Class 175s to GWR

[simonmpoulton]

Pretty sure the chime was only added when Arriva Trains Wales reprogrammed them. I don't remember ever hearing it in First North Western days.

 

[Snow1964]

On the 6th January there is a drag from Ely all the way to Long Rock, is this a 175 move?

Realtime Trains | 7Q86 0130 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Penzance T.& R.S.M.D. | 06/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 7Q86 0130 departure from Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Penzance T.& R.S.M.D. on 06/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Could it be the 2 dead vehicles that are going to be used for spares, rather than units that are going to be used ?

 

[cactustwirly]

Video on YouTube showing the updated PIS. I see it still has the Alstom quirk with some capital letters creaPinG in

What is a small shame is the Coradia / First North Western Jingle has disappeared.

Sounds like the entire script and recording is lifted from TrainFX

 

[43096]

Apart from Virgin and Midland Mainline Mk3s and those in the Turbostars, I can’t think of many other items of rolling stock with such a warming Jingle prior to an announcement.

SBB’s beats all other jingles.

On the subject of 175s, I assume they have ditched the stupid “Thank you” at the end of every announcement?

 

[83G/84D]

Could it be the 2 dead vehicles that are going to be used for spares, rather than units that are going to be used ?

No it will see further use. It’s going to have some work done on it and be used as a training aid for Penzance based staff.

 

[tfw756rider]

On the subject of 175s, I assume they have ditched the “Thank you” at the end of every announcement?

Great Western Railway's announcements don't have the "thank you" (they're the proper Janine and David GWR automated announcements, and all traces of both Ruth and Alison have been wiped) so effectively they have "ditched" it, yes.

 

[emoaconr]

Pretty sure the chime was only added when Arriva Trains Wales reprogrammed them. I don't remember ever hearing it in First North Western days.

Indeed. See this video:

 

[D365]

No it will see further use. It’s going to have some work done on it and be used as a training aid for Penzance based staff.

Is it still safe to say that '175008' won't be restored to mainline working order?

 

[43096]

Is it still safe to say that '175008' won't be restored to mainline working order?

It is off-lease, unlike all the other 175s, so safe to say it is not returning.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is it still safe to say that '175008' won't be restored to mainline working order?

To save me trawling through the thread, what is wrong with 175008?

 

[BillStampy]

To save me trawling through the thread, what is wrong with 175008?

It's the unit with the most significant fire damage, as far as we all know it's not been fully repaired and is also not destined to work with GWR in the future due to said damage but I suppose it could be used for any salvagable spare parts that could be used to keep the rest of the fleet going in the long term.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jan 2026 ==

Could it be the 2 dead vehicles that are going to be used for spares, rather than units that are going to be used ?

Reportedly meant to be 175010 (don't hold me to that) moving, so probably a unit to get Penzance crews trained on them as they will be stabled down at Long Rock in the future as suggested in post #2015.

 

[Ashley Hill]

No it will see further use. It’s going to have some work done on it and be used as a training aid for Penzance based staff.

Given the fire damage as mentioned above by @BillStampy (thanks), what staff will it be trained with it?

 

[REVUpminster]

What would be the point of Dragging a 175 from Ely to Penzance for training when they have four un-refurbished and 4 refurbished at Laira.

 

[43096]

Given the fire damage as mentioned above by @BillStampy (thanks), what staff will it be trained with it?

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service?

In all seriousness, I think there are some crossed wires here. 175010 is quoted as the one being moved to Penzance. 175008 is the damaged, off lease, one.

 

[83G/84D]

What would be the point of Dragging a 175 from Ely to Penzance for training when they have four un-refurbished and 4 refurbished at Laira.

It requires repairs and Long Rock are carrying out the work.

 

[Roylang]

Wrong thread.

Roy

 

[D9006]

How have the 175 been performing, have they managed a few workings

 

[Goldfish62]

How have the 175 been performing, have they managed a few workings

One return trip Plymouth - Penzance for a few days in mid-December and that's been it.

 

[tfw756rider]

How have the 175 been performing, have they managed a few workings

One return trip Plymouth - Penzance for a few days in mid-December and that's been it.

Yes, only 175001 was in passenger service in 2025, for 5 days, and it worked 2C26 1340 Plymouth to Penzance and 2P21 1552 Penzance to Plymouth on each of those days, for a total of 10 individual services.

