Class 175s to GWR

[sh24]

Excellent, hopefully the start of a positive improvement - they're superb trains in terms of passenger environment, dare I say it far nicer than the tired basically commuter spec HSTs they're replacing.

Absolutely! They are really comfortable and compare very well to anything on the UK network.

 

[BillStampy]

Sure has!

Oh I can feel the memories flooding back just by looking at those seats. A TfW nostalgia trip calls for me!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Sure has!

I notice the PIS is working. Any automated announcements?

 

[FGW_DID]

What worked this diagram before?

Nothing has worked this diagram before. The 175 diagrams have just started.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Nothing has worked this diagram before. The 175 diagrams have just started.

There was a 13:40 before though. He’ll be asking what it was before it became a 175 diagram.

 

[cactustwirly]

Realtime Trains | 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 08/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 08/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The 1340 was a Castle last Monday, so effectively working something close to the old Castle diagram

 

[RPI]

If it runs in passenger service that should upset the naysayers on here who claim no crews available. If it doesn't then Mark Hopwood is going to look a fool.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==


I notice it says reservations recommended.

At no point has anyone said there are "no crews", the people in the know have pointed out that the amount of crews who sign them are in the low double figures, so take a depot like Plymouth, which is a large depot, once you have rest days, AL etc you may have days at a time where no one is on a suitable shift to work them.

 

[FGW_DID]

There was a 13:40 before though. He’ll be asking what it was before it became a 175 diagram.

Appreciate that but the 13:40 (2C26) isn’t a diagram though, it’s a singular working. The actual diagram will be an LA 8xx number of which 2C26 will be one of a number of workings from start to day to end of day.
To paraphrase yourself - Its a bit like someone saying “piece to camera” when they really mean a “Vox Pop“

 

[stadler]

Good to see the 175s enter service. They are definitely an upgrade from the HSTs as far as ordinary non enthusiast passengers are concerned. They might not be the most reliable but at least the interior is decent. I am just not sure that local stopping services are the best use of an intercity style unit with end doors but of course the same could be said about the HSTs and 158s on the same routes.

Any idea which automated announcements and which PIS is being used on the GWR class 175 trains? Have they kept the old Alstom PIS that it had at TFW and previous operators? Or have they had a new TrainFX PIS installed? And do they have the Janine Cooper Marshall and David Sheppard voiced announcements like on other GWR stock?

Also out of interest what method of guard operation is being used on these GWR class 175 trains? Is it Guard Open Guard Close (like on GWRs class 150/158 trains)? Or is it Driver Open Guard Close (like on GWRs class 165/166/800/802 trains)? Or yet another method? I know at TFW they were Guard Open Guard Close but originally at FNW they operated as Driver Open Driver Close like the 180 at GWR did so they could potentially have changed it back?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Appreciate that but the 13:40 (2C26) isn’t a diagram though, it’s a singular working. The actual diagram will be an LA 8xx number of which 2C26 will be one of a number of workings from start to day to end of day.
To paraphrase yourself - Its a bit like someone saying “piece to camera” when they really mean a “Vox Pop“

Hahahaha excellent point

 

[Express380]

Made it with minimal delay lovely run with great traction as they have always been. Auto announcer a tad all over the place. Barr that lovely journey.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Any idea which automated announcements and which PIS is being used on the GWR class 175 trains? Have they kept the old Alstom PIS that it had at TFW and previous operators? Or have they had a new TrainFX PIS installed? And do they have the Janine Cooper Marshall and David Sheppard voiced announcements like on other GWR stock?

This is what I wondered, as Ruth definitely has recordings of all of the Wessex stations. I imagine they’ll get TrainFX - however - if you look at some of the pictures in the thread you’ll see “Penzance” in the standard Alstom Coradia font.

As we know from the Northern 170 and 333 retrofits, whose front end PIS fonts changed, had the 175s received TrainFX, we’d have seen a change in the front end PIS to their instantly recognisable tiny PIS font instead.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==

Made it with minimal delay lovely run with great traction as they have always been. Auto announcer a tad all over the place. Barr that lovely journey.

You can see here the standard Alstom PIS @stadler

Express380 who was the auto announcer? Was it Ruth, the voice until recently used on TfW and Arriva?

 

[Express380]

All Janine and David for those wandering but a little bit mashed together if you ask me compared to other stock.

