British Rail Classes 170 and 171
Encyclopedia
The Class 170 "Turbostar
" is a British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by Bombardier Transportation
(and previously ADtranz
) at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works
. Introduced after privatisation, they have operated as regional trains as well as long-distance trains, and to a lesser extent suburban trains. 122 units have been built.
, 166
and 168
DMUs known as the Networker Turbos
which were built by BREL
and later ABB Transportation Ltd before that company eventually became part of Bombardier.
Notable features shared are the aluminium alloy frame and Voith
transmission as well as the general body shape (the cab ends are similar to those of the Class 168, but not Class 165/166), interior design and door fittings. The final drive is sourced from ZF
instead of Gmeinder
and the diesel engine supplier has changed to MTU
.
The engine and transmission are under the body; one bogie
per coach is powered, the other unpowered. All coaches in the set are powered (there are no unpowered trailers). The units can work in multiple with British Rail Classes in the 15X series, i.e. Sprinters
, and with other units of the same class. They are unable to operate in multiple with units in the 16X series due to different wiring arrangements.
Seating arrangements are of both 2+1 (first class) and 2+2 (standard class) formation, and give a seated passenger capacity of between ~100 and ~200 per three-car set (depending on the specifications of the operator). 2-car sets are also operated.
All the subclasses were built at Derby works either under ADtranz
or Bombardier Transportation
's ownership.
is the largest operator of the Class 170, with a fleet comprising 59 3-car sets. Originally, 34 of these had First Class accommodation. They are mainly used on Edinburgh-Glasgow (Queen Street), Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh and Aberdeen-Glasgow/Edinburgh services.
An additional nine units were ordered and operated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
(SPT) and were painted in the Strathclyde maroon and cream livery; these units now operate under the direction of Transport Scotland, which has authority over the entire ScotRail area.
Additionally, four 3-car sets fitted with 'mini-buffets' were obtained from Hull Trains, also containing First Class accommodation and are regularly rostered to work longer distance services, particularly to the north. When working on a diagram without First Class provision (at the discretion of the on-train staff), the First Class areas may be declassified.
All units (including SPT liveried examples) are allocated to Edinburgh's Haymarket depot.
In September 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland
announced that all ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire
markings on the carriage ends. The first unit to get the livery was 170434, which was unveiled to the public at Glasgow Queen Street on 22 September 2008.
In December 2008, half of the Standard Class only units, 170450 - 170455, were fitted with First Class sections.
First TransPennine Express
operate nine Class 170s, used on the Manchester
to Hull
route. Originally Class 185s were set to operate the route but a combination of weight restriction problems on the Selby
to Hull
line and the government reducing the amount of money available to First Transpennine Express
for new trains resulted in Class 170s coming into service.
From 9 September 2009, two Class 170s are used Sundays to Thursdays on the Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport service.
First TransPennine Express received eight Turbostars from South West Trains
, 170 301-170 308 at the end of 2006 and the start of 2007, as well as 170 399 from Central Trains
in November 2007 which was re-numbered to 170 309.
The units are maintained by Bombardier Crofton. The 170s have since been fully refurbished to include CCTV, power sockets throughout, replacement carpets and seat covers and the removal / declassification of one of the two first class sections, providing more seats. The work was carried out by Transys at Clacton-on-Sea
.
Hull Trains began its London King's Cross to Hull
services using Turbostars, initially with four sets on short-term lease from Anglia Railways
. In 2004, it received four of its own 3 car Class 170/3 units, and returned the original units to Anglia.
In 2005, following its acquisition by FirstGroup, Hull Trains received four new Class 222/1 "Pioneer"
units and transferred the Turbostars to its sister company First ScotRail
.
Midland Mainline
(MML) was the first operator to order Turbostars, with the first being introduced in MML's green and tangerine livery in 1998. The Class 170/1 were built immediately after the Class 168/0
for Chiltern Railways
were built. MML ordered a fleet of seventeen 2-car Class 170/1 units, although the first ten were subsequently made-up to 3-cars. The units were introduced on stopping services from London St. Pancras to Leicester
, Derby
and Nottingham
. Some units were also used on summer Saturday only services from the capital to York
, which later became a year round service with summer extension to Scarborough.
Central Trains
had a fleet of 53 Class 170 units from various subclasses.
