Class 175s to GWR

[Apedlar12]

I read a comment from elsewhere earlier that apparently only one is going to be put into the GWR livery, and then the rest will go into GBR...

Maybe something to do with the debut of the units on the Okehampton line and the opening of the new station there?

 

[XFeed]

Are the units genuinely past it after they’ve been stored out in the elements for so long, or is the situation salvageable by continuing to bed the fleet in and source replacement parts for anything that requires renewal?

I don`t believe that the units are "past it" as availability and reliability was pretty good prior to withdrawal, granted they are more than 20 years old and have had some issues along the way, but I do believe that the alleged poor storage appears to have had an impact on the units.

What`s puzzling me is what is Alstom`s support role is in all of this as it appears that it is not technical based judging by availability and reliability ?

 

[BillStampy]

I read a comment from elsewhere earlier that apparently only one is going to be put into the GWR livery, and then the rest will go into GBR...

Maybe something to do with the debut of the units on the Okehampton line and the opening of the new station there?

That's odd, I'm hearing a lot of different things now.

Makes you question who's just making it all up!
I'm sure I was told 110 was also green, but who knows if that's true anymore?

 

[Apedlar12]

That's odd, I'm hearing a lot of different things now.

Makes you question who's just making it all up!
I'm sure I was told 110 was also green, but who knows if that's true anymore?

Truth is probably nobody knows for sure what's going on.

Guess we'll just have to see what comes out of Wolverton in the coming months.

 

[REVUpminster]

Produced this list for their transfer process, including dates of their Wolverton arrivals and departures and their current locations. Any corrections are very much welcomed as I do make silly mistakes!

Class 175 Status List --- Last Updated: July 1st

175001 Laira (Wolverton arrival: April 3, 2025, Wolverton Departure: November 5, 2025)
175002 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton)
175003 Laira (Wolverton arrival: March 3, 2025, Wolverton Departure: September 18, 2025)
175004 Exeter TMD (Wolverton Arrival: January 30, 2026) (Wolverton Departure: June 23rd, 2026)
175005 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: July 1st, 2026)
175006 Laira (Wolverton arrival: April 23, 2025, Wolverton Departure: December 10, 2025)
175007 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton)
175009 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton)
175010 Penzance T.R.S.M.D. (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton)
175011 Laira (Wolverton arrival: April 23, 2025, Wolverton Departure: December 10, 2025)
175101 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: July 10, 2025, Wolverton Departure: January 23 2026)
175102 Wolverton (Wolverton arrival: October 30, 2025)
175103 Wolverton (Wolverton arrival: March 27, 2026)
175104 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings
175105 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: March 27, 2026)
175106 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: July 24, 2025)
175107 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: March 19, 2025)
175108 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: March 19, 2025)
175109 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: April 16, 2026)
175110 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: January 30, 2026)
175111 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: October 9, 2025, Wolverton Departure: March 20, 2026)
175112 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: July 24, 2025, Wolverton departure: February 20, 2026)
175113 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: July 10, 2025, Wolverton departure: May 15, 2026)
175114 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton)
175115 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: October 9, 2025, Wolverton departure: April 13, 2026)
175116 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: October 30, 2025, Wolverton departure: May 28, 2026)

This is excellent but I wanted to know the first to Laira from Ely because I knew it was along while ago. Posts 555 to 609.

175002 27 November 2024, 175114 5 December 2024. Both you and I are among those posts. Please check.

 

[RPI]

I read a comment from elsewhere earlier that apparently only one is going to be put into the GWR livery, and then the rest will go into GBR...

Maybe something to do with the debut of the units on the Okehampton line and the opening of the new station there?

I believe there are two in green at Wolverton?

 

[Jrocks]

There is definitely more than one in green, that is for certain... and potentially more than two aswell

 

[REVUpminster]

Class 175 Status List --- Last Updated: July 10th

175001 Laira (Wolverton arrival: April 3, 2025, Wolverton Departure: November 5, 2025)
175002 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton) 27 November 2024
175003 Laira (Wolverton arrival: March 3, 2025, Wolverton Departure: September 18, 2025)
175004 Exeter TMD (Wolverton Arrival: January 30, 2026) (Wolverton Departure: June 23rd, 2026)
175005 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: July 1st, 2026) by road
175006 Laira (Wolverton arrival: April 23, 2025, Wolverton Departure: December 10, 2025)
175007 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton) 28 February 2025
175009 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton) 27 January 2025
175010 Penzance T.R.S.M.D. (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton)
175011 Laira (Wolverton arrival: April 23, 2025, Wolverton Departure: December 10, 2025)
175101 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: July 10, 2025, Wolverton Departure: January 23 2026)
175102 Wolverton (Wolverton arrival: October 30, 2025)
175103 Wolverton (Wolverton arrival: March 27, 2026)
175104 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings
175105 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: March 27, 2026)
175106 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: July 24, 2025)
175107 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: March 19, 2025)
175108 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: March 19, 2025)
175109 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: April 16, 2026)
175110 Wolverton (Wolverton Arrival: January 30, 2026)
175111 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: October 9, 2025, Wolverton Departure: March 20, 2026)
175112 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: July 24, 2025, Wolverton departure: February 20, 2026)
175113 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: July 10, 2025, Wolverton departure: May 15, 2026)
175114 Laira (Straight from Ely, no Wolverton) 5 December 2024
175115 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: October 9, 2025, Wolverton departure: April 13, 2026)
175116 Laira (Wolverton Arrival: October 30, 2025, Wolverton departure: May 28, 2026)

