British Rail Class 159
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The British Rail Class 159 known as "South Western Turbo" by Network SouthEast (in reality a member of the Sprinter family) is a diesel multiple unit, built from 1992-93 by BREL at Derby Works. The units were 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. Production had started on these additional sets and it was too late to submit a variation order. The centre cars were ordered in addition to the redirected driving cars.
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.
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.
Unlike Regional Railways units Class 159s were fitted with four step braking and initially could not work in mulitple with any other class.
[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.
Since then, the Class 159 fleet has been supplemented by nine Class 170 "Turbostar" units and two Class 158s. The units' sphere of operation has increased to include Summer-only trains beyond Exeter to Paignton, Plymouth and Penzance.
[edit] 159/1
Following the introduction of the Class 185 Pennine (Desiro) units with TransPennine Express all of South West Trains' Class 170 Turbostars will be transferred to complement them. Some of TransPennine's three coach Class 158 units are being refurbished to Class 159 standards at Wabtec Doncaster and will renumbered as Class 159/1. The first unit arrived with SWT in November 2006. The refurbishment includes retention toilets, new first class accommodation, the plating over of the disused toilet in the MSL. An automated PIS and CCTV will be fitted at a later date.
[edit] Fleet Details
Four units have been named after towns along the West of England route.
- 159001 - City of Exeter
- 159002 - City of Salisbury
- 159003 - Templecombe
- 159004 - Basingstoke and Deane
