Class 175s to GWR

[XFeed]

Great Western Railway uploaded a YouTube video on Fri 8/5/26 titled 'Best train service for Newquay since the 1960s is almost here':

It has a lot of 175 footage throughout.

I`m quite surprised 114 hasn`t got a negative earth fault judging by the condensation in the night headlamp @ 2.19

 

[tfw756rider]

I`m quite surprised 114 hasn`t got a negative earth fault judging by the condensation in the night headlamp @ 2.19

And I'm quite surprised that that close-up shot was included!

 

[REVUpminster]

Will there only be one 175 and the other a 150. I can see a Barnstaple situation on their hands with the hourly service. Still being marketed as PAR TO NEWQUAY (THE ATLANTIC COAST LINE) in the timetable.

 

[Apedlar12]

Will there only be one 175 and the other a 150. I can see a Barnstaple situation on their hands with the hourly service. Still being marketed as PAR TO NEWQUAY (THE ATLANTIC COAST LINE) in the timetable.

Yes, when Par to Newquay goes hourly I believe they should be using a 175 on one diagram, and a 150 on the other.

Don't quite understand how Barnstaple comes into this though?

 

[REVUpminster]

Yes, when Par to Newquay goes hourly I believe they should be using a 175 on one diagram, and a 150 on the other.

Don't quite understand how Barnstaple comes into this though?

When you get a service hourly, such as Barnstaple or Okehampton, it does give the commuter some certainty of how long they will have to wait for the next train; not great. Same goes for the off-peak leisure traveller.
Get it to half an hour and passenger increase. St Ives is a good example as there is a rival bus service between Penzance and St Ives.

Somewhere there is research on how increasing train services has a direct correlation on passenger growth. Same research works for roads. The Kingskerswell bypass and half hour Paignton service has made Paignton, Torquay, commuter towns for Exeter. The exact opposite of what was intended. The same could happen to Newquay.

 

[irish_rail]

Yes, when Par to Newquay goes hourly I believe they should be using a 175 on one diagram, and a 150 on the other.

Don't quite understand how Barnstaple comes into this though?

Indeed with Plymouth HSS drivers still doing several Newquay trips from May, one of the two diagrams will HSVE to be 150 operated, as HSS don't yet sign 175s, and won't until next year.

 

[XFeed]

And I'm quite surprised that that close-up shot was included!

I`m not that surprised really as the people who created the content for GWR, whether internal or not, would not be expected to know the significance of excessive condensation within the light unit or Lumiere as the French liked to call them

I am surprised though that it wasn`t picked up on the units most recent FPX - Fuel Point Exam - or its Pre service Prep for the trip to Newquay.

 

[BillStampy]

175101 rolled off the steps of Laira for the first time today, 114 came off with it but it seemingly got sent straight back in, 009 was then dragged out to work 5Z13 with 101. 101 is now due to head back into Laira and 009 will continue the training runs on it's own.

 

[Snow1964]

With less than a week to new timetable, does anyone know how many 175 are passed for service. From memory some at Laira either hadn't been through Wolverton works or were restricted to training for now.

Also are there still a handful at Ely ?

Thanks

 

[BillStampy]

With less than a week to new timetable, does anyone know how many 175 are passed for service. From memory some at Laira either hadn't been through Wolverton works or were restricted to training for now.

Also are there still a handful at Ely ?

Thanks

I think the only units that haven't been in service are new arrivals from Wolverton, those only being 175111 and 115. As for Ely, I think there's only one or two units left, I can't remember the exact numbers off the top of my head but I believe it's one 2-car and one 3-car.
The fleet is now practically split half and half between Laira and Wolverton, just a matter of waiting for new arrivals of mostly /1s.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 May 2026 ==

...009 will continue the training runs on it's own.

175114 has come back off Laira to rejoin 009, now 89 late from Plymouth 5Z23

 

[REVUpminster]

With less than a week to new timetable, does anyone know how many 175 are passed for service. From memory some at Laira either hadn't been through Wolverton works or were restricted to training for now.

Also are there still a handful at Ely ?

Thanks

Ely :3: 175005/008, 175104 (175008 is in two halves). 008 will probably stay or scrapped if Ely closes.

 

[Apedlar12]

Another movement from Laira down to Par via Newquay tomorrow by the looks of it:

Realtime Trains | 5Z51 0725 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Par Chapel Siding | 13/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z51 0725 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Par Chapel Siding on 13/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z52 1301 Par Chapel Siding to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 13/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z52 1301 departure from Par Chapel Siding to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 13/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[tfw756rider]

The 175s are even on the weather forecast now Seen at 21:46 in this video (deliberately not embedded)

Still frame shows a Class 175 train on the Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash on an ITV weather forecast screen.

