Arriva Trains Wales

[First Class]

RE: Arriva Trains Wales
Pwlhelli depot only has 4/5 conductors and about the same number of drivers. They only sign Pwlhelli to Machynlleth anfvthe Aberystwyth branch, and, like Mach crews they only sign Class 158s, so sending a 153 etc isnt going to be much good, even if you did somehow suspend ERTMS operation on that section AND found a spare 153!

Other issue is that drivers must go over the route every 3 months to retain competency, 6 months for conductors. As the Pwlhelli staff haven't worked any trains for some time, it is probably getting to the point where not enough staff actually sign the route. Even when the line reopens, route learning will need to take place to account for that.