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British Rail Class 175

The British Rail Class 175[11] Coradia 1000 is a type of diesel-hydraulic multiple unit (DHMU) passenger train from the Alstom Coradia 1000 family, that as of November 2024 is inbetween its previous operator Transport for Wales Rail and its next operator Great Western Railway.

British Rail Class 175
Coradia 1000
Transport for Wales Rail Class 175 at Cardiff Central in 2023
Refurbished Transport for Wales Rail interior
In service20 June 2000 – 17 October 2023[1] (previous operators)
Planned for May 2025 onwards (Great Western Railway)[2]
ManufacturerAlstom
Built atWashwood Heath, Birmingham[3]
Family nameCoradia 1000
Replaced
Constructed1999–2001
Refurbished2019–2022[4][5]
Number built27
Successor
[1][6]
Formation
  • 2 cars per 175/0 unit:
    DMSL-DMSL
  • 3 cars per 175/1 unit:
    DMSL-MSL-DMSL
Fleet numbers
  • 175/0: 175001–175011
  • 175/1: 175101–175116
Capacity136 seats per 2-car unit
OwnersAngel Trains
Operators
Depots
[7]
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length
  • DMSL vehicles: 23.71 m (77 ft 9 in)
  • MS vehicles: 23.03 m (75 ft 7 in)
Width2.73 m (8 ft 11 in)
DoorsSingle-leaf sliding plug (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Weight
  • DMSL vehs.: 56.51 t (55.62 long tons; 62.29 short tons)
  • MSL vehs.: 55.80 t (54.92 long tons; 61.51 short tons)
  • DMSL vehs.: 57.50 t (56.59 long tons; 63.38 short tons)
Axle loadRoute Availability 1
Prime mover(s)2 or 3 × Cummins N14E-R (one per vehicle)
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[8]
Displacement14 L (855 cu in) per engine[8]
Power output340 kW (450 hp) per engine
TransmissionVoith T 211 re.3 (hydrokinetic, one per vehicle)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic[a]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemScharfenberg Type 330[9]
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Class 180
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [10] except where otherwise noted.

The fleet of 27 sets was ordered from the French train manufacturer Alstom during July 1997 and were constructed between 1999 and 2001 at Washwood Heath, Birmingham. Early plans for some of the fleet to be capable of 125 mph (200 km/h) were in place but subsequently abandoned. Driver training and extensive testing of the new fleet was performed at the Old Dalby Test Track from November 1999. The first Class 175 entered revenue service with the train operating company First North Western on 20 June 2000. Ownership of the fleet is held by Angel Trains, who has leased the fleet to various train operators.

The first operator of the Class 175, North Western Trains (later known as First North Western), did not operate the fleet for long before Wales & Borders was created and inherited it. During December 2003, the new franchisee Arriva Trains Wales took over the Class 175s, by which point early reliability problems had been mostly resolved. First TransPennine Express also briefly operated several. In February 2018, the entire Class 175 fleet was temporarily withdrawn from service for safety checks. During October 2018, the fleet was transferred to the Transport for Wales Rail Services (KeolisAmey Wales) and then to the government-owned Transport for Wales Rail during 2021.

Background

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During July 1997, the train operating company North Western Trains placed an order reportedly valued at £64 million with the French train manufacturer GEC Alsthom (which in late 1998 would be rebranded as Alstom) for a total of 27 diesel multiple-units, comprising 11 two-carriage units with a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h), seven three-carriage units with a top speed of 100 mph, and nine three-carriage units with a top speed of 125 mph (200 km/h).[12][13] The specification called for the train to be a redesign of the Alstom Coradia Juniper family, with considerable emphasis placed on ride smoothness. Their introduction would enable the withdrawal of rolling stock dating back four decades by that point already. Manufacturing was undertaken at Alstom's facility in Washwood Heath, Birmingham.[3]

