Class 175s to GWR

[tfw756rider]

I've just seen 175009+175114 at Plymouth on 5Z12. Nice to see the 175s roaming around!

-Peter

Nice, a 5-car formation. I wonder if anyone has captured it?

 

[Peter C]

Nice, a 5-car formation. I wonder if anyone has captured it?

I got a few photos but they're not great (and not of the whole set) unfortunately. Once it's been down to Penzance on 5Z12, the train is going up to Newton Abbot and it should be back in Plymouth around 2.30 p.m.: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V43822/2025-09-22/detailed#allox_id=0

-Peter

 

[REVUpminster]

I got a few photos but they're not great (and not of the whole set) unfortunately. Once it's been down to Penzance on 5Z12, the train is going up to Newton Abbot and it should be back in Plymouth around 2.30 p.m.: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V43822/2025-09-22/detailed#allox_id=0

-Peter

It should have done Newton Abbot before it went to Penzance so may not do it this afternoon.

 

[Peter C]

It should have done Newton Abbot before it went to Penzance so may not do it this afternoon.

Yes that's a good point. I'll be interested to see if that happens!

-Peter

EDIT to update, 15:05:

The 175s did make it to Newton Abbot and back to Plymouth (albeit arriving at Plymouth 18 late). Nice to see them twice in a day and I'll be looking forward to seeing more of them in the future!

 

[Nozzacook]

Captured their first arrival into Penzance.

 

[tfw756rider]

Captured their first arrival into Penzance.

Thanks very much for capturing and sharing 175009+175114 arriving into Penzance on Five Zulu One Two! Great to see the first 175(s) arriving into Penzance!

 

[DelW]

Captured their first arrival into Penzance.

The ghost of times past is visible at 1:06 (remnants of TfW branding). Elsewhere it seems to have been cleaned off quite effectively.

 

[Pete_uk]

Captured their first arrival into Penzance.

Welcome to the tropics!

Just replace the red for green and they'll ve ready to go !

 

[tfw756rider]

Welcome to the tropics!

Just replace the red for green and they'll ve ready to go !

Any chance you could generate a picture of this shot of a 5-car 175 (2-car front and 3-car rear) at Platform 4 of Penzance, but in Great Western Railway livery?

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Not my video. The first train in it is 175003 passing through Bedminster on 5V84 1014 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on the 18/9/25.

Sharing for a friend.

 

[Peter C]

Another 175 run today - I saw it on 5Z13 (1305 Plymouth to Plymouth via Newton Abbot). I couldn't see the numbers from where I was, but it was 175002 and 175114 according to RealtimeTrains: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V43822/2025-09-25/detailed#allox_id=0

They did a trip from Plymouth down to Penzance and back this morning (5Z12) and both it and 5Z13 ran well in terms of timings.

-Peter

 

[Pete_uk]

Any chance you could generate a picture of this shot of a 5-car 175 (2-car front and 3-car rear) at Platform 4 of Penzance, but in Great Western Railway livery?

I did have a image of one in that livery but I can't seem to find it..

 

[tfw756rider]

I did have a image of one in that livery but I can't seem to find it..

Aha, Cardiff Central! It's something - thanks

 

[Ashley Hill]

I did have a image of one in that livery but I can't seem to find it..

Even just covering the red bits with green like this would look better than just leaving them in TfW red. Plonk a green GWR in the middle and job (half) done!

 

[Kingham West]

Even just covering the red bits with green like this would look better than just leaving them in TfW red. Plonk a green GWR in the middle and job (half) done!

 

[Cloudrak]

Just saw one at Plymouth with lots of staff around!

 

[Peter C]

Just saw one at Plymouth with lots of staff around!

Yes the units out today have popped into the sidings (as photographed) a couple of times today - nice to see them.

-Peter

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The ghost of times past is visible at 1:06 (remnants of TfW branding). Elsewhere it seems to have been cleaned off quite effectively.

Any sign of FirstGroup purple remaining inside?
They kept the original FNW purple stripe under the windows practically throughout their ATW lives.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Just saw one at Plymouth with lots of staff around!

Have GWR confirmed that they are using the 175s because last time I heard it was just rumours.

 

[John R]

Have GWR confirmed that they are using the 175s because last time I heard it was just rumours.

It’s all been confirmed and announced for a few months now.

 

[tfw756rider]

Any sign of FirstGroup purple remaining inside?
They kept the original FNW purple stripe under the windows practically throughout their ATW lives.

At most, there will be signs of it around the toilet mirrors.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Sep 2025 ==

Have GWR confirmed that they are using the 175s because last time I heard it was just rumours.