In 1999, Central received its first batch of twenty-three 2-car Class 170/5 and ten 3-car Class 170/6 units. These were used to replace Class 156
units on long distance "Citylink"
services. These units all carried the Central Trains livery of green, blue and yellow.
From late 2004, Central also took three Class 170/3 on lease from Porterbrook
. Units 170 397 and 170 398 are 3-car units and 170 399 is a 2-car unit. The units originally carried a white livery with purple doors (the house colours of owners Porterbrook). All three of these units contained First Class accommodation which was declassified (allowing Standard Class use throughout the train) as First Class travel was not provided on Central Trains services. The two 3 car units interiors were of Central Trains style, except the MML style first class, and the 2 car unit had a South West Trains interior.
In 2004, Midland Mainline introduced new Class 222
"Meridian" units, which started to replace the Turbostars, as a result the fleet was transferred to former National Express Group
franchise Central Trains
. Ten units (170 101-110) are 3-car units, with the remaining seven units (170 111-117) being 2-car units. As with the three spot-hire units from Porterbrook these 17 units had first class accommodation, which was declassified.
All Class 170 units which were in service with Central were used on a variety of services (mostly long distance) including:
Class 170 units have been replaced by Class 350
"Desiro" units on Birmingham
-Liverpool
services.
When Central Trains lost its franchise in 2007, 23 of Central Trains' units were transferred to London Midland
which took over the West Midlands franchise and continues to use Class 170s on these workings. 29 out of the other 30 (including all the ex-Midland Mainline units, and two of the 3 spot hire units) were transferred to CrossCountry
and are used on mainly shorter distance services in the Midlands such as Cardiff - Nottingham, Birmingham - Stansted Airport and Leicester-Birmingham. One of Central Trains' 170s (170399) went to First Transpennine Express
; East Midlands Trains
did not receive any despite taking over the previously Class 170 operated Liverpool
to Norwich
route.
London Midland has ordered more Turbostars for use on the Snow Hill Lines
; these will be Class 172
units, which are a development of the Class 170 design. They are expected to be operating by summer 2010.
ordered two batches of Turbostars. The first batch of eight 3-car Class 170/2 units were built for London Liverpool Street to Ipswich
, Norwich
, Lowestoft
and Bury St. Edmunds
services. These supplemented the existing Class 86
locomotive-hauled trains from London to Norwich. Four of these units were later hired to Hull Trains from 2002–2004, before they acquired their own Turbostars.
Other units, including the spot-hire set no. 170 399, were used on Anglia's short-lived Norwich
to Basingstoke
‘London Crosslink’ service. In 2002, Anglia introduced a new Cambridge
to Norwich
direct service, and acquired four two-carriage units dedicated to working these services.
In 2004 the Greater Anglia franchise was won by the National Express Group
subsidiary 'one', (since rebranded as National Express East Anglia). Since then, two-carriage Turbostars have been used for the Cambridge to Norwich route, and also on new through services including Peterborough
and Lowestoft
to London Liverpool Street via Ipswich
, although with a new timetable all Class 170 London services have ended, in favour of conneting branch line trains with GEML expresses.
The three-carriage trains used to include a buffet and larger First Class area, but because more seating was needed, the buffet area has been replaced and the number of First Class seats reduced.
South West Trains
(SWT) acquired a fleet of eight 2-car Class 170/3 units in 2000, to supplement its existing Class 159
fleet. Units operated on London Waterloo
to Salisbury, Reading
to Brighton
, Southampton
local trains and occasionally on Exeter
services.
All of these units were transferred to TransPennine Express at the end of 2006.
obtained six 2-car Class 170/7 units, along with six 4-car Class 171/8
units, in 2003 to replace its aging Class 205
and Class 207
units on services on the Marshlink Line
and Oxted Line
to Uckfield
.
Southern later fitted these units with the Dellner type coupler used on its Class 171s, reclassifying its two car units as Class 171/7
replacing the standard BSI coupler fitted to Class 170s.
Turbostar
Turbostar is the name given to a family of diesel multiple units built by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England...
