Transport for Wales forced to cut back services as Talerddig collision leaves it short of units

Transport for Wales has been forced to cancel four of its Cambrian Line services ‘until further notice’ because it cannot find replacements for the two Class 158s that were seriously damaged in the collision near Talerddig.

The operator is currently so tight for rolling stock that it has also had to reduce the formations of services on other routes from four coaches to two, including to Manchester Airport.

These problems come at just the time when the complete replacement of the ‘158s’ by a new fleet of CAF Class 197s could still be more than a year away. Leasing company Angel Trains is unable to take a decision on whether to repair collision-damaged 158824 and 158841 because they are likely to be quarantined by the Railway Accident Investigation Board (RAIB) for several months. In any case, the repairs may not be justified when their service life is approaching its natural end, and in practice rarely takes place on any crash unit nowadays because the cost and lack of works capacity and specialist teams.

The two units were damaged when 158841, operating the 1831 Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth, collided with 158824 on the 1909 Machynlleth-Shrewsbury 800 metres west of the Talerddig passing loop on Monday October 21.

One passenger died after the collision and 15 were injured.

TfW has few options for the Cambrian Line. Its fleet of 24 ‘158s’ were fitted with the specialist European Train Control System (ETCS) in 2009-10 duties west of Shrewsbury to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth. The new 21 standard-class only, two-car Class 197s (197003/22-41) are also ETCS-equipped, but driver training has only just begun in anticipation of full passenger service entry before 2026.

While there are no other suitable ETCS units available, TfW has a plentiful supply of Class 150s,which are currently being laid aside when they reach high mileages, and major exams are routinely refused.

The Cambrian route reopened for normal services from Monday October 28 after the ‘158s’ were separated and moved to Machynlleth before the site checked and test trains run.

Trains that no longer run

Cancelled until further notice, Monday to Friday:

• 0507 Machynlleth to Barmouth
• 0645 Barmouth to Machynlleth
• 1742 Machynlleth to Aberystwyth

1829 Aberystwyth to Shrewsbury will start from Machynlleth at 1909.

Replacement buses are being laid on to replace the early services.

Short formations

The following services are also being ‘de-strengthened’ from four coaches to two:

• 0452 Holyhead to Manchester Airport
• 0825 Manchester Airport to Holyhead
• 1150 Holyhead to Shrewsbury
• 1328 Shrewsbury to Machynlleth
• 1826 Shrewsbury to Llandudno
• 2042 Llandudno to Chester