First ever Class 197 in Mid Wales! 197003 lands in Machynlleth on 23/5/22, dragged in by 97304+37601

Enjoyed this video? Check out what 197003 had been doing before, at • 197003 on testing/trai...
This video has a "part 2" - • 97304 and 37601 at Mac...

[@ILikeTransport]

Nice video. Shame it's arrived though, bringing inferior specs and comfort for all. Nice to see the 97 and 37. Sorry if I prevented some of your shots from being as good as they could have been.

[@RWL2012]

Thanks :) Yeah they'll be worse than what they're replacing in some ways (harder seats, smaller capacity air suspension, fewer toilets etc) I'll acknowledge, but nothing we can do about that unfortunately :( I'm still looking forward to going on them because they're brand new trains on the line for the first time in 23 years (going by the brief use of 170s) and should have really good acceleration and braking if they perform like the 172s they're mechanically inspired by (which I was impressed by when I rode on them), and the 1/3-2/3 doors should reduce any big queues of people getting on and off. Anything else? umm... Nah there's no issue, I got more footage of the 97 and 37 which I'll put in a part 2 but I wanted to focus on the 197 for this one 😝 I'll check your channel later :) I tried to find out when any 197 ERTMS/ETCS test runs were going to be running to Aberystwyth, but it wasn't until it had been there that I got the first response 😝 I hope it's not too long until they go there again, because I would like to see one there in person as I only live a few minutes' walk from the station.

[@SionsTrainVideos]

Good video nice 2 tone lol and engine sounds on 97/37 the 197 looked good in the night

[@RWL2012]

thanks mate, yeah! I'll try and do a part 2 with the extra 97+37 footage I got, as this video focuses on the 197 :)

[@SionsTrainVideos]

@@RWL2012 cool. Is this video going on public now

[@RWL2012]

@@SionsTrainVideos yes mate, and actually I'm going to put the 197003 in the Shrewsbury/Shropshire area public as well :)

[@SionsTrainVideos]

@@RWL2012 ah right lol funny that's not public yet

[@RWL2012]

@@SionsTrainVideos it is NOWWW!!!

[@ancientsolar2]

what a class capture!! Treat or dread for the sleeping inhabitants ;)

[@RWL2012]

thanks! haha yeah 😆 I'll let you know when part 2 is up :)

[@RWL2012]

oops, part 2 has been up for a while now. link now in description (second link)

[@RWL2012]

I've uploaded a new video!

[@grahamhutton3129]

I'm surprised these units will replace the long distance 158s. Apart from the dodgy air con reliability, the 158s are super comfortable for a journey from Birmingham to Porthmadog. Why are brand new trains built with inferior comfort and suspension to 30year old stock?

[@RWL2012]

I don't know. What I don't get is, on top of the CAF Civity DMUs in general being worse in some ways than the 158s, the TfW 197s are specced lower than the WMR 196s, not having the "better" window layout or "more comfortable" FISA Lean seats of the 196s (and, I believe, TfW's 231s and 756s) but instead having the 195 window layout, and the seats "upgraded" before build from Fainsa Comrail (like Cl. 700) to Fainsa Sophia (like Cl. 80x) seats after the Welsh Government stepped in with lots of money...

[@grahamhutton3129]

@@RWL2012 The 158 class and 159 class on SWR are superb, I would say the best diesel sprinter ever built for BR. The only issue is the unreliable air con. Birmingham to Porthmadog is 5 hours, and they have less seat and less loos. They really need the 3 car or permanent 4 cars all the way, not 2 cars from Mach. I wonder where the retired 158s will go. I bet another operator will snap those up. Any idea when the 197s start taking over the 158shedules?

[@RWL2012]

@@grahamhutton3129 on the question, I'm not sure. without re-reading railforums ---> CAF Civity for TfW, I'm guessing next year...

[@RWL2012]

​@@grahamhutton3129I've uploaded a new video!

[@AberystwythStation]

Cool to see this, was unaware of this movement. Today... If you're up and about now, wondering whether you may have seen 171T on its way down to Aber? Had planned to go down to the crossing and see it, but feeling a bit whacked and tired, luckily I can see the line from where I live! Can only see lights though... Anyway, if you did see it, do you now if it's the 197 being dragged - looked like the 97 was pulling coaches/MU given the lights behind it. Kind regards, GWR

[@RWL2012]

Glad you got to see it on my video :) I just saw 171T (1Q97) at Aberystwyth station (97303+97304), I had no idea about it to be honest 😆 No 197 in it unfortunately, just the yellow Network Rail test coaches. I'm disappointed that I wasn't there for the 197 ERTMS/ETCS test run in the early hours of the 28/5/22 I think it was - I had asked (on the one forum I'm on) if anyone knew when it would be coming, but I didn't get a response until after it had already been 😝 Hopefully I see some sort of 197 testing/training run in Aberystwyth sometime at least!

[@AberystwythStation]

@@RWL2012 Think my comment got hidden...! Perhaps it's under review because of the link?

[@RWL2012]

@@AberystwythStation I just checked my "held for review" and it's not in there - you'll have to post it again without the link unfortunately :(

[@AberystwythStation]

@@RWL2012lol, I cannot remember what I said! Can't remember what link I shared either. I was travelling through Machynlleth yesterday, and previously noted on OpenTrainTimes that the PLPR test train was still in the siding, so managed to get a video of it as we passed by. Ironically one of the coaches was Network Rail's "Overhead Line Inspection" coach! Will post the link separately just in case! GWR

[@AberystwythStation]

Ah, won't let me post the link. That was it. Glad I posted my message separately!

[@gordonjohnson8432]

Cannot beat 158 for comfort.....197 dodgy....if its anything like that 195......ill fitting seating with the windows...comfy seating gone.....just saying.....

[@RWL2012]

thanks for your comment and I get what you're saying

[@RWL2012]

I've uploaded a new video!