" is a British diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train built by Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
(and previously ADtranz
Adtranz
ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
) at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works
Derby Carriage and Wagon Works
Derby Carriage and Wagon Works was built by the Midland Railway in Derby, England. The plant has been through many changes of ownership and is currently owned by Bombardier Transportation, a subsidiary of Bombardier Inc. of Canada. As of 2011 it is the only remaining passenger rolling stock...
. Introduced after privatisation, they have operated as regional trains as well as long-distance trains, and to a lesser extent suburban trains. 122 units have been built.
Design
The class are a development of the design used in the British Rail Class 165British Rail Class 165
The British Rail Class 165 Turbo is a fleet of suburban diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by BREL at York Works between 1990 and 1992...
, 166
British Rail Class 166
The British Rail Class 166 Turbo Express is a fleet of diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by ABB at York Works between 1992 and 1993...
and 168
British Rail Class 168
The Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by BREL at York...
DMUs known as the Networker Turbos
Networker (train)
The Networker is a family of trains which operate on the UK railway system. They were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s by BREL . The trains were built for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail...
which were built by BREL
BREL
British Rail Engineering Limited , was the railway systems engineering division of British Rail, until the design and building of trains in the UK was privatised in 1993. On 31 October 1969, the company was incorporated as British Rail Engineering Limited.-Main products:The vast majority of BREL's...
and later ABB Transportation Ltd before that company eventually became part of Bombardier.
Notable features shared are the aluminium alloy frame and Voith
Voith
The Voith GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany, is a family-run corporation in the mechanical engineering sector with worldwide operations....
transmission as well as the general body shape (the cab ends are similar to those of the Class 168, but not Class 165/166), interior design and door fittings. The final drive is sourced from ZF
ZF Friedrichshafen
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg....
instead of Gmeinder
Gmeinder
Gmeinder GmbH was a German locomotive and engineering company based in Mosbach. Its products included diesel engines, small locomotives and other railway locomotive parts...
and the diesel engine supplier has changed to MTU
MTU Friedrichshafen
MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909...
.
The engine and transmission are under the body; one bogie
Bogie
A bogie is a wheeled wagon or trolley. In mechanics terms, a bogie is a chassis or framework carrying wheels, attached to a vehicle. It can be fixed in place, as on a cargo truck, mounted on a swivel, as on a railway carriage/car or locomotive, or sprung as in the suspension of a caterpillar...
per coach is powered, the other unpowered. All coaches in the set are powered (there are no unpowered trailers). The units can work in multiple with British Rail Classes in the 15X series, i.e. Sprinters
Sprinter (train)
The Sprinter is a family of diesel multiple unit trains in use on the UK railway system. They were built in the 1980s and early 1990s by BREL, Metro Cammell and Leyland. Most are based around a Cummins engine with Voith hydraulic transmission, although some class 158s have a Perkins engine...
, and with other units of the same class. They are unable to operate in multiple with units in the 16X series due to different wiring arrangements.
Seating arrangements are of both 2+1 (first class) and 2+2 (standard class) formation, and give a seated passenger capacity of between ~100 and ~200 per three-car set (depending on the specifications of the operator). 2-car sets are also operated.
Subclasses
Class 170 units have been categorised into six sub-classes; the basic specifications remain the same (engine, length, transmission, etc.), the differences being the seating arrangements specified by the different operators. Because of the different interior fittings the sub-classes differ in weight from one another by a small amount, up to ~2 tonnes.All the subclasses were built at Derby works either under ADtranz
Adtranz
ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
or Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
's ownership.
Scotland
First ScotRailFirst ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
is the largest operator of the Class 170, with a fleet comprising 59 3-car sets. Originally, 34 of these had First Class accommodation. They are mainly used on Edinburgh-Glasgow (Queen Street), Inverness-Glasgow/Edinburgh and Aberdeen-Glasgow/Edinburgh services.
An additional nine units were ordered and operated by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is a public body which is responsible for planning and co-ordinating regional transport, and especially the public transport system, in the Strathclyde area of western Scotland...
(SPT) and were painted in the Strathclyde maroon and cream livery; these units now operate under the direction of Transport Scotland, which has authority over the entire ScotRail area.
Additionally, four 3-car sets fitted with 'mini-buffets' were obtained from Hull Trains, also containing First Class accommodation and are regularly rostered to work longer distance services, particularly to the north. When working on a diagram without First Class provision (at the discretion of the on-train staff), the First Class areas may be declassified.
