Class 175s to GWR

[Anonymous10]

Originally the stripes were Yellow first class, light blue second class, red for restaurant or buffet

Very few vehicles had the second class stripes, because second class was rare by time the stripes were introduced. And obviously it stopped when third class was reclassified as second.

The stripes have been revived for luggage / cycle spaces, and helps especially as GWR labels its coaches in fixed orders and regularly runs sets in any order, eg this one yesterday evening, a 165 formation lettered E D A B C

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:W35041/2026-07-23/detailed#allox_id=0

But using what was built as an inner suburban set on a 3.5+ hour journey is more a reflection on GWR relying on any thing diesel powered that moves, because the 175s are so unreliable

I dont think its fair to blame the 175s given 16x stock has been used on this route for several years now.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Surely that's just a future aspiration? It's not underway.

It isn't at the moment, but I am under the perhaps mistaken impression that once ther Oxford rebuild is eventually complete they are going to wire it, even as far as Wolvercot Jn and slightly onto the branch, so that 387s can reverse - thus releasing the 16x to move west.

So the question is - is electrified DID-OXF more than an aspiration ?
I imagine much of the design work has been done, maybe apart from the new island platform, but the funding for it probably doesnt exist.

 

[Snow1964]

So the question is - is electrified DID-OXF more than an aspiration ?
I imagine much of the design work has been done, maybe apart from the new island platform, but the funding for it probably doesnt exist.

About third of the mast bases are already in, and some masts.

The new track layout is more simple ladder crossings that are not tight curves, and there is no high speed through lines. Relatively simple layout to electrify compared to say a station on the 1960s West coast with all its loco spurs etc

 

[DelW]

Ah, it's only three 387s that were deemed 'surplus' to GWR then? So more a result of the Thames Valley branches now being expected to get 230s instead of the previously-planned wires?

I don't think there's any intention to convert more 230s, although the future of the stored 230s and D78s is uncertain. Thames Valley branches and the North Downs will be Turbo territory until a future GWR procurement at an unspecified time ahead.

Re the extra 387s, were they maybe a temporary assignment between C2C and TSGN at the time when the 800 weld crack withdrawals meant that GWR were even more short of stock than now? I think that was at about the same time, but I might be completely wrong.

 

[Rhydgaled]

Yellow stripes still identify first class (at least on GWR)

Unless they have updated the livery, don't the IETs have grey stripes instead of yellow for first class? They certainly didn't have yellow stripes when the new First Group GWR green was first introduced.

Surely that's just a future aspiration? It's not underway.

is electrified DID-OXF more than an aspiration ?

It was absolutely part of the original GWEP plans way back in CP5 (wires from (Heathrow) Airport Junction to Didcot, Oxford and Bristol by 2016 and through the tunnel to Cardiff 2017 being the targeted completion dates at the time of announcement if I recall correctly) and as far as I know was never officially cancelled; just 'paused' or 'deferred'. Cardiff-Swansea electrification (which at one point was supposed to be done by the end of 2018, a year after Cardiff) on the other hand was well and truly cancelled. Something I'm not sure about is whether the third side of the triangle at Didcot (for Bristol-Oxford route) was in-scope for electrification or not.

Anyway, back to 175s; is it still only the one unit that has been confirmed (with public photographs) to be in GWR livery as opposed to TfW white?

 

[Goldfish62]

Unless they have updated the livery, don't the IETs have grey stripes instead of yellow for first class? They certainly didn't have yellow stripes when the new First Group GWR green was first introduced.

I've only ever seen a grey stripe for 1st Class on GWR rather than yellow.

 

[CR165022]

Only the 769s had yellow 1st Class stripes

 

[aar0]

Unless they have updated the livery, don't the IETs have grey stripes instead of yellow for first class? They certainly didn't have yellow stripes when the new First Group GWR green was first introduced.

I've only ever seen a grey stripe for 1st Class on GWR rather than yellow.

I’ve just checked some photos and you’re right. There’s an orange OHLE warning stripe above it and I must have mixed them together in my mind!

 

[The exile]

Putting 158s and 165/6s on Cardiff - Portsmouth trains has nothing to do with the 175s, aside from if the 175s found some reliability then 158s could be cascaded away from Devon to strengthen said Cardiff - Portsmouth trains.

Putting (more) 158s on the Pompey - Cardiffs has everything to do with the introduction of 175s as it can’t be done until enough are released from Cornish service.

 

[BillStampy]

175114 was pulled from service briefly but is now meant to work 2N22 to Newquay.

One diagram was completely pulled today - that being the diagram starting 2C00.

It's been okay, but it could be better.

 

[RPI]

175114 was pulled from service briefly but is now meant to work 2N22 to Newquay.

One diagram was completely pulled today - that being the diagram starting 2C00.

It's been okay, but it could be better.

I was talking to someone from engineering the other day and they said they seem to have ironed out (or at least know how to deal with) the faults that were initially causing issues, now it's other faults that are cropping up, they do seem to be very needy units but as with anything like this, experience will gradually help things run a bit smoother.

 

[BillStampy]

I was talking to someone from engineering the other day and they said they seem to have ironed out (or at least know how to deal with) the faults that were initially causing issues, now it's other faults that are cropping up, they do seem to be very needy units but as with anything like this, experience will gradually help things run a bit smoother.

