Class 175s to GWR

[Falcon1200]

It would be interesting to know how long the course to learn Class 175 takes, for Drivers and Guards?

 

[Ashley Hill]

It would be interesting to know how long the course to learn Class 175 takes, for Drivers and Guards?

Two days for guards.

 

[Falcon1200]

Two days for guards.

Thanks.

 

[XFeed]

Knowing nothing about Laira sorry but do GWR drivers and guards book onto their daily duty at the depot and then collect their allocated unit from the sidings ?

 

[83G/84D]

Knowing nothing about Laira sorry but do GWR drivers and guards book onto their daily duty at the depot and then collect their allocated unit from the sidings ?

Up until recently ROG (Rail Operations Group) drivers have undertaken the class 175 movements on and off Laira with GWR staff working them on the mainlines.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Knowing nothing about Laira sorry but do GWR drivers and guards book onto their daily duty at the depot and then collect their allocated unit from the sidings ?

Plymouth drivers and guards book on at Plymouth station. However, there are shed drivers based at Laira who book on/off there. Taxis are arranged if a Plymouth driver needs to go to/from Laira.

 

[XFeed]

Up until recently ROG (Rail Operations Group) drivers have undertaken the class 175 movements on and off Laira with GWR staff working them on the mainlines.

Thanks for the reply

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Dec 2025 ==

Plymouth drivers and guards book on are based at Plymouth station. However, there are shed drivers based at Laira who book on/off there. Taxis are arranged if a Plymouth driver needs to go to/from Laira.

Thanks for the reply.

Similar at Chester where train crew book on at the station but then walk to/from the depot to collect/drop off units as it is only a short distance. The shed drivers only drive on depot infrastructure.

 

[Xavi]

I think the whole point of it is to prevent having to reduce the Exmouth-Paignton services from 4 to 2

I hope so! Passengers struggled to board a packed 2-car 150 departing Marsh Barton at 1105 today.

 

[REVUpminster]

I hope so! Passengers struggled to board a packed 2-car 150 departing Marsh Barton at 1105 today.

There seems a real problem with 150 availability. Only 11 in service today (12 yesterday). This is with no train on the St Ives branch this week and Looe closed today, They are using two on the Barnstaple busy train in place of a 158 which they are using as the school train to Torre.
Five weeks since the last 175 from Wolverton. Something wrong somewhere?

 

[HamworthyGoods]

There seems a real problem with 150 availability. Only 11 in service today (12 yesterday). This is with no train on the St Ives branch this week and Looe closed today, They are using two on the Barnstaple busy train in place of a 158 which they are using as the school train to Torre.
Five weeks since the last 175 from Wolverton. Something wrong somewhere?

One of the Barnstaple diagrams is booked 4-150 the other two are booked 3-158.

 

[fgwrich]

One of the Barnstaple diagrams is booked 4-150 the other two are booked 3-158.

Indeed. Splits at Central with the leading 150 heading off to Axminster and back.

Although that’s a temporary tweak to the service, I rather hope it continues forward with GWR operating that and the return in service.

 

[TJDevon]

Indeed. Splits at Central with the leading 150 heading off to Axminster and back.

Although that’s a temporary tweak to the service, I rather hope it continues forward with GWR operating that and the return in service.

Does it not split at St Davids?

 

[northernbelle]

Does it not split at St Davids?

It does.

It's also not booked for a pair of 150s, but the usual 3-car 158. It is locally swapped each day to provide extra space on the morning Barnstaple - Exeter college train.

 

[REVUpminster]

One of the Barnstaple diagrams is booked 4-150 the other two are booked 3-158.

That's basically what I said two 150s hold more than a 3 car 158. The service used to be 3 158s but lately one has been two 150s.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

That's basically what I said two 150s hold more than a 3 car 158. The service used to be 3 158s but lately one has been two 150s.

It was the way you said in place of a 158 that implied it was a variation, where as it’s actually a timetabled to be a pair of 150s.

 

[Jrocks]

It does.

