GWR Class 165/166 Turbo Diagrams

[The exile]

Looks like today's 09:32 from Weymouth has been cancelled

Leaves nearly a 4 hour gap between 07:33 and 11:30. Not great when it's half term and beach weather

Won’t affect the beach traffic as that’ll be heading to Weymouth (and the.arrival that then forms the 09.32 out will be too early.)

 

[JohnRegular]

Pity, it's the 166's that are the worst for this

Seems absurd doesn't it? Working AC on a 166 is a rarity; in hot weather I always head for the 165 (if there is one).

 

[Snow1964]

Pity, it's the 166's that are the worst for this

Yes don't seem to repair a/c before releasing train from depot. Having said that they have had 34 years to modify its design failings.

Guess they see breathing good air and passengers fainting not as a safety issue, and only repairing safety critical items (like brakes) even in hot weather is deemed ok by someone

 

[Siemens Staines]

166204 having a wander around the GWR network today

5M02 0345 Exeter Tmd to Taunton
2M02 0510 Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads
2E50 0710 Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester
2C08 0811 Gloucester to Frome
2T59 1026 Frome to Bristol Temple Meads
1N68 1516 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford
2L47 1710 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
2M52 1734 Didcot Parkway to Banbury
2V55 1831 Banbury to Didcot Parkway
2L60 1937 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
2L63 2106 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
2L68 2135 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
2L71 2256 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
2L76 2334 Didcot Parkway to Oxford

 

[CarltonA]

165122 is heading back to Reading after the cancellation of the 11:33 to Marlow from Maidenhead. Reason given on the Tannoy was "too many trains needing repair at the same time". Local staff said the unit was faulty which seemed more likely.

 

[Class 317]

166204 having a wander around the GWR network today

5M02 0345 Exeter Tmd to Taunton
2M02 0510 Taunton to Bristol Temple Meads
2E50 0710 Bristol Temple Meads to Gloucester
2C08 0811 Gloucester to Frome
2T59 1026 Frome to Bristol Temple Meads
1N68 1516 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford
2L47 1710 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
2M52 1734 Didcot Parkway to Banbury
2V55 1831 Banbury to Didcot Parkway
2L60 1937 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
2L63 2106 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
2L68 2135 Didcot Parkway to Oxford
2L71 2256 Oxford to Didcot Parkway
2L76 2334 Didcot Parkway to Oxford

That must be the one I'm currently traveling along the north downs line on today.

 

[Deepgreen]

I notice that 166204 is operating an NDL run today, the 1054 from Reading to Gatwick- spotted on RTT by chance. Have there been others recently, and is this a precursor to more returning to the route? Yet more first class confusion/failure to provide as advertised seems likely.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 5 Jun 2026 ==

165122 is heading back to Reading after the cancellation of the 11:33 to Marlow from Maidenhead. Reason given on the Tannoy was "too many trains needing repair at the same time". Local staff said the unit was faulty which seemed more likely.

Both are probably true.

 

[CR165022]

Does anyone know which 165 is going to Wolverton today? 165107 is returning to Reading and one is going from SPM. I believe it's one of 102, 130 or 133

 

[Siemens Staines]

Does anyone know which 165 is going to Wolverton today? 165107 is returning to Reading and one is going from SPM. I believe it's one of 102, 130 or 133

It was 165102, seen by eye. 165130 and 165133 have already been through this round of attention at Wolverton. I think that 165101,103,104,134 are the only Bristol/Exeter turbos left to be done.

 

[CR165022]

It was 165102, seen by eye. 165130 and 165133 have already been through this round of attention at Wolverton. I think that 165101,103,104,134 are the only Bristol/Exeter turbos left to be done.

Ah great, thanks!

Speaking of which, it seems to have broken down at Acton, was on a green for a while just before entering the WCML but is back on a red.

 

[cduncan]

166204 doing the Henley branch today

 

[800301]

166204 doing the Henley branch today

A few 166’s are coming over for the Gatwick work from what I hear

 

[Siemens Staines]

A few 166’s are coming over for the Gatwick work from what I hear

Does that mean some of Readings 3-car 165s will be heading the other way, or is this just a case of spare turbos in the West as a consequence of ramping up the number of 175 diagrams?

 

[Deepgreen]

A few 166’s are coming over for the Gatwick work from what I hear

I can't recall - do the 166s currently have a first class section? If not they will need them restored to avoid yet more first class confusion and failure on the route!

 

[The exile]

I can't recall - do the 166s currently have a first class section? If not they will need them restored to avoid yet more first class confusion and failure on the route!

Not marked as such. the seating is still “as was” though. It’s about the only thing that can be said in their favour.

 

[800301]

Does that mean some of Readings 3-car 165s will be heading the other way, or is this just a case of spare turbos in the West as a consequence of ramping up the number of 175 diagrams?

