Class 175s to GWR

[Anonymous10]

That is potentially years away though, if it even happens, and painting it part of periodic maintenance to protect the bodywork.

Wouldnt be surprised to see a universal base white or similar with stickers, easy to vinyl then.

 

[RPI]

Wouldnt be surprised to see a universal base white or similar with stickers, easy to vinyl then.

As one poster has already said, one that is very much in the know, they're getting vinyl in the same livery as other GWR traction.

 

[Snow1964]

About 3 months ago, was said the 175s would initially take over from remaining castle HSTs from December timetable change.

Just 27 days to go, and so far just two 2car units have made it from Wolverton (although ideally need at least 7 units, unless trains are due to be shortened to 2 or 3car initially).

Anyone know what latest plan is, seems to be choice of
1) keep HSTs going few extra weeks
2) use very short 2car formations of 175s instead
3) shorten other trains and use 158s or turbos
4) shorten mainline trains and use 5car IETs (assuming they can find enough with working engines for hilly Devon & Cornwall routes)
5) Just cancel lots of services
6) Get lots of 175s delivered from Wolverton in next 3 weeks

Any updates ?

 

[John R]

I recall the MD stated in a radio interview recently that there was a hard stop for the HSTs with the timetable change as their place was booked on a ship to transport them to Mexico.

 

[JUMOUK]

I recall the MD stated in a radio interview recently that there was a hard stop for the HSTs with the timetable change as their place was booked on a ship to transport them to Mexico.

So the 7th secret option then: timetable falls apart a little

 

[brad465]

About 3 months ago, was said the 175s would initially take over from remaining castle HSTs from December timetable change.

Just 27 days to go, and so far just two 2car units have made it from Wolverton (although ideally need at least 7 units, unless trains are due to be shortened to 2 or 3car initially).

Anyone know what latest plan is, seems to be choice of
1) keep HSTs going few extra weeks
2) use very short 2car formations of 175s instead
3) shorten other trains and use 158s or turbos
4) shorten mainline trains and use 5car IETs (assuming they can find enough with working engines for hilly Devon & Cornwall routes)
5) Just cancel lots of services
6) Get lots of 175s delivered from Wolverton in next 3 weeks

Any updates ?

Two have come back from Wolverton, but another 4 are also with GWR in training, so is it not 6? Would this not be enough to form 2 diagrams (using 4 units), which IIRC is the number of daily HST diagrams?

 

[Peter C]

Two have come back from Wolverton, but another 4 are also with GWR in training, so is it not 6? Would this not be enough to form 2 diagrams (using 4 units), which IIRC is the number of daily HST diagrams?

There are three daily HST diagrams Monday - Saturday and then a single diagram on Sundays, I believe.

-Peter

 

[irish_rail]

Lack of sets isn't the issue. Virtually no drivers having been trained yet is by far the biggest reason that cancellations and short forms will be happening from December 14th.

 

[Snow1964]

Two have come back from Wolverton, but another 4 are also with GWR in training, so is it not 6? Would this not be enough to form 2 diagrams (using 4 units), which IIRC is the number of daily HST diagrams?

I might be wrong, but I don't think the training units are available for passenger service with GWR as they haven't had the Wolverton work/fixes

There are 3 weekday HST diagrams

 

[REVUpminster]

They may/must be opting to send more than one unit next time from Wolverton; hopefully Wednesday?

 

[fgwrich]

I recall the MD stated in a radio interview recently that there was a hard stop for the HSTs with the timetable change as their place was booked on a ship to transport them to Mexico.

I wouldn’t read entirely into the “their place is booked onto a ship to Mexico” line too much. Where they go after Laira is finished with them is down to their new owners and not Hopwood, and not everything, as we’ve seen this year, has been shipped abroad.

Are there anymore Wolverton to Laira moved in the system yet? It’s likely they’ll be a few units at least starting service in Ex-TFW Condition anyway, which isn’t a bad thing. The 175s are already in a fairly decent condition anyway.

 

[43096]

I wouldn’t read entirely into the “their place is booked onto a ship to Mexico” line too much. Where they go after Laira is finished with them is down to their new owners and not Hopwood, and not everything, as we’ve seen this year, has been shipped abroad.

Agreed. It’s just a convenient line from Mark Hopwood to try to deflect that it is a DfT/GWR hard stop decision, particularly as many of the vehicles are either FirstGroup or GWR owned.

 

[Peter C]

175114 is out today (17/11/2025) - shortly to leave Plymouth on 5Z13, the 1305 Plymouth - Plymouth (via Newton Abbot and Penzance): https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V57960/2025-11-17/detailed

-Peter

 

[northernbelle]

Has it been said if it'll be a full re-vinyl job into GWR livery or just a bit of green here and there and the GWR logos?