However, the company subsequently decided to reconfigure the order to instead cover 11 two-carriage and 16 three-carriage units, all of which possessed a maximum speed of 100 mph.[14] In conjunction with the procurement of the new fleet, purpose-built facilities were established to service it at Chester TMD. This new depot was capable of refuelling, cleaning, washing, and performing general maintenance works for the whole Class 175 fleet.[3][15]

The trains underwent low speed testing at the Severn Valley Railway prior to additional testing and driver training being conducted at the Old Dalby Test Track from November 1999.[16][17] The first Class 175 entered revenue service on 20 June 2000.[18][19]

Description

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The Class 175 is a long distance diesel multiple-unit (DMU) that was built in either two-carriage or three-carriage configurations. The two-carriage units are numbered 175001–175011, while the three-carriage units 175101–175116. The individual carriages are labelled as coaches A–B–C, with the two-car units lacking a coach B. The interiors were built to a bespoke design specified by the initial operator, North Western Trains.[3]

Various amenities are incorporated into the train.[3] A relatively novel feature at the time was the presence of airline-style at-seat entertainment systems at some seats that enabled passengers with headphones to listen to radio and recorded audio tracks. Various noise-dampening measures were incorporated, such as a floating floor, acoustic ceiling panels, and high levels of insulation, to produce a relatively quiet interior; a low-noise air conditioning system was also fitted.[3] The Class 175 is furnished with a passenger information system, consisting of onboard LED display and audio announcements that communicate both the destinations and arrivals. Each Class 175 has provisions to accommodate two disabled passengers in coach A, as well as for the storage for two bicycles in coach C.[10]

The exterior of the Class 175 has been designed for improved aerodynamics over preceding rolling stock; it is equipped with a skirted underside and has been shaped to minimise exterior noise.[3] Its launch operator stated that the train possessed both reduced drag and improved fuel efficiency over its existing rolling stock. The suspension system involved a dual air-and-spring arrangement that has been claimed to provide a smoother ride than the British Rail Class 465.[3]

Operations

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First North Western Class 175 at Stafford in 2003

The Class 175 fleet was initially operated by First North Western (FNW), which placed them on routes serving Birmingham New Street, Crewe and Manchester to Llandudno, Holyhead, Barrow and Windermere.[6] The type quickly displaced the elderly rolling stock that had been used on these routes, such as locomotive-hauled rakes of British Railways Mark 1 carriages.[3]

Early operations of the Class 175 were troubled by low unit availability on account of reliability problems; several services were substituted for by older locomotive-hauled trains at short notice.[20][21] To address these issues, the fleet was subject to remedial work, which was largely centred around improvements to the performance of the brakes and bogies.[22] These changes were reportedly successful, having resulted in the reliability of the trains improving substantially.[23]

As part of a restructure of franchise areas, during October 2003, FNW's services on the North Wales Coast Line from Birmingham and Manchester to Llandudno and Holyhead were transferred to the Wales & Borders franchise.[24] All 27 Class 175s were transferred to Wales & Borders, who then sublet 11 to FNW. This arrangement was maintained following FNW's Manchester to Barrow and Windermere services being transferred to First TransPennine Express (FTPE) in February 2004.[25] After FTPE took delivery of faster Class 185 DMUs, this arrangement ceased during December 2006.[6]

 
Arriva Trains Wales Class 175 at Cardiff Central in 2018

During December 2003, all of the Class 175s were transferred along with the Wales & Borders franchise to the new franchisee Arriva Trains Wales. Their sphere of operations was promptly extended to South Wales via the Welsh Marches Line, serving destinations such as Cardiff, Swansea, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard and Milford Haven.[6] In October 2018, the fleet passed with the franchise to Transport for Wales Rail Services; earlier that same year, the operator had announced its plans to replace the Class 175 with new-build Class 197 DMUs by 2023.[26][27]

