Nine dual Flex-Bi-Mode models in the 769 series are expected to be delivered by 2019[34] after 319 diesel generators and additional electronics have been converted to a place below the previously unused insoles on the Thameslink range`s electric railcars. [35] In addition, the remaining 150/153ers/158s until 2022/23 receive changes to the STI PRM (REDUCED MOBILITY – Technical Interoperability Specifications) (the 175 are superior to the RVAR on which they were built and are accepted without modification). On November 15, 2020, two more than 153 switched from the East Midlands Railway to TfW Rail. On September 29, 2020, 142082 was the first of The DMUs pacer of the 142 series of TfW Rail (inherited from ATW) to be permanently removed from circulation. Four of its 142 were withdrawn in October, November and early December 2020. By 2023, TfW Rail`s entire ATW and additional temporary fleet (with the exception of 67-series locomotives) will be replaced. [41] Revenues from the COVID 19 pandemic, which did not make the financial franchise viable, were transferred to derkeolisAmey, which is involved in some important projects, on 7 February 2021, by the Welsh government operator, Transport for Wales Rail, a subsidiary of Transport for Wales. [18] [19] [20] It is assumed that six 153 trains from the West Midlands will then pass through TfW Rail. On October 22, 2020, two of them had tried to do so, but they failed on the way. These units are expected to be removed and replaced until January 1, 2020, but may remain in service until December 31, 2020 (extended from July 31, 2020).
In October 2016, four offers were selected for the next franchise in Wales – Borders: Abellio, the incumbent operator Arriva, a joint venture Keolis/Amey and MTR Corporation. [9] [10] On 12 December 2019, TfW Rail`s 3-wagons 170202 were travelling in the first passenger transport operated by Series 170 (between Bridgend and Ebbw Vale Town, above Cardiff), and five units (three of three and two cars) were in passenger service on 16 December 2019. All units were in service until April 2020, with 3-wagon 170206 being the last to be commissioned. As of August 25, 2020, 8,769 have been delivered and testing on the Rhymney Line began on March 16, 2020. The first unit commissioned, 769002, finally did so on November 16, 2020. 769003 followed on November 18, 2020 and 769006 on December 4, 2020. The units have removed their pantographs and are only used in diesel mode because they operate on non-electrified lines. In July 2020, the entire stock of Mark 3 from TfW Rail (inherited from Arriva Trains Wales) was leased and stored at Long Marston. [39] [40] On September 9, 2019, a test unit transformed into the same configuration as the TfW Rail units began with testing in the manufacturer`s sector, and on April 10, 2020, 230006 was tested in 23000 as the first TfW Rail unit.
More recently, testing has begun in the field of use. Units are expected to be commissioned at some point in 2020. Since January 2020, the Welsh Government has fined Keolis Amey $2.3 million for poor rail performance. [16] The company is expected to be criticised by the Welsh Language Commissioner later in 2020 for six times the law on the Welsh language regime since its acquisition in 2018. [17] TfW Rail told the BBC that it did not think any rules had been broken. [17] Complaints included the fact that Welsh was treated less on self-service machines, websites and the mobile app, that correspondence was not fully displayed in Welsh, that train tickets were printed only in English, and that station and train advertisements were not always bilingual. [17] This work has been delayed for a number of operators wishing to operate the Flex units, including the Great Western Railway and Northern.
