Class 175s to GWR

[irish_rail]

Loads of drivers still to train up, all of the HSS continent and Plymouth and Penzance, plus plenty of drivers at Exeter. A long way to go yet. And with 175111 failing yet again today, we are a long way off seeing anything improving unfortunately.

Sorry meant to write "HSS contingent at"

 

[Snow1964]

Is there a deadline for 175 full service and the transfer of other units to other areas?

There was, but if it still applies isn't clear.

Eg Cardiff-Portsmouth was supposed to go 4 or 5 car from this Autumn, with majority conversion to 158s by December 2026 timetable, with the turbos strengthening overcrowded Bristol area services.

Info taken from letter issued by DfT to my MP, forwarded by my MP in reply to a crowding question in Wiltshire and Bath areas.

It's not looking good, but no idea if a new deadline now exists, or if target date is unchanged (even if expected now to be missed)

 

[TastyMaltesers]

There was, but if it still applies isn't clear.

Eg Cardiff-Portsmouth was supposed to go 4 or 5 car from this Autumn, with majority conversion to 158s by December 2026 timetable, with the turbos strengthening overcrowded Bristol area services.

Info tken from letter issued by DfT to my MP in reply to a crowding question in Wiltshire and Bath areas

I wouldn't have confidence in that still being the case

 

[REVUpminster]

Turbos still needed at Exeter. At least 5 and six preferably. 5 used today and still a shortform on Barnstaple 0730 train.

The 175 should be ideal but since entering public service last December only one extra train and reduced capacity on the HSTs they replaced.

The training train to Paignton is quite regular so training Exeter drivers? Still have not been to Goodrington sidings.

 

[DannyMich2018]

Just had a look at RTT and seems only 2 are in use now(003 and 009) respectively on the 13.14 and 13.50 Penz-Plymouth.

111 failed earlier at Bodmin this morning. Can't see any others out right now unless I've missed one.
Looks like also one of the 150s on Newquay branch has failed too?

 

[Ashley Hill]

111 failed earlier at Bodmin this morning. Can't see any others out right now unless I've missed one.
Looks like also one of the 150s on Newquay branch has failed too?

Apparently failed between Bodmin and Lostwithiel with an air leak, consequently unable to maintain main air.

 

[XFeed]

Apparently failed between Bodmin and Lostwithiel with an air leak, consequently unable to maintain main air.

Air leaks on the brake system have occurred at times where a flexible brake hose has suffered a debris strike and damaged it and the subsequent loss of air causing the unit unable to maintain the main res would be evident only when brakes are applied, if this was the case each individual bogies brake system can be isolated on the brake frame of each car to determine this, the same procedure can also be used if it was a suspension air leak but without knowing much else its just guessing and something completely different could be the cause ?
Also Air driers have 2 operating cycles and if one of the cycles fails it more often than not exhausts all the compressor air out to atmosphere during that cycle which can last up 3 or 4 minutes and if the unit is in an heavy air use situation with a lot of on off braking, suspension rock and roll, toilet usage and vestibule doors being operated the main res does get depleted.

 

[Sporty60]

175 reliability unsurprisingly a high priority according to Mark Hopwood on Radio Cornwall this morning. He can be heard between 10 and 11 a.m. on BBC Sounds if it's not been mentioned elsewhere.
Starts ten minutes in.

 

[REVUpminster]

175 reliability unsurprisingly a high priority according to Mark Hopwood on Radio Cornwall this morning. He can be heard between 10 and 11 a.m. on BBC Sounds if it's not been mentioned elsewhere.
Starts ten minutes in.

Credibility on the line.

 

[irish_rail]

175 reliability unsurprisingly a high priority according to Mark Hopwood on Radio Cornwall this morning. He can be heard between 10 and 11 a.m. on BBC Sounds if it's not been mentioned elsewhere.
Starts ten minutes in.

Funnily enough Mr Hopwood was very nearly late for said interview, because, you guessed it, he was on the sleepers stuck behind the failed 175111!

