Class 175s to GWR

[dk1]

Didn't First paint about 8 166s (or was it 165s) just before GWR took over, they then stayed in purple to about 2-3 years ago. It was something like 8 or 9 years before they got painted green.

If 175s get painted green between now and December, then might still be that colour, rather than GBR livery until about 2034

Ill take your word for the Turbo’s livery mate.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

It’s going to be interesting when these barn finds enter Roger Ford’s reliability tables in Modern Railways.

It will hopefully be very rewarding to see them climb the table.

 

[BillStampy]

It will hopefully be very rewarding to see them climb the table.

I believe it's a matter of learning.

Most rolling stock newly introduced to TOCs have rough starts as the train crew and maintenance crew need time to learn what can go wrong and how to resolve them and find ways to iron the issues out.
Sure, they may not be perfect now but I'm sure given enough time GWR will get their grips on the units and force them to behave just like their golden days in Wales, before everything went downhill.

 

[Harpo]

It will hopefully be very rewarding to see them climb the table.

Yes! A second bite at the bathtub curve.

 

[The exile]

Didn't First paint about 8 166s (or was it 165s) just before GWR took over, they then stayed in purple to about 2-3 years ago. It was something like 8 or 9 years before they got painted green.

Well, GWR didn’t “take over” - they’re still First Great Western in all but name - so it was just a brand relaunch. Units that had reached their painting date would still have to be painted - so purple to be.

 

[PP57601]

Apart from 800, 802 and presumably Castle HSTs, did these drivers have knowledge of anything else? I'm guessing the HST departure meant there's capacity to learn a new fleet class in its place.

Established HSS Drivers (at Plymouth) sign 150/153, HST’s (2+8), Castles (2+4), Voyagers, 800/802, Class 47/57, Class 08.

 

[43096]

Established HSS Drivers (at Plymouth) sign 150/153, HST’s (2+8), Castles (2+4), Voyagers, 800/802, Class 47/57, Class 08.

I'd bet that HSTs, Castles and Class 47s are off their cards now, given the haste with which GWR was culling HST knowledge during the rundown.

 

[REVUpminster]

I believe it's a matter of learning.

Most rolling stock newly introduced to TOCs have rough starts as the train crew and maintenance crew need time to learn what can go wrong and how to resolve them and find ways to iron the issues out.
Sure, they may not be perfect now but I'm sure given enough time GWR will get their grips on the units and force them to behave just like their golden days in Wales, before everything went downhill.

And if they had spent enough time on the 769s the turbos would have come west long before now. If a 175 fails on a Barnstaple run that could destroy all confidence of passengers. The recent 5 hour gap at Newquay didn't help to encourage people to use rail.

The Paignton training run only lasted two days. Tuesday it was an hour late. The Exeter-Penzance passenger started at Newton Abbot.

 

[BillStampy]

Gonna go gamble my luck with the units tomorrow on a trip to Plymouth and back from Exeter. I shall brace myself!

 

[fgwrich]

And if they had spent enough time on the 769s the turbos would have come west long before now. If a 175 fails on a Barnstaple run that could destroy all confidence of passengers. The recent 5 hour gap at Newquay didn't help to encourage people to use rail.

The Paignton training run only lasted two days. Tuesday it was an hour late. The Exeter-Penzance passenger started at Newton Abbot.

Hyperbole much? I doubt a failure of a 175 on the Barney branch would destroy all confidence of passengers along the line. Annoying - Yes. Especially given they’ve had their share of infrastructure issues, but it’s not going to result in a complete collapse of passengers using the branch.

They’re having teething troubles. They’re tricky units which will settle down and provide a comfortable reliable service. They already seem to be popular with passengers from the comments I’ve seen and heard.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

And if they had spent enough time on the 769s the turbos would have come west long before now. If a 175 fails on a Barnstaple run that could destroy all confidence of passengers. The recent 5 hour gap at Newquay didn't help to encourage people to use rail.

The Paignton training run only lasted two days. Tuesday it was an hour late. The Exeter-Penzance passenger started at Newton Abbot.

You say that like the regular gap between trains wasn’t already about 3 hours before last month

 

[BillStampy]

175115 entering service today 2E04.

I'll have a ride on it to Plymouth all being well!

 

[REVUpminster]

Are First Group shareholders paying for the 175s or the taxpayer. GWR not nationalised until December then we know who foots the bill.

The 175s have been in passenger service six months, Two 175s have been at Laira 18 months. Need a better dentist to sort out the teething problems. I thought these trains were the answer. I've ridden on them between Newport and Bristol and now wonder why TFW got rid of them.

 

[Anonymous10]

Are First Group shareholders paying for the 175s or the taxpayer. GWR not nationalised until December then we know who foots the bill.

The 175s have been in passenger service six months, Two 175s have been at Laira 18 months. Need a better dentist to sort out the teething problems. I thought these trains were the answer. I've ridden on them between Newport and Bristol and now wonder why TFW got rid of them.

How can you ride a 175 between newport and bristol when they have never served that route?

They previously worked the marches with atw and tfw and now work exeter / plymouth to penzance.


I would agree however these issues should be mostly resolved, but equally i thought they were introduced in february as the castles left in december and there was a slight gap.

