British Rail Class 197

Last updated

British Rail Class 197
Civity
197112 MAN 2024.jpg
A TfW Rail Class 197 at Manchester Piccadilly in 2024
197 interior 2024.jpg
Standard class interior of the Class 197
In service14 November 2022 –present
Manufacturer CAF
Built at Newport, South Wales (body shells imported from Spain) [1]
Family name Civity
Replaced
Constructed2020–present [2]
Formation2 or 3 cars per unit [3]
(See § Variants)
Capacity
  • 2-car: 116 seats
  • 3-car 2+2-only: 188 seats
  • 3-car with 2+1: 174 seats
    (158 2+2, 16 2+1) [4]
Owners SMBC Leasing [5]
Operators Transport for Wales Rail
Depots
Specifications
Train length
  • 2-car: 48.05 m (157 ft 8 in)
  • 3-car: 71.40 m (234 ft 3 in) [6]
Car length
  • DM cars: 24.03 m (78 ft 10 in)
  • MSL cars: 23.35 m (76 ft 7 in) [4]
DoorsDouble-leaf sliding plug
(2 per side per car) [4]
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Prime mover(s) MTU [1]
(1 per car)
Engine type Turbo-diesel
Cylinder count6 per engine
Displacement 12.8 L (780 cu in) per engine
Power output
  • 375 kW (503 hp) per engine
  • 2-car: 750 kW (1,010 hp)
  • 3-car: 1,125 kW (1,509 hp)
Transmission ZF EcoLife hydromechanical [note 1] [1]
Braking system(s) Electro-pneumatic (disc)
(Knorr-Bremse EP2002) [1]
Safety system(s)
Coupling system Dellner
Multiple working Within class
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 197 [9] is a class of diesel multiple unit passenger train built by CAF, based on its Civity platform. They are operated by Transport for Wales Rail (TfW), split into 51 two-car units and 26 three-car units. [10]

Contents

Seventy-seven Class 197 sets were ordered in 2018 under the franchise obligations made by KeolisAmey Wales, the then-operator of the Wales & Borders franchise. They are based on the Class 195 units that were being received by Arriva Rail North at that time, albeit with various customisations to suit the specification and preferences of KeolisAmey and TfW. This specification was refined to include greater comfort features and to respond to public concerns. Testing of the type commenced shortly after the first completed train arrived at Crewe for commissioning in April 2021.

The first Class 197 set entered service in November 2022 and the type was officially launched two months later. It is planned for the Class 197 to eventually replace Class 158 trains on various regional and regional express routes that form part of the Wales & Borders rail franchise, such as the Cambrian lines. They are also expected to replace Class 150 and 153 units on the Conwy Valley line, and to allow extension of services between Liverpool Lime Street and Chester into both north and south Wales. In February 2024 they were cleared to run on the Maesteg Line and entered service on the Ebbw Valley Line on 29 April 2024. [11] [12]

History

Background

Operator KeolisAmey Wales took over the Wales & Borders franchise from Arriva Trains Wales in October 2018. As part of their franchise award, KeolisAmey were required to fully replace the various fleets of trains used to operate the franchise, several of which had originally been inherited from British Rail. [13] Orders were placed with a number of manufacturers for new units, including one for 77 new Civity-family DMUs from Spanish firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF). These were based on the Class 195 units that CAF had started delivering to Arriva Rail North earlier in 2018, and were also assembled at CAF's new factory in Newport. [14] Entry into service was expected between 2021 and 2023. [14] Unlike Class 195 units, however, the TfW-ordered DMUs have gangway connections at their ends allowing passengers and crew to move freely between coupled units.

