FGW has started as locomotive hauled diagram between Taunton and Cardiff due to shortages in the DMU fleet.
The diagram is as follows:
07.28 Taunton - Bristol Parkway, 09.13 Bristol Parkway - Weston-super-Mare, 11.02 Taunton - Cardiff, 14.00 return and 16.13 Taunton - Cardiff and 19.00 return.
The service uses top and tailed Class 67s from EWS and uses Cargo-D TSOs 6008, 6046, 6064 and 6117. BSO 9508 makes up the set. EWS-owned 9494 and one of the TSOs act as a spare. The set and spare vehicles are located at Bristol Barton Hill and are maintained by EWS on behalf of FGW. The vehicles are leased to EWS who have the contract to deliver the train service to FGW.
The diagram will operate until Class 150 DMUs become available, possibly cascaded from the London Midland franchise. 2010 has been mooted.
Cargo-D hopes to see more use of the set from it's current Monday - Friday operation. Possibilities are using the set on Saturdays from Bristol to Weymouth and return.
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