| British Rail Class 175 Coradia 1000 | |
|---|---|
 Great Western Railway 175s atRedruth in 2025 | |
 Interior of a refurbishedTransport for Wales Rail Class 175 unit | |
| In service | Great Western Railway: 15 December 2025 - present[1] Other operators: 20 June 2000 - 17 October 2023[2] |
| Manufacturer | Alstom |
| Built at | Washwood Heath,Birmingham[3] |
| Family name | Coradia 1000 |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | 1999–2001 |
| Refurbished | 2019–2022[4][5] |
| Number built | 27 |
| Successor | [2][6] |
| Formation | |
| Fleet numbers |
|
| Capacity | 136 seats per 2-car unit |
| Owners | Angel Trains |
| Operators | |
| Depots | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.73 m (8 ft 11 in) |
| Doors | Single-leaf swing plug |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Axle load | Route Availability 1 |
| Prime mover(s) | 2 or 3 ×Cummins N14E-R(one per vehicle) |
| Engine type | Inline-64-stroketurbo-diesel[9] |
| Displacement | 14 L (855 cu in) per engine[9] |
| Power output | 340 kW (450 hp) per engine |
| Transmission | Voith T 211 re.3(hydrokinetic, one per vehicle) |
| Braking system(s) | Electro-pneumatic[a] |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Coupling system | Scharfenberg Type 330[10] |
| Multiple working | Within class, and withClass 180 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Sourced from[11] except where otherwise noted. | |
TheBritish Rail Class 175[12]Coradia 1000 is a type ofdiesel-hydraulic multiple unit (DHMU) passenger train currently operated byGreat Western Railway.
The fleet of 27 sets was ordered from the French train manufacturerAlstom'sCoradia 1000 platform during July 1997 and were constructed between 1999 and 2001 atWashwood 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 theOld Dalby Test Track from November 1999. The first Class 175 entered revenue service with the train operating companyFirst North Western on 20 June 2000. Ownership of the fleet is held byAngel Trains, who has leased the fleet to various train operators.
The first operator of the Class 175,North Western Trains (later known asFirst North Western), did not operate the fleet for long beforeWales & Borders was created and inherited it. During December 2003, the new franchiseeArriva 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 toTransport for Wales Rail Services (KeolisAmey Wales), and then to the government-ownedTransport for Wales Rail in February 2021.
During July 1997, the train operating companyNorth Western Trains placed an order reportedly valued at £64 million with the French train manufacturerGEC Alsthom (which in late 1998 would be rebranded asAlstom) for a total of 27diesel 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).[13][14] The specification called for the train to be a redesign of theAlstom 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 inWashwood 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.[15] In conjunction with the procurement of the new fleet, purpose-built facilities were established to service it atChester TMD. This new depot was capable of refuelling, cleaning, washing, and performing general maintenance works for the whole Class 175 fleet.[3][16]
The trains underwent low speed testing at theSevern Valley Railway prior to additional testing and driver training being conducted at theOld Dalby Test Track from November 1999.[17][18] The first Class 175 entered revenue service on 20 June 2000.[19][20]
The Class 175 is a long distancediesel 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 ofairline-style at-seat entertainment systems at some seats that enabled passengers withheadphones to listen toradio 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-noiseair conditioning system was also fitted.[3] The Class 175 is furnished with a passenger information system, consisting of onboardLED 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.[11]
The exterior of the Class 175 has been designed for improvedaerodynamics 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 theBritish Rail Class 465.[3]
The Class 175 fleet was initially operated byFirst North Western (FNW), which placed them on routes servingBirmingham New Street,Crewe andManchester toLlandudno,Holyhead,Barrow-in-Furness andWindermere.[6] The type quickly displaced the elderly rolling stock that had been used on these routes, such as locomotive-hauled rakes ofBritish 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.[21][22] 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.[23] These changes were reportedly successful, having resulted in the reliability of the trains improving substantially.[24]
