Class 175s to GWR

[RPI]

Plymouth has two different sets of Drivers.
The more established (ex-Intercity HST Drivers) have not yet been released to learn 175’s, so one Newquay diagram has to remain as a 150 until further notice.

Are HSS drivers even going to sign them? They don't sign 16x either I believe? Something to do with not learning any "new" traction? ( Obviously happy to be corrected if I got that wrong!)

 

[DelW]

Are HSS drivers even going to sign them? They don't sign 16x either I believe? Something to do with not learning any "new" traction? ( Obviously happy to be corrected if I got that wrong!)

Post #2976 of this thread refers to HSS drivers signing 175s from next year. I think the author of that post is probably in a good position to know.

Page 100 or Link here

 

[irish_rail]

Are HSS drivers even going to sign them? They don't sign 16x either I believe? Something to do with not learning any "new" traction? ( Obviously happy to be corrected if I got that wrong!)

Yes, Plymouth HSS to learn them from December. Unsure on the plan for HSS at PZ and EX. Frankly December seems too soon for my liking!

 

[irish_rail]

Are HSS drivers even going to sign them? They don't sign 16x either I believe? Something to do with not learning any "new" traction? ( Obviously happy to be corrected if I got that wrong!)

The whole "HSS not allowed to learn new traction etc" has (thankfully) been quietly forgotten about!

 

[PP57601]

Are HSS drivers even going to sign them? They don't sign 16x either I believe? Something to do with not learning any "new" traction? ( Obviously happy to be corrected if I got that wrong!)

At Plymouth, yes.
Can’t say what might happen at the inferior Devon depot though.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Realtime Trains | 5W78 1123 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Landore T.M.D. | 09/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5W78 1123 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Landore T.M.D. on 09/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Weirdly there's been two paths given for next Tuesday from Wolverton, this one is going back to Landore in Swansea! Are they returning the unit to Wales on a road trip?

Here's the other one that makes more sense, a move to Laira:

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1123 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 09/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1123 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 09/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Two paths again on Thursday although this time the alternative is to Exeter so theoretically 5V83 could be 150234 and 5V84 a 175 but they are in identical paths so both can't be true.

Realtime Trains | 5V83 1036 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd | 18/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V83 1036 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd on 18/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1036 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 18/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1036 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 18/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also a path to Wolverton tomorrow for what I guess is 158768 although conceivably it could be a 175 heading back for rectification?

Realtime Trains | 5H70 0945 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 17/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5H70 0945 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 17/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[BillStampy]

Two paths again on Thursday although this time the alternative is to Exeter so theoretically 5V83 could be 150234 and 5V84 a 175 but they are in identical paths so both can't be true.

Realtime Trains | 5V83 1036 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd | 18/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V83 1036 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Exeter Tmd on 18/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5V84 1036 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. | 18/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5V84 1036 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Laira T.& R.S.M.D. on 18/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

There is also a path to Wolverton tomorrow for what I guess is 158768 although conceivably it could be a 175 heading back for rectification?

Realtime Trains | 5H70 0945 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 17/06/2026

Real-time train running information for 5H70 0945 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 17/06/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Both paths from Wolverton are pathed as 175s

That last one is probably the 158 as no 175 units are currently based at St Philips Marsh.

 

[REVUpminster]

Perhaps they will decide on the way because I suppose they could do with one at Exeter for training. Could always hope it could be two units coupled together or does that double the chance of a breakdown.

 

[Snow1964]

GWR have had to suspend Looe branch this morning, due to train failure and more trains than usual needing repairs, presumably lack of spare 150s for next 5 hours due to covering some 175 diagrams

Due to a fault on this train between Liskeard and Looe the line is closed.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations may be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 12:00 17/06.
-
More trains than usual are needing repairs at the same time. This means that we have no train to run this service.

Live Train Times and Journey Updates | Great Western Railway

See the Great Western Railway TrainTracker for live departure times and up-to-the-minute train journey updates.

www.gwr.com

 

[Eoch]

GWR have had to suspend Looe branch this morning, due to train failure and more trains than usual needing repairs, presumably lack of spare 150s for next 5 hours due to covering some 175 diagrams

Live Train Times and Journey Updates | Great Western Railway

See the Great Western Railway TrainTracker for live departure times and up-to-the-minute train journey updates.

www.gwr.com

Fortunately, Newquay and one Cornish Local is still running 175 services, and now 5L77 (150207) is running to start Looe shuttles.

 

[Apedlar12]

Looks like 175101 which was already about 15L on 2P17, was then stopped at Par for half an hour, so has now been replaced by 150239 for 2C31.

