it's only staffed mornings.

[anthony215]

I have noticed 1 error and that is when i look for trains times from Pyle to Fishguard harbour the only train i get is the 15:42 departure from Pyle, for some reason the 07:10 departure which also goes to Pembroke Dock isn't shown,  they could at least show as needing to change at Whitland.

 I will try to go down  to Fishguard Hbr in  the morning as i am a little bit worried about needing to change trains at Claberston Road

[Rhydgaled]

Bus timetable for connections to the town here:

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/090911Fishguard/

If you can make it before Friday, those services operated by AB Phillips are free. From Friday onwards all services are operated by Brodyr Richards (service #410) and will cost. No PlusBus option at the moment: would it serve much of a purpose...? That part of Pembs isn't exactly overburdened with bus services. I can see there being some demand for travel up to Newport (Trefdraeth, not Casnewydd...) and Cardigan, but the latter is already served by a bus link from Carmarthen which I reckon is probably significantly quicker for passengers from points east.

Just a little warning, AB Phillips don't actually seem to be running the buses. It has been a Richards Bros liveried bus with a Richards Bros driver each time I've seen it. The services marked as AB Phillips on the timetable are free at the moment though, despite Richards running them. Charges as you say are coming.

If you only want to get to 'Little Newport' (as I tend to call it when there's a chance of confusion, Casnewydd being 'Big Newport') the buses aren't that bad actually (hourly from Haverfordwest), except for the lack of any bus connection from the 20:30 arrival from Clarbeston Road (leave Cardiff at 17:39). That hourly service from Haverfordwest to Fishguard/Newport goes through to Cardigan but they start stopping short at Newport quite early in the evening, meaning a day trip from anywhere between Cardigan and Newport to Cardiff is not possible entirely by public transport (latest you can leave Cardiff is 14:48, then 17:05 460 bus Carmarthen to Cardigan then 19:00 Cardigan - FIshguard 412 bus).

As for Cardigan, I think it is 1hr 40mins on the 460 bus from Carmarthen station to Cardigan Finch Square. That compares with about 50mins Carmarthen - Fishguard on a train and 45mins (plus interchange time) from Goodwick to Cardigan. About the same time in total, if you leave out the interchange time, but 1hr 40mins on a bus that isn't a TrawsCambria X50 (those two have more legroom) is a bit of a hardship. Also the last bus out of Carmarthen to Cardigan is 18:05, to get that you have to leave Cardiff at 16:04. If you want to get to Cardigan from Carmarthen later, I think you have to catch the Arriva X40 bus to Aberaeron and hope it is on time, because it is due to arrive at 21:31, the same time as the last bus from there to Cardigan leaves (and that goes via New Quay, adding even more time to the journey, eventual arrival in Cardigan is at 22:25).

[anthony215]

on the south wales evening post website:

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Boost-trains/story-13417424-detail/story.html

Seems bother the 16:40 & 17:05 departures from Swansea are now booked to stop at Kidwelly & Ferryside.

[anthony215]

Off to fishguard harbour tommorow, ideally i hope to have some nice weather. Not too sure if it will travel back on the 09:56 departure or just spend a day in fishguard & the surrounding area before catching the 19:00 departure to claberston Road then another train to Pyle.

[inspector_blakey]

It's a lovely part of the world - Goodwick, in the immediate vicinity of the port, is a bit bleak, but Fishguard town itself (up the hill) is really nice. There's a Bayeux-style tapestry sewn by the locals a few years ago to celebrate the 200th anniversary of an abortive French invasion attempt - the Battle of Fishguard no less, although from what I've been told according to local folklore the French were mostly drunk and rounded up by some of the townswomen with pitchforks - which is well worth a visit. You could also hop on a bus up to Newport (Pembs), nice beaches, walks and a pretty little town to take a wander round. I reckon there's probably easily enough to keep you amused until the evening train back!

Edited to add...
There's also an antiques-cum-junk shop on the Main Street in Newport...not the most upscale example of the genre certainly, but when I went in there a few years back they did have a halfway interesting collection of assorted railway bits and pieces if that's your thing.

[anthony215]

15840 was working the 06:16 Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff service this morning. It was at least 20 minutes late when it stopped at Pyle while i was waiting for the 08:37 train to Port Talbot.

i did tell 1 woman   who was running across the bridgend that she hadnt missed the train but that it  the very last 07:45 departure.

I really wish ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) would hurry up and install some information screeens at Pyle, some passengers at put off because if there is any delays they wont know unless they contact national rail enquiries.

 Anyway back to this morning I am not too sure if the 158 was looped at Stormy or Penoced as the Manchester train was only about 4 minutes behind it when it left Pyle and considering   the 06:16 stops at Pencoed etc. Either that or perhps run it non stop from Bridgend to Cardiff and get the Manchester train to make a few calls considering it has at least 10 minutes waiting around in Cardiff Central.

I believe the stock then works the 09:20 Cardiff - Holyhead service

[Jez]

I caught the 18.30 Manchester-Carmarthen service last night (returning from a short break to Blackpool) and it was run by 158840. Quite a plesant surprise to see that sitting on platform 8 at Picadilly as I expected the usual 175 and id been wanting to travel on a refurbished 158 for quite some time. The train was really busy until Crewe and also from Cardiff onwards with lots of people getting on at Cardiff. It was also still fairly busy between Crewe-Cardiff. Could have done with a 3 car really.

I was VERY impressed with the refurbishment and think they are 10 times better than the current 175s. The seats are comfortable, plenty of luggage storage, the information screen is helpful and nicer than on the 175s. The toilet facilities are a million times better than they were on 158s. The train is also well lit, the 158's used to seem quite dreary before.