 

[REVUpminster]

Did he say they have 5/6 working 175s. This is from 16 trains they have. Is he saying the next 10 trains that come from Wolverton (they have 9, 1 still at Ely) will go straight into service. It has not happened yet. The last was June 23 and disappeared into Exeter depot.
I think the next arrival from Wolverton has been cancelled twice which has been par for the course.

 

[apbj]

And tonight the main line Penzance-Hayle is blocked by a train fault. Is that a 175 fault?

 

[Jrocks]

Yes, 2P27 had dragging brakes

 

[sh24]

And tonight the main line Penzance-Hayle is blocked by a train fault. Is that a 175 fault?

Is it blocked? Looks like things are moving normally, the 1702 from Paddington just arrived at Penzance and both the Sleeper and the preceeding stopper are on their way albeit 10-15mins late.

 

[brad465]

Funnily enough Mr Hopwood was very nearly late for said interview, because, you guessed it, he was on the sleepers stuck behind the failed 175111!

Sometimes irony goes a long way to highlighting a problem

 

[Harpo]

I think the next arrival from Wolverton has been cancelled twice which has been par for the course.

The perfect description for 175 failures in Cornwall.

 

[Siemens Staines]

There is another palnned move from Wolverton to Laira for tomorrow. Whether it runs is a another matter.

5V84 1222 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K00923/2026-08-13/detailed

Three of todays 175 passenger diagrams are currently cancelled, with one diagram a 150 and the fifth with no allocation.

Train Cancellations
05:33 Plymouth to Penzance due 07:29
07:43 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 10:50
11:27 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 14:38
15:15 Penzance to Plymouth due 17:18
Last Updated:12/08/2026 04:51

06:44 Liskeard to Plymouth due 07:20
08:08 Liskeard to Plymouth due 08:44
10:14 Plymouth to Penzance due 12:12
13:14 Penzance to Plymouth due 15:10
Last Updated:12/08/2026 04:51

13:39 Plymouth to Penzance due 15:40
15:52 Penzance to Plymouth due 17:47
Last Updated:12/08/2026 04:52

Other Train Service Updates
150249
06:55 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 10:12 will be reinstated.
10:50 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 13:54 will be reinstated.
15:27 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 18:42 will be reinstated.
19:15 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 22:37 will be reinstated.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.
Last Updated:12/08/2026 06:43

The one remaining diagram currently has no allocation

2E04 0849 Plymouth to Exeter St Davids
2C18 1027 Exeter St Davids to Penzance
2P17 1350 Penzance to Plymouth
2C31 1556 Plymouth to Penzance
2P27 1850 Penzance to Plymouth

 

[TastyMaltesers]

Makes for grim reading...

 

[BillStampy]

I'm going to guess they've decided to ground the fleet. Or, alternatively, they actually don't have any units to toss into service, which would really not be ideal.

 

[TastyMaltesers]

I'm going to guess they've decided to ground the fleet. Or, alternatively, they actually don't have any units to toss into service, which would really not be ideal.

I expect that it's the latter - if they were to ground the fleet, I would think that they would have come up with a proper plan for amended Devon & Cornwall services

 

[Snow1964]

Makes for grim reading...

It's not only Devon and Cornwall that is grim

The 175s were supposed to provide a cascade to Bristol suburban and routes like Cardiff-Portsmouth. In addition Cardiff-Plymouth was split at Exeter to allow quicker introduction.

Now stuck with shortages and Cancellations in Cornwall, Devon, Bristol area, Wiltshire etc. because the alternative of new trains (project Churchward) was deferred until early 2030s on basis 175s would be a reliable stopgap.

 

[RPI]

I haven't looked at every train, but it does look like there isn't a single 175 out today

 

[Siemens Staines]

I haven't looked at every train, but it does look like there isn't a single 175 out today

Correct, not even on any 5Zxx training diagrams.

