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

[whole diary]

[phile]

Was 150 last Winter also

[animationmilo]

Was 150 last Winter also

Maybe because they had a 153 away because it hit a tree.

[phile]

153 used to work Blaenau Ffestiniog in the Winter and Salop to Crewe local in the Summer and the 150 vice versa.    There were the normal number of 153 Diagrams last Winter with the 153 on Salop to Crewe local and 150 on Branch.  Nothing to do with a 153 hitting a tree.  That is how they were diagrammed under normal circumstances.

[phile]

150280 which went on lease to NXEA^▸ (National Express East Anglia) before last Christmas arrived back at Cardiff today at end of lease.

[animationmilo]

175005 might now be away for a while, it was on 15:21 Cardiff Central to Holyhead on Friday 10th August with 175009 leading.
175005 has a hole in the drivers cab

Pictures here
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv47/animationmilo/DSCN5862.jpg

http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv47/animationmilo/DSCN5864.jpg

[Jez]

Thanks, I may take a trip on the Conwy Valley line.

So as soon as 175002 is back they are another 175 down. Ive not noticed many 158s covering Manchesters in the last few weeks tho, have all of them apart from the booked Saturday 158 diagram been 175s? 

[animationmilo]

Thanks, I may take a trip on the Conwy Valley line.

So as soon as 175002 is back they are another 175 down. Ive not noticed many 158s covering Manchesters in the last few weeks tho, have all of them apart from the booked Saturday 158 diagram been 175s? 

Yesterday
14:55 Swansea to Manchester was 158819 last silver 158(my friend said)
17:55 Swansea to Manchester was 158833

[Jez]

Yes I saw the 1455, also saw the same 158 on the earlier journey to Milford, around 11am off Swansea.

[Jez]

I think the 1355 from Swansea-Manchester was a 150 today? Anyone able to confirm this? Maybe this is covering for the 175 that was damaged recently. Odd choice for that diagram to be covered by a 150 tho as that would form the 18.30 back from Manchester which ive used many times and can be quite busy - think its booked 3 car.

[phile]

Booked 2 Car.   You cannot say it is directly related to a particular 175 out of action.
I keep on stressing that much depends on what is available at a particular location at the start of the day which depends on where they they finish the night before.   There might have been a surplus elsewhere but in the wrong place.   This could be the result of 101 things throwing diagrams out.

[Jez]

I think the 1830 needs to be booked 3 car as its been a very busy service even on the times ive caught it when it has been 3 cars.

Im not saying it is for that reason definately, but if they are a 175 down something has to cover.

[phile]

If you make the 17 30 a 3 Car you would have to rob something else.   Ideally all the Marches would benefit from 3 Cars but there are just not enough.   The way the Timetable on the route works to a pattern it can be light in the morning on a diagram but busy in the evening and vice versa.

[anthony215]

ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) have published the new timetables online which come into effect from 3rd spetember.

One major change is that the 07:50 ATW service from Cardiff to Milford Haven is now booked to call at all of the Swanline stations arriving into Swansea at 08:53 and the 08:09 Cardiff - Shrewsbury service (which operates via the Heart of wales line) will only stop at the major stations and also Pyle arriving into Swansea at 09:08. This does help improve the reliability of the this service which is frequently late as the class 153 cannot seem to keep to time.

Still waiting for a  later  last service from Swansea to Cardiff however as I think the current 22:32 Swansea - Cardiff service is too early and ideally the last  service from Swansea to Cardiff should be at 23:10 and call at all stations including Pencoed & Pontyclun

[Jez]

Yes IMO^▸ (in my opinion) 153s are useless on the main line. Tho i guess they have no choice as have to send them back to Canton somehow from HOW and Pemb Dock lines and Crewe local services. The 1710 Swansea-Cardiff has been noticeable more on time since it was booked as a 175 from May. Guess it reverts back to a 153 or 150 from Sept.

Good idea having the swanline as part of Milford service, people from Swanline stations can get into Swansea now for a 9am start which wasnt possible when it was the later service from Cardiff. I work in Neath and would be tempted to get the Swanline now rather than drive to work if i dont need the car for journeys that day, currently arriving into Neath at 0856 is a bit tight to get to the office in time for 9am.

Ideally we could do with an extra swanline eastbound in the morning, there is a huge gap between the first and second service. The first is too early for a 9am start in Cardiff and the second doesnt get there until after 10am. If the 0745 Manchester service was to start at Milford slightly early and thefore arrive into and depart Swansea earlier, at say 0735 (to leave a decent gap after the 0728), then it could call at all Swanline stations (it already calls at Pyle and Llanharan) and arrive into Cardiff around the same time as it does currently and be in time for workers to get to Cardiff for 9am.

I agree we definately could do with a later service from Swansea to Cardiff calling at all stations, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night as 10.30pm seems a bit too early for most people to leave Swansea on those evenings, worst on Saturday as it departs earlier around 22.20.

[anthony215]

Ideally we could do with an extra swanline eastbound in the morning, there is a huge gap between the first and second service. The first is too early for a 9am start in Cardiff and the second doesnt get there until after 10am. If the 0745 Manchester service was to start at Milford slightly early and thefore arrive into and depart Swansea earlier, at say 0735 (to leave a decent gap after the 0728), then it could call at all Swanline stations (it already calls at Pyle and Llanharan) and arrive into Cardiff around the same time as it does currently and be in time for workers to get to Cardiff for 9am.

I agree we definately could do with a later service from Swansea to Cardiff calling at all stations, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night as 10.30pm seems a bit too early for most people to leave Swansea on those evenings, worst on Saturday as it departs earlier around 22.20.

On sunday evenings the last service is at 23:30 so in my opinion I would like to see the 21:09 Pembroke Dock - Swansea service extended to Cardiff Central on weekdays as this would give a departure from Swansea to Cardiff at 23:28