Yep, it's definitely improved as train crew are now seemingly fixing faults on the go more often now too. As you've said, it's taking time but it will improve as the teams learn! It's an interesting process to watch from afar though!

 

[Ashley Hill]

175114 was pulled from service briefly but is now meant to work 2N22 to Newquay.

Air Con leaking into cab covering staff with black(!) water. Here’s a picture of it taken this afternoon loitering in Par Chapel siding.

 

[Chris125]

It was absolutely part of the original GWEP plans way back in CP5 (wires from (Heathrow) Airport Junction to Didcot, Oxford and Bristol by 2016 and through the tunnel to Cardiff 2017 being the targeted completion dates at the time of announcement if I recall correctly) and as far as I know was never officially cancelled; just 'paused' or 'deferred'.

Previous plans to electrify to Oxford are ancient history sadly, it's been effectively dead for many years and unless someone knows differently that's how it remains.

 

[XFeed]

Air Con leaking into cab covering staff with black(!) water. Here’s a picture of it taken this afternoon loitering in Par Chapel siding.
View attachment 208226

Another case of the cab air con drain duck bill blocked I suspect.

 

[Roger B]

Hoping to take a ride on 175101 whilst I'm in Cornwall.
It's not ventured out since June 25th, according to RTT.
Anyone know what it's stopped for (awaiting parts?), and when it might come out to play, please?
Many thx

 

[BillStampy]

I, for one, am very happy to have seen a successful day today with 0 units being declared failures. Bit disappointed I have to announce that in the first place, but it is what it is


Now that I have said that, cue 175003 and 175111 failing before getting home to Laira!

 

[XFeed]

I, for one, am very happy to have seen a successful day today with 0 units being declared failures.

Same here.

 

[brad465]

I, for one, am very happy to have seen a successful day today with 0 units being declared failures. Bit disappointed I have to announce that in the first place, but it is what it is


Now that I have said that, cue 175003 and 175111 failing before getting home to Laira!

Time for Claudio Ranieri to order in the pizzas

 

[Apedlar12]

175115 cancelled at Truro on 2E17, looks to be in the siding there now.

 

[Ashley Hill]

175115 cancelled at Truro on 2E17, looks to be in the siding there now.

Power failure in the Camborne area and unable to get above 16mph. Power reset attempted but unsuccessful.
@XFeed What is a power reset?

 

[James90012]

Does the 175 introduction have any bearing on releasing 80X for Sunday services? Seriously overcrowded services from Exeter this afternoon, could have sworn there were more afternoon services to London a few years ago but could be wrong.

 

[michael74]

Does the 175 introduction have any bearing on releasing 80X for Sunday services? Seriously overcrowded services from Exeter this afternoon, could have swarn there were more afternoon services to London a few years ago but could be wrong.

Not helped by XC cancelling services and others being late, pax then get the next fastest to X, which will be the next IET.

 

[TastyMaltesers]

Does the 175 introduction have any bearing on releasing 80X for Sunday services? Seriously overcrowded services from Exeter this afternoon, could have swarn there were more afternoon services to London a few years ago but could be wrong.

It released a couple of units so that the Bristol-Oxford trains could be diagrammed, I know that much. What those two units get up to on a Sunday I don't know...

 

[BillStampy]

Hoping to take a ride on 175101 whilst I'm in Cornwall.
It's not ventured out since June 25th, according to RTT.
Anyone know what it's stopped for (awaiting parts?), and when it might come out to play, please?
Many thx

I don't know how you do it, but it's now allocated out today with the diagram starting 2E04

Keep in mind, however, that every day so far it's been in service it's failed. Lets see if today makes a chance to that pattern!

 

[REVUpminster]

There only seems to be 002, 007, 101, 111 out today. 150s covering two diagrams.

Just checking 101 doesn't seem to have come out of Laira.

 

[Ashley Hill]

There only seems to be 002, 007, 101, 111 out today. 150s covering two diagrams.

Just checking 101 doesn't seem to have come out of Laira.

I think that’s more to do with 1M43 failing outside Plymouth. 175101 currently sat at Laira Jct.

 

[Roger B]

I don't know how you do it, but it's now allocated out today with the diagram starting 2E04

Keep in mind, however, that every day so far it's been in service it's failed. Lets see if today makes a chance to that pattern!

It's become such a reliable unit - you can rely on it not finishing its diagram.

That said, RTT says it's currently working 2E04, the 08.49 from Plymouth to Exeter. I was hoping that the absence of actual timings was due to live reporting not being available (long-shot, I know) - and it looks like timings for other trains are working fine.

Good job I'm in Cornwall for a while.

 

[BillStampy]

That said, RTT says it's currently working 2E04, the 08.49 from Plymouth to Exeter. I was hoping that the absence of actual timings was due to live reporting not being available (long-shot, I know) - and it looks like timings for other trains are working fine.

It's at Laira Jcn, likely due to 1M43 failing outside Plymouth station. I'd suspect it'll come out to work 2C18 from Plymouth.

 

[Roger B]

It's at Laira Jcn, likely due to 1M43 failing outside Plymouth station. I'd suspect it'll come out to work 2C18 from Plymouth.

Many thx. Here's hoping ...