Class 175s to GWR

[brad465]

Reported as 175101/113 T&T by 37501/510. Passed March 74 late and no further reports on RTT. May be in trouble

Presumably they can just hold the train in one of the loops/sidings outside the station if it's broken down in some way.

 

[RPI]

1219 3 car 158 off plymouth to Penzance on Monday had standees. Don't forget alot of these trains connect off London services and are swamped at Plymouth when not formed of a 5 car IET. Saturday mornings too, especially when Argyle are at home are going to need more than a 3 car. I like 175s, I think they look good trains, but I do fear we are going to see overcrowding in a way that we just haven't seen down here on local stuff, post covid.

It's not the norm though, I work these most of the time, including some of the earlier ones that originate in Exeter and they're generally very comfortable.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jul 2025 ==

Summer holiday season, so not school/college times, I have had to stand several times St.Erth - Truro, normally when a 4-car 150 formation, but also a Castle set last summer.

Yes, things are better than they were pre-Covid, but still have found capacity to be an issue.

Roy

Certainly isn't the norm, they can be busy but certainly won't be unbearable with 3 car 175's. Which mainline workings are 4 car 150's?

 

[The exile]

1219 3 car 158 off plymouth to Penzance on Monday had standees.

As you’re using it as an example of overcrowding, I’m sure this is not the case, but I’m frequently on trains where there are standees (sometimes to the extent of hardly being able get through the vestibule) yet the loading appears to be under 100% of seating capacity. (Ie more empty seats than standees).

 

[brad465]

Reported as 175101/113 T&T by 37501/510. Passed March 74 late and no further reports on RTT. May be in trouble

Presumably they can just hold the train in one of the loops/sidings outside the station if it's broken down in some way.

In an update on RTT, the diagram now appears to have arrived on time at Wolverton, but no report is seen on every location after March before this. Does anyone know if the full allocation made the journey or if an alteration occurred?

 

[Obar123]

In an update on RTT, the diagram now appears to have arrived on time at Wolverton, but no report is seen on every location after March before this. Does anyone know if the full allocation made the journey or if an alteration occurred?

Nope, turned back at March and has gone back to Ely, just arriving back into Papworth as I am typing this. It was 37501, 37510, 175101, 175113. The 37s were working too hard for the short set so the brakes may be on as it sounded like an air leak.

 

[RPI]

As you’re using it as an example of overcrowding, I’m sure this is not the case, but I’m frequently on trains where there are standees (sometimes to the extent of hardly being able get through the vestibule) yet the loading appears to be under 100% of seating capacity. (Ie more empty seats than standees).

Probably fine after Saltash too.

 

[irish_rail]

Probably fine after Saltash too.

With all the luggage and cases I'm not entirely sure Saltash was the final destination on that occasion.

 

[Rich McLean]

It's going into peak holiday season. It is not unusual for the Paddington to Penzance Trains to be full and standing, leaving people behind, right the way through until Truro when it empties out a bit, but remains busy until St Erth. This pushes those left behind onto Plymouth & Exeter Terminators, who then change at Exeter or Plymouth onto the local stopper filling that up.

With the 175s they can double them up for the school holidays and use 5 car IETs where possible to fill the gaps to meet demand by moving them around. Most of the year, 3 cars will be more than adeqate with a few 4 car workings thrown in. As part of the works at Wolverton, they are being fitted with new driver seats and SDO Mods amongst other things. Saltash will still be an issue, but ensuring passengers are in the right carraiges at St Germans will be a workaround.

Once all crews west of Taunton are trained, then Bristol crews can be trained up, which will allow them to run through to Cardiff again, with portion working and a few 5 car 80x thrown in. Diagrams can also be optimised at that point to get the most out of the stock.

 

[Choo choo 66]

It's not the norm though, I work these most of the time, including some of the earlier ones that originate in Exeter and they're generally very comfortable.

That 1219 from Plymouth is regularly fairly busy throughout, as well as a number of the other trains. Winter time it isn’t as bad but peak summer 3 car 175 will certainly be full and standing regularly if on these trains

 

[JKF]

The 175s are replacing the Castle Sets, which will be withdrawn, the class 158s, which will move to Bristol Metro and IETs. The Class 158s will release some Turbos to head back to London Thames Valley to allow extra services to be run.

Aren’t 158s not particularly great for metro services, with their doors at carriage end rather than thirds like on the turbo? A lot more hassle getting bikes/pushchairs on and into appropriate storage areas which will increase dwellings times. We do get 158s already on Severn Beach line but the more common turbos are preferable, and quite smart after the recent refurb.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Once all crews west of Taunton are trained, then Bristol crews can be trained up, which will allow them to run through to Cardiff again, with portion working and a few 5 car 80x thrown in. Diagrams can also be optimised at that point to get the most out of the stock.

Has there been any suggestion that the Cardiff-Penzance through workings will be restored in the future?

 

[Rich McLean]

Has there been any suggestion that the Cardiff-Penzance through workings will be restored in the future?

It was always the intention. The split in the service should be temporary, for ease of crew training. We are looking at a few TT changes before we see through workings returning and as always subject to DfT approval.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Has there been any suggestion that the Cardiff-Penzance through workings will be restored in the future?

It was always the intention. The split in the service should be temporary, for ease of crew training. We are looking at a few TT changes before we see through workings returning and as always subject to DfT approval.

With solely IETs I suppose, and 175s being restricted to services that don’t go north of Exeter?

