Atomic Systems

i dont know if its true but all the 3 car 175's are now in Arriva's hands and Arriva still have custody over the 3 car 158's from transpennine.

I was also told all Birmingham - Holyhead services will be rerouted via shrewsbury. the only services out of chester that are not arriva now are the liverpools and the blackpools.

salopiangrowler wrote:i dont know if its true but all the 3 car 175's are now in Arriva's hands and Arriva still have custody over the 3 car 158's from transpennine.

I was also told all Birmingham - Holyhead services will be rerouted via shrewsbury. the only services out of chester that are not arriva now are the liverpools and the blackpools.

Although the odd Virgin Holyhead/London may pass through, and the Liverpool's were Arriva until last July when the Dutch took over..........

Hi, the '2 car' and '3 car' Transpennine sets are now allocated to TPE, along with the '2 car' FNW 158s
(on tuesday one of these reached Newcastle coupled to a 3 car Transpennine set on the 0621 ex Lime St)

Arriva retains control of the '2 car' METRO 158s (these are owned by WYPTE).

The 175s are now operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but are being hired to TPE on a rotational basis for the Barrow/Windermere services until the new '185' Desiro Fleet arrives.

Hope this helps

Lee


Britains newest Intercity Franchise - Now in Operation

ArrivaTrains wrote: The 175s are now operated by Arriva Trains Wales, but are being hired to TPE on a rotational basis for the Barrow/Windermere services until the new '185' Desiro Fleet arrives.

Just to confuse matters....

Today I caught a 175 on an fNW service from Manchester to Blackpool. The conductor was the same fella (waring a new smart black and purple TPE blazer) who was working the TPE service to Windermere on Tuesday. So I was on a First North Western service, operated by stock allocated to Arriva Trains Wales, crewed by a member of staff from First Keolis Transpennine Express And people wonder why "normals" get confused.

Slip

Oh holy hell. I caught the Holyhead service to get to Chester from Wolverhmapton quickly, since it is quicker via Crewe than via Shrewsbury. And now you are telling me this is now going to be routed that way also? GREAT. Ah well, it is more stock to see out of my bedroom window I suppose.

I have also noticed that some Arriva 158s have an ugly FNW blue strip along the bottom of the coaches, just a temporary measure I assume. Looks weird though.

Thanx One wonders if chester depot will be an alternate depot for Arriva 158's now. Oh i also heard that central still want the green birmingham aberystwyth 158's back.

Proposed Birmingham - Holyhead service will look something like this:

Birmingham dep --:--
Wolverhampton --:--
Telford --:--
Wellington --:--
Shrewsbury --:--

Then every other train will do:

Crewe --:-- then usual route

and

Gobowen --:--
Chirk --:--
Ruabon --:--
Wrexham --:--
Chester --:-- then onwards as originally.

but that info was said to me a few months ago so it could have changed. A couple of ex FNW drivers were noted in shrewsbury this week learning Crewe - Shrewsbury locals.

mikey2001 wrote:I have also noticed that some Arriva 158s have an ugly FNW blue strip along the bottom of the coaches, just a temporary measure I assume. Looks weird though.

Very weird:

Lawrence Llwellyn-Bowen would not approve!

There is quite a colour clash going on there, but the 158s should look quite nice if they receive an all over First livery if the blue is anything to go by.

mikey2001 wrote:Lawrence Llwellyn-Bowen would not approve!

There is quite a colour clash going on there, but the 158s should look quite nice if they receive an all over First livery if the blue is anything to go by.

Yeah, they probably will get all over First TPX.

The vinyls are definately temporary as little holes have even been carved for the unit numbers, so it is a bodged job.

As a regular traveller on the TPX 158s, I am also hoping that an interior refurbishment is a top priority. Those seats in the Arriva 158s are pretty worn now!

Most 158 interiors seem to be quite worn. And whenever I'm on Scotrail I always hope I get a 170 or 156 because their 158s are always stinky inside for some reason!

Sorry, the powers above inform me that the interiors wont be refurbished again - as the units will only be around till the end of 2006 at the latest - the 'desiros' should all be in service by then

Thanks

Lee


Britains newest Intercity Franchise - Now in Operation

The whole 158 fleet (as far as I know) are worn out and stink. I was on a CT 158 the floor had been stapled back into place where it had ripped, there’s grime in every corner, the seats a too soft and Im not starting on the tables...

The under floor vibrations are horrid as well and its hard to find a 158 that sounds healthy around here. Im not a mechanic or anything but they do sound like they are on their last legs, they have been heavily over used and over worked in my opinion, the SRA should set up a program where every unit gets stripped and re-built, just with different colours for each TOC.

OMG that pic of a 158 is really bad! I would approve of graffiti on that train.

if the SRA have there way the 158's will be going next year on there 15th birthday.