Class 175s to GWR

[Parallel]

Not remotely. Most major railway assets get amortised over 25 years.

It takes years for new stock to be procured, built and delivered. The 175s in the interim are a perfectly adequate solution in my opinion, for the services they are planned to work.

 

[Cowley]

I can see us starting to drift off topic a little here. Can we keep things on the class 175s to GWR subject from here please everyone.

Thanks

 

[BillStampy]

Considering now that there's 0 175/0 units at Wolverton (to my knowledge) the next round of deliveries should be a 175/1, if not two if we're lucky. Fingers crossed this process starts picking up the pace as we move into the new year, although I expect not much work will be done in the next two weeks up to and just past New Years as I expect Wolverton will be shut during the period.

Also, fingers crossed for a unit or two out tomorrow on that one diagram!

 

[GoneSouth]

I personally welcome the change and not least because my Mac plug doesn't actually fit the HST sockets!

I hope your Mac fits the socket on the 150s that will likely end up substituting the now departed HSTs

To be clear, long term I don’t have a problem with the 175s, it’s just nobody knows how long there’ll be a lack of desirable stock to fill the interim. That’s all I meant by the downgrade, the current situation. I actually really liked the 175s on the few occasions I’ve traveled on them. Let’s just hope we don’t see 150s chugging up and down the south west mainline for very long.

 

[FGW_DID]

Also, fingers crossed for a unit or two out tomorrow on that one diagram!

If it was two units it would be two diagrams. 1 unit is allocated to a single diagram.

If tomorrow goes as booked, 2 units (2 diagrams) come off Laira coupled, they carry out some ECS moves (presumably more crew training) then they split. One unit stays ECS and the other works the aforementioned passenger services.

 

[tfw756rider]

If it was two units it would be two diagrams. 1 unit is allocated to a single diagram.

If tomorrow goes as booked, 2 units (2 diagrams) come off Laira coupled, they carry out some ECS moves (presumably more crew training) then they split. One unit stays ECS and the other works the aforementioned passenger services.

Do you know when the last day of the week is for the 175 passenger workings? Friday, Saturday or Sunday?

 

[FGW_DID]

Do you know when the last day of the week is for the 175 passenger workings? Friday, Saturday or Sunday?

Friday is the last day. Saturday is the first day of the next STP week. (Not had a look at them yet)

 

[WelshBluebird]

To a degree its pointless having the argument as people clearly won't change their minds and want to argue semantics. When back in the real world we are seeing GWR services regularly short formed or cancelled due to the lack of available rolling stock. Technically yes there may be enough units but in reality that isnt what we see. So if these services now have to be covered by 150s and 165/6, then surely that will have an impact on the other services those units are currently used for which are already often impacted by short formations etc.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

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Realtime Trains | 2P21 1552 Penzance to Plymouth | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2P21 1552 departure from Penzance to Plymouth on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

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175003 has been allocated to work the first GWR 175 service today.

 

[REVUpminster]

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 ==

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2P21 1552 Penzance to Plymouth | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2P21 1552 departure from Penzance to Plymouth on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

175003 has been allocated to work the first GWR 175 service today.

I notice it says reservations recommended.

 

[BillStampy]

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2P21 1552 Penzance to Plymouth | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2P21 1552 departure from Penzance to Plymouth on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

175003 has been allocated to work the first GWR 175 service today.

Rolled back to unallocated.

 

[Ashley Hill]

It appears 2C26 now has 175001 allocated.

 

[irish_rail]

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.

Not really, as it will run with crew in training, so my point remains, there are very very few trained up crews. Having one crew training run that happens to have passengers on it really doesn't point to a trained up workforce.

 

[John R]

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.

I think you overestimate what will impact the view people have of Mr Hopwood, and in particular the views of anyone for whom he might be interested in their perception of him.

 

[The exile]

The diagrams don’t need covering, they dont exist now. Whichever workings remain from these diagrams will now be redistributed around other traction type diagrams, e.g the 175s / 150 & 158s.
I don’t know why people keep propagating this fallacy that there isn’t enough stock for the services. There is never more diagrammed work than there are units in the fleet.
The key issue is just how many of those units you need on a daily basis and then unit serviceability is the main factor. If the fleet is being sweated and there is a high daily requirement but serviceability is low that’s what leads to short forms and ultimately cancellations.

If stock is being “sweated” to the extent that failures mean cancellations that go beyond the immediate (clearly a failure at Newquay means the next train to Par is going to be cancelled - however flush you are with stock) then there isn’t enough stock.

 

[The Prisoner]

Great to see the first 175 in revenue service today. Currently sat on a 197 from Chester to Manchester and boy do we miss them. Excellent unit.

 

[VP185]

Not really, as it will run with crew in training, so my point remains, there are very very few trained up crews. Having one crew training run that happens to have passengers on it really doesn't point to a trained up workforce.

Surely this proves all you need to start with is trained instructors?

There is little point in having trained crew when you don't have enough serviceable 175's to keep there competence up

 

[FGW_DID]

If stock is being “sweated” to the extent that failures mean cancellations that go beyond the immediate (clearly a failure at Newquay means the next train to Par is going to be cancelled - however flush you are with stock) then there isn’t enough stock.

How many spare units do you suggest a fleet should have? 1 maybe 2 per unit. You are going to have to be a bit realistic. Even with 20 required out of 25 (for example), it's very easy to rapidly burn through those spares then if anything else goes tilt, you're looking at shortforms or cancellations.
Also if there is lots of stock which appear to be sitting in the depot doing nothing, people tend to start asking why those units aren't being used to provide extra capacity / more trains.

 

[The_Train]

It appears 2C26 now has 175001 allocated.

What worked this diagram before?

 

[45076]

What worked this diagram before?

Friday last week had 43186 and 43004

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 12/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 12/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Harpo]

Surely this proves all you need to start with is trained instructors?

And when those instructors are delivering all of the non-handling elements of driver training….?

 

[The_Train]

Friday last week had 43186 and 43004

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 12/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 12/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Sorry, I could have just done that. My brain doesn't work that well

Be an interesting test for the 2 car 175 then as those timings tie in with the train becoming a school kid express - and having done many a journey at these times down there, there are lots of kids travelling good distances to go to school by train in Cornwall!

 

[VP185]

And when those instructors are delivering all of the non-handling elements of driver training….?

A “leading driver” job.

Again though, no point undertaking non-handling elements of training if there aren’t the serviceable units to undertake the practical handling element on.

 

[45076]

Sorry, I could have just done that. My brain doesn't work that well

Be an interesting test for the 2 car 175 then as those timings tie in with the train becoming a school kid express - and having done many a journey at these times down there, there are lots of kids travelling good distances to go to school by train in Cornwall!

no drama , hope you're ok.

 

[REVUpminster]

175001 has left Plymouth for Penzance after being in the dock platform for what seems most of the day.

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Interesting to compare with last monday

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 08/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 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

 

[Express380]

175001 has left Plymouth for Penzance after being in the dock platform for what seems most of the day.

Realtime Trains | 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance | 15/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C26 1340 departure from Plymouth to Penzance on 15/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Sure has!

 

[LowLevel]

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.

 

[JUMOUK]

It did materialise it seems!

 

[Anonymous10]

Sure has!

How i miss those units and seats, looking forward to a trip down and using these units again.

 

[Bob Price]

Just seen it crawl over Saltash Bridge on the webcams. No paint job yet.