Transport for Wales

[Sh4318]

The 197s are ok. The seats are pretty good and the layout (at least in the carriages without the galleys), they suffer from the same awful ride quality as the 195s though. Not the worst new train on the market, but not groundbreaking either

I, for one, will miss the 158s when they're fully replaced

[Stu]

The 197s are ok. The seats are pretty good and the layout (at least in the carriages without the galleys), they suffer from the same awful ride quality as the 195s though. Not the worst new train on the market, but not groundbreaking either

I, for one, will miss the 158s when they're fully replaced

Having travelled on TfWs 158s several times in the last few years, the new 197s might take some getting used to, but they are a welcome upgrade.

As I previously wrote here, I travelled to Fairbourne last month for a short holiday, and got to sample one of the new 197s between New Street and Shrewsbury. My only concern was that the 197s don't seem to have as many luggage racks for larger suitcases as the 158s have at the ends of each carriage, though I was able to lift my medium-sized case up onto the overhead racks, which do seem to be able to accommodate larger luggage now.

It remains to be seen how these new trains will cope during the summer months when you have families and groups heading off on holiday to the West Wales coast.