Class 175 future speculation

[HamworthyGoods]

How many HSTs are still in service with GWR? Will the 175s just be a replacement for them or will there be surplus in the fleet to cascade other fleet types, freeing up IETs.

175s to replace HSTs, free up 158s from Exeter and the South West to boost up Cardiff/Portsmouth formations again, free up 150s from Okehampton for the Newquay enhanced service, free up some turbos for the next metro west enhancements around Bristol and free up some 80x for use back on the mainline.

 

[Snow1964]

How many HSTs are still in service with GWR? Will the 175s just be a replacement for them or will there be surplus in the fleet to cascade other fleet types, freeing up IETs.

I think only 3 are used each day now,
Including all the spares, about enough for 7 HST trains

 

[Caaardiff]

175s to replace HSTs, free up 158s from Exeter and the South West to boost up Cardiff/Portsmouth formations again, free up 150s from Okehampton for the Newquay enhanced service, free up some turbos for the next metro west enhancements around Bristol and free up some 80x for use back on the mainline.

Thank you. So a huge saving in getting rid of the old and expensive HST's and move around much needed capacity.
Probably a bit off topic. The 175's will be a good stop gap as they are great trains is maintained well, but I guess the 150's and even the 158's are on a limited lifespan, even if GWR do take on TFW 158's as well. What are GWR's long term plans to replace the 15x and 16x fleet?

 

[JamesT]

What are GWR's long term plans to replace the 15x and 16x fleet?

See the various threads on here about ‘Project Churchward’.

 

[Energy]

175s to replace HSTs, free up 158s from Exeter and the South West to boost up Cardiff/Portsmouth formations again, free up 150s from Okehampton for the Newquay enhanced service, free up some turbos for the next metro west enhancements around Bristol and free up some 80x for use back on the mainline.

It's interesting that the 175s should be able to achieve so much despite only being 68 (+1 stored) vehicles compared to GWR's 63 mk3s (not including Night Riviera or power cars)

 

[The exile]

It's interesting that the 175s should be able to achieve so much despite only being 68 (+1 stored) vehicles compared to GWR's 63 mk3s (not including Night Riviera or power cars)

Well - only 12 Mk3s are actually in use on a daily basis (or is it 16?). Add to that the fact that a 3 car unit will in most cases be adequate to replace 4 Mk. 3s and you’ve got at least some of the answer.

 

[Wolfie]

Well - only 12 Mk3s are actually in use on a daily basis (or is it 16?). Add to that the fact that a 3 car unit will in most cases be adequate to replace 4 Mk. 3s and you’ve got at least some of the answer.

You could also add their self-contained power source.

 

[Blindtraveler]

There are hardly any services which Scott rail run which are actually suited to the 170

I can understand why they bought them in the first place for the Edinburgh to Glasgow operation back in the late '90s, but when they started spreading their wings I quickly began to see problems and the limitations of these units

Had I been Scott rail I think I would have probably been keen to offload them and swap them for another operators. More suitable units of some kind at a much earlier opportunity. Whereas now when they come off lease with Scott rail be that in 2035 or earlier because they're simply falling to bits, they are likely destined for Barnsley or Newport

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jul 2024 ==

Anyhow, I think we probably better return to topic as the state of Scott rails. Diesel fleet is hardly relevant here to a thread about the almost certainly going to be signed off transfer of 175 to the West country

 

[Bikeman78]

mis-forms as far as I can tell are:

175​	004	50759​		79759​
175​	005	50705​		79751​
175​	006	50706​		79765​
175​	008	50751​		79708​
175​	101	50708​	56751​	79704​
175​	109	50704​	56759​	79705​
175​	115	50765​	56765​	79706​

Can anyone recall how 175004 ended up with both driving cars from 175109?

 

[Cowley]

Anyhow, I think we probably better return to topic as the state of Scott rails. Diesel fleet is hardly relevant here to a thread about the almost certainly going to be signed off transfer of 175 to the West country

There is now a dedicated thread on the potential move here:

Could the class 222s go to Scotrail?

