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 In February 2018, the entire Class 175 fleet was temporarily withdrawn from service for safety checks.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
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
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]
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]
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
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 200hours 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]
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]
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]
^"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...
^"About Us". Train Maintenance Solutions. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
^"How do you solve a problem like Coradia?". Modern Railways. No. January 2007. p. 50.
^"Wales & Borders to be responsible for Class 175 fleet". Entrain. No. 19. July 2003. p. 44.
^"First/Keolis takes over Trans-Pennine Express". Entrain. No. 28. April 2004. p. 32.
^"First 175s stored as three fires hits fleet". Today's Railways UK. No. 254. April 2023. p. 57.
^ abClinnick, Richard (June 2023). "First Class 175s sent off-lease by TfW". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 325. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 11. ISSN1362-234X.
^Clinnick, Richard (September 2024). "Class 175s set for Great Western Railway". Headline News. Rail Express. No. 340. p. 14.
^ ab"More '197s' enter service as reliance on 'Coradia' fleet reduces". Rail Express. No. 328. September 2023. p. 20.
^ ab"Class 175 Coradia". UNITS. Rail Express. No. 329. October 2023. p. 20.
^"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
^"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]
