Class 175s to GWR

[northernbelle]

101 already been to Wolverton AFAIK ?

Sets that have already gone through Wolverton have been for return from storage works, not refresh. Those that have already been through the works for other work will need to go back for their refresh.

 

[grecian ern]

175109 on its way to Wolverton top and tailed by two class 93's, might get to Laira by Xmas!

 

[REVUpminster]

Sets that have already gone through Wolverton have been for return from storage works, not refresh. Those that have already been through the works for other work will need to go back for their refresh.

But there are trains in service that have not even been to Wolverton.

 

[northernbelle]

But there are trains in service that have not even been to Wolverton.

Indeed - and they'll go there for refresh too.

I believe the initial sets that went directly from Ely to the west had been kept 'warm' at Ely, with a level of maintenance and checks being undertaken regularly.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

175003 was the first unit to be in TfW livery but it was vinyl and carried out by Aura Brand Solutions, I can't remember if it was subsequently painted.
Also I may have recalled a 3 car having the same treatment but am not positive.

I have tried to add a link but I don't think I have done it correctly.

I like how they are still blue underneath haha.

 

[tfw756rider]

I like how they are still blue underneath haha.

175107 and 175103 were later actually painted red and white, but not until after the other 175s were repainted.

 

[REVUpminster]

Ely :3: 175005/008, 175104 (175008 is in two halves)

Wolverton :11 : 175004, 175102/103/105/106/107/108/109/110/113/116

Laira : 12: 175002/007/009, 175114 ex Ely; 175001/003/006/011, 175101/111/112/115 ex Wolverton

Long Rock : 1 : 175010 ex Ely

as of 16 April 2026. I tihink this is right.
someone always films it.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

175107 and 175103 were later actually painted red and white, but not until after the other 175s were repainted.

Fair enough.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

175003 was the first unit to be in TfW livery but it was vinyl and carried out by Aura Brand Solutions, I can't remember if it was subsequently painted.
Also I may have recalled a 3 car having the same treatment but am not positive.

I have tried to add a link but I don't think I have done it correctly.

175003 was the second. 107 came first.

 

[XFeed]

175003 was the second. 107 came first.

In the wrap video you can see 107 receiving its vinyl at 0.49 to 0.54 secs and at 1.16 to 1.20 secs along with its transfer fleet No resting on the anti-climber at 0.52 secs.

In the background behind 003 I suspect that this is 107 going up and down on the jacks as the video shows 107 receiving its vinyl on the same road as the jacks with the subtitles on the video mentioning that they worked around the clock to carry out the work on the units, but I`m more than happy to be wrong.

 

[tfw756rider]

In the wrap video you can see 107 receiving its vinyl at 0.49 to 0.54 secs and at 1.16 to 1.20 secs along with its transfer fleet No resting on the anti-climber at 0.52 secs.

In the background behind 003 I suspect that this is 107 going up and down on the jacks as the video shows 107 receiving its vinyl on the same road as the jacks with the subtitles on the video mentioning that they worked around the clock to carry out the work on the units, but I`m more than happy to be wrong.

175107 was the first white and red 175 that re-entered service though, and it actually did so with Arriva Trains Wales on the 8/10/18, yes, 5 days before TfW

 

[XFeed]

175107 was the first white and red 175 that re-entered service though, and it actually did so with Arriva Trains Wales on the 8/10/18, yes, 5 days before TfW

It never fails to impress me the information that people know or can find out.

I have had a think about the 003, 107 chicken and egg scenario and once the 003 wrap was completed I am wondering if it then went straight off to Widnes for the complete interior TfW refresh ? as we often began with 2 cars for major overhaul works.

Once 107`s wrap was completed it must have returned to service still with the Arriva interior, pre refresh, as I seem to remember it appeared odd with the new colour scheme but old interior ?

Maybe someone can confirm or deny the 107 miss match ?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Once 107`s wrap was completed it must have returned to service still with the Arriva interior, pre refresh, as I seem to remember it appeared odd with the new colour scheme but old interior ?

Maybe someone can confirm or deny the 107 miss match ?

Yes I can, I remember in late 2018 travelling on it from Newport to Cardiff Central and it had the new livery but Arriva interior.

 

[XFeed]

Yes I can, I remember in late 2018 travelling on it from Newport to Cardiff Central and it had the new livery but Arriva interior.

Thanks for confirming, so its a possibility that 003 went straight to Widnes after its wrap otherwise I would think that there would be reports of it in service just like 107 ?

 

[REVUpminster]

Something coming from Ely. 175005 and 175104 left. Not likely to be 175008. I did read somewhere, maybe on this site, that Ely storage sidings is to close.

Realtime Trains | 7H70 0830 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 22/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 7H70 0830 departure from Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[brad465]

Something coming from Ely. 175005 and 175104 left. Not likely to be 175008. I did read somewhere, maybe on this site, that Ely storage sidings is to close.

Realtime Trains | 7H70 0830 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 22/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 7H70 0830 departure from Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Hopefully they'll go together, which wouldn't be the first time two units were dragged away from Ely to Wolverton.