All units (including SPT liveried examples) are allocated to Edinburgh's Haymarket depot.
In September 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland
Transport Scotland
Transport Scotland was created on 1 January 2006 as the national transport agency of Scotland. It is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government's Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning Department and accountable to Scottish Ministers...
announced that all ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
The Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is a public body which is responsible for planning and co-ordinating regional transport, and especially the public transport system, in the Strathclyde area of western Scotland...
) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire
Saltire
A saltire, or Saint Andrew's Cross, is a heraldic symbol in the form of a diagonal cross or letter ex . Saint Andrew is said to have been martyred on such a cross....
markings on the carriage ends. The first unit to get the livery was 170434, which was unveiled to the public at Glasgow Queen Street on 22 September 2008.
In December 2008, half of the Standard Class only units, 170450 - 170455, were fitted with First Class sections.
Northern England
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...
operate nine Class 170s, used on the 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...
to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
route. Originally Class 185s were set to operate the route but a combination of weight restriction problems on the Selby
Selby
Selby is a town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. Situated south of the city of York, along the course of the River Ouse, Selby is the largest and, with a population of 13,012, most populous settlement of the wider Selby local government district.Historically a part of the West Riding...
to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
line and the government reducing the amount of money available 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 new trains resulted in Class 170s coming into service.
From 9 September 2009, two Class 170s are used Sundays to Thursdays on the Cleethorpes-Manchester Airport service.
First TransPennine Express received eight Turbostars from South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
, 170 301-170 308 at the end of 2006 and the start of 2007, as well as 170 399 from Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
in November 2007 which was re-numbered to 170 309.
The units are maintained by Bombardier Crofton. The 170s have since been fully refurbished to include CCTV, power sockets throughout, replacement carpets and seat covers and the removal / declassification of one of the two first class sections, providing more seats. The work was carried out by Transys at Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea is the largest town on the Tendring peninsula, in Essex, England and was founded in 1871. It is a seaside resort that attracted many tourists in the summer months between the 1950s and 1970s, but which like many other British sea-side resorts went into decline as a holiday...
.
Hull Trains
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
services using Turbostars, initially with four sets on short-term lease from Anglia Railways
Anglia Railways
Anglia Railways was a British train operating company, owned by GB Railways, which between 5 January 1997 and 31 March 2004 operated mainline trains out of London Liverpool Street station and a number of local rail services in East Anglia....
. In 2004, it received four of its own 3 car Class 170/3 units, and returned the original units to Anglia.
In 2005, following its acquisition by FirstGroup, Hull Trains received four new Class 222/1 "Pioneer"
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
units and transferred the Turbostars to its sister company First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
.
The Midlands
Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline was a British train operating company owned by the National Express Group and based in Derby. It was created after the privatisation of British Rail. Midland Mainline services operated from April 1996 to November 2007....
(MML) was the first operator to order Turbostars, with the first being introduced in MML's green and tangerine livery in 1998. The Class 170/1 were built immediately after the Class 168/0
British Rail Class 168
The Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by BREL at York...
for Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
were built. MML ordered a fleet of seventeen 2-car Class 170/1 units, although the first ten were subsequently made-up to 3-cars. The units were introduced on stopping services from London St. Pancras to Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
and Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
. Some units were also used on summer Saturday only services from the capital to York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, which later became a year round service with summer extension to Scarborough.
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
had a fleet of 53 Class 170 units from various subclasses.
In 1999, Central received its first batch of twenty-three 2-car Class 170/5 and ten 3-car Class 170/6 units. These were used to replace Class 156
British Rail Class 156
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train . 114 of these units were built from 1987 to 1989 by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham...
units on long distance "Citylink"
Central Citylink
Central Citylink was the brand name used from 2003 by Central Trains for their long distance services across the Midlands rail network. Citylink services were clearly distinguished in station announcements and timetables...
services. These units all carried the Central Trains livery of green, blue and yellow.
From late 2004, Central also took three Class 170/3 on lease from Porterbrook
Porterbrook
Porterbrook is one of the three major ROSCOs in the United Kingdom...