In 2019, a comprehensive refurbishment of the Class 175 fleet commenced.[28] Performed at Alstom's Widnes facility, this work saw various improved amenities being installed for passengers, such as re-covered seats, the addition of at-seat USB and electrical sockets, new carpets throughout, and various other new interior fittings; a new external livery was also applied. Refurbishment of the last unit was reportedly completed in January 2022.[5][29] During February 2021, operation of the Class 175s was transferred along with the franchise to the Welsh Government-owned operator Transport for Wales Rail.[30][31]

TfW Rail began to wind down its fleet of Class 175s in February 2023, with the placing into storage of 175002 and 175005.[32] These units, along with three more (two of which had been damaged by fire in February 2023) were returned to lessor Angel Trains in May 2023.[33] The last of the class were withdrawn by the end of 2023, being replaced by Class 197 DMUs.[1]

In August 2024, Rail Express reported that Great Western Railway were planning to lease the Class 175 fleet,[34] and this was confirmed in November 2024 when the company formally signed the lease for the fleet. They are planned to enter service in 2025.[35]

Accidents and incidents

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On 16 January 2010, unit 175103 operating the 08:30 service from Manchester Piccadilly to Milford Haven struck two cars at Moreton-on-Lugg crossing between Hereford and Leominster.[36] The front seat passenger in one of the cars was fatally injured, although there were no casualties on the train. The train did not derail. The signaller had raised the barriers in error when the train was approaching the crossing,[37] and he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in July 2010;[38][39] he was convicted of charges under health and safety legislation following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in 2013, and was fined £1,750 and ordered to carry out 275 hours of community service.[40]

The same service collided with a trailer on the Morfa Main level crossing near Kidwelly on 31 January 2011. No-one was injured, but the unit involved, 175108, received nearly £82,000 worth of damage due to striking the trailer at 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). The farmer in charge of the trailer was sentenced to a 36-week suspended jail sentence and was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community work.[41][42]

On 19 December 2011, unit 175002 collided with a lorry at the Llanboidy level crossing near Whitland.[43] The train was operating the service from Milford Haven to Manchester Piccadilly and the driver of the lorry was arrested on suspicion of endangering safety.[44]

Class 175 units have caught fire in 2004 at Preston (175008), 2009 at Prestatyn, 2011 at Manchester Piccadilly, 2017 both at Shrewsbury (175109) and between Chester and Crewe, 2018 at Deganwy, and in 2019 both near Pontrilas (175107) and at Gowerton (175102).[45][46][47][48][49][50]

In February 2018, following the discovery of a number of instances of damaged wheels on Class 175 units, the entire fleet was temporarily withdrawn from service for safety checks.[51] After further investigation, it was found that a track fault between Newport and Cwmbran had caused wheel damage to several trains, not only Class 175s but also some Class 158s.[52]

On 8 February 2023, Transport for Wales Rail unit 175008 was travelling from Holyhead to Cardiff Central when the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Network Rail were alerted to a fire aboard the train.[53] This was followed by two further fires, both at Wilmslow, on 22 February and 1 March 2023. All three fires were attributed to a build-up of "debris, leaf litter, and other contaminants" in the units' under-floor engine bays, a pre-existing problem for which a remediation programme was already underway at Chester Traincare Centre.[54] Acknowledging that the three incidents in quick succession would "raise concerns", TfW Rail decided on 2 March to temporarily withdraw from service all Class 175 units that had not been through the cleaning programme.[54] This caused disruption to TfW operations, though the level of disruption reduced in the following days as cleaned units returned to service.[55] A further remediation includes replacement of the engines' intercoolers.[33]

Fleet details

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Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
175/0 Stored 10 1999–2001 2 175001-175007, 175009-175011[1]
1 1 175008[b]
175/1 16 3 175101-175116[1][c]
 
Arriva Trains Wales Class 175/0
 
Transport for Wales Class 175/0

Named units

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Some of the class have received names:

All except for Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru were named by First North Western. The nameplates were all removed in 2009 when the fleet was repainted into Arriva Trains Wales livery.[65]

