New trains approved for region’s railways

Brand new trains have been approved for use on railway lines in North Wales.

The regulator, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), has authorised the passenger use of 30 two-car and 12 three-car class 197 Diesel Motor Unit trains.

The Spanish manufacturer CAF is constructing 51 two-car and 26 three-car Class 197s for Transport for Wales (TfW) Rail at a plant in Newport.

Mileage accumulation and staff training is underway and the trains are already regular sights on the line between Chester and Llandudno Junction and on the Conwy Valley line to Blaenau Ffestiniog on these runs.

To date eight two-car and three three-car Class 197s have been delivered.

TfW have yet to reveal which routes will see the new trains in service but it is expected that they will be introduced gradually from May on the Chester to Liverpool Lime Street and Chester to Llandudno and Conwy Valley line.

The ORR’s authorisation allows the trains to be operated at 100mph although none of the North Wales lines are able to accommodate such speeds. Up to three units, for a maximum of nine vehicles, can be operated together in passenger service and up to four units, or 12 vehicles, for empty stock movements.

Furthermore the authorisation only applies to those units not fitted with ECTS (European Train Control System) equipment and without First Class accomodation.

The remaining DMUs requiring authorisation are 21 two-car sets that will be equipped with ETCS for operation on the Cambrian line from Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli, and 14 three-car DMUs that will have a small first class area for use on the Swansea to Manchester route.

The Class 172 trains are part of an £800m programme to replace almost the entire TfW Rail fleet. Alongside the CAF fleet, Stadler is delivering seven three-car and 17 four-car class 756 tri-mode trains, 11 four-car class 231 DMUs and 36 three-car tramtrains.