British Rail Class 175
Encyclopedia
The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit
passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom
at Washwood Heath
in Birmingham
. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180
.
The entire fleet is owned by the Rolling Stock Operating Company
Angel Trains
. They were originally leased to First North Western
, but the fleet has since been transferred to Arriva Trains Wales
. For a brief period, units were also sub-leased to TransPennine Express.
to allow for the replacement of elderly Class 101
'heritage' DMUs and locomotive-hauled trains to Bangor
and Holyhead
. As they were constructed, the old locomotive sheds
at Chester were replaced with a purpose-built facility in order to service the Class 175 units. Units were tested at low speed at the Severn Valley Railway
before further testing and driver training at the Old Dalby Test Track from November 1999. The first unit entered service on 20 June 2000.
The two-carriage units are numbered 175001–011, and the three-carriage units 175101–116. Carriages are labelled as coaches A–C, with two-car units having no coach B. Each train has provision for two disabled passengers in coach A, and storage for two bicycles in coach C.
Early reliability problems meant that some services were operated by old rolling stock at short notice. Remedial work included improving brakes and bogies, and the reliability of the units is now greatly improved.
and audio announcements of train destinations and arrivals. However, problems with its operation led to its not being used by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) when it acquired the trains; not using it meant that the LED destination displays on the front and rear of the train were not illuminated. The system was reprogrammed in 2007 for new routes, which included Welsh spellings on the information screens, as well as the implementation of a chime, signalling the start of an announcement to passengers.
from their introduction in 2000 until October 2003, when franchise
changes led to North Wales Coast Line
services being transferred to Wales and Borders
; as a result most of the fleet was then used by Wales and Borders: First North Western's branding was removed from all the units, but the livery remained largely the same.
The fleet was transferred to Wales and Borders' successor Arriva Trains Wales
in 2004, with some being sub-leased to First Transpennine Express
, who took over First North Western's long-distance routes. First Transpennine took delivery of new Class 185 Pennine
units in 2006, and the sub-leased Class 175s returned to ATW. The units have been based at the Chester depot throughout, and they have been operated in Wales
, North-West England and the West Midlands
.
(FNW) operated the Class 175s until 2003, when the fleet was transferred to Arriva Trains Wales.
The units were used on various services:
In 2003, the trains transferred to the Wales and Borders
franchise and subsequently ATW. However, under a contractual agreement, 11 units were leased back daily from ATW to FNW and then later to First TransPennine Express
for use on the Manchester Airport to Blackpool and Cumbria services until mid-December 2006, when that contract expired. They also found use on one morning peak service between Chester
and Manchester Piccadilly via Altrincham, which continued to be operated by a Class 175 until December 2004.
in 2004. The fleet is based at Chester Depot.
Since fully taking over the fleet ATW now uses Class 175s on Cardiff Central
to Manchester
and service. Some South Wales bound services continue beyond Cardiff to Maesteg
, Carmarthen
and Milford Haven
. They also continue to operate in the North West on to Manchester Piccadilly services and the three trains daily extend to Manchester Airport. Since the installation of ERTMS signalling on the Cambrian Coast the Class 175s are not permitted to travel West of Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli.
Fourteen daily Class 175 Coradia diagrams are in operation on Welsh Marches Line
services to South Wales from Manchester and Holyhead, while ten diagrams are in operation on the North Wales Inter-Urban services between Manchester/Crewe and Chester/North Wales. One Sundays only diagram sees the units travel from Holyhead to Birmingham New Street via Stafford.
They have been cleared by Network Rail to operate the lines from Cardiff Central to Maesteg, Cheltenham, and Ebbw Vale.
Some of the class have received names:
All except for Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru were named by First North Western. The nameplates have now all been removed as the fleet now wears standard Arriva colours.
