Class 175s to GWR

[TastyMaltesers]

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

Makes sense, I doubt that Scharfenberg and BSI couplers come together well!

 

[brad465]

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?

And I save the day again!

The 175 introduction into service has coincided with the hottest summer on record so, while faults will still have occurred, this must be exacerbating the problem. We'll know for sure if by autumn the situation has somewhat improved.

 

[RPI]

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?

And I save the day again!

Haha, sadly though it's meant at least two unplanned short forms on the Exmouth-Paignton circuit

 

[Jrocks]

Haha, sadly though it's meant at least two unplanned short forms on the Exmouth-Paignton circuit

And also now short formed Paddington services to provide IETs to cover the other diagrams....

 

[TastyMaltesers]

Haha, sadly though it's meant at least two unplanned short forms on the Exmouth-Paignton circuit

And also now short formed Paddington services to provide IETs to cover the other diagrams....

Could be worse, at least it's not quite an EMR crisis

 

[Snow1964]

And also now short formed Paddington services to provide IETs to cover the other diagrams....

must be why some Bristol-Oxford have been cancelled
stole the 5car IETs to cover elsewhere, as chain reaction because 175s aren't usable

 

[150249]

Haha, sadly though it's meant at least two unplanned short forms on the Exmouth-Paignton circuit

Yeah not ideal considering the weather. Reckon there will be some rather toasty journeys on 150246 later.

 

[Class172]

The 175 introduction into service has coincided with the hottest summer on record so, while faults will still have occurred, this must be exacerbating the problem. We'll know for sure if by autumn the situation has somewhat improved.

You might be ridding one problem in favour of another, namely leaf fall!

 

[Snow1964]

You might be ridding one problem in favour of another, namely leaf fall!

Yes going to look rather silly if don't work in summer, and don't work properly in autumn too

Anyone want to put a bet on if they leak when it rains, or get condensation and steamed up windows when cool and damp. Or will not like Okehampton line when it snows and is icy on Dartmoor.

Surely they should be fixed to deal with UK weather, hot, cold, wet, dry etc.

 

[Jrocks]

must be why some Bristol-Oxford have been cancelled
stole the 5car IETs to cover elsewhere, as chain reaction because 175s aren't usable

Bristol Oxfords are cancelled because of an unrelated IET shortage! Luckily (or unluckily) these Oxford cancellations are nothing to do with the 175s.

And whilst we are on the topic of failures, 150249 has now 'failed' on 2E11 whilst trying to do its best 175 impression - unit overheating

 

[150249]

And whilst we are on the topic of failures, 150249 has now 'failed' on 2E11 whilst trying to do its best 175 impression - unit overheating

How rude


I was right about the heaving single 150s! Lots of children about off to the beach.

 

[REVUpminster]

158 now packed up. 1616 Exeter-Barnstaple. 2 hour gap.
1618 Newquay- Par
1618 St Ives-Par-St Ives.

1900hrs end of the world?

 

[The exile]

Surely they should be fixed to deal with UK weather, hot, cold, wet, dry etc.

What we’ve been experiencing over the last 7 weeks or so would not have been recognised as “ UK weather” that one had to plan for until very recently. In the same way, I doubt much is designed to cope with frequent repetitions of the October 1987 or January 1990 winds.

 

[irish_rail]

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!

Well you can be sure GWR drivers are most certainly not failing these for the fun of it. They are being failed with genuine problems. Some may not realise this, but the appalling performance of the 175s has had a really negative effect on some GWR crews. I've spoken to a couple of drivers lately who say the 175s are adversely affecting their mental health due to fear of having to work them, knowing failure is likely. I'm absolutely dreading learning them this autumn.......

 

[REVUpminster]

From another site.

"RMT▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are moving into dispute with GWR over a breach of Health and Safety regarding 175s."

Anybody know if it's true?

 

[Roylang]

From another site.

"RMT▸ (National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers) are moving into dispute with GWR over a breach of Health and Safety regarding 175s."

Anybody know if it's true?

If true, I wonder if this relates to the lack of 175s operating yesterday?

Roy

 

[CR165022]

Unless things change it seems to only be 003 & 006 out today, one in service and one on the training runs

 

[TastyMaltesers]

For today, KRS implementation means no trains to Okehampton so presumably more Sprinters could be deployed to cover 175 trains today if needed?