I've copy pasted and added in bold. Created by BillStampy

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There is definitely more than one in green, that is for certain... and potentially more than two aswell

While I bet they look smart, it's so infuriating that this is yet more paint jobs being done while a GBR livery is supposed to be being brought in. All it means is that everything will be mismatched for even longer.

 

[DelW]

While I bet they look smart, it's so infuriating that this is yet more paint jobs being done while a GBR livery is supposed to be being brought in. All it means is that everything will be mismatched for even longer.

I'd miss the variety, if uniformity ever happens (which I doubt). There's been a variety of liveries on British railways for most of the sixty-plus years that I've followed such things. About the only uniformity I remember is the ubiquity of BR blue in the 1970s - and how boring that was.

 

[The exile]

I'd miss the variety, if uniformity ever happens (which I doubt). There's been a variety of liveries on British railways for most of the sixty-plus years that I've followed such things. About the only uniformity I remember is the ubiquity of BR blue in the 1970s - and how boring that was.

Even with that they never managed full uniformity. Not only did Green/ maroon take years to disappear - you had all-over blue for suburban stock and of course the blue and white of refurbished dmus. Nothing compared with what came later, of course, but a tiny bit of variety.

 

[Wyrleybart]

While I bet they look smart, it's so infuriating that this is yet more paint jobs being done while a GBR livery is supposed to be being brought in. All it means is that everything will be mismatched for even longer.

With respect, why is it infuriating ?
This is Neu British Rail controlled by DfT - ie civil servants. I joined BR 48 years ago and I don't see why anyone expects the industry to have magically changed with the introduction of new methods of government control.

The fact that on Laira 175s water from air con modules is literally pi**ing from ceilings onto cab desks over electronics is entirely consistent with the DfT worrying about the pennies ands letting the pounds trickle down the literal drain. It was obvious that 2+4 HSTs and Hitachi 802s were not suitable or cost effective to operate local trains in Devon and Cornwall. It was most likely that 175s were the chosen replacement, and a traditionally managed rail industry would have sent them straight to overhaul stage after leaving TfW.

 

[REVUpminster]

The

With respect, why is it infuriating ?
This is Neu British Rail controlled by DfT - ie civil servants. I joined BR 48 years ago and I don't see why anyone expects the industry to have magically changed with the introduction of new methods of government control.

The fact that on Laira 175s water from air con modules is literally pi**ing from ceilings onto cab desks over electronics is entirely consistent with the DfT worrying about the pennies ands letting the pounds trickle down the literal drain. It was obvious that 2+4 HSTs and Hitachi 802s were not suitable or cost effective to operate local trains in Devon and Cornwall. It was most likely that 175s were the chosen replacement, and a traditionally managed rail industry would have sent them straight to overhaul stage after leaving TfW.

The chosen replacements were turbos cascaded west from Reading which would get 769s but GWR couldn't make them work so they sit in store. Alliance Rail were going to give them a go but DfT stopped them.

 

[83G/84D]

Another bad day for the 175 fleet with 175001, 175003 and 175112 all failed with various issues.

 

[43096]

Another bad day for the 175 fleet with 175001, 175003 and 175112 all failed with various issues.

It would be easier to count the good days they have had! Any advance on 0?

 

[FGW_DID]

get 769s but GWR couldn't make them work so they sit in store.

The 769s were working. Reading had got 6 ready for the initial introduction. Yes, reliability wasn’t too good but that was down to lack of use, there only tended to be 3 runs out a week and usually one unit would do all those.
The main issue though was that no drivers were ever trained on them.
The first course was about to be run when all the industrial action started. With no drivers trained, when cuts were needed to be made, that put the 769s right in the crosshairs.

 

[Caaardiff]

The 769s were working. Reading had got 6 ready for the initial introduction. Yes, reliability wasn’t too good but that was down to lack of use, there only tended to be 3 runs out a week and usually one unit would do all those.

TFW gave up on the 769s and they haven't been particularly reliable for Northern.
The 175's were a good unit for TFW, probably more reliable than the 197's that replaced them.
Having the 175's stored for so long has not done them any good, but with some TLC they should prove good for GWR. It sounds like money needs to be spent having experts from Alstom to oversee them if they can release the people.