. Units 170 397 and 170 398 are 3-car units and 170 399 is a 2-car unit. The units originally carried a white livery with purple doors (the house colours of owners Porterbrook). All three of these units contained First Class accommodation which was declassified (allowing Standard Class use throughout the train) as First Class travel was not provided on Central Trains services. The two 3 car units interiors were of Central Trains style, except the MML style first class, and the 2 car unit had a South West Trains interior.
In 2004, Midland Mainline introduced new Class 222
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
"Meridian" units, which started to replace the Turbostars, as a result the fleet was transferred to former National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
franchise Central Trains
Central Trains
Central Trains was one of the original 25 train operating companies to emerge from the break-up of British Rail between 1994 and 1997. The company operated local, urban and secondary express services across central England and Mid Wales.-Overview:...
. Ten units (170 101-110) are 3-car units, with the remaining seven units (170 111-117) being 2-car units. As with the three spot-hire units from Porterbrook these 17 units had first class accommodation, which was declassified.
All Class 170 units which were in service with Central were used on a variety of services (mostly long distance) including:
- "Citylink"Central CitylinkCentral Citylink was the brand name used from 2003 by Central Trains for their long distance services across the Midlands rail network. Citylink services were clearly distinguished in station announcements and timetables...
services - Birmingham-Stansted Airport
- NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
-LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880... - NottinghamNottinghamNottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
-CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for... - Birmingham to LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
- DerbyDerbyDerby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
to Matlock - Derby to CreweCreweCrewe is a railway town within the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census the urban area had a population of 67,683...
- Leicester to Lincoln Central
- Nottingham to WorksopWorksopWorksop is the largest town in the Bassetlaw district of Nottinghamshire, England on the River Ryton at the northern edge of Sherwood Forest. It is about east-south-east of the City of Sheffield and its population is estimated to be 39,800...
- Nottingham to SkegnessSkegnessSkegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910....
Class 170 units have been replaced by Class 350
British Rail Class 350
The British Rail Class 350 "Desiro" is class of electrical multiple unit built by Siemens AG from 2004–05 and 2008–09. Thirty of these units, designated Class 350/1, were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and services on the southern section of the West...
"Desiro" units on 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...
-Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
services.
When Central Trains lost its franchise in 2007, 23 of Central Trains' units were transferred to London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
which took over the West Midlands franchise and continues to use Class 170s on these workings. 29 out of the other 30 (including all the ex-Midland Mainline units, and two of the 3 spot hire units) were transferred to CrossCountry
CrossCountry
CrossCountry is the brand name of XC Trains Ltd., a British train operating company owned by Arriva...
and are used on mainly shorter distance services in the Midlands such as Cardiff - Nottingham, Birmingham - Stansted Airport and Leicester-Birmingham. One of Central Trains' 170s (170399) went 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...
; East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains is a British passenger train operating company. Based in Derby, it provides train services in the East Midlands, chiefly in the counties of Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, and between the East Midlands and London...
did not receive any despite taking over the previously Class 170 operated Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
to Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
route.
London Midland has ordered more Turbostars for use on the Snow Hill Lines
Snow Hill Lines
The Snow Hill Lines are railway lines running through Birmingham Snow Hill railway station, Birmingham, United Kingdom. All other lines to/through Birmingham use station.The three Snow Hill lines are:...
; these will be Class 172
British Rail Class 172
The Class 172 is a type of diesel multiple unit of the Turbostar family, similar to the Class 168, Class 170 and Class 171.-Technical details and variants :There will be four sub-types:*Class 172/0 - two-car units in operation with London Overground...
units, which are a development of the Class 170 design. They are expected to be operating by summer 2010.
Eastern England
Anglia RailwaysAnglia Railways
Anglia Railways was a British train operating company, owned by GB Railways, which between 5 January 1997 and 31 March 2004 operated mainline trains out of London Liverpool Street station and a number of local rail services in East Anglia....
ordered two batches of Turbostars. The first batch of eight 3-car Class 170/2 units were built for London Liverpool Street to Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
and Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
services. These supplemented the existing Class 86
British Rail Class 86
The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or...
locomotive-hauled trains from London to Norwich. Four of these units were later hired to Hull Trains from 2002–2004, before they acquired their own Turbostars.
Other units, including the spot-hire set no. 170 399, were used on Anglia's short-lived Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
to Basingstoke
Basingstoke
Basingstoke is a town in northeast Hampshire, in south central England. It lies across a valley at the source of the River Loddon. It is southwest of London, northeast of Southampton, southwest of Reading and northeast of the county town, Winchester. In 2008 it had an estimated population of...