15840 was working the 06:16 Carmarthen - Swansea - Cardiff service this morning. It was at least 20 minutes late when it stopped at Pyle while i was waiting for the 08:37 train to Port Talbot.

I guess that 158 was then used on the first Carmarthen/Swanline this morning and then put onto Holyhead for it to enter back into the Mid/North Wales circuit of trains.  I am wondering if there was a reason a 158 was used on what is normally booked for 175s. The train was late getting into Manc, infact it was almost time for it to depart when it got in. It was then around 3 mins late leaving and also lost further time. So was about 15 mins late when i got off.
 
I know this wouldnt work as the 158's are needed for the Mid Wales line but id like to see 158s on the West Wales-Manchester once they are all refurbished - there are 24 of them so they could double them up on the busy Milford/Carmarthen-Manchester trains to make 4 cars, and the rest could be run as 2 cars, as many are currently with the 175s. There would prob also be enough left over for Cardiff-Holyhead again using 2 x 2 cars for the busier diagrams.  The 3 car 175s would then stay on the North Wales coast as now and the rest of the 175s used on Mid Wales/Heart of Wales possibly which could do with extra capacity.  To cover some of the Maesteg diagrams that use 158s currently they could possibly get some extra 150s (arent most Maesteg's 150 now anyway???)

[Jez]

 

I really wish ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) would hurry up and install some information screeens at Pyle, some passengers at put off because if there is any delays they wont know unless they contact national rail enquiries.

I agree  I think they need info screens at Pyle and all Swanline stations - they have them at stations between Bridgend and Cardiff (Pencoed etc) and Llansamlet and also many of the smaller stations between Crewe and Shrewsbury.

[anthony215]

Even Tenby has them, although i am surprised Whitland doesnt.

As for using doubled up class 158's on the Manchester - Cardiff - Milford Haven services i like . Especially if the 3 carriage 175's get put onto the north wales coast services  which in turn is enabling the 2 carriage 175s to be used on Swansea - Llandrindod - Shrewsbury/Crewe & Swansea - Pembroke Dock/Fishguard Hbr services where they can provide much greater capacity


I have a idea to get some  extra dmu's for ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))):

1.) Electrify Uckfield Branch & Brighton - Ashford Int'l and in turn give southern further class 377's. Those class 171's can in turn go to NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia) who can release their class 153's & 156's to Northern/East Midlands trains.

2.) London Midland gets more class 172's to boost capacity and replace the class 170's which could go to Scotrail to  release some class 158's for perhaps   ATW or FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for routes around wales or south west england.

3.) FGW get  at least 15, 3 or 4 carriage class 172's for the Cardiff -Portsmouth Hbr, & Salisbury - Westbury - Swindon services the class 158's are in turn re-formed back into 2 carriage sets and most could then go to ATW for the increasing services on the cambrian route and double up capacity on the south wales - Manchester route.

The 172's greater  acceleration & top speed  would be helpful on the busy parts on the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) especially between Chippenham & Swindon & between Bristol TM^‡(resolve) & Bath. The door layout would be better for use during the peaks that is 1 bad point with the 158's they are delayed by everyone trying to get on or off the end doors


1 bad point is that the 175's have much greater performance compared to the  158's not only in terms of higher top speed i notice the 175's have much quicker  acceleration.

3.) electrify Eastleigh/Southampton - Romsey - Salisbury this should free up  at least 5 158's which could then go to East Midlands trains to provide extra capacity on the Liverpool - Norwich service.

4.) If Gospel Oak - Barking is wired like network rail want perhaps the 172's could possibly be used by ATW on west wales & heart of wales routes , this should enable the 2 carrige class 175's to be used elsewhere on the ATW network . of course the LO 172' would need fitting with a DDA^» (Disability Discrimination Act - about) compliant toilet. Of course however the 172' could go to chiltern enabling some more 165's to go to FGW freing up the 150's 153's to go to ATW

[Jez]

Last nights 1755 from Swansea-Manchester was a 175 and was terminated at Cardiff and replaced by a 158. I heard the guard telling someone on the platform there were a few faults with it. How reliable are the 175s at the moment?

[anthony215]

The 175's fair play to them have been very reliable especially since they came back form being overhauled & refurbished.

Maybe FGW^▸ (First Great Western) should  perhaps think of doing the same with the class 180's

[phile]

The 175s were introduced round about 2000 and it took 10 years to get improved reliability

[anthony215]

Surprised i haven't picked up on this yet but on saturdays Pyle get a increase in the number of trains stopping  as there are additional departure's to Manchester at: 09:20,10:20, 11:20, 13:20, 16:20 & 17:20 in addition to the Swanline services.

However there are no additional westbound services serving Pyle on saturdays?

I personally think perhaps something could be done similar to this on a weekday, perhaps a service at 09:20 , 17:20 & 18:20 or perhaps a little bit earlier. The 16:55 & 17:55 departures from Swansea could also help take some of the pressure off the 17:10 swanline service.

In addition having a departure at 09:20 will be good for anyone traveling into Cardiff as the 09:44 swanline service is packed by the time it arrives at Pyle even if its a class 150

[Jez]

Its only Saturdays that Pyle get the extra services then? Im guessing this is to fill time more than anything as services depart Cardiff for Manchester at xx55 on Saturdays rather than xx50 or xx05 during the week. Also going west from Cardiff I guess Pyle is covered by enough services already during the evening peak.

Yesterday I noticed they are still using a 153 on valley lines, Coryton I think.