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

[whole diary]

[animationmilo]

Why can't they put appropriate rolling stock on the Fishguard boat train all year round, why only weekdays in the summer timetable (surely if they can provide a 158 on summer weekdays then they should be able to source one all the time, unless one fails)?

On Friday at Shrewsbury a terminiating train was announced as coming from Llandrindod, is there a short-working in the timetable or was the HOWL closed at some intermediate point?

The Reason for the Llandrindod train is because, the 14:04 from Shrewsbury to Swansea was terminated back from Llandrindod, because the 13:14 Swansea to Shrewsbury was 67 minutes due to signalling problems near Swansea to Llaneli, so the 13:14 of Swansea was terminated at Llanwyrtd to keep the trains at 18:05 from Shrewsbury and 18:21 from Swansea on time.

[anthony215]

Had a look at the new information screens at Pyle early this morning before I went to work. I must admit  they are good although I dont really think they are suitable where they have been placed and would be more better actually on the platform.

Still this solves a particular problem at Pyle which hasnt helped to get more people to use the station and that if services are disrupted or trains are cancelled  the only way to know before was to either use and app or call national rail enquiries.

I have seen a lot of people end up driving to Bridgend or Cardiff because they simply felt they couldnt get a reliable service from Pyle (Mopst particulary the 09:44 departure to Cardiff which I have found to be cancelled or heavily delayed. This I think has put off a few people from travelling by train from Pyle although the rather poor off peak service is also another factor which hopefully will be fixed soon.

About two years ago the 09:44 train from Pyle to Cardiff was cancelled however I decided to wait til around 10:35 before getting a bus to Bridgend however I was shocked when the 09:00 Carmarthen - Manchester service made an unscheduled stop at 10:20 (Certainly shocked some passengers who had been waiting at Pyle but decided to get the train from Bridgend when they saw me on it and I told them it had stopped at Pyle.)

The decision to extend the 07:10 Pembroke Dock - Swansea service through to Cardiff Central has actually been good as if the 09:44 train is cancelled people only have to wait at least 20 minutes.

The only complaint I have had recently is the decision to use a class 150 on the 05:04 Carmarthen - Manchester service at least as far as Cardiff instead of a class 175 as the units simply cannot keep to the timetable especially between Bridgend & Cardiff.

Hopefully once the south wales mainline is wired to Swansea we will see a shake up of services including  a regular hourly off peak service  serving Pyle with a half hourly (the same as now) during the peaks.

[phile]

There is no decision to use a 150 on the 05 04 Carmarthen to Manchester as a regular event.  It's just how it happens on the day.  If a 150 arrives at Carmarthen vice a 175 the night before it has to be got rid of and to change ot at Cardiff is a bonus.

[Jez]

I was shocked on Sunday morning when i turned up at Neath to catch the first Manchester train (the 0943 from Neath which starts from Carmarthen) and it was a pair of 150s. I believe this is booked as 2 x 175s as far as Cardiff and then 1 x 175 to Manchester. I asked the man who was doing the trolley service if this was going all the way to Manchester and he said yes and that there had been a fault with the 175 so they sent this instead. At Cardiff there seemed to be some confusion as to whether the set was to be split, the platform staff were expecting it to be but apparently the train crew had been informed it as to be sent to Manchester, In the end both 150s went onwards to Manchester.  Nice extra capacity having a 4 car. Shame it cant be like that during the week when its most needed.

I am much more likely to drive to Port Talbot or Neath and get the train from there, there is at least a half hourly service whilst swanline is 2 hourly. In the morning the swanline timetable is particularly useless for the Cardiff direction, not so bad for Swansea.

I think the 0504 off Carmarthen/1030 off Manchester/1708 off Milford was a 158 regularly whilst 175002 was out.  Now its more reliably back to a 175, tho tonight was a 158 on that diagram.  I thought 150s were ok at keeping to time? There was no problem on Sunday when a 150 covered a 175 diagram. Its when its a 153 it struggles.

So from Monday i guess we can expect a 153 again on the 1710 Swanline. I think all trains departing Swansea in either direction in the evening peak need to be at least 2 car.

[animationmilo]

The 17:39 Cardiff-Milford Haven was 2 car, 175008 today.

The 17:10 was formed of 150282 which came down Heart of Wales to Cardiff & came back to Swansea arriving 16:20.

[Jez]

So the 17:39 ran short formed on the first day 

I guess a 150 on the 1710 Swanline was down to luck more than anything, as a 153 would be booked on that diagram?

Can anyone confirm what is now on the Gloucester-Cardiff-Fishguard service which is now supposed to be a 158? And the 1510 Swanline (Chester) service?

[phile]

Gloucester to Fishguard is booked a 158 and the 15 10 Swansea to Chester a 175/0.   I have posted this info already.

[Jez]

Gloucester to Fishguard is booked a 158 and the 15 10 Swansea to Chester a 175/0.   I have posted this info already.

Yes I know. If you read my post you will see I was asking what actually ran those journeys in reality not what was booked.

[phile]

Sorry Jez.  Didn't realise you were referring to the day.   15 10 certain 176 but too early to eally tell yet what is happening inreality although seen report 158 on Fishguard yesterday.

[animationmilo]

Sorry Jez.  Didn't realise you were referring to the day.   15 10 certain 176 but too early to eally tell yet what is happening inreality although seen report 158 on Fishguard yesterday.

Today
175001 on 15:10

153312 on 17:10
The 17:05 Fishguard was 150213

and 18:41 Milford Haven(17:39 from Cardiff) was 175103 - 3 Car

[Jez]

Thanks.

[animationmilo]

Wednesday 19th:

175006 on 15:10

158818 on 17:10(was not from heart of wales)
The 17:05 Fishguard was 158823

and 18:41 Milford Haven(17:39 from Cardiff) was 175114 - 3 Car

The affected service which was always a 3 car and has been a 2 car Today and yesterday(18th) is 16:55 Swansea to Manchester(15:08 Milford) was 175009 today.

[Jez]

Thanks for the info. Surprised a 158 turned up on swanline, hopefully a sign of things to come. How many unrefurbished 158s are still about? Not seen one for several weeks now.

The 1655 is the one i see pass Neath around 1705 and its usually very busy.

[animationmilo]

Thanks for the info. Surprised a 158 turned up on swanline, hopefully a sign of things to come. How many unrefurbished 158s are still about? Not seen one for several weeks now.

The 1655 is the one i see pass Neath around 1705 and its usually very busy.

20 Sept Trains, Slightly different

I noticed online the 06:30 Manchester to Milford was terminated at Newport running 35 minutes late, And a new service started from Cardiff to Milford and that ment

14:55 Swansea to Manchester was 158831 however that ONLY went to Cardiff and terminated straight back for 17:05 Swansea to Fishguard Harbour.

17:10 Cardiff was 150231

16:55 was again a 2 car, 175001 today.

18:41 was 175104 today, 3 car.

[Jez]

I travelled on the 1510 Swansea-Chester today (Friday) as far as Briton Ferry, it was formed of 175006.

I think the 1710 today will be a 150 again as I saw the 1310 pass that was a 150 and then going back on the 1514 off Cardiff was a 150 also. Its good to see that the 1710 appears to still be a 2 car most of the time, even if its no longer a 175.