 

[REVUpminster]

TFW gave up on the 769s and they haven't been particularly reliable for Northern.
The 175's were a good unit for TFW, probably more reliable than the 197's that replaced them.
Having the 175's stored for so long has not done them any good, but with some TLC they should prove good for GWR. It sounds like money needs to be spent having experts from Alstom to oversee them if they can release the people.

Alstom have taken a£75m contract. Hope it's cash on delivery as GWR have 16.

Alstom signs an eight-year services contract in the UK to support GWR with Class 175 fleet reintroduction

£75 million (€90 million) contract will see the Alstom-built trains re-enter service across South West England later this year

www.alstom.com

 

[Harpo]

I don't see why anyone expects the industry to have magically changed with the introduction of new methods of government control.

Exactly. GBR is about saving money. Dreams of consolidating fleets, depots, conditions, route & traction knowledge etc., will remain just that, dreams.

a traditionally managed rail industry would have sent them straight to overhaul stage after leaving TfW.

Quite, but the bean counters are in charge. The utterly shameful dismissal of Chris Gibbs shows the cost of real railway managers telling the truth publicly.

 

[XFeed]

The fact that on Laira 175s water from air con modules is literally pi**ing from ceilings onto cab desks over electronics

Water dripping onto the driver and cab desk from the cab HVAC unit will be caused by the one small "duck bill" being blocked that drains the condensation from the HVAC unit into the large drainage pipe, saloon HVACs have numerous duck bills so its not usually an issue but does happen also.

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

Alstom have taken a£75m contract. Hope it's cash on delivery as GWR have 16.

Alstom signs an eight-year services contract in the UK to support GWR with Class 175 fleet reintroduction

£75 million (€90 million) contract will see the Alstom-built trains re-enter service across South West England later this year

www.alstom.com

The Alstom press release mentions it supports 15 roles at GWR in Laira including engineers, so support appears to be in place or is it ?

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

Another bad day for the 175 fleet with 175001, 175003 and 175112 all failed with various issues.

Any indications of the various issues with the individual units ?

 

[83G/84D]

Bear in mind the 20/70 plate buses were bought for the TfC contract, had First won that contract there may have also bought new vehicles. So comparing First’s commercial fleet to this is hardly fair.

I still can’t believe how everyone’s expectations have dropped. When First decided to reduce the open top services introducing a ‘mid season’ timetable in all but the summer holidays we used to have daily updates of people being left behind, complaints of it not being good enough etc, every wrong working was analysed to the Nth degree, Now it seems all opinions has been reset and any service whatsoever is seen as good enough.

Water dripping onto the driver and cab desk from the cab HVAC unit will be caused by the one small "duck bill" being blocked that drains the condensation from the HVAC unit into the large drainage pipe, saloon HVACs have numerous duck bills so its not usually an issue but does happen also.

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



The Alstom press release mentions it supports 15 roles at GWR in Laira including engineers, so support appears to be in place or is it ?

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



Any indications of the various issues with the individual units ?

Coolant leak, cab air cooling amongst others.

 

[RPI]

While I bet they look smart, it's so infuriating that this is yet more paint jobs being done while a GBR livery is supposed to be being brought in. All it means is that everything will be mismatched for even longer.

But GWR is here for a while yet, after December it will still be GWR - just not owned by First Group

 

[Jrocks]

GWR is probably one of the easiest TOCs to rebrand.... just change the W to a B and youve got GBR

 

[150249]

GWR is probably one of the easiest TOCs to rebrand.... just change the W to a B and youve got GBR

I would argue that GBR might not want a green train

 

[Bornin1980s]

I would argue that GBR might not want a green train

Wasn't BR's original passenger locomotive green based on GWR green?

 

[XFeed]

Coolant leak, cab air cooling amongst others.

Thanks, coolant leak could be anything ! Cab HVAC, if at fault, can be replaced in around 40 mins plus the post fitment testing.

 

[Snow1964]

I would argue that GBR might not want a green train

GBR are going to inherit about 850 carriages in green anyway, a few more will make little difference

 

[vuzzeho]

But GWR is here for a while yet, after December it will still be GWR - just not owned by First Group

That's probably somewhat true, but from how things have been going it seems like GBR is now making an effort to repaint trains when they're being refurbed. GWR (well, likely GBR Great Western) will continue to exist but in a 'winding down the brand way'. That's also not taking into account the fact that by then, the Railways Bill will have passed through Parliament (hopefully) so GBR will be being set up and likely really trying to rebrand.

 

[Harpo]

GBR are going to inherit about 850 carriages in green anyway, a few more will make little difference

I’m not normally interested in paint discussions but I would be delighted to be rid of that terrible drab GWR green, privatisation’s most depressing livery. (West Coast’s ‘orrible matt maroon don’t count.)

 

[D6130]

I’m not normally interested in paint discussions but I would be delighted to be rid of that terrible drab GWR green, privatisation’s most depressing livery. (West Coast’s ‘orrible matt maroon don’t count.)

I agree. It would have been much nicer to have used 'proper' Great Western Brunswick Green with black and gold lining.