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Class 231 (Flirt)
How DMU-Front-End design has changed since the Clas-150 type DMU was introduced in 1984,nearly 40 years ago! here we see 150213 with 2Y41' the 11:34 from Mountain Ash to Barry Island alongside 'Flirt' 231007 in Cardiff-Central making an interesting comparison of how things have changed during the long years between these two designs.
..8 june 2023..
Another 'Stadler-Flirt',this time 231010 departs Cardiff-Central with '2P43' the 11:25 from bargoad to Penarth.Not having the yellow hi-viz warning panels on the front end takes quite a bit of getting used to after seeing them on all Units/Locomotives since about 1963--60 years ago....
..8 june 2023..
Here is the 'Power-Pack' for Stadler-Flirt 231007---381407.This sits in the middle of the 5-car train configuration using a shared bogie set-up much like the old LNER Gresley commuter stock from the early 20th century.Amazingly these new swiss trains seem to be working perfectly reliable straight out of the box!
..8 june 2023..
Here is my first picture in decent light of one of the brand new 'Flirt' Units produced by Stadler-Rail in Switzerland.Eleven in total have been introduced since January-2023.This is 231007 siting in Cardiff-Central with '2P41' the 11:28 from Ystad-Mynach to Penarth.It only got as far as here in Cardiff but the rest of the duty was cancelled due to a tresspass incident.Note the lack of a yellow 'front-end' on these trains due to regulation change a year or so ago no longer requiring them if other criterior were met.
..8 june 2023..
FLIRT 4-car+power module 231011 passes Coedkernew between Cardiff and Newport-Gwent with '3Q53' the 10:33 from Cardiff-Central to Swindon Tester/Mileage accumulation duty.Shame about thr shite light but what can you do?
..1 september 2022..
This is my first encounter with the 'yet to be introduced' into service Class-231 Dmu's known as FLIRT's buit by Stadler in Hungary at Slonok.Transport for Wales are having 11 of these new trains primarily for Maesteg to Cheltenham and Ebbw Vale line services. Here is 231011 working a tester/mileage accumulation train '3Q52' from Swindon to Cardiff-Central.Pictured at Duffryn shortly after it has passed Newport-ADJ.