Class 175s to GWR

[Apedlar12]

003 and 114 both out on passenger duties.

Nothing else about at the moment.

002 also out now on mileage runs:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V40800/2026-10-03/detailed

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:V38339/2026-10-03/detailed

 

[Deepgreen]

The GWR green brand was still developed by First Group, even if it doesn’t have their name on it - it’s their branding identity which they developed, even if it will pass on to the DfT after they hand the control over to them. Same with Avanti West Coast, even if it doesn’t say First Group and Trenitalia on it, unlike with Trenitalia which was on c2c. Same with all of Govia’s various brands, and National Express’ various different liveries, such as “one”, before they changed them and put National Express on them. Just like Essex Bus is a First Bus brand identity, even if it doesn’t say First Bus on it.

Does anyone using the railway (apart from a few 'insiders') know or care that green livery equals First Group? In short, 'leaving a mark' only matters if it has a true commercial benefit - this doesn't. Again, though, I like the colour!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Caught a very quick glimpse of a green unit this morning in Laira

 

[tfw756rider]

The location of this video is Somerton.

 

[RPI]

The GWR green brand was still developed by First Group, even if it doesn’t have their name on it - it’s their branding identity which they developed, even if it will pass on to the DfT after they hand the control over to them. Same with Avanti West Coast, even if it doesn’t say First Group and Trenitalia on it, unlike with Trenitalia which was on c2c. Same with all of Govia’s various brands, and National Express’ various different liveries, such as “one”, before they changed them and put National Express on them. Just like Essex Bus is a First Bus brand identity, even if it doesn’t say First Bus on it.

It was all done with DfT when owning groups were all but removed from any branding, whatever opinions on this, the suggestion that First have done it to in order to leave their band out there is for the fairies.

 

[CHAPS2034]

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 21:15 ==

Today 175110+103

They can really move

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Thursday at 21:53 ==

From those two videos, it sounds like the leading coach has a wheel flat. Is there a lathe at Laira?

 

[Jrocks]

The green 175s are most certainly Painted and are not vinyl wrapped! Only bits of wrap on them are the logos and the cosmetic 'go faster' stripes.

It was all done with DfT when owning groups were all but removed from any branding, whatever opinions on this, the suggestion that First have done it to in order to leave their band out there is for the fairies.

RPI is correct here. Remember that the DfT have had to sign off on anything recently (since 2020) so this most certainly isnt a case of First Group leaving their mark - the repaint was signed off by the DfT!

Infact if we go back fo 2015, FGW rebranded to GWR for a few reasons, one being to honour and give a nod to the historic operator that once ran along the same route.

 

[BillStampy]

175002 and 114 out tomorrow. First time 002 has been in public use since August 8th.

 

[Harpo]

Two years into this fiasco and the operational fleet is a spectacular two sets in passenger traffic.

I can’t see anyone wanting GBR and its livery plastered over this mess anymore than folk are likely to add ‘175 re-introduction’ or ‘GWR Electrification’ to their CVs.

 

[northernbelle]

Two years into this fiasco and the operational fleet is a spectacular two sets in passenger traffic.

I can’t see anyone wanting GBR and its livery plastered over this mess anymore than folk are likely to add ‘175 re-introduction’ or ‘GWR Electrification’ to their CVs.

As per post above, repaints will switch to GBR at a sensible moment in the programme.

 

[Harpo]

As per post above, repaints will switch to GBR at a sensible moment in the programme.

Exactly! It’s not ‘sensible’ plastering GBR’s ‘Brave new world’ colours over the nation’s least reliable rail fleet.

 

[RUK]

I don’t understand why they have to be re-painted at all right now in the first place - Southern have Class 387s in GWR and Porterbrook livery, as did Great Northern, and that’s been the case for years.

 

[Snow1964]

I haven't been keeping up with the 175 situation for a while - has GWR got all the 175s now or are they still only leading the whole fleet bar one? And have the interiors changed in the repainted units? I know the seats are the same but I don't know if the moquette or carpet has been updated.

1.5 units still at Ely (104, half of 008)

5.5 not via Wolverton (002, 004, 009, 010, 114 and half of 008)

Wolverton still has 5 x 3car units (102, 105, 106, 107, 108)

I think it is 29 of 68 vehicles not yet through Wolverton, (and 2 vehicles for parting out as spares, of original 70 vehicles)

As at current time there remain less 175 vehicles in service, than when last 3 sets of 4car HSTs were stopped (nearly year ago), so still running a reduced number of vehicles (12 down, 0-5 replacements so far)

 

[43102EMR]

I don’t understand why they have to be re-painted at all right now in the first place - Southern have Class 387s in GWR and Porterbrook livery, as did Great Northern, and that’s been the case for years.

Probably scheduled as they have been sitting (most of the time) bone idle in storage for the best part of 2-3 years

 

[REVUpminster]

1.5 units still at Ely (104, half of 008)

5.5 not via Wolverton (002, 004, 009, 010, 114 and half of 008)

Wolverton still has 5 x 3car units (102, 105, 106, 107, 108)

I think it is 29 of 68 vehicles not yet through Wolverton, (and 2 vehicles for parting out as spares, of original 70 vehicles)

As at current time there remain less 175 vehicles in service, than when last 3 sets of 4car HSTs were stopped (nearly year ago), so still running a reduced number of vehicles (12 down, 0-5 replacements so far)

005 arrived by road and 109 are still at Wolverton.
Since the introduction of 175s last December, one extra train has been provided and reduced capacity on the old HST diagrams and since September a reduced service with the planned cancelations.

 

[jimm]

I don’t understand why they have to be re-painted at all right now in the first place - Southern have Class 387s in GWR and Porterbrook livery, as did Great Northern, and that’s been the case for years.

We have been told that a lot of the 175s need corrosion repairs, so on the assumption that these two sets may have needed plenty of new metal to replace damaged areas, putting a few coats of paint on them would seem a sensible idea - and was probably authorised a while back. Almost anything is better than the 'look what AI knocked up for me' GBR livery anyway.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

When do we anticipate GWR converting another diagram to a 175?

 

[43102EMR]

We have been told that a lot of the 175s need corrosion repairs, so on the assumption that these two sets may have needed plenty of new metal to replace damaged areas, putting a few coats of paint on them would seem a sensible idea - and was probably authorised a while back. Almost anything is better than the 'look what AI knocked up for me' GBR livery anyway.

Plus the GWR is arguably one of the better later privatisation liveries in my opinion, much better than most of the plain vanilla white liveries many operators decided to use!

 

[Apedlar12]

5.5 not via Wolverton (002, 004, 009, 010, 114 and half of 008)

004 has gone via Wolverton as it came down to Exeter from there back in June.