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

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

I do think the title of this thread should be changed to south wales local services as it is now incorporating the fishguard, swanline and other services in south wales.

Done! 

[Jez]

I do think the title of this thread should be changed to south wales local services as it is now incorporating the fishguard, swanline and other services in south wales.

Done! 

Thanks! Amazing a thread I started to ask a question about Pembroke Dock services has turned into a 20+ page discussion.

Anyone know what is booked for Pembroke Dock now? Are pacers still regularly booked?

[anthony215]

Not to sure with the new timetable starting a week monday, More than likely it will be a mixture of class 150's & class 153's same as the heart of wales & swanline's. I cant remeber if the 07:09 Pembroke Dock - Swansea service will be worked by a class 175 as that unit is to be used on the 08:04 Fishguard Hbr - Manchester Piccadilly service.

That said there is still the possibility that a pacer could turn up, i have noticed that the 05:50 Swansea - Pembroke dock seems to be booked regulary for a pacer set although whether that changes in  the next week or so i dont know.

I am hoping to be on the new services on monday 12th and i will have a look to see what forms the 17:10 Swansea - Cardiff service whether or not the 15:14 will be formed of 2 class 153's with 1 being detached at Swansea.

Many thanks for changing the thread title

[phile]

175 Fishguard to Manchester
)

[Jez]

There was a pacer today on one of the swanlines plus at least 1 pembroke dock diagram.

I travelled on a refurbished 153 for the first time today (1710 swanline) - quite liked it, 153s used to be my least fave ATW^▸ (Arriva Trains Wales (former TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company))) train before this. Most of the 153s must have been refurbished by now.

[phile]

As booked on a Saturday

[Rhydgaled]

Was the slewing of the track away from Fishguard & Goodwick's platform really only done last year? What a really shortsighted move that was if true, forgivable if it was done long ago.

If they have found funding for opening Fishguard & Goodwick, I really hope they get on and get all aspects of the work that require posession of the line done before the extra trains start. I can't see a good reason for demolishing the building if they don't do that, and therefore will feel really guilty for not trying to get it listed. Unless there's a track renewal due, I'd expect the platform to be built out to the track, rather than the track be slewed back to the platform. No idea how long shifting the track would take, but building a brick wall, filling the space behind almost to the top with gravel and covering that with tarmac or concrete should be achivable within the 1 week they have left. They'd have a little more work to do after that before they can open the station, but I don't think any of that would require posession of the line.

[anthony215]

When i travelled on the fishguard branch back in late 2008 i am sure the track was closer to the platform than it is now, so maybe it was 2 years ago that the track was moved.

There is a lot of information on the fishguard branch and re-opening the station at goodwick on wnxx, although you will have to register before you can view th thread

[anthony215]

The building at Fishguard & Goodwick station and the platform surface has been cleared although the platform will require work to bring it up to modern safety standards.  some journeys on the local town bus service have been diverted to fishguard harbour station to meet with the trains.

[anthony215]

Fishguard services started today. the 08:04 Fishguard Hbr - Manchester service was worked by 175006. However not everything seems to have gone to plan with 09:56 Fishguard Hbr - Carmarthen service departing 19 minutes late.

Sadly because of work paying my wages late i was unable to go up on the 07:10 from Pyle to Fishguard and the 09:56 from Fishguard, however the fishguard portion i was told was worked by 150208.

I must congratulate everyone who has worked hard to get this trial up and running and i hope the station at Fishguard & Goodwick is opened asap.

[Hafren]

There were some problems this morning which might have had an impact on the Fishguard service. Various trains were delayed between Swansea and Llanelli because of cable theft. The 6.42 CDF^» (Cardiff - next trains)-PMD/FGH (which was 153+150) also started late at Cardiff; it might have lost more time through the Gowerton area - the 6.00 MFH-MAN, which passes that section before it, lost a bit of time there, but was not too severely delayed.

[Jez]

Seems to be a 175 doing one of the Swanline diagrams today - the one that is meant to come off HOW too. Anyone know if the 5am ish from Shrewsbury was a 175 or was it swapped at Swansea.  The other Swanline diagram is a 150 when often its a pacer.

Also I notice now the 13.10 Swanline is no longer a through train from HOW. Anyone know what is happening with the various diagrams at that time of day as apparently the one that does form the 13.10  Swansea-Cardiff sits in Swansea for hours before.

Seem to be mainly sprinters back on Pembroke Dock now the summer peak is over, although not sure if pacers still appear on Saturdays?

[Hafren]

Tenby can be quite busy until the end of September, so it would make sense to maintain capacity on Saturdays. Train loadings tend to drop once the high season is over, but are still quite healthy for another few weeks; I don't know what's being used now, but this year, unlike a few years ago, they were quite good at strengthening before the summer timetable had started.

A quick look at live departure boards suggests there are diversions via the Vale of Glamorgan today. When this happens, Swanline stops are sometimes covered by the Manchester services, which might account for the 175.

[anthony215]

Seems to be a 175 doing one of the Swanline diagrams today - the one that is meant to come off HOW too. Anyone know if the 5am ish from Shrewsbury was a 175 or was it swapped at Swansea.  The other Swanline diagram is a 150 when often its a pacer.

Also I notice now the 13.10 Swanline is no longer a through train from HOW. Anyone know what is happening with the various diagrams at that time of day as apparently the one that does form the 13.10  Swansea-Cardiff sits in Swansea for hours before.

Seem to be mainly sprinters back on Pembroke Dock now the summer peak is over, although not sure if pacers still appear on Saturdays?

All i can guess is that the set could be that which does the 07:09 Pembroke Dock - Swansea (Arr 09:22) especially since that it doesnt form teh 09:55 service to Manchester.

 I also have been told that the unit which comes down the HOWL  and terminates in Swansea at 13:01 sits in Swansea til it forms the 17:10 service to Cardiff.

[phile]

Correct.   13 01 arrival works 17 10 Swansea to Cardiff.   This is to enable the 150 sitting at Swansea off 09 22 arrival to move to Cardiff for 15 14 Cardiff to Fishguard Harbour.
Rather than dwell only on individual Unit workings, doew anybody know anything about Fishguard passenger loadings