Someone speculated the sidings would close, but the thread was locked due to lack of evidence. However I imagine it's not far from empty, now all the Networkers there have gone (to scrap, bar one for preservation), the 175s are nearly all gone, the 156s are rumoured to be going to Wolverton for part-stripping, leaving I presume some HST power cars Romic haven't taken for export.

 

[fgwrich]

Hopefully they'll go together, which wouldn't be the first time two units were dragged away from Ely to Wolverton.

Someone speculated the sidings would close, but the thread was locked due to lack of evidence. However I imagine it's not far from empty, now all the Networkers there have gone (to scrap, bar one for preservation), the 175s are nearly all gone, the 156s are rumoured to be going to Wolverton for part-stripping, leaving I presume some HST power cars Romic haven't taken for export.

There is also the fact that Angel doesn’t have a lot of stock left to store or with an imminent ending lease on its books - 150s (GWR Northern), 153 (ScotRail) 156 (northern / ScotRail), 158 (Northern / ScotRail), 165 (Chiltern / GWR), 166 (GWR), 172 (WMR), 175 (GWR), 350 / 444 / 450 (WMR / SWR) all have futures.

Now, the next question is will the next departures from Wolverton be green or remain in TfW Red and White.

 

[BillStampy]

Something coming from Ely. 175005 and 175104 left. Not likely to be 175008. I did read somewhere, maybe on this site, that Ely storage sidings is to close.

Realtime Trains | 7H70 0830 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 22/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 7H70 0830 departure from Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

That'll be a different stock move as there's a lack of barrier coaches on the inbound movement (Light Locomotive arrives a day prior)

 

[REVUpminster]

Is what your looking for?

Realtime Trains | 0L46 0542 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings | 21/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 0L46 0542 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings on 21/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[CR165022]

Something coming from Ely. 175005 and 175104 left. Not likely to be 175008. I did read somewhere, maybe on this site, that Ely storage sidings is to close.

Realtime Trains | 7H70 0830 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 22/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 7H70 0830 departure from Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 22/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This was 37800 taking 156470 & 497

 

[St. Paddy]

This was 37800 taking 156470 & 497

Top and tail with 37510

 

[REVUpminster]

Top and tail with 37510

Thanks. I just had a look at the train data base and seems someone has already edited them to Wolverton.

 

[BillStampy]

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1154 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 24/04/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1154 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 24/04/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5V84 to Laira on Friday.

 

[REVUpminster]

May Modern Railways has a short article on the 175 problems and cannibalising of trains to get some running. Apparently they have enough crews trained, 46 drivers, 85 guards for the May timetable. In addition to replacing the HST's they intend to run one on the Newquay branch as part of the Cornish Metro from May and a four or five car train on the busy morning train out of Barnstaple.

 

[BillStampy]

May Modern Railways has a short article on the 175 problems and cannibalising of trains to get some running. Apparently they have enough crews trained, 46 drivers, 85 guards for the May timetable. In addition to replacing the HST's they intend to run one on the Newquay branch as part of the Cornish Metro from May and a four or five car train on the busy morning train out of Barnstaple.

Well the positive takeaway from this is that the units are running and are now running quite well and regularly in service. If they can keep up with the May timetable that'd be great.

As an aside, I shall now ponder on Wolverton to Laira moves on whether they'll randomly appear in a different colour or not!

 

[XFeed]

May Modern Railways has a short article on the 175 problems and cannibalising of trains to get some running.

Cannibalising or 'robbing' and also 'rolling robb', as they were classed as at Chester depot, is nothing new and was a regular practice going back many years to maintain daily fleet availability of 24/27.

It could turn out to be quite time consuming at times and it didn't just apply to individual parts, whole cars have also been robbed as can be seen from some of the units miss match of individual car numbers.

 

[REVUpminster]

Cannibalising or Robbing and also rolling robb as there were classed as at Chester depot is nothing new and was a regular practice going back many years to maintain daily fleet availability of 24/27. It could turn out to be quite time consuming at times and it didn`t just apply to individual parts, whole cars have also been robbed as can be seen from some of the units miss match of individual car numbers.

The article said it would eventually require 20/26 availability so that it is quite generous.

At least six units on Okehampton (2) Barnstaple (4). The 158's could then go back to Bristol and they should get a better service. Still need 5/6 turbos at Exeter but I believe some are now based there.

 

[Brush 4]

Presumably 4-5 cars also on the return train to Barnstaple in the evening, for those same students and others. Good news though.

 

[The exile]

Presumably 4-5 cars also on the return train to Barnstaple in the evening, for those same students and others. Good news though.

Don’t know whether it applies on the Barnstaple line, but in general the peak travel times for school /college / work all tend to coincide in the morning, but spread out a bit for the return.

 

[Parallel]

Don’t know whether it applies on the Barnstaple line, but in general the peak travel times for school /college / work all tend to coincide in the morning, but spread out a bit for the return.

I think Barnstaple is helped by the adult commuter traffic returning later than the college traffic. Definitely looks to be spread out over a few afternoon/evening return trains.