As a geriatric in Wales, ie: over 60, I get free travel on the HOW line between October and March. I didn't know they were going to do the bike thing with them, that will be a real positive
Class 153s concentrated using on Transport For Wales are very nice 👌 looking trains 🚆. They are cosy and comfortable inside containing central heating and carpet. They are over 35 years old in 2022. Also used for ScotRail. 😊
Not great to drive. The brakes take a second to come on when trying to slow down, and also they take a second to come off when you want to stop braking, resulting in too much of a speed reduction. When starting from a stop (at a station for example), they sometimes don't fully come off for several seconds and you need to give it a lot of power to get moving. This causes a delay as it adds maybe 5 to 10 seconds between each stop. Doesn't sound like much but it adds up. They often have poor acceleration too. The converted middle cab is referred to as the "little end" and is quite cramped. When we get heavy rain, they leak like a seive and we get huge puddles in the drivers cab. There is often a single 153 on the Cardiff Bay branch or running between Coryton and Radyr (via the City Line) which does not have a toilet fitted in service (can get uncomfortable when you are at Radyr for long dwell times without a toilet available). When coupling them to pretty much anything else, they are temperamental and sometimes cause a random brake applicant or other fault. Much prefer a 150, or the new 231s.
It does appear that there are lots of old trains still operating in Europe. But some of the British trains from the late 70s and early 80s weren't great, like the 150 and 153.
Class 507 and 508 trains, among the oldest on the network, will be meeting the scrapper's torch soon, unfortunately. It's a shame, in my eyes, that since an economic system based on profit wants to reduce spending in order to extract profit, why old units aren't being passed down to lines that otherwise would have limited or no service at all.
@@caramelldansen2204 Specifically with the 507/508, they have been in intensive service for many decades now. From what I have heard they are very worn out mechanically. Additionally, they have already been passed around between systems before, and there's not much demand for a unit of that sort of specification anymore. At some point things eventually just need to be replaced wholesale. With other unit classes though, especially some of the older DMUs that are viewed so unfavorably by some, they probably have some useful life left.
They were apparently hoping to replace the 153s with Class 170s but there were clearance issues on the route, they also tried 158s but there were issues with the doors.
Possibly, the bike cars are eventually supposed to be permanent coupled to another 153. But I haven't seen any announcements about the active travel units.
And is TfW keeping the Class 153. Or will it be replaced by new trains including Class 197 Civity and to be cascaded to East Midlands Railway or Northern.
Class 153s will remain on the Heart of Wales line for the foreseeable future. Not sure how many 153s TfW will retain but the 4 latest arrivals are being converted into bike trains.
If anyone thinks that Class 153s or any other sprinters deserve to be withdrawn and replaced, they need to look at themselves in the mirror and have a word.
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As a geriatric in Wales, ie: over 60, I get free travel on the HOW line between October and March. I didn't know they were going to do the bike thing with them, that will be a real positive
Has to be some positive to being lumbered with 153s for the foreseeable future.
I wasn't aware that the 153s used to be 2-car 155s, learnt something today!
That's what I like to see, if I can teach someone something new I'm happy 😊
Class 153s concentrated using on Transport For Wales are very nice 👌 looking trains 🚆. They are cosy and comfortable inside containing central heating and carpet. They are over 35 years old in 2022. Also used for ScotRail. 😊
Not great to drive. The brakes take a second to come on when trying to slow down, and also they take a second to come off when you want to stop braking, resulting in too much of a speed reduction. When starting from a stop (at a station for example), they sometimes don't fully come off for several seconds and you need to give it a lot of power to get moving. This causes a delay as it adds maybe 5 to 10 seconds between each stop. Doesn't sound like much but it adds up. They often have poor acceleration too.
The converted middle cab is referred to as the "little end" and is quite cramped.
When we get heavy rain, they leak like a seive and we get huge puddles in the drivers cab.
There is often a single 153 on the Cardiff Bay branch or running between Coryton and Radyr (via the City Line) which does not have a toilet fitted in service (can get uncomfortable when you are at Radyr for long dwell times without a toilet available).
When coupling them to pretty much anything else, they are temperamental and sometimes cause a random brake applicant or other fault.
Much prefer a 150, or the new 231s.
And to think TfW will be running then on the HoW line for the foreseeable 😬. Owns the 153s outright don't they?
@@Rail_Focus TFW definitely own some 153's outright, but I think others are leased.
TFW Should Have Replaced The Class 153s With The Ex GA Class 170s When They Had The Chance To Do So 👍
Clocked a two car unit at 82 mph the other day between Whitland and Carmarthen. Not bad for a 75 mph train😊
Crikey, they sound bad enough travelling at 75mph! 🤣
@@Rail_Focus It was bouncing around like crazy.
😬
Won't do the final drives a lot of good.
@@leonblittle226 Probably won't harm them mate.
It does interest me how new much of the UK fleet is. There are much older trains still running places on the continent if wiki is correct.
It does appear that there are lots of old trains still operating in Europe. But some of the British trains from the late 70s and early 80s weren't great, like the 150 and 153.
Class 507 and 508 trains, among the oldest on the network, will be meeting the scrapper's torch soon, unfortunately. It's a shame, in my eyes, that since an economic system based on profit wants to reduce spending in order to extract profit, why old units aren't being passed down to lines that otherwise would have limited or no service at all.
@@caramelldansen2204 Specifically with the 507/508, they have been in intensive service for many decades now. From what I have heard they are very worn out mechanically. Additionally, they have already been passed around between systems before, and there's not much demand for a unit of that sort of specification anymore. At some point things eventually just need to be replaced wholesale. With other unit classes though, especially some of the older DMUs that are viewed so unfavorably by some, they probably have some useful life left.
They were apparently hoping to replace the 153s with Class 170s but there were clearance issues on the route, they also tried 158s but there were issues with the doors.
Not good, wonder what that means for their eventual replacement. Could be a problem for 197s as well
@@Rail_Focus Possibly, you do wonder if something more specialised will be needed. Fear for the future of the line after these trains go tbh
What's with the 1539xx renumbering ? are these the bike modded ones or the not to be used solo units?
Possibly, the bike cars are eventually supposed to be permanent coupled to another 153. But I haven't seen any announcements about the active travel units.
They do the job well and are better than pacers.
I'm not a big fan to be honest, but you're right they are at least better than Pacers
And is TfW keeping the Class 153. Or will it be replaced by new trains including Class 197 Civity and to be cascaded to East Midlands Railway or Northern.
Class 153s will remain on the Heart of Wales line for the foreseeable future. Not sure how many 153s TfW will retain but the 4 latest arrivals are being converted into bike trains.
@@Rail_Focus Ok 👍
00:01 ex EMR 156 now Northern
Took me a while to figure out why there was an EMR unit at Chester.
Please slow down a bit, it is hard to follow. English is not my first language. Great video
I'm hoping I've improved since this video 😁
If anyone thinks that Class 153s or any other sprinters deserve to be withdrawn and replaced, they need to look at themselves in the mirror and have a word.
They're not going to last forever
TFW Should Have Just Replaced The Class 153s With Ex GA Class 170s When They Had The Chance 👍
It does seem really unfair that HoW will have 153s when other lines are getting FLIRTs.