Here's the official FirstGroup announcement from the 10/3/25 Jacob

Class 175 trains to help Great Western Railway improve reliability across the network​

Great Western Railway (GWR) will welcome 26 Class 175 trains to its fleet to help improve punctuality and reliability for customers, replacing older diesel trains that are more expensive and less environmentally friendly to run.

The move marks the first stage of the train operator’s plans to rejuvenate its regional and suburban services while preparing the way for decarbonisation.

The 10 two-car trains and 16 three-car trains are expected to start to enter service in Devon and Cornwall later this year, with the entire fleet expected to be operational from the end of next year.

Able to be connected in four, five and six-car formations, the trains will operate predominantly on the line between Exeter St Davids and Penzance, as well as to Barnstaple and Okehampton.

The Class 175s will release trains to improve performance in other areas of the network.

This boost to the fleet will lead to the removal of some of its oldest and least efficient diesel trains, which have become more expensive to maintain as spare parts become more difficult to find on the open market.

GWR Managing Director, Mark Hopwood, said: “The benefits of these trains will be felt by customers across the whole of the GWR network. With more trains we will have more scope to increase resilience where it is needed most, delivering the reliability our communities deserve and need.

“They are a fantastic addition to our fleet and will provide a welcome boost as we seek to rejuvenate our regional and suburban services.

“We’d like to thank our industry partners, and the Department for Transport, for helping us get to this point and we look forward to welcoming the trains into service later this year.”

Chair of the Peninsula Rail Taskforce, Councillor Andrea Davis, said: “Rail services are a big part of our climate change and economic development offer, and we have been campaigning for extra rolling stock for some time.

“It is also great to hear that the additional trains will mean improvements to services elsewhere across the GWR network, but I am especially delighted with the news for Devon and Cornwall.”

In the run-up to service launch, GWR will undertake a comprehensive programme of training for staff, as well as preparing Laira depot, where the trains will be maintained.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

At most, there will be signs of it around the toilet mirrors.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Sep 2025 ==


Here's the official FirstGroup announcement from the 10/3/25 Jacob

Thank you

 

[jamieh27]

I did have a image of one in that livery but I can't seem to find it..

It kind of looks a bit like Irish Railways livery white and dark green, I do prefer the other picture that I think was generated by AI.

 

[Bringback309s]

Plenty of discussion about December 13th and the last HST, but when can we expect the first 175 to carry passengers?

 

[REVUpminster]

Plenty of discussion about December 13th and the last HST, but when can we expect the first 175 to carry passengers?

Try the 14 December. There was only one HST diagram. Not saying it is, but could be.

Realtime Trains | 2C24 1126 Exeter St Davids to Penzance | 14/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C24 1126 departure from Exeter St Davids to Penzance on 14/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[brad465]

There's a loco move to Ely from Derby tomorrow, which appears to include barrier wagons (trailing load 400 tonnes). Could this be ahead of a 175 collection?

Realtime Trains | 5Q46 1002 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings | 07/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q46 1002 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings on 07/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[REVUpminster]

There's a loco move to Ely from Derby tomorrow, which appears to include barrier wagons (trailing load 400 tonnes). Could this be ahead of a 175 collection?

Realtime Trains | 5Q46 1002 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings | 07/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q46 1002 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings on 07/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Something would have to move from Wolverton. Only one has so far; not to say two or three could be ready to go in one go.

 

[BillStampy]

Something would have to move from Wolverton. Only one has so far; not to say two or three could be ready to go in one go.

Don't see the problem with storing them outside the shed - supposing there's space of course, then moving them inside once they're ready to.

Try the 14 December. There was only one HST diagram. Not saying it is, but could be.

Realtime Trains | 2C24 1126 Exeter St Davids to Penzance | 14/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C24 1126 departure from Exeter St Davids to Penzance on 14/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I feel they'll probably enter service a week or two beforehand just to make sure they're ready - you don't really want to put one in a Castles place on the first day they're gone as you're likely asking for trouble. Best to find if there's any issues before taking your old stock away!

 

[REVUpminster]

Sunday 14 December HST diagram. Only 175s at laira.

Realtime Trains | 5C06 0750 Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Plymouth | 14/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5C06 0750 departure from Laira T.& R.S.M.D. to Plymouth on 14/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2C06 0845 Plymouth to Penzance | 14/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C06 0845 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 14/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Obar123]

There's a loco move to Ely from Derby tomorrow, which appears to include barrier wagons (trailing load 400 tonnes). Could this be ahead of a 175 collection?

Realtime Trains | 5Q46 1002 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings | 07/10/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q46 1002 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings on 07/10/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Class 93s this time instead of 37s, not sure what they are collecting though