Class 175s to GWR

[Hattermick]

There’s a 67 in the centre sidings at Wolverton and a 175 parked by Lidls,not sure if it means anything.

 

[LUYMun]

It might mean that it’ll be in the middle aisle this Thursday

There’s a 67 in the centre sidings at Wolverton and a 175 parked by Lidls,not sure if it means anything.

 

[Razorblades]

It might mean that it’ll be in the middle aisle this Thursday

You win the internet, comedy gold!

 

[ls2270]

93006 and 93002 hauling 175111 and 175115 as 7Q70 from Ely to Wolverton Works this morning.

 

[grecian ern]

can anyone do an update of what units are at Ely, Wolverton and Laira as from today

 

[Jacob Porrett]

can anyone do an update of what units are at Ely, Wolverton and Laira as from today

175111/115 are at Wolverton.

 

[brad465]

175111/115 are at Wolverton.

175002, 009 and 114 are at Laira, as they've been seen on test runs in Devon/Cornwall.

 

[REVUpminster]

175002, 009 and 114 are at Laira, as they've been seen on test runs in Devon/Cornwall.

Refurbished 175003 is at Laira with surely more to follow shortly from Wolverton. Better people than me know the numbers. I am sure they are on this thread but lost amongst the last three hundred posts.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Refurbished 175003 is at Laira with surely more to follow shortly from Wolverton. Better people than me know the numbers. I am sure they are on this thread but lost amongst the last three hundred posts.

Has 175003 turned green inside and outside now?

 

[150249]

Has 175003 turned green inside and outside now?

Nope

 

[tfw756rider]

Has 175003 turned green inside and outside now?

Nope

Exactly. The video Jacob shared that starts with 175003 going through Bedminster on Wolverton-Laira shows it still in white and red. And I remember reading the posts saying that it's had underframe corrosion repair and an interior deep clean, as well as "other things".

I've said several times "I wonder if those other things are the union mods - the installation of high-backed drivers' seats with head rests, and the repositioning of a couple of cab controls that were in the wrong place", but no-one ever seems to respond to that for some reason.

As for the exterior repaint and interior retrim, they're going to come later, but from what I've seen in here (I think), the interior retrim will apparently be done before the exterior repaint.

 

[D365]

I've said several times "I wonder if those other things are the union mods - the installation of high-backed drivers' seats with head rests, and the repositioning of a couple of cab controls that were in the wrong place", but no-one ever seems to respond to that for some reason.

It’s 50/50 whether or not the people that can respond to your comments are active forum members.

 

[brad465]

In this video of the latest 175s going to Wolverton (seen reversing at Nuneaton), there are cables visible out the 175 cabs linking both between the units and the barrier wagons (05:24 in the video is the clearest example). I'm not an expert, but this seems risky as this could increase the loading gauge requirement and the cable could get entangled in something lineside more easily:

 

[Robin Edwards]

Ely Mif : 175004/005/008/010 175102/103/104/105/109/110/116 (175008 is in two halves)

Wolverton : 175001/006/011 175101/106/107/108/111/112/113/115

Laira : 175002/003/007/009 175114

 

[REVUpminster]

Ely Mif : 175004/005/008/010 175102/103/104/105/109/110/116 (175008 is in two halves)

Wolverton : 175001/006/011 175101/106/107/108/111/112/113/115

Laira : 175002/003/007/009 175114

Thanks for this. I must remember post 1394

 

[LowLevel]

In this video of the latest 175s going to Wolverton (seen reversing at Nuneaton), there are cables visible out the 175 cabs linking both between the units and the barrier wagons (05:24 in the video is the clearest example). I'm not an expert, but this seems risky as this could increase the loading gauge requirement and the cable could get entangled in something lineside more easily:

It's an air pipe and is the accepted method for moving unbraked units, it allows the loco to apply the brakes on the translator vehicles without involving the unit being transported. Some units in working order are moved with equipment that allows the loco to operate the unit's brakes. These moves with unbraked units will be done at a lower speed.

