Class 143 and 150 Replacement in Devon & Cornwall

[Charlie Smythe]

The class 143 and 150 DMU’s currently used by GWR in Devon and Cornwall for local, rural and commuter services are very outdated and are really in need of replacement.

My question to you is, what will be their replacement, and when will it arrive?

My first thought are they they may be replaced with class 158’s, like those used by South Western Railway for the Exeter-London Waterloo services, maybe some class 166’s. Or potentially some of the new trains that Northern are bring into service.

These new trains will no doubt have to be DMU’s and not electric trains as the class 143 and 150 trainsets will be long gone before the network between Exeter and Penzance is electrified, let alone the branch lines like the London Waterloo line, exmouth line and also to Torbay and Paignton.

So what do you think they will be replaced by, and when do you think it will happen.?

 

[swt_passenger]

AIUI 143s get replaced by 150s.
150 numbers in use will change, but no fleet replacement has ever been mentioned.
No idea about current dates, everything is running late.

 

[jonesy3001]

Only 150s that will be leaving devon and cornwall will be 150125 and 150126.

 

[Doomotron]

150s in need of replacement? I don't think so. Not yet anyway. I went on a refurbished GWR one and even though I have a passionate hatred for BREL trains, it was really nice.

 

[swt_passenger]

Really, if the question is distilled down to just “when and what should replace the 150s on GW” the answer is basically “anything you want it to be” at this stage...

 

[gsnedders]

AFAIK, both 143s and 150s need modification to be compliant with accessibility legislation from 1 Jan 2020. The expectation is the 143s will never receive the work and go to scrap, and the 150s will be modified and replace them as others have said.

 

[PHILIPE]

AFAIK, both 143s and 150s need modification to be compliant with accessibility legislation from 1 Jan 2020. The expectation is the 143s will never receive the work and go to scrap, and the 150s will be modified and replace them as others have said.

Almost all of the 150s have already been suitably modified

 

[Charlie Smythe]

Sorry, my mistake. Not class 150’s, class 142’s. The class 150 are still good. No idea how I got them mixed up.

 

[DenmarkRail]

I may be wrong, but wasn't the OPs point about what an eventual replacement could be? A class 150 replacement is almost certain in the next franchise.

 

[Charlie Smythe]

I may be wrong, but wasn't the OPs point about what an eventual replacement could be? A class 150 replacement is almost certain in the next franchise.

Possibly, what do you think it will be though? Class 166, 158 or maybe something new.

 

[E_Reeves]

I thought 158s were moving down there once the turbos are in the Bristol area?

 

[PHILIPE]

Sorry, my mistake. Not class 150’s, class 142’s. The class 150 are still good. No idea how I got them mixed up.

There haven't been any 142s with GWR since the end of 2011

 

[dk1]

150s will be the mainstay of the Exmouth/Paignton services whilst 158s take over the Exeter Central-Barnstaple & the enhanced Exeter St Davids-Penzance route. The latter to be shared with 'Castle HSTs.

New depot coming along at St.Davids too.

 

[michael74]

150s will be the mainstay of the Exmouth/Paignton services whilst 158s take over the Exeter Central-Barnstaple & the enhanced Exeter St Davids-Penzance route. The latter to be shared with 'Castle HSTs.

New depot coming along at St.Davids too.

I thought alot of the trains ran Paignton-Exmouth-Barnstaple-Exmouth-Paignton during the day, I assume that will change?

 

[PHILIPE]

I thought alot of the trains ran Paignton-Exmouth-Barnstaple-Exmouth-Paignton during the day, I assume that will change?

Yes. The Barnstaples wil run to and fro between Barnstaple and St.James Park and the rest will be between Exmouth and Paignton worked mostly by double 150s

 

[RPI]

I think all the 150's with GWR HAVE PRM mods now although I'm not sure about 207 whether the PRM mods done by First North Western all those years ago meet the 2020 requirements. (125 and 126 are leaving in December, although one has had mods). After the refurb the locals thought they were new trains!