In January 2020, WalesOnline reported that, based on minutes from Transport for Wales board meetings, the organisation had "raised concerns" that the seats specified by KeolisAmey and CAF for the Class 197 order could be considered uncomfortable by passengers. The same model of seat is used on the Class 700 trains employed on Thameslink services in and around London, where some passengers—particularly those making longer journeys—have described them as being like "ironing boards". TfW argued that these would be "unsuitable for long distance journeys", which could last up to three hours on services operated by Class 197 trains, but noted that it did not have a "strong legal argument" to compel KeolisAmey and CAF to change the specification. [15] TfW eventually paid an additional £1.9 million to upgrade to higher-specification Fainsa Sophia seats, [16] although these seats have themselves been the subject of some criticism from passengers of Great Western Railway trains to which they are also fitted. [15] [17]

Separately, a passenger advocacy group challenged the fact that TfW had specified only one toilet for each two-car Class 197 unit and two for each three-car unit; [16] a reduction from the one-toilet-per-car configuration on TfW's existing long-distance Class 158 and 175 trains. [4] The group also noted that the Rail Delivery Group's industry guideline for inter-urban trains throughout the UK states that there should be at least one toilet per 85 passengers, and a minimum of two toilets per train regardless of passenger capacity; but that two-car 197s would satisfy neither of these recommendations and that three-car 197s could exceed the 85-passengers-per-toilet ratio when near to fully loaded. [16] TfW stated in response that many services would be operated by two-car Class 197s working as pairs, reducing the number of potential single-toilet services. [18]

Entry to service

Diesel multiple-unit train number 197125 in service, Transport for Wales, Llandudno Junction station, May 2024. TfW DMU 197125 at Llandudno Junction station.jpg
Diesel multiple-unit train number 197125 in service, Transport for Wales, Llandudno Junction station, May 2024.

During December 2019, the Class 197 designation was assigned and, on 14 April 2021, the first completed train—a two-car unit numbered 197001—arrived at Crewe for commissioning. [19] [20] Testing of the type commenced soon thereafter. [21] On 18 January 2022, the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) granted authorisation for 20 two-car and 12 three-car Class 197 sets to enter passenger use; these initial units were not equipped to use the European Train Control System (ETCS). [3] [22]

Unit 197004 was the first to enter passenger service, doing so on 14 November 2022. [23] That same month, the ORR authorised 21 Class 197 units fitted with CAF Signalling’s onboard ETCS at Baseline 3 Release 2 and GSM-R Baseline 1 for operation in ETCS Level 2 and below under recently-introduced regulations. [22] During January 2023, the Class 197 was officially launched at a ceremony officiated by Minister for North Wales Lesley Griffiths and held at Llandudno railway station. [24] [25]

The fleet's introduction was phased. In late 2022, the 197s were initially used only on the Conwy Valley Line in a part of North Wales.

In early 2023, the 197s were introduced on North Wales Main Line services, then by mid-2023 they were in service between Cardiff and Swansea in South Wales.

Later in 2023, the 197s were in service between Swansea and Carmarthen in South-West Wales (including on services between Manchester in North-West England and Carmarthen), but initially called at Ferryside in one direction until platform raising work was carried out.

In November 2023, the 197s started working between Wrexham and Bidston on the North Wales/North-West England Borderlands line, alongside the 230s, though this is only temporary until the 230s' reliability issues are resolved.

From early 2024 to June 2024, the 197s carried out partial service in and out of Pembrokeshire - between Carmarthen and Milford Haven every day, and between Carmarthen and Fishguard Harbour on Sundays.

In April 2024, the 197s entered service on the Newport/Cardiff-Ebbw Vale and Maesteg-Gloucester/Cheltenham circuit, though this is only temporary until they are replaced by the 231s, which will be made available when the 756s replace the 231s in the South Wales Valleys. [26]

In June 2024, the 197s started full service in and out of Pembrokeshire - between Carmarthen and Milford Haven, Fishguard Harbour, Pembroke Dock and Tenby every day.

The last 197 introduction will be the ETCS-fitted 197s on the Cambrian line / Birmingham / Holyhead circuit in early 2026. In preparation for this, night-time 197 test runs on the ETCS-signalled Cambrian line (in Mid Wales and part of North Wales) started in May 2022. Daytime 197 test runs on the Cambrian line started in July 2024, successfully alongside in-service 158s. Driver training will take place in 2025.