 

[tfw756rider]

It’s 50/50 whether or not the people that can respond to your comments are active forum members.

Fair enough, yeah.

 

[Bringback309s]

Once the full fleet are in, will 158's West of Plymouth become rare or continue at all? I can see 158's concentrating more on the Devon and Bristol etc routes..

 

[BayPaul]

Once the full fleet are in, will 158's West of Plymouth become rare or continue at all? I can see 158's concentrating more on the Devon and Bristol etc routes..

The plan as I understand it is for 158s to move almost entirely to Cardiff - Portsmouth. 175s on D&C mainline local services, Barnstaple and Okehampton. 150s on other D&C branch lines, plus a few 166s on Exmouth - Paignton.

 

[cactustwirly]

The plan as I understand it is for 158s to move almost entirely to Cardiff - Portsmouth. 175s on D&C mainline local services, Barnstaple and Okehampton. 150s on other D&C branch lines, plus a few 166s on Exmouth - Paignton.

175s are replacing the 802s as well?

 

[Snow1964]

Once the full fleet are in, will 158's West of Plymouth become rare or continue at all? I can see 158's concentrating more on the Devon and Bristol etc routes..

The plan as I understand it is for 158s to move almost entirely to Cardiff - Portsmouth. 175s on D&C mainline local services, Barnstaple and Okehampton. 150s on other D&C branch lines, plus a few 166s on Exmouth - Paignton.

Some of the 175s also release IETs that have been covering regional services. The plan as I understand it is that the 158s will nominally be Cardiff-Portsmouth only. Although there are not enough to fully convert it and restore 5car trains.

GWR has 41 class 158 vehicles, 19 two car and a 3car (but some 2car have been dispanded, and forming extra 3car units with 3 cabs)

A full Cardiff-Portsmouth requires 8 trains, so likely some will remain as 4car, or one circuit will continue as 165+166 etc

It has been confirmed some trains to Barnstaple will be 5car 175s, but as they cannot couple in service to other types, having 3 fleets which cannot couple in Exeter area is less than desireable. I know in theory a 158 can couple to a 150 but mixed formations do not normally happen.

 

[RPI]

It's not as

Some of the 175s also release IETs that have been covering regional services. The plan as I understand it is that the 158s will nominally be Cardiff-Portsmouth only. Although there are not enough to fully convert it and restore 5car trains.

GWR has 41 class 158 vehicles, 19 two car and a 3car (but some 2car have been dispanded, and forming extra 3car units with 3 cabs)

A full Cardiff-Portsmouth requires 8 trains, so likely some will remain as 4car, or one circuit will continue as 165+166 etc

It has been confirmed some trains to Barnstaple will be 5car 175s, but as they cannot couple in service to other types, having 3 fleets which cannot couple in Exeter area is less than desireable. I know in theory a 158 can couple to a 150 but mixed formations do not normally happen.

Though not that common now, 158+150 combos used to be fairly common, there's no issues coupling them, it's 16x and 15x that have the same couplings but can't couple, except for emergency rescue.

 

[trainmania100]

Any plans to get the first unit(s) in service by the end of this month? I can't see much mainline testing going on recently, so I'm guessing they're nearly ready?

 

[jamieh27]

The 802s will go back to doing its InterCity job like it should do was only temporary to run on the Cardiff stoppers, 175s will stop as far as Exeter and alternate with either Class 158 or 165/166 to Cardiff.

175s are replacing the 802s as well?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Oct 2025 ==

Any plans to get the first unit(s) in service by the end of this month? I can't see much mainline testing going on recently, so I'm guessing they're nearly ready?

Not sure depends on how much training the drivers and guards have done on them, hopefully at December timetable change unless it will start 175s in service in the new year which could have short formation or cancelled services.

 

[Anonymous10]

The 802s will go back to doing its InterCity job like it should do was only temporary to run on the Cardiff stoppers, 175s will stop as far as Exeter and alternate with either Class 158 or 165/166 to Cardiff.


== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Oct 2025 ==


Not sure depends on how much training the drivers and guards have done on them, hopefully at December timetable change unless it will start 175s in service in the new year which could have short formation or cancelled services.

I would hope for more than a single 158 or turbo. Ive done cardiff to plymouth / Exeter a few times and those trains are always busy. Personally they justify an intercity train as they link Cardiff, Newport, bristol, Exeter.

 

[jamieh27]

I would hope for more than a single 158 or turbo. Ive done cardiff to plymouth / Exeter a few times and those trains are always busy. Personally they justify an intercity train as they link Cardiff, Newport, bristol, Exeter.

They might form as a 4-5 car set.

 

[The exile]

I would hope for more than a single 158 or turbo. Ive done cardiff to plymouth / Exeter a few times and those trains are always busy. Personally they justify an intercity train as they link Cardiff, Newport, bristol, Exeter.

Are enough units really going to be displaced to allow for replacement of all the 800s on regional workings - in addition to all the other things. I appreciate that there are probably enough 175s to do so, but might they not need to spread their wings beyond Exeter to complete the cascade (given the continuing requirement for 150s/ Turbos on most of the branches and the Exmouth - Paigntons)

 

[Jrocks]

The 802s will go back to doing its InterCity job like it should do was only temporary to run on the Cardiff stoppers, 175s will stop as far as Exeter and alternate with either Class 158 or 165/166 to Cardiff.

Not quite. Yes the 175s will run the Exeter - Penzance portion. 80x will still run the Exeter - Cardiff portion. Can't find my post above (its a huge thread) but here is the cascade again:

- 175s replace the HSTs (which are withdrawn)
- 175s replace the 80x on Exeter to Penzance (which will go back to mainline work)
- 175s replace the 158s on Barnstaple (which will move to Bristol for Portsmouth - Cardiff services)
- 175s replace the 150s on Okehampton (which will then go to form up the 'Mid Cornwall Metro)
- 158s (released from Barnstaple) replace 165/166s on Portsmouth - Cardiff services (not all 165/166s will be released as there are not enough 158s for all diagrams on this route)
- 165/166s (released from Portsmouth - Cardiff services) replace 80x on Bristol - Worcester services (with the 80x going back to mainline work)

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Not quite. Yes the 175s will run the Exeter - Penzance portion. 80x will still run the Exeter - Cardiff portion. Can't find my post above (its a huge thread) but here is the cascade again:

- 175s replace the HSTs (which are withdrawn)
- 175s replace the 80x on Exeter to Penzance (which will go back to mainline work)
- 175s replace the 158s on Barnstaple (which will move to Bristol for Portsmouth - Cardiff services)
- 175s replace the 150s on Okehampton (which will then go to form up the 'Mid Cornwall Metro)
- 158s (released from Barnstaple) replace 165/166s on Portsmouth - Cardiff services (not all 165/166s will be released as there are not enough 158s for all diagrams on this route)
- 165/166s (released from Portsmouth - Cardiff services) replace 80x on Bristol - Worcester services (with the 80x going back to mainline work)

One 165+166 diagram will remain with the rest pairs of 158s, according to what has been posted before.

 

[REVUpminster]

Todays "Devon Metro" is agood example of stock allocation. Paignton Exmouth seven diagrams was worked by five 3 car turbos, one 3 car 158 and one double set, 4 cars, of 150s
Barnstaple three diagrams had two 3car 158s and one double set of 150s
Okehampton's two diagrams of two 150s single sets.

So a future of 3 175s for Barnstaple with one of them being 5 car. Okehampton two 3 car 175s. That uses five 3 car from 15 GWR will have and one 2 car from the 11 GWR will have.

This gives plenty 10 3car 175s and 10 2 car 175s for Penzance-Exeter and ultimately Penzance-Cardiff as all the stock arrives next year.

Paignton-Exmouth will still need it's five turbos and might even get an extra one. Still need a two pairs of 150s and others as back up.