As for performance, from what I understand there have been no issues. As far as I know, any late running (other than any that wasn't the fault of the train or its crew) will have been due not to anything wrong with the unit, but any crew unfamiliarity (they were still doing training, but in passenger service).

 

[REVUpminster]

Reportedly meant to be 175010 (don't hold me to that) moving, so probably a unit to get Penzance crews trained on them as they will be stabled down at Long Rock in the future as suggested in post #2015.

They will probably also stable overnight at Exeter when the 158s go to Bristol. Has that 3 car lifting road at Exeter ever been used?

 

[tfw756rider]

Does anyone in here know when the 175s will start to reach Exeter in passenger service? I asked a little while ago in here (for someone else) but didn't hear back.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Could GWR be waiting for a May rollout when the timetable changes? Full staff knowledge, enough sets to cover summer diagrams plus press releases etc?

 

[GoneSouth]

Could GWR be waiting for a May rollout when the timetable changes? Full staff knowledge, enough sets to cover summer diagrams plus press releases etc?

Heck don’t go encouraging any more people to use them, they’re busy enough already. When they were Cardiff to Penzance I always found them busy with 4 HST coaches apart from the last train up from Penzance which was fairly quiet after Exeter and ended up in Gloucester I think rather than Cardiff. Obviously they won’t be doing the whole route anymore but potentially 2 coach services are going to be a squeeze come Easter.

 

[Goldfish62]

Could GWR be waiting for a May rollout when the timetable changes? Full staff knowledge, enough sets to cover summer diagrams plus press releases etc?

And in the meantime there'll be short formed 150s across the network.

No, it's simply down to training and insufficient units being available. Of course GWR will get them into service as soon as possible. Holding them back would be scandalous.

 

[Parallel]

Heck don’t go encouraging any more people to use them, they’re busy enough already. When they were Cardiff to Penzance I always found them busy with 4 HST coaches apart from the last train up from Penzance which was fairly quiet after Exeter and ended up in Gloucester I think rather than Cardiff. Obviously they won’t be doing the whole route anymore but potentially 2 coach services are going to be a squeeze come Easter.

My experience is splitting the service at Exeter has made the services less popular, as they don’t connect with each other at Exeter St Davids. Longer distance passengers will now be required to change between GWR and CrossCountry services, I doubt 4 cars will be needed on many services between Exeter and Penzance unless they plan to link the whole route up again. The other leg has always been relatively well used between Taunton, Bristol and Cardiff.

 

[sh24]

My Devon and Cornwall mainline experience was the Castle sets were never more than 20-30% loaded. Stepping down to 2 or 3 cars would be fine, and hopefully allow increases on the Devon Metro services which really do get packed.

 

[Goldfish62]

My Devon and Cornwall mainline experience was the Castle sets were never more than 20-30% loaded. Stepping down to 2 or 3 cars would be fine, and hopefully allow increases on the Devon Metro services which really do get packed.

Depends what time of year and time of day. Winter yes. Peak summer everything can be very busy. I've certainly never been on as low as a 20-30% loaded Castle set during daytime in the Peak summer season. Also school tipping out times.

Round trip time Plymouth - Penzance is around 5 hours. Chances are that a train that is lightly loaded in one direction could be busy in the other.

Three coaches will probably be fine on most services for most of the year. Two coaches is asking for trouble.

However, at the end of the day, GWR know their loadings far better than us armchair experts!

 

[Jrocks]

Does anyone in here know when the 175s will start to reach Exeter in passenger service? I asked a little while ago in here (for someone else) but didn't hear back.

They are cleared for passenger use upto Exeter SD but they just have no *booked* work up there yet. Dont know when we plan to swap the diagrams over to have booked work upto Exeter unfortunately.

 

[dciuk]

They are cleared for passenger use upto Exeter SD but they just have no *booked* work up there yet. Dont know when we plan to swap the diagrams over to have booked work upto Exeter unfortunately.

Are they cleared for Barnstaple/Okehampton/Axminster

 

[Snow1964]

Are they cleared for Barnstaple/Okehampton/Axminster

The intention is to do it, but if it has actually happened yet I don't know.

I think someone mentioned clearing to Paignton & Exmouth too, and possibly also Taunton (latter because of the new intermediate stations under construction). More to allow unplanned fleet alternatives during disruption than for any scheduled use.