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

[whole diary]

[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?

Did a trip yesterday and found 14 05 Shrewsbury to Swansea was 2x150, the Show Special also 2x150 and the 13 14 Swansea to Shrewsbury 150+153.   This meant virtually 1/7 of ATW 150s at Llandrindod Wells at the same time.   Also strengthening in the evening for Olympic Football in Cardiff, for example 2xPacers seen going to Ebbw Vale about 20 mins late.
For those who might be interested some good news that there was a 158 on the midday Fishguard boat.   This is actually diagrammed as from this week on the assumption that 175002 would be back.   Whether it is or not, I don't actually know.



_{Edit note: Quote marks fixed. Chris.}

[phile]

Re last post there was a bonus this week re availability of 153s in so much as Bubbles is back on the Cardiff Bay after a long absence.  But for how long ?

[anthony215]

Re last post there was a bonus this week re availability of 153s in so much as Bubbles is back on the Cardiff Bay after a long absence.  But for how long ?

More than likely I suspect they wont be able to start it come saturday Morning then it will be out of action for another 2 months or so.

[phile]

ATWs^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) 150280 which was leased to NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia) last year has been reported as ready to return.

[phile]

Re last post there was a bonus this week re availability of 153s in so much as Bubbles is back on the Cardiff Bay after a long absence.  But for how long ?

More than likely I suspect they wont be able to start it come saturday Morning then it will be out of action for another 2 months or so.

Did not last that long.   Was a 153 on Friday.

[Jez]

Its possible 175002 might be back as the twice ive seen the 1708 Milford-Cardiff service this week its been a 175. (I believe that was the diagram the 158 was covering).

[Jez]

I heard on another forum another 175 was in an accident in West Wales yesterday? Thankfully it appears no-one was hurt but how unfortunate another 175 could now be out just as soon as ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) has possibly got 175002 back.

[Chris from Nailsea]

See http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=11075.0 for details. 

[anthony215]

Yes 175101 although from what I have been able to find out it only suffered a glancing blow unlike 175002 so maybe repaired and back in service more quickly.

Glad to see 175002 back in service though and it will be nice to have 150280 back as well as well as 150217 when that is repaired.

[Jez]

Just seen a 5 car combination of pacer, 150 and 153 on the Cardiff-Fishguard/Pembroke Dock service. I assume the pacer will split from the sprinters at either Carmarthen or Whitland and one will go to Fishguard the other to Pembroke Dock.

On Saturday the Cardiff Bay train was a 153.

[phile]

Booked 2 Pacers and 2 x 153s in High Summer and splitting for Pembroke Dock and Fishguard.   Obviously 150 working 153 Diagram which happens all the time.

[Jez]

Cardiff Bay today was being run by a pacer rather than a 153 which i understand usually covers when the 121 is out of service.

[anthony215]

While I was on the hst to Pembroke Dock this afternoon leaving swansea I noticed two class 175's working the 12:05 service from Swansea to Carmarthen. While 175002  was working the 11:10 Milford Haven - Manchester service

[Jez]

I was at Neath waiting for the 11.40 towards Cardiff when I saw the HST^▸ (High Speed Train) Pembroke Dock arrive into Neath, it was running around 5 mins late i think. A 175 did pass before id got to Port Talbot which would have been the Manchester-Carmarthen service but i didnt notice how many cars it was.

I got the 1738 Swanline back, expected it to be packed with it being a 2 car (it used to be 4 car on a Saturday as run through from Ebbw Vale which it still may do?) but fortunately it was ok. They did mention a few times on the tannoy that there would be another train for Bridgend, Port Talbot etc in around 10 mins so maybe people opted for that.

What usually runs the Conwy Valley train? I am up in North Wales soon and might take a trip on the Conwy Valley line.

[anthony215]

I believe a class 150 is used during the summer with a clas 153 in use during the winter although this can change at short notice.