GWR begins Class 175 driver training runs in Devon

Great Western Railway has begun driver training runs with a Class 175.

The first trips using 175002 ran between Plymouth and Newton Abbot on Monday June 23, with a series of daily shuttle runs now in the timetable.

The fleet of 26 DMUs, which were most recently with Transport for Wales before being sent back to Angel Trains, will operate in Devon and Cornwall.

The first sets are due to enter service towards the end of this year. They will enable GWR to retire its three remaining Castle Class HST sets and reallocate Class 158s to other parts of its network.

Delivery of the ‘175s’ began in December 2024, although the lease was only signed three months later. At present, four units (175002/007/009/014) are at Laira.

A GWR spokesman told RAIL: “The 175s are a new type of train to be maintained by the engineering team at Laira Depot, so we’ve been working through lots of new operational details as part of the project.

“Engineering colleagues have been working with Angel on returning the units from storage and getting them ready for use. This has included fitting a new driving seat, with improved adjustability, and modifications to some of the driving controls/equipment. 

“There is a rolling programme for this work which is being carried out over the coming months for all 26 trains in the fleet.”