 

[The Prisoner]

Another movement from Laira down to Par via Newquay tomorrow by the looks of it:

Realtime Trains | 5Z51 0725 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Par Chapel Siding | 13/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z51 0725 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Par Chapel Siding on 13/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Z52 1301 Par Chapel Siding to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 13/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5Z52 1301 departure from Par Chapel Siding to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 13/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

175007 doing the honours

 

[REVUpminster]

175007 doing the honours

Seems reliable and not been to Wolverton.

 

[Apedlar12]

Seems reliable and not been to Wolverton.

Is it possible that the work that the others have received at Wolverton, could have been done to 007 in Laira instead?

 

[BillStampy]

Is it possible that the work that the others have received at Wolverton, could have been done to 007 in Laira instead?

Likely the case as the other units have had GWR work done to them including the PIS and a few little touches of rebranding including vehicle numbers and on the saloon door labels. Also, I think they've changed out the drivers seats on the non-Wolverton units but I can't be sure of that one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 May 2026 ==

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1154 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1154 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Attempt Number I've lost count.

 

[Apedlar12]

Attempt Number I've lost count.

Attempt 3 I think

 

[REVUpminster]

Attempt 3 I think

Three attempts have been the norm. I don't know why they cannot send two units coupled unless they think it might double the chances of a breakdown. Only one has broken down from Wolverton.

 

[brad465]

Three attempts have been the norm. I don't know why they cannot send two units coupled unless they think it might double the chances of a breakdown. Only one has broken down from Wolverton.

Well if the Liskeard incident is anything to go by, the chances of two breakdowns would be higher when one unit fails.

 

[REVUpminster]

Well if the Liskeard incident is anything to go by, the chances of two breakdowns would be higher when one unit fails.

Well someone who knew the train fixed the problem when they got there. The other train technicians must have learnt something.

 

[XFeed]

Well someone who knew the train fixed the problem when they got there. The other train technicians must have learnt something.

Even up to the point when the 175s finally left Chester we were still learning about the units and experiencing new and different faults that we never encountered previously, they certainly kept us focused till the end and pretty enjoyable really.

One thing I will say is that if you become complacent maintaining them they will come back and bite you.

 

[Apedlar12]

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1154 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1154 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It's on the move...

Edit: Noted elsewhere as being 175113.

 

[Railperf]

I sampled a 3-car 175 from Truro to St Erth. They seem a fair bit quicker off the mark than a 2+4 HST but going up a steep gradient the lack of power is evident where a HST easily hits 60mph. A 175 seems to be running out off puff at the top end of its engine rev range where it feels it needs to change into the next gear. The brakes seem more responsive and probably better suited to frequent station stops.

 

[tfw756rider]

I sampled a 3-car 175 from Truro to St Erth. They seem a fair bit quicker off the mark than a 2+4 HST but going up a steep gradient the lack of power is evident where a HST easily hits 60mph. A 175 seems to be running out off puff at the top end of its engine rev range where it feels it needs to change into the next gear. The brakes seem more responsive and probably better suited to frequent station stops.

The 175s have Voith T211 2-speed/2-stage hydraulic transmissions, like 15x/16x/170s/171s. With the 175s having final drives geared for 100mph (like 168s/170s/171s), I don't think they change up until about 65-70mph.

 

[MrJeeves]

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1154 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 15/05/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1154 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 15/05/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

It's on the move...

Edit: Noted elsewhere as being 175113.

Oh, that's what I saw by chance at Reading...

 

[tfw756rider]

Oh, that's what I saw by chance at Reading...

View attachment 204235

@BillStampy

 

[REVUpminster]

Oh, that's what I saw by chance at Reading...

View attachment 204235

175113. Good picture. The train is now stuck behind a 60mph freight train which it has not been allowed to pass at Woodborough. If they had let it pass though Reading it could have been at least half hour up. I noticed a freight passed through Reading in the opposite direction unhindered.

 

[MrJeeves]

If they had let it pass though Reading it could have been at least half hour up.

I only noticed it because they dumped it in front of my Class 1 towards Cornwall and delayed it into Reading instead of putting it behind the IET, which would have made more sense given the 175's planned dwell in the station anyway!

 

[craigybagel]

The 175s have Voith T211 2-speed/2-stage hydraulic transmissions, like 15x/16x/170s/171s. With the 175s having final drives geared for 100mph (like 168s/170s/171s), I don't think they change up until about 65-70mph.

From memory and experience, it's ~63mph if using notch 4 (full power), ~55mph if in notch 3. The change is at a slightly lower speed than on 170s. They're slightly better than a Sprinter at climbing hills but 67s and 197s leave them for dust.