Fleet details

SubclassOperatorQty.Year builtCarsUnit nos.Notes
197/0 Transport for Wales Rail 302020–pres.2197001–197002, 197004–197021, 197042–197051 [27] Without ETCS
21197003, 197022–197041 [28] With ETCS
197/1123197101–197112 [27] 2+2 seating only
14197113–197126 [29] With a small portion of 2+1 seating

Variants

The order for the fleet is divided into four variants, as follows: [27]

Two-car units will be able to run in multiple with up to three other two-car units, while three-car units will be able to run in multiple with up to two other three-car units. [4]

Named and notable units

TfW organised the Magnificent Train Journey competition, aimed at primary school children, to name its Class 197 units. [24]


Additionally, 197120, although not named on nameplates, carries "Gwnaed yng Nghymru / Made in Wales" livery additions with large Welsh Dragons on its DMSL and DMC vehicles that further emphasise the same text statement that is on the door sill plaques of all 197s. [36]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Combines a mechanical gearbox with a torque converter and hydraulic retarder. [7]
  2. ↑ European Train Control System (ETCS) equipment has been necessary for operation on the Cambrian lines since they were converted to use the European Rail Traffic Management System in late 2010. [30]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diesel multiple unit</span> Diesel-powered railcar designed to be used in formations of 2 or more cars

A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also generally classed as DMUs. Diesel-powered units may be further classified by their transmission type: diesel–mechanical DMMU, diesel–hydraulic DHMU, or diesel–electric DEMU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacer (British Rail)</span> 5 classes of 1980s British diesel railbuses

Pacer was the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses built between 1980 and 1987. They were inexpensively developed using a passenger body based on the Leyland National bus on top of a chassis based on the HSFV1 research vehicle. The railbuses were intended as a short-term solution to a shortage of rolling stock, with a lifespan of no more than twenty years. As modernised replacements were lacking, the Pacer fleet remained in service on some lines until 2021, 37 years after their 1984 introduction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 175</span> Class of diesel multiple unit passenger train

The British Rail Class 175Coradia 1000 is a type of diesel-hydraulic multiple unit (DHMU) passenger train from the Alstom Coradia 1000 family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 150</span> British Rail diesel multiple unit

The British Rail Class 150 Sprinter is a class of diesel-hydraulic multiple unit passenger trains, developed and built by British Rail Engineering Limited at York Carriage Works between 1984 and 1987 for use on regional services across Great Britain. The type is a second-generation design, built to more modern standards and based on BR's Mark 3 body design for longer-distance services. It was developed alongside the lower-cost Pacers, which were built using bus parts, for use on short-distance services. Two prototype units were built, followed by 135 production units in two batches. Subsequently, further members of the Sprinter family were developed and introduced to service, including the Class 155, Class 156, Class 158 and Class 159.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borderlands line</span> Railway line between Bidston, England and Wrexham, Wales

The Borderlands line, also known as the Bidston–Wrexham or Wrexham–Bidston line, is a railway line between Bidston on the Wirral Peninsula in England and Wrexham Central in the north-east of Wales. Passenger train services are part of the Wales & Borders franchise and are operated by Transport for Wales Rail. The line connects to the Merseyrail network at Bidston, the North Wales Coast Line at Shotton and the Shrewsbury–Chester line at Wrexham General. Parts of the line in Wales are used by freight trains, serving Deeside Industrial Park and the Hanson Cement works to the south of Buckley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles</span> Spanish railway and bus manufacturing company

Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a Spanish publicly listed company which manufactures railway vehicles and equipment and buses through its Solaris Bus & Coach subsidiary. It is based in Beasain, Basque Autonomous Community, Spain. Equipment manufactured by Grupo CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any existing truck or bogie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heswall railway station</span> Railway station in Merseyside, England

Heswall railway station serves the town of Heswall, on the Wirral Peninsula, England. It is a stop on the Borderlands Line between Bidston and Wrexham Central. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Transport for Wales. It was previously known as Heswall Hills, when there was another station serving the town; this was a stop on the Birkenhead Railway's branch line from West Kirby to Hooton and now forms part of the Wirral Way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TransPennine Express (2016–2023)</span> Former British train operating company

First TransPennine Express Limited, trading as TransPennine Express (TPE), was a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that operated the TransPennine Express franchise. It ran regional and inter-city rail services between the major cities and towns of Northern England and Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British railcars and diesel multiple units</span> Network Rail

Diesel multiple units and railcars are trains, usually with passenger accommodation, that do not require a locomotive. Railcars can be single cars, while in multiple units cars are marshalled together with a driving position either end. As of December 2010, 23 percent of the rail passenger cars used on Network Rail are part of a diesel multiple unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CAF Civity</span> Regional passenger train model

