Trains promised for Valleys lines now running late
THE new trains due to arrive on the Valleys lines have been delayed due to an “engineering issue” – and there’s no date for when they’ll come into service.
Five trains were due to be delivered in 2018.
Transport for Wales had expected to withdraw Pacer trains from service by the end of the year and replace them with Class 769 trains.
However, engineering issues mean those Class 769 trains are yet to be delivered.
A spokesman for the supplier said that would take place “as soon as possible” and Transport for Wales said that once that happens they will have safety and engineering checks.
Driver training will before they come into use.
“We hope to introduce the Class 769s to our network in early 2020,” a spokesman said.
In June, Transport for Wales gave an update saying that the Class 769 trains were due on the Rhymney line from September.
Porterbrook is the supplier for the delayed Class 769s, also known as “flex” trains.
A spokesman for the supplier said there had been issues during the process of re-engineering the trains. follow
They say they will work with their supplier to deliver the trains “as soon as possible”.
The trains are working, the spokesman said, and have been tested in northern England at speeds of up to 100mph.
In the meantime, Pacer trains, which were due to be removed from service at the end of this year, would continue to run and Porterbrook will also supply single-carriage Class 153 trains.
However, to keep Pacer trains in action during 2020 the operator would need special dispensation because mandatory requirements for accessible rail vehicles come into force on January 1, 2020.
“The Pacers and Class 37 locohauled trains will gradually be removed from service as the more modern and comfortable Class 769s become available in the new year,” Transport for Wales has said.
A Porterbrook spokesman said: “Porterbrook is committed to working closely with TfW as they continue to transform the experience of rail passengers across Wales. Some of TfW’s plans depend on our innovative Class 769 trains, whose introduction into service has been subject to delays, for which we apologise.
“The new Class 769 trains are currently going through their final acceptance programme. This builds on recent successful test operation of these trains in the North of England, where speeds of up to 100mph were recorded in diesel mode.”
A Transport for Wales spokesman said: “Capacity is a top priority for our customers and we will be introducing Class 153s and retaining some of our Pacer and Class 37 loco-hauled trains for a short period in 2020 to allow us to increase capacity on our busiest routes.”