Notes from TfW user meeting 7 Dec 22
Notes on meeting TfW 7 Dec 2022 This was a meeting for the whole of Wales and not just on our line. Class 175 are suffering maintenance issues so not as many are available as they would like. TfW have settled with the unions on the current pay round, but services are affected by other actions. TfW crews are now at or about establishment numbers and class 197 training is going well. Passenger demand (overall) morning peak is less, daytime is more and evening up a little. This is seen as a move from commuting to leisure use. There is […]
Notes on new timetable for December 2022
Updated 1st December TfW are due to introduce a new timetable from mid December 2022. This has now been released and you can download it here. We have been trying to get a view on what the changes are. Firstly they are planning to introduce Class 197 trains and also loco hauled mk4 coach stock on selected services. How much of this actually happens remains to be seen. This is always dependent on shake down of new stock, and training of crew. TfW are not alone in having troubles with this. We understand that shuttle will remain as Class 153s, […]
TfW trains stock
We see in March that TfW are running their new long distance trains class 197s on test and training runs between Crewe and Shrewsbury. This is very welcome. It was announced that the first 30 units of the fleet have been approved for passenger service by the Office of Rail and Road. There are a total of 77 units on order. The 14 units with first class seating are not included in the first batch. All this is very welcome news, but we should not get too excited. It is unlikely that we will see these units on our services […]
Transport for Wales (TfW) announce completion of refurbishing Class 175 trains.
Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced the completion of work to refurbish its fleet of Class 175 long-distance trains. These are the sets we usually see on the Cardiff Manchester services. It has been a feature of recent services that only 2 coach sets have been used on some services instead of the expected 3 coach sets. Train manufacturer Alstom has been working to refurbish the 27 trains at their Technology Centre in Widnes, Cheshire. This has been going on since 2019. The trains have also been rebranded on the outside with TfW’s grey and red livery. Internal work included […]
New rail timetable will be in place from 12 December
From Sunday 12 December, a new rail timetable will be in place across the TfW Wales and Borders network. While the times of many services will be unaffected, customers should still ensure they double check their departure, arrival and connection times. You can read about it here. https://news.tfw.wales/news/increase-in-train-services-from-december-2021 As usual with TfW they say nothing about our particular services between Crewe and Shrewsbury, and we have to check the timetables ourselves. We have asked TfW for the detail but they have not responded. Useless of course. But as far as we know there are no major changes. The one thing […]
Request stops
We are aware of problems on evening services northbound at Yorton, Prees and Wrenbury, when these have been request stops. The request to stop is no longer booked, and is no longer offered. TfW say this is because they have to use one door on a short platform. This happens on the Cambrian line and in N Wales too. However other companies have found a solution to this, but TfW appear unable to resolve this. Perhaps they should talk to Great Western, Anglian Trains or ScotRail. If thy can do it, why can’t TfW?
Transport for Wales (TfW) publishes annual report for 2020-2021,
Transport for Wales (TfW) has published its annual report and financial statements for the year to 31 March 2021, a year which saw the transfer of the railway back into public ownership and work to transform the Core Valleys Lines as part of building the South Wales Metro. As the first set of consolidated financial statements for the Transport for Wales Group, figures released today show total grant-funded expenditure of £638m made up of: £356m of revenue funding for provision of rail passenger services. This included £176m of Covid-19 revenue support and other emergency measures funding. £88m capital funding for […]
Nantwich in Bloom volunteers receive another award
Nantwich in Bloom (NiB) volunteers have received an Highly Commended award in the 2020 Cheshire Best Kept Stations competition. The award was given in recognition of the continuing efforts made by NiB to keep the station looking attractive despite the Coronavirus pandemic and restrictions during 2020. The first photo shows some of the Nantwich in Bloom volunteers who have helped care for the beds and planters on the platforms, with John Kitchen. Hilary Slack is holding the award. Hilary and Sue Sherwood are wearing TfW Station Adopter tabards in the second picture and John Kitchen from Cheshire Best Kept Stations […]
TfW announce timetable revisions from 16 May 21
TfW say they are introducing new timetables across the network from Sunday 16 May 2021. The only change known to us on the Crewe – Shrewsbury line is the provision of southbound weekday and Saturday morning stops. The 08.31 from Manchester will now call at Nantwich 09.17, Whitchurch 09.28 and Wem 09.37. This is very welcome. We have been asking for this for sometime. TfW say also there will be some re-timings and amendments to services in particular affecting services in the north of our network. This is their list of significant changes, none of which apply to us: Cancellation […]
Progress on new trains for TfW
There is some news in recent railway press about the new trains intended for our line. Modern Railways has some information this month and Railcolournews has an item https://railcolornews.com/2021/04/19/uk-dmu-for-wales-first-caf-civity-diesel-train-delivered/?fbclid=IwAR29nG06iLtvRD7QyOpPajT9P74MbNgOQ6pQZIzFSl5AmvZlNEoMJugY4Jc The good news is that CAF have outshopped the first two of the 197 sets in Newport and these are undergoing testing. It is reported that the first unit 197001 is in Crewe. There are 77 two and three car sets to build. Some of these are intended for the long distance services for our line. There is to be a sub group of 14 three car sets with first […]