Possibly but as I said above, looking very likely GWR are getting them. mods note - split from this thread ScotRail need units to replace the 170s and HSTs, talk of 222s going to them in the future.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

Should see some movement on this over the next week, whole fleet looks to be going to GWR. It seems to be the worst kept secret in history at work.

I wonder if any announcements will be held until after Kings speech next Wednesday

 

[The exile]

I wonder if any announcements will be held until after Kings speech next Wednesday

Or possibly (if positive) announced when the new Rail minister (or whoever) opens Ashley Down.

 

[The_Train]

Should see some movement on this over the next week, whole fleet looks to be going to GWR. It seems to be the worst kept secret in history at work.

During my recent trip to Cornwall I came across a trainee driver for GWR who was quite happy to be discussing the fact she's been told 175s will form part of her driver training. Not sure it can even be classed as a secret at all

 

[RPI]

I wonder if any announcements will be held until after Kings speech next Wednesday

It was pretty much done before the election

 

[BillStampy]

During my recent trip to Cornwall I came across a trainee driver for GWR who was quite happy to be discussing the fact she's been told 175s will form part of her driver training. Not sure it can even be classed as a secret at all

Not exactly any secret then, almost certainly bound to happen. Especially since almost every 175 (only a few are left) are at Ely Papworth. Only a matter of when it'll be announced

 

[RPI]

I can't find a source at the moment, but apparently it's been announced?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

I can't find a source at the moment, but apparently it's been announced?

I believe there’s a few little bits of paperwork to complete but nothing expected to be a show stopper.

 

[michael74]

I can't find a source at the moment, but apparently it's been announced?

Nothing on the internal website nor any Fastline.

 

[TheWalrus]

I believe there’s a few little bits of paperwork to complete but nothing expected to be a show stopper.

Anticipation and excitement brewing…

 

[irish_rail]

Confirmed to drivers via an Aslef circular. 175s will be coming, all 27 of them.

 

[Express380]

Confirmed to drivers via an Aslef circular. 175s will be coming, all 27 of them.

Excellent news, now to find out what routes they'll do

 

[BillStampy]

Confirmed to drivers via an Aslef circular. 175s will be coming, all 27 of them.

Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant. Hoping they get used well! (My hope is Cardiff to Penzance so I can take more spins on them!)

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Excellent news, now to find out what routes they'll do

They’ll be doing Devon and Cornwall routes as has been listed many times before.

 

[Snow1964]

Confirmed to drivers via an Aslef circular. 175s will be coming, all 27 of them.

Good news.

Is there any indication of timescale, (which year) as the last I heard TfW hadn't yet brought about 20 back up to lease return condition (sorry, don't know how many are ready to transfer)

 

[74A]

Where would they be maintained. Laira or St Philips Marsh ?

 

[irish_rail]

To be maintained at Laira. No timescale just yet as I believe it's awaiting final sign off, and as mentioned above, they will be used initially in Devon and Cornwall. Unsure if the plan later includes Cardiff and Bristol or not....

 

[SuperLuke2334]

Confirmed to drivers via an Aslef circular. 175s will be coming, all 27 of them.

Fantastic news. I am presuming 008 will follow a bit later than all the others due to it still being repaired from the fire damage.

 

[BillStampy]

Fantastic news. I am presuming 008 will follow a bit later than all the others due to it still being repaired from the fire damage.

We still have a few to go to Ely now, not that many left, but I believe 101 or 109 is still at Barton, or it has left itself to go elsewhere.

 

[SuperLuke2334]

We still have a few to go to Ely now, not that many left, but I believe 101 or 109 is still at Barton, or it has left itself to go elsewhere.

There's still a few in Crewe South Yard, saw them passing last Sunday.

 

[Western 52]

There are several still at Landore, I saw them yesterday, although hard to say how many due to the vegetation obscuring the view.