175111 on 2C32 is also being swapped at Plymouth for 802016.

 

[BillStampy]

Looks like 175101 which was already about 15L on 2P17, was then stopped at Par for half an hour, so has now been replaced by 150239 for 2C31.

175111 on 2C32 is also being swapped at Plymouth for 802016.

175114 didn't make it off Penzance 2P20, running empty.

111 back out for the last leg of it's diagram 2E28 from Plymouth this evening.

 

[Apedlar12]

Yeah, just noticed 114 didn't leave on 2P20.

Could be a train crew situation with 111 then.

 

[RPI]

The whole "HSS not allowed to learn new traction etc" has (thankfully) been quietly forgotten about!

At least I know I didn't imagine it

 

[brad465]

The whole "HSS not allowed to learn new traction etc" has (thankfully) been quietly forgotten about!

Apart from 800, 802 and presumably Castle HSTs, did these drivers have knowledge of anything else? I'm guessing the HST departure meant there's capacity to learn a new fleet class in its place.

 

[diligentdave]

Pretty sure there's a 175 (possibly 104?) nearly ready to come out in GWR green. Definitely a 175 in green in the works at Wolverton when I was there yesterday (Weds).

 

[BillStampy]

Pretty sure there's a 175 (possibly 104?) nearly ready to come out in GWR green. Definitely a 175 in green in the works at Wolverton when I was there yesterday (Weds).

I'd anticipated the next move to be the green one, possibly next week? Keep an eye out, I suppose!

 

[REVUpminster]

I'd anticipated the next move to be the green one, possibly next week? Keep an eye out, I suppose!

Still waiting for todays move. Laira probably only wants it for spare parts. 14 trains already and lucky if a third are operational.

 

[BillStampy]

Still waiting for todays move. Laira probably only wants it for spare parts. 14 trains already and lucky if a third are operational.

If it hasn't left Wolverton by now it isn't running.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

Pretty sure there's a 175 (possibly 104?) nearly ready to come out in GWR green. Definitely a 175 in green in the works at Wolverton when I was there yesterday (Weds).

I think 104 is at Ely, so I'd say more likely to be 004.

 

[REVUpminster]

If it hasn't left Wolverton by now it isn't running.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==


I think 104 is at Ely, so I'd say more likely to be 004.

It is now cancelled. Should have expected as it seems to take three attempts. GWR management must be demob happy before nationalisation.

 

[GBM]

Seems 2C20 'failed?' at St Austell (175003) (Exeter to Penzance) 22 minutes down, but holding up 1C76 and 5Z14.
Running to Truro as 5C20

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

1C76 now diverted to platform 3 at Truro, as 5C20 parked by platform 2!

 

[Eoch]

Interesting that 5Z14(175002) is the next train after the Paddington Train. Looks like it is waiting for its sibing and its other sibing

 

[GBM]

Interesting that 5Z14(175002) is the next train after the Paddington Train. May be the rescue train.

5Z14 is the crew training unit today. Left Plymouth for Par (via Penzance) 13h24.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

5C20 now parked in the naughty siding in Truro yard.

 

[Eoch]

5Z14 is the crew training unit today. Left Plymouth for Par (via Penzance) 13h24.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

5C20 now parked in the naughty siding in Truro yard.

Not intended as the rescue train. I was joking a bit.

 

[GBM]

GWR hope to turn 5C20 into 2P20.
Start short at Truro instead of Penzance to Plymouth

 

[Ashley Hill]

Pretty sure there's a 175 (possibly 104?) nearly ready to come out in GWR green. Definitely a 175 in green in the works at Wolverton when I was there yesterday (Weds).

I’m surprised one isn’t going to go straight into GBR livery.

 

[GBM]

5Z14 is the crew training unit today. Left Plymouth for Par (via Penzance) 13h24.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Jun 2026 ==

5C20 now parked in the naughty siding in Truro yard.

5Z14 cut short at Truro, returning to Plymouth as 5Z15

 

[dk1]

I’m surprised one isn’t going to go straight into GBR livery.

I don’t think it can before the franchise ends. Perhaps GWR would like their stamp on at least one then make it last to be done in GBR.

 

[Snow1964]

I don’t think it can before the franchise ends. Perhaps GWR would like their stamp on at least one then make it last to be done in GBR.

Didn't First paint about 8 166s (or was it 165s) just before GWR took over, they then stayed in purple to about 2-3 years ago. It was something like 8 or 9 years before they got painted green.

If 175s get painted green between now and December, then might still be that colour, rather than GBR livery until about 2034

 

[Harpo]

It’s going to be interesting when these barn finds enter Roger Ford’s reliability tables in Modern Railways.