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
at Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180
British Rail Class 180
The Class 180 is a type of British diesel multiple unit train built by Alstom between 2000 and 2001 for use on then-new express services by First Great Western . They were built at Washwood Heath in Birmingham and are part of the Coradia 1000 family along with the Class 175. FGW stopped using the...
.
The entire fleet is owned by the Rolling Stock Operating Company
Rolling Stock Operating Company
In the United Kingdom, a Rolling Stock Operating Company owns and maintains railway engines and carriages which are leased to Train Operating Companies who actually operate the trains....
Angel Trains
Angel Trains
Angel Trains is an English Rolling Stock Operating Company created in 1994 as part of the privatisation of British Rail. It was one of three ROSCOs...
. They were originally leased to First North Western
First North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
, but the fleet has since been transferred to Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
. For a brief period, units were also sub-leased to TransPennine Express.
Description
Eleven two-carriage and sixteen three-carriage units, worth £78 million, were built for First North WesternFirst North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
to allow for the replacement of elderly Class 101
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
'heritage' DMUs and locomotive-hauled trains to Bangor
Bangor, Wales
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in Britain. It is a university city with a population of 13,725 at the 2001 census, not including around 10,000 students at Bangor University. Including nearby Menai Bridge on Anglesey, which does not however form part of...
and Holyhead
Holyhead
Holyhead is the largest town in the county of Anglesey in the North Wales. It is also a major port adjacent to the Irish Sea serving Ireland....
. As they were constructed, the old locomotive sheds
Traction maintenance depot
In the United Kingdom, a traction maintenance depot, or TMD, is a railway depot where locomotives are serviced and maintained. A traction and rolling stock maintenance depot, or T&RSMD, is a maintenance depot where locomotives, multiple units and rolling stock are serviced and maintained. Each rail...
at Chester were replaced with a purpose-built facility in order to service the Class 175 units. Units were tested at low speed at the Severn Valley Railway
Severn Valley Railway
The Severn Valley Railway is a heritage railway in Shropshire and Worcestershire, England. The line runs along the Severn Valley from Bridgnorth to Kidderminster, following the course of the River Severn for much of its route...
before further testing and driver training at the Old Dalby Test Track from November 1999. The first unit entered service on 20 June 2000.
The two-carriage units are numbered 175001–011, and the three-carriage units 175101–116. Carriages are labelled as coaches A–C, with two-car units having no coach B. Each train has provision for two disabled passengers in coach A, and storage for two bicycles in coach C.
Early reliability problems meant that some services were operated by old rolling stock at short notice. Remedial work included improving brakes and bogies, and the reliability of the units is now greatly improved.
Automated Announcement System
Class 175 Coradias are fitted with a passenger information system, which consists of onboard LED displayLED display
An LED display is a flat panel display, which uses light-emitting diodes as a video display. An LED panel is a small display, or a component of a larger display. They are typically used outdoors in store signs and billboards, and in recent years have also become commonly used in destination signs...
and audio announcements of train destinations and arrivals. However, problems with its operation led to its not being used by Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) when it acquired the trains; not using it meant that the LED destination displays on the front and rear of the train were not illuminated. The system was reprogrammed in 2007 for new routes, which included Welsh spellings on the information screens, as well as the implementation of a chime, signalling the start of an announcement to passengers.
Operations
The entire Class 175 fleet was operated by First North WesternFirst North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
from their introduction in 2000 until October 2003, when franchise
Rail franchising in Great Britain
Rail franchising in Great Britain was created by the Railways Act 1993. Passenger services are franchised, for a limited period, to train operating companies...
changes led to North Wales Coast Line
North Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
services being transferred to Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders is the name of a franchise of train services covering Wales, the Welsh Marches and bordering counties of England.-History:The franchise was initially formed from part of the former Wales and West franchise and the Cardiff Railway Company , together with the lines from Shrewsbury...
; as a result most of the fleet was then used by Wales and Borders: First North Western's branding was removed from all the units, but the livery remained largely the same.
