Future for Class 180 Adelante fleets

[Russel]

Why? Salisbury's 158/9s and 159s are the most reliable (ex-BR) diesel fleet in the country. Why replace them with the 180s? As a certain Paul Tyreman once said, you'll be going nowhere.

They would keep the firefighters of the west country in a job though!

 

[Kite159]

They would keep the firefighters of the west country in a job though!

Although they are already in a job with the arrival of the 175s

 

[Russel]

Although they are already in a job with the arrival of the 175s

True, if they end up dealing with both fleets you'd have to also factor in the pay rise the firefighters would demand!

 

[3RDGEN]

With GWR taking the 175's it does raise the remote possibility of GWR taking the 180's to work the Bristol - Plymouth - Penzance services, this would allow the 80x's to be cascaded internally and free up a few175's to work some of the local services replacing 150/16x units.

 

[stevieinselby]

With GWR taking the 175's it does raise the remote possibility of GWR taking the 180's to work the Bristol - Plymouth - Penzance services, this would allow the 80x's to be cascaded internally and free up a few175's to work some of the local services replacing 150/16x units.

Third time's the charm? (F)GWR have already got rid of the 180s twice!

 

[3RDGEN]

Third time's the charm? (F)GWR have already got rid of the 180s twice!

Third time lucky maybe, but unlikely. Once the 175's are in place and sorted the four off lease 180's could be recommissioned and refurbished and sent to GWR. Once that's done GC could be releasing the remaining 10 units so refurb them and the full fleet can be reunited at GWR for a final 8-10 years, we are promised a rolling stock strategy so there's a start.

 

[Russel]

Third time lucky maybe, but unlikely. Once the 175's are in place and sorted the four off lease 180's could be recommissioned and refurbished and sent to GWR. Once that's done GC could be releasing the remaining 10 units so refurb them and the full fleet can be reunited at GWR for a final 8-10 years, we are promised a rolling stock strategy so there's a start.

That's one way to shaft GWR, the 180s have always been a liability and dumping them on GWR when they are nearing end of life is only going to have one outcome.

 

[brad465]

180112 appears to be being dragged from Ely to Derby Litchurch Lane right now (93002 and 93010 the locos involved):

Realtime Trains | 7Q57 0828 Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Derby Litchurch Lane | 12/02/2026

Real-time train running information for 7Q57 0828 departure from Ely Mlf Papworth Sidings to Derby Litchurch Lane on 12/02/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[frankiestrains]

Curious as to why 180113 moved to Litchurch Lane yesterday after 2 years of storage at ely?

 

[800001]

Curious as to why 180113 moved to Litchurch Lane yesterday after 2 years of storage at ely?

The lease at Ely has expired, so unit(s) moved to Derby is what I have been told.

 

[brad465]

The lease at Ely has expired, so unit(s) moved to Derby is what I have been told.

There was a thread about a rumour Ely Papworth Sidings are closing soon, but was closed considering lacking evidence. If the lease is expiring on stock still there with no obvious future, that might explain where the belief came from.

 

[43096]

There was a thread about a rumour Ely Papworth Sidings are closing soon, but was closed considering lacking evidence. If the lease is expiring on stock still there with no obvious future, that might explain where the belief came from.

If that’s the case, why have Angel moved HST vehicles into Ely in the last few weeks?