JULY 2 saw the first of Transport for Wales’ three-car ‘Civity’ Class 197s run in passenger service (RE327), the first such working being the 1K50 08.57 Chester-Crewe, operated by No. 197110.
Later the same day, another three-car set, No. 197112, worked the 1W90 16.36 Chester-Holyhead. Further units from the ‘197/1’ sub-class entered traffic soon after, namely Nos. 197104 (July 3) and 197111 (July 11).
Other ‘Civity’ units put into service with TfW in recent weeks have been Nos. 197043 (June 30), 197042 (July 4), 197016/020 (both July 6), 197001 (July 7), 197048 (July 20) and 197014 (July 26). Additional diagrams have been introduced on the North Wales coast as well as on the Crewe to Chester shuttle services.
July 11 saw No. 197116 arrive at Telford Railfreight Terminal by road from the CAF plant at Newport. Leaving Telford for Arriva Traincare, Crewe, behind Freightliner No. 70005 the same day was No. 197051.
The entry to traffic of further ‘197s’ has led to a decline in the use of Class 175s – for example, on July 24, only six sets (Nos. 175009/010/103/108/112/114) were in traffic although around half the fleet remains in active service. The remainder are out of use, although by late July only three sets remained at Holyhead, No. 175004
