First Class 175s move to GWR's Laira depot - but no deal signed yet to take them on

The first of 27 Class 175 diesel multiple units expected to move to Great Western Railway was collected from store at Ely on November 26 and taken overnight to Devon via Hereford.

Rail Operations Group facilitated the move of 175002 to Plymouth using 37510 Orion and 37407 Blackpool Tower. A week later, on December 4, three-car 175114 was moved west.

GWR said: “The unit is not ours yet, and no lease deal has been signed as yet,” although the signing of an agreement with Angel Trains for the 11 two-car Class 175/0s and 16 three-car Class 175/1s is expected to be a formality once the Department for Transport signs off the relevant paperwork.

RAIL understands that movement of the ‘175s’, will enable GWR to get a head start in commissioning the units and training staff on their maintenance and operation once agreements has been rubberstamped.

The fleet of Alstom units, built in 1999-2000, was retired by Transport for Wales in 2022 and has been in store at Ely, Landore, Crewe and Chester ever since, pending developments.

Their introduction will allow GWR’s last few remaining Class 43 ‘Castle’ HSTs to be stood down, as well as replacing Class 150/158s on turns in Devon and Cornwall. The ‘158s’ are expected to be redeployed.