 

[REVUpminster]

Maybe I was going to Cardiff. Wife's cousin lived in Newport and I left them to it while I went to Bristol or Cardiff by train. The cousin died December 2020 so must have been in the years between 2014-2020.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2026 ==

175001 worked 2C26 Plymouth-Penzance 15 December 2025. See post 1886. It had to run to save Mark Hopgood's reputation.

 

[DelW]

Are First Group shareholders paying for the 175s or the taxpayer. GWR not nationalised until December then we know who foots the bill.

Surely taxpayers are paying for everything, via DfT - who also receive all the revenue. First Group (and the other TOCs) just get paid a management fee for operating whatever DfT instruct them to operate.

 

[Mollman]

Are First Group shareholders paying for the 175s or the taxpayer. GWR not nationalised until December then we know who foots the bill.

The 175s have been in passenger service six months, Two 175s have been at Laira 18 months. Need a better dentist to sort out the teething problems. I thought these trains were the answer. I've ridden on them between Newport and Bristol and now wonder why TFW got rid of them.

Don't forget it was DfT who instructed the take up of 175s (and arguably helped create the issues with them by not having a plan to cascade them on departure from TfW)

 

[REVUpminster]

Don't forget it was DfT who instructed the take up of 175s (and arguably helped create the issues with them by not having a plan to cascade them on departure from TfW)

Was this after GWR abandoned the 769s in December 2022? TFW ran down the 175s from February 2023 with 175002 which went into storage before arriving at Laira November 2024 and is often being used at Newquay. It did not go through Wolverton.

 

[PP57601]

I'd bet that HSTs, Castles and Class 47s are off their cards now, given the haste with which GWR was culling HST knowledge during the rundown.

I still have HST’s on my license, but 2+4 removed.

 

[Apedlar12]

Another attempt now showing for Tuesday:

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1208 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 23/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1208 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 23/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5V85 1221 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd | 23/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V85 1221 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd on 23/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[REVUpminster]

Another attempt now showing for Tuesday:

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1208 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 23/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1208 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 23/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5V85 1221 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd | 23/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V85 1221 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd on 23/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Usually third time lucky. Laira need it for the spare parts?

 

[Snow1964]

Is this current position, pending Tuesdays third attempt from Wolverton

Still at Ely : 3 units : 005, 008, 104

Wolverton : 9 units : 004, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110

Long Rock : 1 unit not via Wolverton : 010

Laira : 4 units not via Wolverton : 002, 007, 009, 114

Laira : 10 units : 001, 003, 006, 011, 101, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116

Seems to be ages since a unit moved from Ely to Wolverton.

 

[irish_rail]

I still have HST’s on my license, but 2+4 removed.

How so? HSTs where removed from all of our licences where they not?

 

[REVUpminster]

Is this current position, pending Tuesdays third attempt from Wolverton

Still at Ely : 3 units : 005, 008, 104

Wolverton : 9 units : 004, 102, 103, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110

Long Rock : 1 unit not via Wolverton : 010

Laira : 4 units not via Wolverton : 002, 007, 009, 114

Laira : 10 units : 001, 003, 006, 011, 101, 111, 112, 113, 115, 116

Seems to be ages since a unit moved from Ely to Wolverton.

That's what I make it and agrees with the train database. How many are at Laira are actually operational is another matter. 001,002,003,007, 009,011,111 have made it to Newquay at some time.

 

[BillStampy]

That's what I make it and agrees with the train database. How many are at Laira are actually operational is another matter. 001,002,003,007, 009,011,111 have made it to Newquay at some time.

112, 114, 101 and 115 have all been in service.

 

[XFeed]

175115 entering service today 2E04.

I'll have a ride on it to Plymouth all being well!

Did you get your trip on 115 ?

 

[BillStampy]

Did you get your trip on 115 ?

Yep!

There was an engineer onboard as it was it's first day in service to make sure nothing went wrong. A very comfortable ride.

 

[XFeed]

View attachment 206453
Yep!

There was an engineer onboard as it was it's first day in service to make sure nothing went wrong. A very comfortable ride.

Happy that all went well and very sensible to have someone riding unit in case of problems

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Jun 2026 ==

Maybe I was going to Cardiff. Wife's cousin lived in Newport and I left them to it while I went to Bristol or Cardiff by train. The cousin died December 2020 so must have been in the years between 2014-2020.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 19 Jun 2026 ==

175001 worked 2C26 Plymouth-Penzance 15 December 2025. See post 1886. It had to run to save Mark Hopgood's reputation.

Looks like the 79 car wipers have collided and left the 2nd mans side wiper in that position as the drivers wiper is too far over.

 

[grecian ern]

5V84 1208 Wolverton to Laira via Westbury a 175 and 5V85 1221 Wolverton to Exeter via Swindon, interestingly a 165\166. on RTT tomorrow, possibly

 

[CR165022]

5V84 1208 Wolverton to Laira via Westbury a 175 and 5V85 1221 Wolverton to Exeter via Swindon, interestingly a 165\166. on RTT tomorrow, possibly

Will be 165102 on 5V85

 

[REVUpminster]

Interesting only one activated. The 165/166.