It's also not booked for a pair of 150s, but the usual 3-car 158. It is locally swapped each day to provide extra space on the morning Barnstaple - Exeter college train.

It was the way you said in place of a 158 that implied it was a variation, where as it’s actually a timetabled to be a pair of 150s

Back before the May TT change, it was arranged locally as a swap to trial it. Since the May TT change, its been a booked 150 diagram, with the school train down to Torre in the morning being booked the 158. Stays the same in the Dec change, with that Barny diagram staying as booked 150s.

 

[REVUpminster]

I hope so! Passengers struggled to board a packed 2-car 150 departing Marsh Barton at 1105 today.

Today a two car 158 operating Paignton Exmouth. Still only 12 150s in operation.

 

[grecian ern]

175001 and 003 left Laira 6am today due to return back at 8pm, each doing various runs between Newton Abbot and Par. Daily occurrence i believe, drivers must be stacking up the necessary hours now.

 

[fgwrich]

175001 and 003 left Laira 6am today due to return back at 8pm, each doing various runs between Newton Abbot and Par. Daily occurrence i believe, drivers must be stacking up the necessary hours now.

Is that the first time 001 has been out? I see 007/009 were paired together this week and have been out to Par and back.

 

[Ashley Hill]

175001 and 003 left Laira 6am today due to return back at 8pm, each doing various runs between Newton Abbot and Par. Daily occurrence i believe, drivers must be stacking up the necessary hours now.

Guards are also being trained too!

 

[Jrocks]

Today a two car 158 operating Paignton Exmouth. Still only 12 150s in operation.

Not the thread to discuss 150 reliability however please do remember that the Looe branch is suspended (1 150) and that there are some 150s trapped in Long Rock the wrong side of the possession. Its not that they arent there for service, its the fact they have no use at the moment as they physically can't do anything.

Will be intersting to see the diagrams from Dec for the current castle diagrams, lets wait and see what comes out on each diagram....

 

[brad465]

A Derby loco move is due to arrive at Ely on Wednesday, which could be ahead of a 175 drag (there is already what looks like a Networker scrap drag in earlier on this day so I can see this specific loco move being for that).

Realtime Trains | 5L46 0845 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings | 10/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5L46 0845 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings on 10/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

There is a path in on 10th Wolverton-Laira

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1023 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 10/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1023 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 10/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like this one waits time at Bath goods loop rather than Taunton

 

[REVUpminster]

There is a path in on 10th Wolverton-Laira

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1023 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 10/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1023 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 10/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Looks like this one waits time at Bath goods loop rather than Taunton

If it runs, lets hope more than one unit.

 

[tfw756rider]

Just to be clear, is there a current / very recent estimated entry-to-service date?

 

[REVUpminster]

1

Just to be clear, is there a current / very recent estimated entry-to-service date?

14 December or earlier if they get some more units down or the training ones will be used from then. There's nothing else. A third of the 150s seem to be out of use.

 

[paulwestwood]

1

14 December or earlier if they get some more units down or the training ones will be used from then. There's nothing else. A third of the 150s seem to be out of use.

That is assuming all of the little faults on each of the units have been rectified, in order to be allowed into Passenger Service.

 

[Azure_wolf32]

Anyone know if there will be any change to what trains serve Barnstaple with the 175 introduction? At the moment we get a mix of 4 car 150s and 3 car 158s and 165s

 

[REVUpminster]

Anyone know if there will be any change to what trains serve Barnstaple with the 175 introduction? At the moment we get a mix of 4 car 150s and 3 car 158s and 165s

When they get the units down 3 car 175s and a 5car 175 on 2R81 722am ex Barnstaple which is 4 car 150 (2 units) as a 3 car 158 can't cope.
When the 175s completely replace the 158s they will be off to Bristol. and when 175s get to Okehampton 2 150s are released for Cornwall.

 

[Snow1964]

If it runs, lets hope more than one unit.

Yes hopefully more than one unit on today's move to Laira, especially as some arrived at Wolverton from Ely many months ago, so have had months to work on them.