LNWR have announced the suspension of class 230s on the Bletchley to Bedford route due to future maintenance issues.
TfW must be seriously considering the future of these units on the Wrexham to Bidston route as well now
Presumably it wouldn't be too difficult for TfW Rail to agree to extend the lease of class 150 or 153 trains in lieu.
(27/11/2022 17:33)knutstransport Wrote: [ -> ]TfW Rail do not have approved rights for the changes on Wrexham to Bidston. Their application to Network Rail for 2tph using 230s was rejected as GBRf applied for freight paths on the same route and both applications weren't compatible.
The latest TfW Rail document states using the paths Network Rail can approve and allowing for them not being able to stable a unit at Bidston, they cannot run a half-hourly service at peak times, which makes any service enhancement pointless.
https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/fil...2-06-0.pdf
Whether they'll apply to use 230s on an hourly service separately is another question. As 230s aren't 75mph DMUs and will have different track access charges, I presume Network Rail will need to approve the change. In the past Network Rail rejected an application for 158s to be used on the route.
TfW has permission for 24 out of 26 paths , the other 2 failed because of the way the Cement train has to be dealt with at penyyfordd and Dee Marsh Junction .
(04/12/2022 13:49)wirralbus Wrote: [ -> ]TfW has permission for 24 out of 26 paths , the other 2 failed because of the way the Cement train has to be dealt with at penyyfordd and Dee Marsh Junction .
As the document details 3 paths were rejected by Network Rail:
2J54 09:06 Bidston to Wrexham Central
2F71 17:08 Wrexham Central to Bidston (MWFO)
2J72 18:06 Bidston to Wrexham Central (TThO)
The lack of 2J54 also means 2F53 08:09 Wrexham to Bidston can't operate, due to it not being possible to stable a unit at Bidston. And while in theory 2F71 and 2F72 can operate on certain days, there isn't any weekday when both can operate, which effectively means neither can operate on any day.
TfW Rail (the Wales & Borders franchise holder) do not wish to progress with a half-hourly service at off-peak times only as it does not fulfil the overall objective of a Metro service that TfW wrote in to the franchise specification. They also have also disputed Network Rail's proposed increase in track access charges. So as things are - nothing is changing.
A bit out of area but since I mentioned them the missing departures from Treherbert are shown in the on-line WTTs but so is one spurious round trip on the Bidstons, as well as the one in RTT!
I noted four 197s in the yard at Chester yesterday. 197003/008 were paired together, 197006 and 197102.
All Bidston-Wrexham and return services now in STP "conventional" unit timings, which means starting odd minutes earlier,
197011 was operating on the Chester to Liverpool service today whilst 197010 was on the Conwy Valley line.
There's a signaller shortage on the Borderlands line today meaning services are replaced by buses.
197010 was on the Lime St to Chester services today