The CAF Civity is a family of regional passenger trains which is manufactured by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles. Available as both diesel, electric and battery-electric multiple unit, the Civity was first launched in 2010 and received its first order two years later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 331</span> British electric multiple-unit (EMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 331 Civity is a class of electric multiple unit built by CAF, owned by Eversholt Rail Group, and currently operated by Northern Trains. A total of 43 units have been built – 31 three-car units and 12 four-car units. Construction of the trains started in July 2017 and they were phased into service from 1 July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 195</span> British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 195 is a class of diesel multiple-unit passenger train from the Civity family manufactured by CAF, owned by Eversholt Rail Group and currently operated by Northern Trains. A total of 58 units have been built; 25 two-car units and 33 three-car units. The class is almost identical to the Class 331 also produced by CAF, which is the electric version of the Class 195, differing only in traction type and vehicle formation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 397</span> Class of electric multiple unit built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF

The British Rail Class 397 Civity is a class of electric multiple unit built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for lease to TransPennine Express by Eversholt Rail Group. A total of twelve five-car units were built to operate services on TransPennine North West services between Liverpool Lime Street/Manchester Airport and Edinburgh Waverley/Glasgow Central.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KeolisAmey Wales</span> Former train operating company in Wales & England

Keolis Amey Operations, trading as Transport for Wales Rail Services was a Welsh train operating company owned by Keolis (64%) and Amey (36%) that operated the Wales & Borders franchise between October 2018 and February 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 196</span> British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by CAF

The British Rail Class 196 Civity is a class of diesel multiple unit built for West Midlands Trains by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF. A total of 26 units have been built; 12 two-car units and 14 four-car units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivarail D-Train</span>

The Vivarail D-Train is a family of multiple units remanufactured by Vivarail for the British rail network. They are converted from London Underground D78 Stock, originally manufactured between 1978 and 1981 by Metro-Cammell. Two versions have been produced: the Class 230 diesel electric multiple unit and the Class 484 electric multiple unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 231</span> Diesel-electric multiple-unit passenger train

The British Rail Class 231 is a class of eleven diesel-electric multiple units of the FLIRT family, which have been built for Transport for Wales by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail. The first units entered service on 18 January 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 756</span> Tri-mode multiple-unit passenger train

The British Rail Class 756 FLIRT is a class of tri-mode multiple units built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail. They are closely related to the Class 755 bi-mode units delivered by Stadler to Greater Anglia between 2018 and 2020, which can be powered either by overhead electric lines or on-board diesel generators. The Class 756 units also carry batteries as an additional source of traction power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Rail Class 398</span> Future electric multiple unit to work in South Wales

The Class 398 Citylink is a fleet of 36 tram-train multiple units being built for Transport for Wales Rail by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport for Wales Rail</span> Welsh train operating company