Notes

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  1. ^ The units can also be braked by a hydrodynamic retarder fitted to the transmission, but this has been disabled.[citation needed]
  2. ^ Undamaged driving vehicle 50751 given to unit 175101[56][57]
  3. ^ 175101 Contains driving vehicle 50751 from 175008[56][57]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "TFW ends its use of Alstom Class 175s". Rail Magazine. No. 995. 1 November 2023. p. 23.
  2. ^ "Great Western Railway's acquisition of '175s' confirmed with 2025 introduction planned". News. Rail Magazine. 4 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Exciting new era of high speed travel" (Press release). First North Western. 28 November 1999. Archived from the original on 28 November 1999.
  4. ^ "Alstom completes first Class 175 DMU refurbishment". Railway Gazette International. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  5. ^ a b Smith, Roger (25 January 2022). "Transport for Wales celebrates completion of Class 175 refurbishment programme". RailAdvent. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d "The Alstom Class 175 DMUs". Today's Railways UK. No. 184. April 2017. pp. 40–47.
  7. ^ "Class 175s withdrawn for safety checks after fires". Rail Magazine. No. 797. 22 March 2023. p. 13.
  8. ^ a b "Engines: N14". Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Inc. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  9. ^ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Class 175 - Arriva Trains Wales". London: Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  11. ^ Marsden 2011, p. 154-155
  12. ^ "First British 200 km/h DMUs". Railway Gazette International. September 1997. p. 559.
  13. ^ "North Western to get 125mph streamliners in £64m deal with GEC Alsthom". The Railway Magazine. No. 1158. October 1997. p. 55.
  14. ^ "First North Western drops plans for 125mph DMUs". The Railway Magazine. No. 1176. April 1999. p. 9.
  15. ^ "New Chester depot will be a £17m supershed". The Railway Magazine. No. 1174. February 1999. p. 18.
  16. ^ "Class 175 tests start on the Severn Valley Railway". Rail. No. 365. 8 September 1999. p. 7.
  17. ^ "Class 175 Coradia DMU". traintesting.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  18. ^ "Angel Trains delivers first of 27 Class 175 Coradia trains" (Press release). Angel Trains. 21 June 2000. Archived from the original on 23 May 2006. Retrieved 17 March 2009.
  19. ^ "Last-minute panic leads to Class 175 passenger debut". The Railway Magazine. No. 1192. August 2000. p. 10.
  20. ^ "Select Committee on Transport Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence". 11 June 2003. Archived from the original on 26 February 2008. Retrieved 14 March 2009. Section 2.3:unit availability was over 60% on only one occasion
  21. ^ "About us - History". Riviera Trains. Archived from the original on 29 March 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2009. With the ongoing poor availability of Arriva Trains Wales North Wales Coast Class 175 units...
  22. ^ "About Us". Train Maintenance Solutions. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  23. ^ "How do you solve a problem like Coradia?". Modern Railways. No. January 2007. p. 50.
  24. ^ "Wales & Borders to be responsible for Class 175 fleet". Entrain. No. 19. July 2003. p. 44.
  25. ^ "First/Keolis takes over Trans-Pennine Express". Entrain. No. 28. April 2004. p. 32.
  26. ^ "£800m fleet renewal plan for new Welsh franchise". International Railway Journal. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  27. ^ "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 June 2018. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  28. ^ "First refurbished Class 175 back in Welsh traffic". Rail. No. 884. 31 July 2019. p. 28.
  29. ^ "Alstom completes first Class 175 DMU refurbishment". Railway Gazette International. 24 July 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020.
  30. ^ "Written Statement: Future of Rail update". Welsh Government. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020.
  31. ^ "Transport for Wales rail services to be nationalised". BBC News. 22 October 2020. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020.
  32. ^ "First 175s stored as three fires hits fleet". Today's Railways UK. No. 254. April 2023. p. 57.
  33. ^ a b Clinnick, Richard (June 2023). "First Class 175s sent off-lease by TfW". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 325. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 11. ISSN 1362-234X.
  34. ^ Clinnick, Richard (September 2024). "Class 175s set for Great Western Railway". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 340. p. 14.
  35. ^ "Great Western Railway's acquisition of '175s' confirmed with 2025 introduction planned". News. Rail Magazine. 4 November 2024.