‘London Crosslink’ service. In 2002, Anglia introduced a new Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
to Norwich
Norwich
Norwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
direct service, and acquired four two-carriage units dedicated to working these services.
In 2004 the Greater Anglia franchise was won by the National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
subsidiary 'one', (since rebranded as National Express East Anglia). Since then, two-carriage Turbostars have been used for the Cambridge to Norwich route, and also on new through services including Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
and Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
to London Liverpool Street via Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
, although with a new timetable all Class 170 London services have ended, in favour of conneting branch line trains with GEML expresses.
The three-carriage trains used to include a buffet and larger First Class area, but because more seating was needed, the buffet area has been replaced and the number of First Class seats reduced.
South-West England
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
(SWT) acquired a fleet of eight 2-car Class 170/3 units in 2000, to supplement its existing Class 159
British Rail Class 159
The British Rail Class 159 is a class of diesel multiple unit of the Sprinter family, built in 1989 - 1992 by BREL at the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works as Class 158...
fleet. Units operated on London Waterloo
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
to Salisbury, Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
to Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
local trains and occasionally on Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
services.
All of these units were transferred to TransPennine Express at the end of 2006.
Southern Region of England
SouthernSouthern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
obtained six 2-car Class 170/7 units, along with six 4-car Class 171/8
British Rail Class 171
The Class 171 Turbostar is a type of diesel multiple unit built by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England which is identical to the Class 170, except for the replacement of the BSI coupler with a Dellner coupler...
units, in 2003 to replace its aging Class 205
British Rail Class 205
The British Rail Class 205 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh from 1957–1962. They were replaced by Turbostar units.-Description:This class of unit were built in four different batches for use on different lines....
and Class 207
British Rail Class 207
The British Rail Class 207 diesel-electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh in 1962.-Technical details:Power car * Introduced: 1962* Weight: 56 tons...
units on services on the Marshlink Line
Marshlink Line
The Marshlink Line is the name given to services on the railway line linking Ashford with Hastings in the South East of England. The line was part of an original proposal by a company named the Brighton Lewes and Hastings Railway to extend its coast route to Hastings...
and Oxted Line
Oxted Line
The Oxted Line is a railway line in southern England. It was originally operated jointly by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway and the South Eastern Railway. It is now part of the Southern franchise....
to Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
.
Southern later fitted these units with the Dellner type coupler used on its Class 171s, reclassifying its two car units as Class 171/7
British Rail Class 171
The Class 171 Turbostar is a type of diesel multiple unit built by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England which is identical to the Class 170, except for the replacement of the BSI coupler with a Dellner coupler...
replacing the standard BSI coupler fitted to Class 170s.
Current fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 170/1 | CrossCountry | 17 | 1998–1999 | 3 | 170 101 - 170 110 |
| 2 | 170 111 - 170 117 | ||||
| Class 170/2 | National Express East Anglia | 12 | 1999 | 3 | 170 201 - 170 208 |
| 2002 | 2 | 170 270 - 170 273 | |||
| Class 170/3 | First TransPennine Express | 9 | 2000 | 2 | 170 301 - 170 309 |
| First ScotRail | 4 | 2004 | 3 | 170 393 - 170 396 | |
| CrossCountry | 2 | 2002 | 3 | 170 397 - 170 398 | |
| Class 170/4 | First ScotRail | 24 | 1999–2001 | 3 | 170 401 - 170 424 |
| 10 | 2003–2004 | 3 | 170 425 - 170 434 | ||
| 12 | 2004–2005 | 3 | 170 450 - 170 461 | ||
| 2 | 2001 | 3 | 170 470 - 170 471 | ||
| 7 | 2004 | 3 | 170 472 - 170 478 | ||
| Class 170/5 | London Midland | 17 | 1999–2000 | 2 | 170 501 - 170 517 |
| CrossCountry | 6 | 1999–2000 | 2 | 170 518 - 170 523 | |
| Class 170/6 | London Midland | 6 | 2000 | 3 | 170 630 - 170 635 |
| CrossCountry | 4 | 2000 | 3 | 170 636 - 170 639 | |