As part of a restructure of franchise areas, during October 2003, FNW's services on theNorth Wales Coast Line from Birmingham and Manchester to Llandudno and Holyhead were transferred to theWales & Borders franchise.[25] All 27 Class 175s were transferred toWales & Borders, who thensublet 11 to FNW. This arrangement was maintained following FNW's Manchester to Barrow and Windermere services being transferred toFirst TransPennine Express (FTPE) in February 2004.[26] After FTPE took delivery ofClass 185 DMUs, this arrangement ceased during December 2006.[6]
During December 2003, all of the Class 175s were transferred along with the Wales & Borders franchise to the new franchiseeArriva Trains Wales. Their sphere of operations was promptly extended toSouth Wales via theWelsh Marches Line, serving destinations such asCardiff,Swansea,Pembroke Dock,Fishguard andMilford Haven.[6] In October 2018, the fleet passed with the franchise toTransport for Wales Rail Services; earlier that same year, the operator had announced its plans to replace the Class 175 with new-buildClass 197 DMUs by 2023.[27][28]
In 2019, a comprehensive refurbishment of the Class 175 fleet commenced.[29] Performed atAlstom'sWidnes facility, this work saw various improved amenities being installed for passengers, such as re-covered seats, the addition of at-seatUSB 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][30] During February 2021, operation of the Class 175s was transferred along with the franchise to theWelsh Government-owned operatorTransport for Wales Rail.[31][32]
TfW Rail began to wind down its fleet of Class 175s in February 2023, with the placing into storage of 175002 and 175005.[33] 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.[34] The last of the class were withdrawn by the end of 2023, being replaced byClass 197 DMUs.[2]
In August 2024,Rail Express reported thatGreat Western Railway were planning to lease the Class 175 fleet,[35] and this was confirmed in November 2024 when the company formally signed the lease for the fleet. They are planned to enter service in December 2025.[36][37] The first example, 175002, was delivered on 27 November 2024.[7] On 10 March 2025, First Group and Great Western Railway officially confirmed the lease of 26 units out of the 27 units in the Class 175 fleet with an introduction on Devon and Cornwall services expected later that year with the full fleet expected to be in operation by the end of 2026.[38]
On 16 January 2010, unit 175103 operating the 08:30 service fromManchester Piccadilly toMilford Haven struck two cars atMoreton-on-Lugg crossing betweenHereford andLeominster.[39] 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,[40] and he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in July 2010;[41][42] 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.[43]
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.[44][45]
On 19 December 2011, unit 175002 collided with a lorry at the Llanboidy level crossing nearWhitland.[46] 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.[47]
Class 175 units have caught fire in 2004 atPreston (175008), 2009 atPrestatyn, 2011 at Manchester Piccadilly, 2017 both atShrewsbury (175109) and betweenChester andCrewe, 2018 atDeganwy, and in 2019 both nearPontrilas (175107) and atGowerton (175102).[48][49][50][51][52][53]
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.[54] After further investigation, it was found that a track fault betweenNewport andCwmbran had caused wheel damage to several trains, not only Class 175s but also someClass 158s.[55]
On 8 February 2023,Transport for Wales Rail unit 175008 was travelling fromHolyhead toCardiff Central when the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service andNetwork Rail were alerted to a fire aboard the train.[56] This was followed by two further fires, both atWilmslow, 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;CAF, who had taken overChester Traincare Centre from Alstom, had stopped periodic underframe cleaning of the units, and had to implement a remediation programme.[57] 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.[57] This caused disruption to TfW operations, though the level of disruption reduced in the following days as cleaned units returned to service.[58] A further remediation includes replacement of the engines'intercoolers.[34]
| Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 175/0 | Great Western Railway | 5 | 1999–2001 | 2 | 175001-175003, 175007, 175009[59][60] |
| Stored | 5 | 175004-175006, 175010-175011[61] | |||
| 1 | 1 | 175008[b] | |||
| 175/1 | Great Western Railway | 1 | 3 | 175114[64] | |
| Stored | 15 | 175101-175113, 175116[2][c] |
Some of the class have received names:
All except forEisteddfod 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.[72]
Section 2.3:unit availability was over 60% on only one occasion
With the ongoing poor availability of Arriva Trains Wales North Wales Coast Class 175 units...
At Bangor station on 2nd August 2005 Bryn Terfel named 175003 Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
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]