 

[REVUpminster]

For today, KRS implementation means no trains to Okehampton so presumably more Sprinters could be deployed to cover 175 trains today if needed?

I think it's to do with track. No service to Okehampton, yet all the connecting buses operating. Hourly at Falmouth. Two hourly at Newquay. IETs covering 175s. That put the capacity figures up. GWR is a disaster or demob (denationalisation) happy.

 

[DelW]

For today, KRS implementation means no trains to Okehampton so presumably more Sprinters could be deployed to cover 175 trains today if needed?

KRS? Google suggests connection with hip-hop or Polish logistics, neither of which seems relevant ...

 

[Harpo]

KRS? Google suggests connection with hip-hop or Polish logistics, neither of which seems relevant ...

Key Route Strategy.

Deciding which point ends to keep operational and which to leave set unused and in what position so that the operational ends can be kept operational.

Normally a deep winter/snow requirement.

 

[The exile]

Key Route Strategy.

Deciding which point ends to keep operational and which to leave set unused and in what position so that the operational ends can be kept operational.

Normally a deep winter/snow requirement.

Which is possibly one reason why Okehampton draws the short straw.

 

[RPI]

I think it's to do with track. No service to Okehampton, yet all the connecting buses operating. Hourly at Falmouth. Two hourly at Newquay. IETs covering 175s. That put the capacity figures up. GWR is a disaster or demob (denationalisation) happy.

Not sure how Nationalisation comes into it, it'll still be the same staff, management and trains after 13th December as it is now.

 

[DelW]

Key Route Strategy.

Deciding which point ends to keep operational and which to leave set unused and in what position so that the operational ends can be kept operational.

Normally a deep winter/snow requirement.

Thanks, noted.

 

[Goldfish62]

For today, KRS implementation means no trains to Okehampton so presumably more Sprinters could be deployed to cover 175 trains today if needed?

What's KRS?

 

[michael74]

If true, I wonder if this relates to the lack of 175s operating yesterday?

Roy

True but no.

 

[Snow1964]

Key Route Strategy.

Deciding which point ends to keep operational and which to leave set unused and in what position so that the operational ends can be kept operational.

Normally a deep winter/snow requirement.

Wonder what the threshold is for Oakhampton and Cornwall to trigger these

Neither is expected to get above 26c today, being a long way from the hot South East and East.

Needing a KRS at only 26c seems a bit feeble

 

[Bayum]

What is the story behind their reliability? Was it already decreasing whilst they were with TfW or is it the move to a new depot and the staff being relatively unskilled with this particular class?

 

[TastyMaltesers]

What is the story behind their reliability? Was it already decreasing whilst they were with TfW or is it the move to a new depot and the staff being relatively unskilled with this particular class?

I think the short story is, uncared for at the end of their time with TfW, then left stored to rot in the open before transfer, units taking longer than expected to be seen to at Wolverton and then goodness knows what else once they actually get to Laira!

 

[fgwrich]

I think the short story is, uncared for at the end of their time with TfW, then left stored to rot in the open before transfer, units taking longer than expected to be seen to at Wolverton and then goodness knows what else once they actually get to Laira!

Coupled with their somewhat finicky nature and the loss of their home dedicated depot hasn’t helped. It took Alsthom several years to get them to settle down, before the transfer of the depot to CAF (it’s always a recipe for disaster when another manufacturer if bought in to maintain someone else’s fleet… see; Hitachi). Alstom is supposed to be assisting GWR however but it’s another fleet for Laira to get their heads around. Of course had OOC remained… they knew their bigger brothers inside out.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Aug 2026 ==

Much as I'd like to see the stored 150s put through Wolverton and added to the GWR fleet to create a bit of slack, it wouldn't help with the immediate problem. As far as I can see, the only short-term solution would be to short-term hire some 150 or 158 units from another TOC with spare capacity - if such an animal exists!

There is that, however what has compounded the GWR fleet is the need to cycle one or two units through Wolverton for overhaul, whilst also having to cover for everything else in the GWR fleet (except the 387s). There’s no denying the GW 150s have been worked hard since about 2007.