 

[stadler]

This is what I wondered, as Ruth definitely has recordings of all of the Wessex stations. I imagine they’ll get TrainFX - however - if you look at some of the pictures in the thread you’ll see “Penzance” in the standard Alstom Coradia font.

As we know from the Northern 170 and 333 retrofits, whose front end PIS fonts changed, had the 175s received TrainFX, we’d have seen a change in the front end PIS to their instantly recognisable tiny PIS font instead.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==


You can see here the standard Alstom PIS @stadler

Express380 who was the auto announcer? Was it Ruth, the voice until recently used on TfW and Arriva?

I was wondering if either Ruth or Alison would make an appearance. That would be a nice surprise if they did. Ruth has all the Cornwall and Devon stations recorded but only on the Worldline system so it is a question of whether they could be transferred over. Alison might be easier to use. Alison was previously used on the FGW/GWR 180 (and the FNW 175 and for some recordings on the ATW/TFW 175) and she would have recorded the Cornwall and Devon stations. It seems unlikely but if they have kept the old 180 files then they could potentially transfer those to the 175 as they have the same exact PIS system. But who knows. It will be interesting to see what they are using.

 

[RPI]

I was wondering if either Ruth or Alison would make an appearance. That would be a nice surprise if they did. Ruth has all the Cornwall and Devon stations recorded but only on the Worldline system so it is a question of whether they could be transferred over. Alison might be easier to use. Alison was previously used on the FGW/GWR 180 (and the FNW 175 and for some recordings on the ATW/TFW 175) and she would have recorded the Cornwall and Devon stations. It seems unlikely but if they have kept the old 180 files then they could potentially transfer those to the 175 as they have the same exact PIS system. But who knows. It will be interesting to see what they are using.

An interesting fact, Ruth (the real person behind the voice!), used to work at Truro station, I believe in the old call centre that was behind the ticket office.

 

[The_Train]

Nothing has worked this diagram before. The 175 diagrams have just started.

Appreciate that but the 13:40 (2C26) isn’t a diagram though, it’s a singular working. The actual diagram will be an LA 8xx number of which 2C26 will be one of a number of workings from start to day to end of day.
To paraphrase yourself - Its a bit like someone saying “piece to camera” when they really mean a “Vox Pop“

Hahahaha excellent point

Thanks for all of these responses but I got the answer I needed hours ago

 

[stadler]

Sure has!

I must say that i am surprised it has no GWR logos on it. You would think that they would at least stick a GWR logo on the outsides of the train. But i suppose at least it is not running to Cardiff where people would no doubt think it was a TFW train.

All Janine and David for those wandering but a little bit mashed together if you ask me compared to other stock.

Ah thank you. That makes sense to keep it the same voices as the other stock. Alstom units always seem to have problematic automated announcements that do not work or have mashed together files and incorrect inflections so i am not surprised to hear that it sounds a bit mashed together.

An interesting fact, Ruth (the real person behind the voice!), used to work at Truro station, I believe in the old call centre that was behind the ticket office.

Yes she did indeed. As you say she worked in the old office and call centre besides Truro station in the 90s and 00s originally for BR then Wales & West then Wessex Trains then FGW as it was. She used to sometimes do manual announcements at Truro when the regular announcer (Stanley May) had his day off. His regular day off was Wednesday and they would always ask staff in the office to cover and do live announcements. She always enjoyed doing them and her voice was liked so she was asked if she wanted to voice the new Worldline automated system (or BRBS as it was back then before Sema then Schlumberger then Atos then Worldline took over) when they installed it. So any regulars at Truro back in the 90s may remember hearing Ruth make live announcements before the automated system came in to place. Ruth has a great voice and has always been one of my favourite announcers.

 

[Express380]

I must say that i am surprised it has no GWR logos on it.

Alstom units always seem to have problematic automated announcements that do not work or have mashed together files and incorrect inflections so i am not surprised to hear that it sounds a bit mashed together.

There are GWR logos on the Vestibule doors that's it.
All those issues especially inflections are present here. The weird one for me is Camborne where you can apparently change for other train services!

 

[ThatBloke]

Amongst all the comments about announcements and GWR brand logos.

The important element is that CL175 have started service, in the South West. With a lot of work from GWR, Angel, Alstom and other parties to make it happen.

Just the 25 other units to get fully service ready, the depot facilities to support them and the staff in place to run them.
No small ask, still to deliver.

