Today's story shows a new look for the Wales & Borders Railway. After Arriva Trains Wales had recently been replaced by Transport for Wales. Today's story begins at Maesteg (Ewenny Road) where units 153323 & 153333 were just leaving heading back to Cardiff Central, when the front unit, which was 153323, was suffering from problems on the chassis, as it approached Pencoed one of it's pipes sprung a leak, and had completely come to a stop outside Tremains Junction. TfW 153372 still in its First Great Western livery, came to rescue the trains, hauling them to Pencoed and back to Cardiff Central, then the trio headed to Canton Depot, where 372 was redesignated as a Class 153/9, 153972, due to TfW 153 refurbishment scheme, and was repainted into Transport for Wales livery, along with 153333, but 333 had stayed as 333 rather than being refurbished.
Mr Griffiths, railway director, was absolutely sick and tired of having to deal with the cost expenses of repairing the old ageing DMU's. In past stories, we saw the introduction of CAF built Class 197s & the Stadler built Class 231. CAF & Stadler had been preparing for this to happen for almost a year to replace the ageing stock with new units. 25 3-car Class 197s were built 197101 - 197125 and 11 4-car Class 231s were built 231001 - 231011. The 197s were beginning to replace Class 158s, 170s & 175s on most valley services and InterCity services such as Ebbw Vale Town, Maesteg, Holyhead, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa & Manchester Picc. And the 231s were allocated to the Rhymney Line to replace the Class 150s, and 153 Sprinters which were destined for the knackers yard.
Soon, all the 231s and most of the 197s were in revenue earning public service. Transport for Wales, along with Mr Griffiths, had agreed that the Class 153s were to stay to continue work on the Coryton - Radyr and the Queen Street to the Bay shuttles, and the Class 158s were sent off to Laira (Great Western Railway) where they were operated by GWR. 3 Class 158s (158 819, 158 829 & 158 840) stayed with TfW to work the Wrexham General - Llandudno Junction services. But more on the Class 158s in the next story. The passengers were delighted to have new trains, they were faster accelerating off the platform, they were much quieter and soon built a great reputation amongst the passengers. Do you think all these new trains will continue to be successful and revolutionary? Find out soon in future stories.
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The Wales & Borders Railway
Short StoryBased on Thomas & Friends, but is in wales with different characters, engines and vehicles still talk, but don't have faces
