Transport for Wales Class 197s have started operating on services between Birmingham International and Shrewsbury.
Transport for Wales Class 197s have started operating on services between Birmingham International and Shrewsbury.
The first unit appeared on the route on February 17, with their introduction on the Cambrian line still planned for late 2026/early 2026.
For now, TfW‘197s’ will operate Birmingham-Holyhead services or Birmingham-Aberystwyth/Pwllheli services as far as Shrewsbury, where passengers will need to change onto an ETCS-fitted Class 158 for the remainder of the journey into mid-Wales.
A dedicated fleet of ETCS-fitted Class 197s will eventually be used on Cambrian services.
More Class 197s have entered traffic within the last few weeks.
TfW put 197028 into passenger use on January 29, working from Llandudno to Crewe. It was followed on February 1 by 197126 - the last of the three-car Class 197/1s to be accepted, working from Chester to Cardiff.
On TfW’s Valley Lines operations, Stadler units 756102/112 are also in passenger traffic.
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Benski68010 - 26/02/2025 22:33
I think this is really good that a more modern fleet of trains have entered service. The 158s will be missed sincerely, when they eventually get withdrawn.