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Rollout of new trains hits milestone

By Mark Mansfield
One of the new made in Wales trains

More than 50% of Transport for Wales' brand-new trains are now running on the Wales and Border lines with more coming down the tracks this year.

The new trains, many made in Wales, are part of the Welsh Government’s £800m investment to transform rail services in Wales.

As a result, two thirds of passenger journeys in Wales are now on new and improved trains.

Offering increased capacity, improved seating, air conditioning, power sockets, Wi-Fi and up-to-the minute passenger travel information screens, some customers are already enjoying the benefits of these improvements.

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Milestone

Speaking on a visit to the CAF depot where some of the brand-new trains are made, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates said: “This is a significant milestone on our mission to transform our railways.

“These brand-new, modern trains are transforming passenger experiences on Wales and the Border lines with faster and more frequent services thanks to our unprecedented £800 million investment.

“The future for rail in Wales is looking bright and I’m excited to bring you more good news as we continue to bring more and more new trains into service and encourage more people back on the train.”

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11 comments

Ap Kenneth

So Ken, have you got the billions owed from the all English HS2 project so that we can really improve public transport all over Wales? No thought not. Have you got the few million out of Network rail to improve access to Ruabon Station, as promised in 2015 by Grant Shaps. No thought not. Could you save a few quid by not putting out so much publicity and photographs of yourself filling in pot holes. Probably not.

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richard barman

Not much evidence of it on the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth line where trains are decrepit and suffer frequent cancellations (regularly due to breakdowns), often at critical times for people going to and returning from work!!

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Matthew

This line requires different signalling systems so this will probably be the last line to receive modern stock.

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Bob McIntyre

Pardon me for pointing this out but Class 197s are "assembled" in Wales NOT "made". They were ordered in 2018/19 and six years on have not been an unqualified success: too many failures, not enough toilets, lack of capacity and hard seats. No mention either of the money wasted on failures such as the Class 170 units bought for west Wales that couldn't be used, or the loco-hauled trains for the Manchester service which spend more time in the depot than outside despite having vast amounts of cash spent on them. [Not to mention money spent on catering staff sitting around and food wasted!] And what about the Heart of Wales line? Already with the oldest stock in Wales, it's getting some more clapped out Class 153 units: 153/5s this time which have only half the seats and the rest for bikes. TfW say they'll always run paired with a standard 153 but I'm waiting for the day when a 153/5 gets sent out on its own... [Mind you there are so few passengers on the HoW these days that it'll probably be OK.]

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Ned

And I suppose you assemble your homemade bread because you didn't grow the wheat.

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Matthew

Compared to other UK new rolling stock the 197s have been a success. The IETs have universally been criticised by users for ironing board seats and barely any luggage or cycle space. The 197 units aren't perfect but it could have been a lot worse, and reliability on the MK4 sets is getting better after starting poorly. I am surprised that the 153s are staying though and hopefully something can be done about that in the long term.

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Matt

197's fitted with ERTMS (To run this line) are rolling out now, so there will be an increase in these units running on the HOW

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In reply to Matt

Matthew

As far as I know the 158s are going off lease and not being retained by TfW. Only 153s will run on HOW but in two car formations with the new bike carriages. Longer units aren't currently possible because some of the passing loops are too short. A shame as I think the 158s would be better suited.

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Brian

Pleased to say I have first hand experience of these new trains and yes they are up to a standard that we expect. So pleased to see and experience. It also becomes clear when you travel to Crew or Chester that the TFW train look a lot smarter and comfortable than others like Northern Lines and AvantiWest Coast. Keep up the good work. Seems folks on here just like to moan and probably do sod all else. We know the type don't we. Probably back Reform. 😅

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Matthew

Yeah have to say I've spent 4 hours on a 197 in one go recently and I don't see what most of the complaints are about. Each to their own, but I suspect some people will literally just complain about anything.

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Keith Gunstone

So, you guys just forgot the Cambrian Coast. Used as a money making pilot for ERTMS by Arriva, shame on them😔 Still clattering along in 36 year old 158 stock. Always the poor relation. It really smacks of Triggers Broom.😔😔

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Replying to richard barman Cancel

Not much evidence of it on the Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth line where trains are decrepit and suffer frequent cancellations (regularly due to breakdowns), often at critical times for people going to and returning from work!!

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