The unallocated fifth diagram has now been cancelled

08:49 Plymouth to Exeter St Davids due 09:55 has been cancelled.
10:27 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 13:40 will be cancelled.
13:50 Penzance to Plymouth due 15:46 will be cancelled.
15:56 Plymouth to Penzance due 18:12 will be cancelled.
18:50 Penzance to Plymouth due 20:50 will be cancelled.
Last Updated:12/08/2026 08:50

However,

150244
11:27 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 14:38 will be reinstated.
15:15 Penzance to Plymouth due 17:18 will be reinstated.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.

Both 150s vice 175 have been released by splitting the two 2*150 Exmouth to Paignton diagrams.

 

[150249]

I haven't looked at every train, but it does look like there isn't a single 175 out today

It was stated on a Facebook group that none are out today. I can't find that post again now. Could the heat be making these trains less reliable?

Other Train Service Updates
150249
06:55 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 10:12 will be reinstated.
10:50 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 13:54 will be reinstated.
15:27 Exeter St Davids to Penzance due 18:42 will be reinstated.
19:15 Penzance to Exeter St Davids due 22:37 will be reinstated.
Will be formed of 2 coaches instead of 3.
Last Updated:12/08/2026 06:43

And I save the day again!

 

[REVUpminster]

I haven't looked at every train, but it does look like there isn't a single 175 out today

I can't find one.
I was speaking to an Exeter driver who hadn't driven a 175 yet and he was a bit disparaging of his colleagues so is something else going on. Is it the heat; he was driving a 150? They carry bottled water, which they have done for years in hot weather (143s as well), for the passengers so there is some thought for the customers.
Are the drivers refusing to take them out unless perfect?

 

[XFeed]

It would be a poor state of affairs if traincrew are looking for reasons to fail the units, I'm sure that they are more professional than that and I'm also sure that the maintenance teams are doing all that they can to keep the units serviceable.

Again I question what technical support and actual help that Alstom are actually providing on the ground and it appears some help maybe required ?
During the 175s time at Chester Alstom would never have accepted the poor availability rate never mind the really poor reliability and they did not. There was also fleet monitoring continuously being carried out to identify faults and any possible faults that were developing while the units were in service using the auto download system called Traintracer at the time, it might be called Alstom Healthhub now ?

 

[BillStampy]

I can't find one.
I was speaking to an Exeter driver who hadn't driven a 175 yet and he was a bit disparaging of his colleagues so is something else going on. Is it the heat; he was driving a 150? They carry bottled water, which they have done for years in hot weather (143s as well), for the passengers so there is some thought for the customers.
Are the drivers refusing to take them out unless perfect?

It would be rather disgraceful if the GWR staff were intentionally failing the units given any opportunity and I would be disappointed if that was the case.

If GWR gave stopped the fleet to investigate then I'd give them as much time as required and also hope they're getting help from Alstom!

 

[Snow1964]

Are the drivers refusing to take them out unless perfect?

Although also have to question why they would be at a depot departure track, for crew to collect if faulty. Why would depot not fix it first before releasing it to traffic.

Considering the tens of millions GWR is paying Alstom for maintenance support, solely blaming drivers seems wrong.

 

[XFeed]

Although also have to question why they would be at a depot departure track, for crew to collect if faulty. Why would depot not fix it first before releasing it to traffic.

Considering the tens of millions GWR is paying Alstom for maintenance support, solely blaming drivers seems wrong.

I assume that it is the same at GWR as it was at Chester in that each unit prior to being allocated to a diagram received a pre service, Prep, inspection post cleaning and any maintenance that may have been carried out to identify any issues that the unit may have developed on depot. This pre service Prep also applied to units that would have only had fuel and cleaning.
There have been many occasions that a unit arrives at end of day completely healthy including while on depot buy when Prepped for service it just doesn't want to play !

 

[RPI]

So today there is one serviceable 175 but they won't let it out (quite right) because nothing can recover it when the inevitable happens