The fleet was transferred to Wales and Borders' successor Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
in 2004, with some being sub-leased to First Transpennine Express
First TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express is a British train operating company. It is a joint operation between First Group and Keolis . It operates regular passenger services in northern England, including services linking the west and east coasts across the Pennines...
, who took over First North Western's long-distance routes. First Transpennine took delivery of new Class 185 Pennine
British Rail Class 185
The Class 185 Pennine Desiro is a diesel multiple-unit passenger train of the Desiro type built by Siemens in Germany for the British train operating company First TransPennine Express.51 units were acquired, representing an investment of £250 million....
units in 2006, and the sub-leased Class 175s returned to ATW. The units have been based at the Chester depot throughout, and they have been operated in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, North-West England and the West Midlands
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
.
North West and West Midlands
From their introduction in 2000, First North WesternFirst North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
(FNW) operated the Class 175s until 2003, when the fleet was transferred to Arriva Trains Wales.
The units were used on various services:
- Birmingham New StreetBirmingham New Street StationBirmingham New Street is the main railway station serving Birmingham, England, located in the city centre. It is an important hub for the British railway system, being served by a number of important long-distance and cross-country lines, including the Birmingham loop of the West Coast Main Line,...
/CreweCrewe railway stationCrewe railway station was completed in 1837 and is one of the most historic railway stations in the world. Built in fields near to Crewe Hall, it originally served the village of Crewe with a population of just 70 residents...
to HolyheadHolyhead railway stationHolyhead railway station serves the town of Holyhead on Holy Island, Anglesey. It is the western terminus of the North Wales Coast Line and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, although Virgin Trains also serves it.... - Manchester AirportManchester Airport railway stationManchester Airport railway station is the railway station that serves Manchester Airport and is built into the airport's terminal buildings. The station was opened together with the second airport terminal in 1993.- Description:...
to Blackpool/Cumbria - Manchester Piccadilly and LlandudnoLlandudno railway stationLlandudno railway station serves the town of Llandudno and is the terminus of a branch line from Llandudno Junction on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line. It is managed by Arriva Trains Wales....
via Warrington Bank QuayWarrington Bank Quay railway stationWarrington Bank Quay railway station is a mainline railway station serving the UK town of Warrington. The town centre has two stations on opposite sides of the main shopping area, Warrington Central operating a more frequent service to the neighbouring cities Liverpool and Manchester...
(three-car set), although this route regularly saw 15X units on it in the case of shortages, as well as Sprinters being the booked traction for some morning and evening services that started or terminated at Chester.
In 2003, the trains transferred to the Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders
Wales and Borders is the name of a franchise of train services covering Wales, the Welsh Marches and bordering counties of England.-History:The franchise was initially formed from part of the former Wales and West franchise and the Cardiff Railway Company , together with the lines from Shrewsbury...
franchise and subsequently ATW. However, under a contractual agreement, 11 units were leased back daily from ATW to FNW and then later to First TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express is a British train operating company. It is a joint operation between First Group and Keolis . It operates regular passenger services in northern England, including services linking the west and east coasts across the Pennines...
for use on the Manchester Airport to Blackpool and Cumbria services until mid-December 2006, when that contract expired. They also found use on one morning peak service between Chester
Chester railway station
Chester railway station is a railway station in Newtown in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services from the station. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre...
and Manchester Piccadilly via Altrincham, which continued to be operated by a Class 175 until December 2004.
Wales
The entire Class 175 Coradia fleet was transferred to ATW when it took over responsibility for the North Wales Coast LineNorth Wales Coast Line
The North Wales Coast Line is the railway line from Crewe to Holyhead. Virgin Trains consider their services along it to be a spur of the West Coast Main Line. The first section from Crewe to Chester was built by the Chester and Crewe Railway and absorbed by the Grand Junction Railway shortly...
in 2004. The fleet is based at Chester Depot.