 

[Snow1964]

With solely IETs I suppose, and 175s being restricted to services that don’t go north of Exeter?

Strictly Oakhampton and Barnstaple are north of Exeter.

As the main overhaul depot is at Bristol, will occasionally work there, and there are some early and late trains that get that far (but not onto Cardiff). These might be ECS workings, and often scheduled as driver only

 

[The_Train]

Reported as 175101/113 T&T by 37501/510. Passed March 74 late and no further reports on RTT. May be in trouble

I see it was canned at March so presumably stock has been dumped in the sidings there? RTT reporting the cancellation reason as a problem with the brakes (although this should be taken with a pinch of salt as we often see many random reasons thrown into a cancellation)

Edit: Seen elsewhere that the stock was returned to Ely Papworth

 

[Snow1964]

It was always the intention. The split in the service should be temporary, for ease of crew training. We are looking at a few TT changes before we see through workings returning and as always subject to DfT approval.

I think the latest round of Government funding, has covered the new stations in South Wales which would see a TfL service running to Bristol (and thus alternate with the Cardiff-Portsmouth trains)

It could potentially lead to revised plan if effectively also got Cardiff-Bristol-Exeter section covered by TfW and XC with a change, and need to serve the new stations at Wellington and Cullompton. Sort of opens question is Cardiff-Penzance to be a limited stop fast service, or a semi-fast service.

The extra stations probably mean a direct like for like restoration of through service might be modified

 

[fgwrich]

I think the latest round of Government funding, has covered the new stations in South Wales which would see a TfL service running to Bristol (and thus alternate with the Cardiff-Portsmouth trains)

It could potentially lead to revised plan if effectively also got Cardiff-Bristol-Exeter section covered by TfL and XC with a change, and need to serve the new stations at Wellington and Cullompton. Sort of opens question is Cardiff-Penzance to be a limited stop fast service, or a semi-fast service.

The extra stations probably mean a direct like for like restoration of through service might be modified

*TfW.

I’d be surprised to see wales services extended back to Devon again frankly, Swansea > Bristol yes, into Devon no.

Though frankly this is somewhat academic and probably best served in another thread.

 

[Bikeman78]

The mainline Exeter to Penzance services are mostly dead (non London services) outside of the odd college/school kid train, so 2/3 will be more than adequate and actually easier to manage.

It's surprised me how much quieter they've become even since the timetable change where the Cardiff trains were split, I'm not sure if this has resulted in XC being busier?

I expect the loadings will pick up in the summer. I seem to recall that passenger loadings increased a lot when the through trains started so splitting the service permanently is a bit of an own goal.

 

[Bringback309s]

Any news on the units at Wolverton? What is being done to them and when can we expect to see one?

 

[Xavi]

As the main overhaul depot is at Bristol, will occasionally work there

Laira will be undertaking all work on 175s.

 

[tfw756rider]

Any news on the units at Wolverton? What is being done to them and when can we expect to see one?

We know that they're getting new high-back driving seats with head rests, the repositioning of some controls in the driving cabs, and Selective Door Operation (SDO) modifications have even been mentioned.

I wonder if they're also doing anything to the livery/branding/interior trim there?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Strictly Oakhampton and Barnstaple are north of Exeter.

As the main overhaul depot is at Bristol, will occasionally work there, and there are some early and late trains that get that far (but not onto Cardiff). These might be ECS workings, and often scheduled as driver only

Oh for goodness’ sake, behave

 

[Robin Edwards]

Nope, turned back at March and has gone back to Ely, just arriving back into Papworth as I am typing this. It was 37501, 37510, 175101, 175113. The 37s were working too hard for the short set so the brakes may be on as it sounded like an air leak.

Retry scheduled for Tuesday 15th?

 

[brad465]

Retry scheduled for Tuesday 15th?

The loco move appears to be cancelled today, so I don't see tomorrow's move happening.

 

[Robin Edwards]

The loco move appears to be cancelled today, so I don't see tomorrow's move happening.

Indeed although 8Q70 to Wolverton for Tuesday 15th is still showing atm - likely to get cancelled too

 

[Obar123]

Indeed although 8Q70 to Wolverton for Tuesday 15th is still showing atm - likely to get cancelled too

There are 2 barriers and a 37 still at Ely, so may still run, who knows?

 

[BillStampy]

Seems my notifications from this thread didn't wish to go through recently, just caught up on everything.

Realtime Trains | 5Z21 0930 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Saltash | 15/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Z21 0930 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Saltash on 15/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There's these paths in tomorrow from Laira to Saltash, are these expected to be a 175?

 

[fgwrich]

Seems my notifications from this thread didn't wish to go through recently, just caught up on everything.

Realtime Trains | 5Z21 0930 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Saltash | 15/07/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Z21 0930 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Saltash on 15/07/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There's these paths in tomorrow from Laira to Saltash, are these expected to be a 175?

Looking further throughout the morning and into the afternoon, it the does a few shuttles from Plymouth to Liskaerd and back before heading to Laira just after lunchtime.

 

[BillStampy]

Looking further throughout the morning and into the afternoon, it the does a few shuttles from Plymouth to Liskaerd and back before heading to Laira just after lunchtime.

Another thing to note is that it's operated by GWR directly, not ROG like we've previously seen. Likely using the newly trained driver managers I assume? (This is also all assuming this is still a 175!)

 

[Obar123]

There are 2 barriers and a 37 still at Ely, so may still run, who knows?

The move from Ely to Wolverton tomorrow is cancelled.