It should be a full livery application, using the layout adopted by the Class 158s as a basis.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Nov 2025 ==

They won’t have for that one (114), they haven’t been using the refreshed units out on the test runs it seems.

That's because no units have yet received a refresh. 114 has had a small number of the interior stickers updated, such as CCTV labelling and some GWR branding added to the internal doors.

 

[sh24]

I really hope they don't waste cash on a new livery. One of the frustrating aspects of the private era has been regular changes of colour on the outside, while the interiors where passengers actually travel see far less attention!

 

[The exile]

So the 7th secret option then: timetable falls apart a little

Option 8 is to wake up the rest of Cornwall’s badger population and tell them to get digging!

 

[JUMOUK]

Option 8 is to wake up the rest of Cornwall’s badger population and tell them to get digging!

I was delayed by that yesterday… after my initial train dragged itself into Exeter on one engine, we were told “sorry, we can’t run any trains into Cornwall because there’s a sinkhole”, fun morning

 

[St. Paddy]

This from X(Twitter) today

 

[The exile]

This from X(Twitter) today

“more 150s”????
Presumably “more 150s on the main line” - and short forms on the Devon Metro to cover?

 

[Anonymous10]

“more 150s”????
Presumably “more 150s on the main line” - and short forms on the Devon Metro to cover?

Apparently no more tfw 150s are going for scrap, could they be lending a few?

 

[fgwrich]

Apparently no more tfw 150s are going for scrap, could they be lending a few?

Hopefully, with Mid Cornwall Metro fleet availability will be tight. I’ve even heard of a suggestion that 175s could end up working some services in the future, and that’s from inside GWR. I’ve always felt that even just 2 150s would be a boost.

 

[RPI]

From a good source is that some 150's may be arriving on short term lease

 

[Anonymous10]

From a good source is that some 150's may be arriving on short term lease

I think we just found why tfw 150s wont be going to scrap.

 

[BillStampy]

I think we just found why tfw 150s wont be going to scrap.

Oh that'll be interesting, TfW 150s having a field trip to Devon and Cornwall... supposing that's the case anyway.

 

[Anonymous10]

Oh that'll be interesting, TfW 150s having a field trip to Devon and Cornwall... supposing that's the case anyway.

Given i have friends there it would be very wierd.

 

[83G/84D]

Aside from the rumours of ex TfW class 150’s moving to the South West.

The class 175 diagrams from next month, were released this week.
Subject to the caveats of unit and crew availability there are three diagrams on weekday's from 15 December, three on Saturdays from 20 December and two on Sundays from 14 December.
Diagrams are broadly similar to those of the castle class HST’s.

There are also expected to be spare units available at Laira and others available for training.

Other diagrams are due to be added from early April 2026.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 21 Nov 2025 ==

Aside from the rumours of ex TfW class 150’s moving to the South West.

The class 175 diagrams from next month, were released this week.
Subject to the caveats of unit and crew availability there are three diagrams on weekday's from 15 December, three on Saturdays from 20 December and two on Sundays from 14 December.

Other diagrams are due to be added from early April 2026.

 

[brad465]

From a good source is that some 150's may be arriving on short term lease

They will certainly be welcome, providing they work. Could we see the odd 4-car Okehampton as a result?

 

[RPI]

They will certainly be welcome, providing they work. Could we see the odd 4-car Okehampton as a result?

I think the whole point of it is to prevent having to reduce the Exmouth-Paignton services from 4 to 2, so I doubt making Oke up to 4 car, which would be complete overkill with the exception of one train a day, is unlikely.

As for 175's, they do seem to be getting through the training, not as quick as they'd liked, all of the crew that I've spoken to who have completed their 175 training have all been quiet positive about them as well.

 

[Snow1964]

The class 175 diagrams from next month, were released this week.
Subject to the caveats of unit and crew availability there are three diagrams on weekday's from 15 December, three on Saturdays from 20 December and two on Sundays from 14 December.

Other diagrams are due to be added from early April 2026.

For those not aware, engineering work is scheduled on the Exeter - Barnstaple/Oakhampton route Sat 21 to Sun 29 March (although after last weeks flood closure causing lot of local displeasure that might not go down well)

Sat 28 March is start of 2 weeks school Easter school holidays, which is when lot of South West tourist items (and trains) get busier again.

So not totally clear why GWR are waiting until early April to add more 175s

 

[HamworthyGoods]

So not totally clear why GWR are waiting until early April to add more 175s

Because that’s when there will be sufficient crew trained on the units to uplift the numbers in traffic…

The introduction plan is training led.