Great Western Coffee Shop

I appresiate this isn't a FGW service, but is the bubble currently in use on the Cardiff Bay Branch?

I'm going to Cardiff on Thursday and fancy a trip if the heritage DMU is in use.

I saw it put out of Queen Street on the way to the Bay last Thursday.  The whole station was enveloped in a huge cloud of smoke! 

Might be heritage stock to you (and I hope you enjoy your trip) but the general  public's view would be "filthy, knackered old train" I imagine

Hi,

I have a look tommorrow to see if its around caught it the other morning because I had some time to kill it was fun, the feeling of space was astonding and the noise great.

Basset

I was there last week and the bubble was out of use. 

If you want info, go here (http://www.railwayscene.co.uk/showforum.php?forum=17).  Poster Myfanwy is an ATW driver working out of Cardiff and will know.

Hi Autotank,

Sorry the 7.24 CQS to the Bay this morning was a 153 looks like the DMU is out.

Basset

Hi Autotank,

Noticed the DMU back at Cardiff Queen Street today looking good half covered in Snow.

Basset

Ps Arriva Valley lines running pretty good this Morning

Nice to know she still gets used. Must try and have a ride next time I'm in Welsh Wales.

Does anyone know if the future of the 2 bubble cars secure (one with ATW and one with CR) in the medium to long term? When and if they get retired they could be very useful for the WSR to use between Taunton and Bishops Lydeard.

On which subject the WSR has just released passenger figures for 2009. A new record at 227,000, and around 50% higher than was the norm 10 years ago. 

Having been a strong advocate of a restored link, I can now see why it appears not to be a high priority. It would have to generate a lot of additional passenger numbers to have even a marginal difference to the overall figures.  eg 20 weekends, 100 additional pax a day, 200 a weekend, 4000 a year, so less than a 2% increase.

Hi All,

Just to let anyone who is interested that the Bubble car is back working this line,
again had a few minutes spare this morning and went down the bay and back on it.

Basset

Thanks, but i already posted this on another thread a week or so ago.

not sure if the class 121 is used on weekends though

121 Bubbles has day of rest on the Sabbath  (Maintenance).  153 works the Bay.   On occasions has day off on a Saturday if big event in Cardiff Bay as the 1 car cannot cope.    Last year, for example, I went to the Bay on Armed Forces day and came back to Queen St on a 150 which was rammed even in spite of a 12 minute frequency.    Unfortunately, Bubbles can not work any other route in lieu to free up at least 1 coach. If you like, someting that could be summarised as  "Red Tape".

class 121 is out of action again with a gearbox problem

Anyone live near the Bay, Can anyone tell me what 153 is down there

They probably use different 153's all the time since they are based at Canton.  Also sometimes the bay is run by a pacer rather than a 153 when the 121 is out of service.

No they dont seem to, HOWL diagrams this week have had 153303, 153312, 153323, 153327, 153353, 153362, 153367.

I have NOT SEEN 153320 for about 20 days.

whats Canton to queen street like 5 mins away....

Probably just coincidence that you have not seen 153320.    It is no different to the others.

The 153s might still be going through a refresh fro the interior so it may be away for teh time being. I know recently there were still some members of the class awaiting refresh as I travelled on one with the interior falling apart

They are all done  :)

I caught a glimse of something from the east end of one of the platforms at Cardiff Central today which I think looked like the 121, so I think it is working again. I've not seen the 121 (except in photographs) before though so I'm not entirely sure.

The 121 is out and about, although it can be hit & miss at whether it is in service. I have seen it out on driver training/route learning on vale of glamorgan line before now on a weekday.

They like to do this now and again and give it a run.    The recurring gear box problems stem from the fact it is going and backwards and forwards  from Cardiff Queen St to Cardiff Bay 4 times an hour for 16/17 hours a day and with the frequent changing without allowing it to settle down thus causing the problems.    This Route Learning serves to give it a run without changing gear almost incessantly.