Back filled by 3 car 165’s, 166’s wanted as 2 toilets vs 1, I don’t think it’s actually meant to happen properly until the next timetable change

 

[The exile]

Back filled by 3 car 165’s, 166’s wanted as 2 toilets vs 1, I don’t think it’s actually meant to happen properly until the next timetable change

So 1 toilet for Bristol - Weymouth etc. Lovely! However, at least you’re less likely to cook in the summer.

 

[43102EMR]

Back filled by 3 car 165’s, 166’s wanted as 2 toilets vs 1, I don’t think it’s actually meant to happen properly until the next timetable change

Out of interest, why are 175s not being used on the WoE long distance services instead of the Turbos? Understandable that some of the 175s are replacing the HSTs in Devon and Cornwall, but surely they would be better suited on the longer-distance runs than the Turbos given their more suitable interiors.

 

[Anonymous10]

Back filled by 3 car 165’s, 166’s wanted as 2 toilets vs 1, I don’t think it’s actually meant to happen properly until the next timetable change

So the west gets the 3 car 165s which are less suitable for the lengthy workings and are apparently less desirable within gwr as only 1 wc. That seems a bit short sighted personally.

I do hope they dont become a regular sight on the pompy service.

 

[The exile]

Out of interest, why are 175s not being used on the WoE long distance services instead of the Turbos? Understandable that some of the 175s are replacing the HSTs in Devon and Cornwall, but surely they would be better suited on the longer-distance runs than the Turbos given their more suitable interiors.

I think Plymouth / Exeter to Penzance counts as a long-distance service! If they’re working those then it makes sense to use the rest on working from the same depots rather than spreading the need for crew training all over the place. They will displace 158s back to the Bristol area which will in turn reduce the requirement for turbos on Cardiff - Pompeys (though not eliminate it entirely).

 

[REVUpminster]

Out of interest, why are 175s not being used on the WoE long distance services instead of the Turbos? Understandable that some of the 175s are replacing the HSTs in Devon and Cornwall, but surely they would be better suited on the longer-distance runs than the Turbos given their more suitable interiors.

If they ever get them up and running (another transfer from Wolverton cancelled today) the 158s can be released to Bristol. There are 14 175s at Laira. One running to Newquay to make an hourly service; the others running the HST services. Some of the 14 have been cannibalised to get others running.

 

[RPI]

So the west gets the 3 car 165s which are less suitable for the lengthy workings and are apparently less desirable within gwr as only 1 wc. That seems a bit short sighted personally.

I do hope they dont become a regular sight on the pompy service.

I'd much rather have the 165's in the west than 166's, at least the air cooling works on them!

 

[Snow1964]

So the west gets the 3 car 165s which are less suitable for the lengthy workings and are apparently less desirable within gwr as only 1 wc. That seems a bit short sighted personally.

I do hope they dont become a regular sight on the pompy service.

Single 165s are already surprisingly common on Cardiff-Portsmouth, usually a few per week. Majority are 3car, but get lesser number of single 2car 165s working the service

One of the 8 diagrams is usually a 5car formation (166 + 165), but inevitably if a set fails last minute, it gets split. GWR doesn't keep spare units in Fratton area, and it takes over 2 hours to send a spare from Bristol.

In practice replacement sets are normally swapped at Bristol Temple Meads or Westbury

 

[CarltonA]

166204 doing the Henley branch today

And again today, makes a nice change. Not hot here today.

 

[Parallel]

I’m not sure 3-car 165s are suitable for Bristol area services - there are no cycle spaces on board! And as others have mentioned, there are some longer routes where ‘only having 1 toilet’ is likely to lead to more problems than the Gatwick route.

 

[The exile]

I’m not sure 3-car 165s are suitable for Bristol area services - there are no cycle spaces on board! And as others have mentioned, there are some longer routes where ‘only having 1 toilet’ is likely to lead to more problems than the Gatwick route.

Do they not have the large luggage shelving area like the 2-cars, then (can’t say I’ve ever noticed)?

 

[Parallel]

Do they not have the large luggage shelving area like the 2-cars, then (can’t say I’ve ever noticed)?

They do not have the luggage racks where you can store bicycles underneath.

 

[The exile]

They do not have the luggage racks where you can store bicycles underneath.

Yet are currently being used on Airport services where luggage space is important - you couldn’t make it up.

 

[Parallel]

Yet are currently being used on Airport services where luggage space is important - you couldn’t make it up.

They have large-ish luggage racks throughout the train (though not as ‘long’ as the ones in the 2 car Turbos), just no bicycle storage, which is probably important for a ‘green city’ such as Bristol.

 

[The exile]

They have large-ish luggage racks throughout the train (though not as ‘long’ as the ones in the 2 car Turbos, just no bicycle storage, which is probably important for a ‘green city’ such as Bristol.

Indeed - the critical bit is the space under the luggage rack!