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

[whole diary]

[phile]

There is much we can conjecture as things have not 100% been finalised yet.    I do believe the 16 21 Cardiff to Chester will be independent of the Salop to Crewe local but until things have been uploaded I would rather reserve judgement.   You are not the only person wondering.    The 175 will probably be off a train from Llandudno Jcn running in the ppath of the present 175 worked WAG2.   If things develop as again we think they will do on the North Wales Coast with destinations being swapped between Holyhead, Bangor,  Llandudno Jn & Llandudno it may well be possible that a Unit may be saved which would solve the problem over a 158 covering the WG2 175.    Speculation at this stage is only becoming confusing and people on another Forum have more or less decided to wait and see at this stage.
Re Pembroke Docks, Weekdays next week should see 2 x 14xx and a pair of 153s during High Summer, the school holiday period.

[anthony215]

I agree we should wait and see especially with with the rumoured shake up in the December 2012 timetable with the new timetable being put out for consultation soon.

In fact some ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) staff have told me of rumours of new additional services being proposed but as has been stated on other forums it doesnt seem likely based on how ATW have refused to make more use of their loco hauled stock.

There does see to be some shake ups happening with some trains being cut back to Bangor or Llandudno Jct.

Of course ATW also have 150217 out of action which isnt helping matters although things should be better once 175002 is back in service.

[Jez]

I am guessing we could see a particularly busy week on ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) services this week with it being the first week of the school holidays and a reasonably nice weather forcast, many people will be going away so using the long distance services plus on day trips to Tenby etc. Also its the Royal Welsh show this week. I would be surprised to see any single car formations on Pembroke Dock or HOW line.  It will be interesting to see how ATW will cope especially as they are still a 175 (or 2 if you count WAG2) and a 150 down.

Anyone know if Coryton will have 153s in order to free up pacers to cover some of the valley lines that would normally be run by 150s? I imagine extra 150s will be needed this week for HOW.  I know the extra HOW service from Cardiff Via the District line to Builth Road was a 4 car 150 last year, anyone know what it is booked as this week?

How do ATW manage to free up the pacers for the Summer Pembroke Dock services, both weekdays and Saturdays? Pembroke Docks are normally 153s so do they swap them or are there a few pacers that are spare, how many pacers are actually booked on a normal day? I know its been said on this thread that on weekdays 2 pacers are booked for high summer Pemb Docks plus a formation of 2x 153 on the other diagram.

[paul7575]

I agree we should wait and see especially with with the rumoured shake up in the December 2012 timetable with the new timetable being put out for consultation soon.

It's far too late to begin public consultation on a timetable that starts in 5 months time.  The Dec 2012 timetable proposed alterations should have had a chop date of a couple of months back, it has to be completely ready in only a few weeks time, when it will become available to journey planners.

Paul 

[phile]

I am guessing we could see a particularly busy week on ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) services this week with it being the first week of the school holidays and a reasonably nice weather forcast, many people will be going away so using the long distance services plus on day trips to Tenby etc. Also its the Royal Welsh show this week. I would be surprised to see any single car formations on Pembroke Dock or HOW line.  It will be interesting to see how ATW will cope especially as they are still a 175 (or 2 if you count WAG2) and a 150 down.

Anyone know if Coryton will have 153s in order to free up pacers to cover some of the valley lines that would normally be run by 150s? I imagine extra 150s will be needed this week for HOW.  I know the extra HOW service from Cardiff Via the District line to Builth Road was a 4 car 150 last year, anyone know what it is booked as this week?

How do ATW manage to free up the pacers for the Summer Pembroke Dock services, both weekdays and Saturdays? Pembroke Docks are normally 153s so do they swap them or are there a few pacers that are spare, how many pacers are actually booked on a normal day? I know its been said on this thread that on weekdays 2 pacers are booked for high summer Pemb Docks plus a formation of 2x 153 on the other diagram.