 

[D2007wsm]

I think all the 150's with GWR HAVE PRM mods now although I'm not sure about 207 whether the PRM mods done by First North Western all those years ago meet the 2020 requirements. (125 and 126 are leaving in December, although one has had mods). After the refurb the locals thought they were new trains!

There is nothing wrong with the 150/2s which have been GWRd and have the Chapman seats with tables, they are pleasent enough to travel on all though the amount of legroom in certain seats is questionable. Especially the single seats opposite the toilet. I haven't been on one of the 150/2s with the Ashbourne seats, but have been on the 150/0s and don't find these as comfortable.

Unlike the 158s and 166s which we get most of the time now, they aren't tatty (If it's and unrefurbed 158 that is and have plenty of opening windows. These should be installed into the 158s and 166s for the frequent air con failures. On the other hand, when a 165 turns up with the Air cooling system, this is far better.

 

[TheWalrus]

Was thinking last night if the 769 project is successful maybe these tri-modes could go on Cardiff-Portsmouth using third rail between Southampton and Portsmouth and over head wires eventually between Bath and Cardiff. This would enable some turbos to cascade to Exeter for the Devon Metro services.

 

[PHILIPE]

Was thinking last night if the 769 project is successful maybe these tri-modes could go on Cardiff-Portsmouth using third rail between Southampton and Portsmouth and over head wires eventually between Bath and Cardiff. This would enable some turbos to cascade to Exeter for the Devon Metro services.

You don't need Turbos on the Devon Metro services. There are already 150s available, doubled up on many of them, and 158/9s for the Barnstaples.

 

[TheWalrus]

You don't need Turbos on the Devon Metro services. There are already 150s available, doubled up on many of them, and 158/9s for the Barnstaples.

Yeah 150s are great but turbos have quick acceleration which is good for a lot of stops. They could potentially be well suited to the route.

 

[Andy Pacer]

I still have some GWR 143’s ‘required’ in my book, I assume these are safe for a little while yet?

 

[PHILIPE]

I still have some GWR 143’s ‘required’ in my book, I assume these are safe for a little while yet?

They've got to go by the end of 2019

 

[323235]

I think all the 150's with GWR HAVE PRM mods now although I'm not sure about 207 whether the PRM mods done by First North Western all those years ago meet the 2020 requirements. (125 and 126 are leaving in December, although one has had mods). After the refurb the locals thought they were new trains!

150207 will only be complient if it has had PRM-TSI mods by Arriva Northern during the new franchise. No other past refurbs were PRM-TSI complient.

 

[Flinn Reed]

Why are 158s and 255s both being used on Exeter-Penzance services? Will the 165s/166s used around Bristol not release enough 158s?

 

[507021]

I wouldn't be surprised if at least some of the 150s in Wales ended up with GWR in the future.

 

[iantherev]

158s also have to cover Barnstaple services also some residual work in the Bristol area. If there were sufficient until for this, GWR would not be going to the trouble and expense of creating Class 255s.

 

[CC 72100]

Yeah 150s are great but turbos have quick acceleration which is good for a lot of stops. They could potentially be well suited to the route.

Which Turbos have you been on?! Overall the 165s are quicker off the mark than the 166s.

 

[TheWalrus]

Which Turbos have you been on?! Overall the 165s are quicker off the mark than the 166s.

Used to go on loads of them when I used to live near Bedwyn. Doors are quick opening and closing too but I suppose that’s due to the DOO on that route.

 

[mic505]

Mainly due to delays of the GWML electrification to Newbury, availability and delays to commissioning the 800/802's, GW electric timetable deferred to 2019. If the Newbury section was wired now then more Turbos or Class 165's would be cascaded to the Bristol area. Thus releasing more 158's for Exeter-Penzance services. Class 255's will operate Exeter-Penzance and some Cardiff-Taunton services from 2019. 158's will be concentrated in the Exeter area.

 

[JamesRowden]

The passenger information screens inside the carriage stated 'Class 158' the last two times that I travelled in a class 153 (connected to a class 150) on the Barnstaple line.