British Rail Class 159
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| British Rail Class 159 "South Western Turbo" | |
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 Unrefurbished 159016 at Plymouth in SWT Intercity livery |
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| In service | 1992 - present |
| Manufacturer | BREL |
| Family name | Sprinter |
| Refurbishment | 2000-2001, 2007-2008 (159/0) |
| Number built | 1992 (159/0) 1989 - 1992 - Converted to Class 159 in 2007 (159/1) |
| Formation | 3 cars per trainset |
| Operator | South West Trains and East Midlands Trains |
| Lines served | West of England main line Norwich-Nottingham-Liverpool |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 22.5 metres |
| Width | 2.7 metres |
| Maximum speed | 90mph |
| Weight | 37.8 tonnes |
| Traction system | Voith Hydraulic |
| Engine | Cummins 400hp (159/0) Cummins 350hp (159/1) |
| Gauge | 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
| Safety systems | AWS, TPWS |
The British Rail Class 159, known as "South Western Turbo" by Network SouthEast but in reality a member of the Sprinter family), is a diesel multiple unit, built from 1989-93 by BREL at Derby Works.
Twenty-two 3-car units were built for Network SouthEast's West of England route from London Waterloo to Salisbury, Yeovil and Exeter. They were used to replace Class 50 and Class 47 locomotive-hauled passenger trains. Unlike Regional Railways units Class 159s were fitted with four step braking and initially could not work in multiple with any other class.
These original 22 units were in fact built as Class 158 units, but were rebuilt by Babcock Rail in Rosyth before entering traffic. The rebuild consisted of the fitment of first class accommodation, installing retention toilets and other modifications. The rebuild was required as Regional Railways had over-ordered Class 158s, just as Network SouthEast was looking for a similar number of new diesel units. It was not possible for Network SouthEast and BREL to agree terms on the variation order to NSE specification, hence the rebuilding at Rosyth. [1]
The 1992-build units are numbered 159001-022, with individual cars numbered 52873-894 and 57873-894 for driving motor vehicles, and 58718-739 for intermediate motor vehicles. The entire class is maintained at a purpose built depot at Salisbury.[2]
In 2007, eight further Class 159 units were created through the rebuilding of surplus Class 158 units displaced from Transpennine Express.
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[edit] Current operations
Upon privatisation of British Rail, the West of England route passed to the South West Trains franchise, which was won by the Stagecoach Group. Units were progressively repainted from Network SouthEast's blue, red and white livery, into South West Trains' express livery from 2000 onwards. Other post privatisation modifications include clearer LED Destination displays, upgraded air conditioning and more openable windows.
Units tend to operate in six or nine coach formations between Waterloo and Salisbury, in three or six coach formations between Salisbury and Exeter, and as single units west of Exeter. At weekends, some services west of Exeter operate in six coach formations.
Since then, the Class 159 fleet has been supplemented by nine Class 170 "Turbostar" units, eight of which have since been relocated to First TransPennine Express, and one to Southern, and eleven Class 158s. The units' sphere of operation has increased to include trains beyond Exeter to Paignton, Plymouth, and Penzance at weekends.
[edit] 159/1 and 159/0 refurbishment
159/1
Following the introduction of the Class 185 Pennine (Desiro) units with First TransPennine Express, all of South West Trains' Class 170 Turbostars, barring one which went to Southern, have been transferred to complement them. Some of TransPennine's now surplus three coach Class 158 units have been refurbished to Class 159 standards at Wabtec Doncaster and have been renumbered as Class 159/1[2]. The first unit arrived with SWT in November 2006, and by May 2007 all eight of the new subclass were in service. The refurbishment included new first class accommodation, interior lighting and the plating over of the disused toilet in the MSL. Retention toilets along with an automated PIS and CCTV are now in the process of being fitted. [3]
159/0
The class 159/0s are now receiving a similar refurbishment at Wabtec. These units are returning with CCTV and PIS (Passenger Information Systems) installed. They are also coming back with a modified version of the South West Trains' express livery. This includes orange doors throughout the coaches and a bigger South West Trains logo. Most of the units have now been refurbished, but a few are still yet to be done. [4] East Midlands Trains will be starting the refurbishment of the class 158 fleet into the same as the South West trains fleet in early summer at Nevile Hill Depot in Leeds.
[edit] Fleet Details
Four units have been named after towns along the West of England route.[2]
- 159001 - City of Exeter
- 159002 - City of Salisbury
- 159003 - Templecombe
- 159004 - Basingstoke and Deane
[edit] References
- ^ Southern E-Group article (retrieved 3-Sept-07)
- ^ a b c Class 159 Fleetlist showing unit formations (retrieved 3-Sep-07)
- ^ Class 159 information page on SWT website (retrieved 3-Sep-07)
- ^ Railway Centre post about the fitment of CCTV and PIS (retrieved 5-Oct-07)
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