  36. ^ Hulme, Charlie (19 January 2010). "Level Crossing fatality on the Marches line". The North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  37. ^ Fatal accident at Moreton-on-Lugg, near Hereford, 16 January 2010 (PDF) (Report). Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. July 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  38. ^ Hulme, Charlie (26 July 2010). "Moreton-on-Lugg accident: man arrested". The North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  39. ^ "Arrest after level crossing death in Herefordshire". BBC News. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  40. ^ "Sentencing for signalman who raised barriers in level crossing crash death". Rail Technology Magazine.
  41. ^ "Kidwelly train crash farmer 'incredibly stupid'". BBC News. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  42. ^ Samuel, A (31 October 2011). "Farmer who caused train crash given suspended prison sentence". Rail.co. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  43. ^ "Train and lorry collide on level crossing near Whitland". BBC News. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  44. ^ "Whitland train crash: Lorry driver, 48, is arrested". BBC News. 19 December 2011. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  45. ^ Hulme, Charlie (14 November 2011). "Fire drama at Manchester Piccadilly". The North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  46. ^ "Train evacuated after engine fire". BBC News. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  47. ^ Hulme, Charlie (21 November 2011). "The fire in 175 110 - update". The North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board. Retrieved 19 December 2011.
  48. ^ Rowden, Nathan (6 November 2017). "Trains cancelled and delayed after Shrewsbury Railway Station blaze drama - with pictures and video". Shropshire Star. Telford. Retrieved 8 November 2017.
  49. ^ "Eighty evacuated over train fire reports". BBC News. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  50. ^ Holmes, David (24 October 2017). "Train fire caused disruption between Chester and Crewe". Chester Chronicle. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  51. ^ Austin, Sue (28 February 2018). "Rail chaos as Arriva Trains Wales cancels services for urgent safety checks on damaged wheels". Shropshire Star. Telford. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  52. ^ "North Wales Coast Railway Notice Board: Arriva's Troubled Week". nwrail.org.uk. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  53. ^ "Services halted after fire on Class 175". Rail Magazine. No. 977. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 22 February 2023. p. 13.
  54. ^ a b "TfW Rail scales back Class 175 DMU operation following 'thermal events'". Rail Business UK. Sutton: DVV Media International. 3 March 2023. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  55. ^ "Transport for Wales 'short of rolling stock' as class 175 trains taken out of service for safety checks". Wrexham.com. 3 March 2023. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2023.
  56. ^ a b "More '197s' enter service as reliance on 'Coradia' fleet reduces". Rail Express. No. 328. September 2023. p. 20.
  57. ^ a b "Class 175 Coradia". UNITS. Rail Express. No. 329. October 2023. p. 20.
  58. ^ "News 2006". Llandudno and Conwy Valley Railway Society. 2006. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009. At Bangor station on 2nd August 2005 Bryn Terfel named 175003 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
  59. ^ a b c "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names - M". TheRailwayCentre.com. Archived from the original on 13 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  60. ^ a b "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names - B". TheRailwayCentre.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  61. ^ "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names - V". TheRailwayCentre.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  62. ^ a b "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names - C". TheRailwayCentre.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  63. ^ "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names - S". TheRailwayCentre.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  64. ^ "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names - P". TheRailwayCentre.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2007. Retrieved 17 March 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  65. ^ "North Wales Coast Line - Notice Board". 22 February 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2009. It is confirmed that the name Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru on 175 003 did not survive the repainting experience. ATW seem to be removing all names as trains are repainted...[permanent dead link]

Sources

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