Since fully taking over the fleet ATW now uses Class 175s on Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central railway station
Cardiff Central railway station is a major railway station on the South Wales Main Line in Cardiff, Wales.It is the largest and busiest station in Wales and one of the major stations of the British rail network, the tenth busiest station in the United Kingdom outside of London , based on 2007/08...
to Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and service. Some South Wales bound services continue beyond Cardiff to Maesteg
Maesteg railway station
Maesteg railway station is one of two railway stations that serve the town of Maesteg in South Wales. The 1992 built station is located in the centre of the town, adjacent to the Somerfield Supermarket store and on former sidings.-History:...
, Carmarthen
Carmarthen railway station
Carmarthen railway station is situated south of the River Towy on the edge of the town of Carmarthen. It is located on the West Wales Line and is managed by Arriva Trains Wales, who operate most of the passenger trains serving it...
and Milford Haven
Milford Haven railway station
Milford Haven railway station serves the town of Milford Haven in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Opened on 7 September 1863, it was originally known as Milford, becoming Old Milford by January 1902, and finally being renamed Milford Haven by April 1910....
. They also continue to operate in the North West on to Manchester Piccadilly services and the three trains daily extend to Manchester Airport. Since the installation of ERTMS signalling on the Cambrian Coast the Class 175s are not permitted to travel West of Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli.
Fourteen daily Class 175 Coradia diagrams are in operation on Welsh Marches Line
Welsh Marches Line
The Welsh Marches Line , known historically as the North and West Route, is the railway line running from Newport in south-east Wales to Shrewsbury in the West Midlands region of England by way of Abergavenny, Hereford and Craven Arms, and thence to Crewe via Whitchurch...
services to South Wales from Manchester and Holyhead, while ten diagrams are in operation on the North Wales Inter-Urban services between Manchester/Crewe and Chester/North Wales. One Sundays only diagram sees the units travel from Holyhead to Birmingham New Street via Stafford.
They have been cleared by Network Rail to operate the lines from Cardiff Central to Maesteg, Cheltenham, and Ebbw Vale.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 175/0 | Arriva Trains Wales | 11 | 1999–2001 | 2 | 175001 – 175011 |
| Class 175/1 | 16 | 1999–2001 | 3 | 175101 – 175116 | |
Some of the class have received names:
- 175003 - Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
- 175004 - MencapMencapThe Royal Mencap Society is a charity based in the UK that works with people with a learning disability.-Profile:Mencap is the UK's leading learning disability charity working with people with a learning disability and their families and carers...
- Pengwern College - 175006 - Brondyffryn TrustBrondyffryn TrustThe Brondyffryn Trust was a charity for autistic children based in Wales.The trust was formed by parents and governors at Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn, a school for autistic children in Denbigh, Wales, in 2002, to raise money for residential facilities and a support centre for parents with autistic...
- 175008 - Valhalla Blackpool Pleasure Beach
- 175103 - Mum
- 175107 - Coronation St.Coronation StreetCoronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
Rovers Return - 175111 - Brief EncounterBrief EncounterBrief Encounter is a 1945 British film directed by David Lean about the conventions of British suburban life, centring on a housewife for whom real love brings unexpectedly violent emotions. The film stars Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway and Joyce Carey...
- 175112 - South Lakes Wild Animal ParkSouth Lakes Wild Animal ParkSouth Lakes Wild Animal Park is a zoo established in 1994 by David Gill, and located in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, England.The park is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and bills itself as one of the best conservation zoos in the country.-History:The zoo was opened by...
- Sumatran Tiger - 175114 - Manchester 2002 - Commonwealth Cruiser
- 175116 - Peter V L Jones, Community Rail Officer Conwy Valley LineConwy Valley LineThe Conwy Valley Line is a railway line in north Wales. It runs from Llandudno via Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and was originally part of the London and North Western Railway, being opened in stages to 1879...
All except for Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru were named by First North Western. The nameplates have now all been removed as the fleet now wears standard Arriva colours.
External links
