Transport for Wales
Class 197 final fleet
* ERTMS installed
$ Standard Premium section
2-car
197 001 131 001 133 001
197 002 131 002 133 002
197 003 131 003 133 003 *
197 004 131 004 133 004
197 005 131 005 133 005
197 006 131 006 133 006
197 007 131 007 133 007
197 008 131 008 133 008
197 009 131 009 133 009
197 010 131 010 133 010
197 011 131 011 133 011
197 012 131 012 133 012
197 013 131 013 133 013
197 014 131 014 133 014
197 015 131 015 133 015
197 016 131 016 133 016
197 017 131 017 133 017
197 018 131 018 133 018
197 019 131 019 133 019
197 020 131 020 133 020
197 021 131 021 133 021
197 022*131 022 133 022
197 023*131 023 133 022
197 024*131 024 133 020
197 025*131 025 133 020
197 026*131 026 133 020
197 027*131 027 133 020
197 028*131 028 133 020
197 029*131 029 133 020
197 030*131 030 133 020
197 031*131 031 133 020
197 032*131 032 133 020
197 033*131 033 133 020
197 034*131 034 133 020
197 035*131 035 133 020
197 036*131 036 133 020
197 037*131 037 133 020
197 038*131 038 133 020
197 039*131 039 133 020
197 040*131 040 133 020
197 041*131 041 133 020
197 042 131 042 133 042
197 043 131 043 133 043
197 044 131 044 133 044
197 045 131 045 133 045
197 046 131 046 133 046
197 047 131 047 133 047
197 048 131 048 133 048
197 049 131 049 133 049
197 050 131 050 133 050
197 051 131 051 133 051
3-car
197 101
131 101 132 101 133 101
197 102
130 102 132 102 133 102
197 103
131 103 132 103 133 103
197 104
131 104 132 104 133 104
197 105
131 105 132 105 133 105
197 106
131 106 132 106 133 106
197 107
131 107 132 107 133 107
197 108
131 108 132 108 133 108
197 109
131 109 132 109 133 109
197 110
131 110 132 110 133 110
197 111
131 111 132 111 133 111
197 112
131 112 132 112 133 112
197 113
131 112 132 113 133 113
197 114$
131 112 132 114 133 114
197 115$
131 112 132 115 133 115197 116$
131 112 132 116 133 116197 117$
131 112 132 117 133 117197 118$
131 112 132 118 133 118197 119$
131 112 132 119 133 112197 120
$131 112 132 120 133 120197 121$
131 112 132 121 133 121197 123$
131 112 132 122 133 123197 124$
131 112 132 123 133 124197 125$
131 112 132 125 133 125197 126$
131 112 132 125 133 126
The Class 197 trains, built for Transport for Wales by Spanish firm Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles, S.A. (CAF), partly at a new factory in South Wales. The fleet (when complete) will comprise 51 two-car units (197 001 - 197 051) and 26 three-car units. They are part of CAF's 'Civity UK' range of products.
197s feature lightweight aluminium construction, the body shells being imported to the Newport works from spain. Each car is powered by a Rolls-Royce/MTU series 1800 power pack incorporating a Euro Stage V compliant 6H R85L turbocharged diesel engine rated at 390 kW (523 HP) or from another source 375 kW/503 HP , either way slightly more than the 340 kW (450 hp) than the class 175 units they are replacing. Like the 175, Maximum speed is 100 mph.
The engine is coupled to a ZF Ecolife Hydro-mechanical transmission driving one of the two bogies. Braking is by disk brakes on the inside-framed bogie, controlled by Knorr Bremse 'mechatronic' intelligent braking system, augmented by a hydrodynamic retarder in the transmission. (the 175s had this feature, which caused problems in their early days.) The driving cars are 24.03 metres long, the intermediate car in their 3-car sets are slightly shorter at 23.35 metres. Dellner couplings for multiple working are situated on the ends of each set; they will only couple to other 197s.
The livery is a simplified version compared to all other TfW classes which have a black surround to the windows.
Ordered by former franchise holders Keolis-Amey, they 197s are designed for use on TfW's long-distance services replacing the British Rail-built 158s and the Metro-Cammell 175s (the latter only entered service in 2000), and on some local stopping services such as the Conwy Valley line. The layout of the cars provides passenger doors at one-third and two-thirds along the body shell, contrary to previous practice for long-distance trains which provides doors at each end of the car. Although possibly controversial - TransPennine have chosen end doors for their new stock - this will help with passenger flow at busy stations, such as platforms 13/14 at Manchester Piccadilly.
The first completed unit, 197 001, was delivered to the Arriva Traincare depot in Crewe for commissioning in April 2021, and further units were delivered over the next two years; by the start of 2023 a number were held in a storage facility at Donnington, it was estimated that around half the total fleet had been built although less than ten were in passenger service. By Spring of 2024 all the 2-car sets, except those for the Cambrian, were in traffic, and several of the three-car sets.
The 197 is fundamentally similar to the CAF units of Northern (195) and West Midlands Railway (196) stock. Connecting doors are fitted at the cab end for the driving controls, and doing nothing for the appearance when compared to Northern's 195s. However it is planned that the 2-car sets will often be used in pairs.
Introducing new trains is a slow process; each one has to run a specific number of miles before the company can accept it, and a very large number of drivers need to receive training. The pandemic made this difficult as training involves two people being in the cab. 197s running empty were were common sight on the North Wales through 2021 and 2022, and in July 2002 TfW held a static viewing for invited guests (not including NWRail!) at Chester station.
On 14 November 2022 197 004 became the first 197 in passenger traffic, working the Llandudno - Blaenau Ffestiniog service. Shortly afterwards 197s appeared on the Chester - Liverpool and Llandudno - Manchester Airport services.
Passenger facilities include: 116 seats in 2+2 format in a 2-car set and 188 in the 3-car set. Some of the 3-cars to be delivered last, 197 113-126, were to have a first class section for use on the Manchester - South Wales service which they will share with first-class fitted loco-worked sets. However, this has been altered to a 'Standard Premium' service - details are not clear at the time of writing.This will reduce the capacity to 174 seats. All sets have a facility to store a refreshment trolley, and a cycle space which (unlike some new stock specified by the English Government) does not require cyclists to hand their bikes on a hook. All sets have places for two wheelchairs, and a disabled-friendly toilet; the 3-cars have an additional smaller toilet.
The comfort of the seats is, as always in these hard times, under scrutiny. The seats originally specified were the same as those in some new London-area trains which were disliked by passengers, so before production began the type of seat ordered was changed to one said to be more comfortable. Another concern is the possibly too-small amount of luggage space for trains which will serve an airport and holiday resorts. This is in fact an issue on all UK trains in recent times, as suitcases get larger and larger. It's likely that the wheelchair and cycle spaces will be blocked by luggage on many services.
197s will replace the Class 158 units currently used on the Cambrian lines, which operate on the ERTMS signalling system, and 20 2-car sets, 197 003 was the testing prototype of the necessary equipment, and is based at Machynlleth depot. A further 19 sets, 197 022 to 041 will be delivered later. These units will remain compatible with the other 197s on the non-ERTMS network.