As I have already said 2 Pacers and pair of 153s on Pembroke Dockds High Summer.  The Pacers come about through reductions on the Cardiff Valleys by single 150s working vice double pacers and swapping around.    It is assumed there will be less people travelling to/from work during holiday season.  Hardly likely to see 153s on Radyr/Corytons as they are usually coupled with 150s on Heart of Wales for the Show.    Don't forget 2x150s required for daily Special from Cardiff for the Show which runs via Swansea District Line and stables at Llandrindod during the day.  Availability can be enhanced by re-scheduling Maintenance.  They'll cope.

[JayMac]

Updated timetables for ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) services for Sept-Dec 2012 are now online:

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/timetables/

I note there appears to be no northbound WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) restaurant service from 15th September. A service as far as Chester, no longer omitting Hereford, and with Standard Class only appears to be running in the path that the current WAG Express runs in.

If the northbound WAG Express is being withdrawn I better bring forward my plans to have another bash and slap-up meal.

[Jez]

I from Sept it was going at 1821 - the North bound WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) express.

I was aware that it was 2 x pacers on a weekday along with 2x153 on the third Pemb Dock Diagram but wasnt sure about Saturdays? A couple of summers ago all 3 Pemb Dock Saturday diagrams were pacers.

[JayMac]

I from Sept it was going at 1821 - the North bound WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) express.

But not shown as conveying 1st Class or a restaurant in the Sept-Dec timetable. 

Is the WAG Express being top and tailed with locos? The morning southbound WAG Express from Holyhead is shown as travelling via Chester and Wrexham General from September, with only 5 minutes dwell time at Chester to perform the necessary reverse. Insufficient for a run round.

[Rhydgaled]

Is the Wag Express being top and tailed with locos? The southbound from Holyhead is shown as travelling via Chester from September, with only 5 minutes dwell time to perform the necessary reverse. Insufficient for a run round.

Three mark3 DVTs^‡(resolve) have appeared in the ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) refurbished 158 livery, it is expected one of these will be in use on the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) express from the September timetable. It should be via Wrexham in both directions (though as you say the timetable doesn't show the 1st class and buffet facilities for the expected northbound service, so either they've made a mistake or something odd will be going on).

[anthony215]

I from Sept it was going at 1821 - the North bound WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) express.

But not shown as conveying 1st Class or a restaurant in the Sept-Dec timetable. 

Is the Wag Express being top and tailed with locos? The southbound from Holyhead is shown as travelling via Chester from September, with only 5 minutes dwell time to perform the necessary reverse. Insufficient for a run round.

It has been noted on other forums that there has been a bit of a screw up with the latest ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) timetables.

The WAG from september is supposed to be formed of MK3's operating in push pull with a class 67 & DVTY exactly like Chilterns (Although the ATW mk3's I doubt will be as good as Chiltersn and are not being fitted with powered doors.)

[JayMac]

So which timetabled service will be running the northbound WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) Express including 1st and restaurant? Is it the 1621 terminating Chester or the later 1821 via Wrexham through to Holyhead?

[Jez]

The 1821 will be the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) express with restaurant and 1st class etc.  The 1621 will start in Swansea at 1510 and be run by a 175 apparently.

[JayMac]

Thanks Jez.

So my next ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 1st Class, with slap up scran, northbound jolly can wait until after Sept 15th. And I have the bonus of looking for overnight B&Bs in Wrexham as well as previously tentative plans for bedding down in either Chester or Crewe?

That suits me fine. Never been to Wrecsam (sic). 

[phile]

I from Sept it was going at 1821 - the North bound WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about) express.

I was aware that it was 2 x pacers on a weekday along with 2x153 on the third Pemb Dock Diagram but wasnt sure about Saturdays? A couple of summers ago all 3 Pemb Dock Saturday diagrams were pacers.

Pembroke Docks on Saturdays 2 x Pacers and a pair of 153s throughout the Summer (May to September) - Not 3 Pacers but there is also 1 Pacer on Saturdays through the Winter with 2 single 153s.

[JayMac]

Updated timetables for ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) services for Sept-Dec 2012 are now online:

http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/timetables/

Ignore that link for the time being.

ATW have obviously realised that the the published Sept-Dec 2012 timetables were a bit of a dog's breakfast with numerous errors and have pulled them for the time being.