Trains for shorter routes

[martin adamson]

At one point Arriva Trains Wales deployed a 153 on a service to Penzance, it was joined onto a 158 at Newport making a Manchester Piccadilly - Penzance service of some 7 hours (about 4 from Newport). I wonder if anyone had the guts to do that entire journey!

[hstudent]

Originally Posted by David A Hicks

Northern have 155s doing the Manchester Victoria - Leeds via Halifax route at around 90 minutes. owever I have noticed some 158s on there and I guess Northern have added more 158s to this route.

When I caught a train between Manchester Victoria and Halifax it was a 156, but that was a few years ago.

[hstudent]

Originally Posted by Folos

You lot REALLY haven't been on the commuter lines in south wales (namely the rhymney valley line and to radyr on the cathays+llandaff line).

They also use a 153 on the stopping service to swansea (bridgend,pyle,port talbot, briton ferry, neath, skewen, llansamlet and swansea) at peak times and believe me that's overcrowded.

Arriva have also used a 153 on the city line on a double match day (one at the milennium and one at ninian park) - and incase you didn't know the city line train stops at central AND ninian park), there were so many people on the platform they had to wait for another train. That's good planning!

I've seen 142s on the Northern network that are so crowded that people have to wait on the platform for an hour because one train is too full. However, it's something you'd more likely see on a Saturday than a weekday.

[submarine]

I think I am correct in saying that 153's are used on the Shrewbury to Swansea service as well. From memory thats about three hours and is heavily patronised over most of the route.