Transport for Wales Rail Limited, branded as Transport for Wales and TfW Rail, is a Welsh publicly owned train operating company, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales (TfW), a Welsh Government-owned company. It commenced operations of the day to day services of the Wales & Borders franchise on 7 February 2021, as an operator of last resort, succeeding KeolisAmey Wales.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "First Class 197 DMUs for the Wales and Borders Network". Railvolution. Railway Public s.r.o. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. ↑ "Trains for Wales under construction". Rail Business UK. DVV Media International. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 "TFW Class 197s authorised for duty". Rail Magazine. No. 950. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 9 February 2022. p. 12.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Table 2B - Rolling Stock Minimum Requirements and Specifications - Sprinter / Rural Service Type" (PDF). Transport for Wales. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. ↑ Sherratt, Philip, ed. (2023). "ROSCO Fleets". Modern Railways: Review 2023. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 18–19. ISBN   978-1-80282-569-5.
  6. ↑ "Civity Regional Diesel Trains for Wales and Borders". Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. Archived from the original on 11 February 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  7. ↑ "EcoLife Rail - Powershift Transmission". ZF Products for Rail Vehicles. ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ↑ "Transport for Wales expands its use of its new fleet". Network News. Rail Magazine . No. 1008. 1 May 2024. p. 24.
  9. ↑ Transport for Wales Rail [@tfwrail] (2 December 2019). "Firstly, the new Wales and Borders diesel trains that will be built here in Wales - the Class 197" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2021– via Twitter.
  10. ↑ Clinnick, Richard (12 June 2018). "CAF confirmed for new Welsh franchise - all 77 trains to be assembled at Newport". Rail Magazine. Bauer Consumer Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Brand new trains on the Maesteg line". Transport For Wales News.
  12. ↑ Pritchard, Robert (June 2024). "Ebbw Vale launch for 197s". Rolling Stock News. Today's Railways UK . No. 268. p. 61.
  13. ↑ "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News . British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  14. 1 2 Barry, Sion (4 June 2018). "How Wales' railways will be transformed with new stations, trains and jobs through investment worth billions". WalesOnline . Cardiff: Reach plc . Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  15. 1 2 Clark, Rhodri (12 January 2020). "Taxpayers to pay £2m for better seats on Wales' new trains". WalesOnline. Reach plc. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  16. 1 2 3 Clark, Rhodri (23 April 2020). "Concern about '197' interior spec". Modern Railways. Key Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  17. ↑ Barry, Sion (7 June 2021). "South Wales to Manchester rail services getting train quality upgrade with first class options". BusinessLive. Reach plc. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "Transport for Wales defend new Welshpool trains". MyWelshpool. MyTownMedia. 8 August 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  19. ↑ Michel, Julien (4 December 2019). "Transport for Wales: meet the fleet". Railcolor News. Railcolor-Ziemon. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  20. ↑ Lissenberg, Ferry (19 April 2021). "DMU for Wales: First CAF Civity diesel train outshopped". Railcolor News. Railcolor-Ziemon. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  21. ↑ "First of Class 197 on test for Transport for Wales". Rail . No. 932. 2 June 2021. p. 26.
  22. 1 2 Longhorn, Danny (28 November 2022). "Authorisation Granted for Transport for Wales Class 197 DMU & Onboard ETCS". railbusinessdaily.com.
  23. ↑ "Soft launch for Transport for Wales Class 197 DMUs" . Rail Business UK. Sutton: DVV Media International. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  24. 1 2 Kendrick, Suzanne (26 January 2023). "Unveiling of first brand new Transport for Wales trains - Llandudno". northwalespioneer.co.uk.
  25. ↑ Tooley, David (26 January 2023). "New £800 million train fleet for Wales and Borders officially launched". Shropshire Star.
  26. ↑ "Class 197s launch on Ebbw line". modernrailways.com. 25 April 2024.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Fletcher, Steve (13 January 2022). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – Class 197 Diesel Multiple Units" (PDF). Letter to Paul Simmons (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). London: Office of Rail and Road. UK/51/2022/0003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 February 2022. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  28. ↑ Fletcher, Steve (23 November 2022). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – Authorisation of Class 197 ETCS variant including the onboard use of ETCS Level NTC, ETCS Level 2 and below" (PDF). Letter to Paul Simmons (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). London: Office of Rail and Road. UK/51/2022/0009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  29. ↑ Fletcher, Steve (2 June 2023). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – CAF Class 197 First Class Diesel Multiple Unit Application for Authorisation" (PDF). Letter to Paul Simmons (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles). London: Office of Rail and Road. UK/51/2023/0003. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  30. ↑ "Pioneering Rail Technology Gets Tested in Wales". Network Rail (Press release). 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  31. 1 2 Pritchard, Robert (June 2024). "197s named in honour of Hollywood stars". Rolling Stock News. Today's Railways UK . No. 268. p. 61.
  32. 1 2 "New trains named after Wrexham Football Hollywood stars". Transport for Wales News. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  33. ↑ "First new TfW train named 'Happy Valley'". Transport for Wales News. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  34. ↑ "Carew Castle Express unveiled in Carmarthen". Transport for Wales News. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  35. ↑ Butlin, Ashley (August 2024). "Multiple Units". Stock Update. The Railway Magazine . Vol. 170, no. 1481. p. 87.
  36. ↑ "Freedom of Information Request (DocX)". Transport for Wales. Retrieved 11 August 2024.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to British Rail Class 197 at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.