 

[BillStampy]

Amongst all the comments about announcements and GWR brand logos.

The important element is that CL175 have started service, in the South West. With a lot of work from GWR, Angel, Alstom and other parties to make it happen.

Just the 25 other units to get fully service ready, the depot facilities to support them and the staff in place to run them.
No small ask, still to deliver.

Considering the first unit arrived at Laira only just over a year ago I reckon that's quite impressive, plenty of work has gone into this. Just because they're replaced the HSTs and they're starting slow, doesn't mean we should instantly go negative. I'd take a 175 any day, they're great units. Give all involved parties time to get the rest of the fleet ready and I'm sure they'll be a great part of the South West train fleet.

 

[Wyrleybart]

It’s not an interim measure to facilitate staging AIUI but the intended service going forward.

Really ? Oh dear. DfT moving the goalposts around again then. I was under the obviously mistaken impression than the Exeter split was temporary.

 

[Snow1964]

Really ? Oh dear. DfT moving the goalposts around again then. I was under the obviously mistaken impression than the Exeter split was temporary.

It was initially, but has rather dragged on. Since then the proposed stations at Wellington and Culhompton might see some sort of longer term restructure of timetable to see them being served.

Also if TfW introduce a service to Bristol it's unclear if GWR will run to Cardiff from both Portsmouth and Cardiff (it's currently roughly half hourly alternating Cardiff-Bristol), but how would split with extra TfW train operate is unclear.

In meantime, split at Exeter looks likely to continue at least until December 2026

 

[Rich McLean]

It was initially, but has rather dragged on. Since then the proposed stations at Wellington and Culhompton might see some sort of longer term restructure of timetable to see them being served.

Also if TfW introduce a service to Bristol it's unclear if GWR will run to Cardiff from both Portsmouth and Cardiff (it's currently roughly half hourly alternating Cardiff-Bristol), but how would split with extra TfW train operate is unclear.

In meantime, split at Exeter looks likely to continue at least until December 2026

If TfW start a Bristol Service, I would imagine the current Exeter/Taunton - Cardiffs to be cut back to Bristol and eradicate the Exeter Split. But yes, the split will remain until all required crew Exeter, Plymouth, Par and Penzance are fully competent and the entire fleet availablde.

 

[John R]

If TfW start a Bristol Service, I would imagine the current Exeter/Taunton - Cardiffs to be cut back to Bristol and eradicate the Exeter Split. But yes, the split will remain until all required crew Exeter, Plymouth, Par and Penzance are fully competent and the entire fleet availablde.

Really? I thought the point was that it is considered that 2tph is inadequate for the Cardiff to Bristol flow and so the TfW services would help to address that.

And will there be enough 175s to cover the Cardiff to Exeter services as well as all the proposed uses for them?

 

[Rich McLean]

Really? I thought the point was that it is considered that 2tph is inadequate for the Cardiff to Bristol flow and so the TfW services would help to address that.

And will there be enough 175s to cover the Cardiff to Exeter services as well as all the proposed uses for them?

If it goes up to 3tph, I think the split will remain to avoid training Bristol GWR drivers and conductors. Plus you will have two extra stops between Exeter and Taunton, which would be easier to path by keeping the service split.

 

[REVUpminster]

175001 has stabled in Plymouth dock platform. Maybe to remain there until tomorrow?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==

175001 has stabled in Plymouth dock platform. Maybe to remain there until tomorrow?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Dec 2025 ==

Would you believe it! It's now gone to Laira. Perhaps it was a photocall?

 

[Express380]

Amongst all the comments about announcements and GWR brand logos.

The important element is that CL175 have started service, in the South West. With a lot of work from GWR, Angel, Alstom and other parties to make it happen.

Just the 25 other units to get fully service ready, the depot facilities to support them and the staff in place to run them.
No small ask, still to deliver.

I totally agree seeing them start finally, I couldn't be more pleased they are so suited to the route and were appreciated by all onboard. This new replacement for 2+4s is ideal and I look forward to many more runs on them over the coming years.

 

[jldavies455]

I take it the 175 run today was the first? and that it hasn't yet been repainted

 

[FGW_DID]

I take it the 175 run today was the first? and that it hasn't yet been repainted

In passenger service yes. No still in red & white.

 

[Cach17]

In passenger service yes. No still in red & white.

With the GBR livery having just been unveiled, there's really no point painting them green.