BRITISH RAIL CLASS 170

The 'Class 170' "Turbostar" is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) built by Bombardier Transportation (previously ADtranz) at their Derby Litchurch Lane Works, England. This has become the most popular type of DMU built since the privatisation of Britain's railways, with 122 units built. See the Turbostar article for detailed information.

Contents

Operators

Anglia Railways / 'one'

Central Trains/ Central Trains Citylink

CrossCountry

First ScotRail

First TransPennine Express

Hull Trains

London Midland

Midland Mainline

South West Trains

Fleet details

Operators

Anglia Railways / 'one'

'Anglia Railways' ordered two batches of Turbostars. The first batch of eight 3-car 'Class 170/2' units were built for London Liverpool Street to Ipswich, Norwich, Lowestoft and Bury St. Edmunds services. These supplemented the existing Class 86 locomotive-hauled trains from London to Norwich. Four of these units were later hired to Hull Trains from 2002–2004, before they acquired their own Turbostars. Other units, including the spot-hire set no. 170 399, were used on Anglia's short-lived Chelmsford to Basingstoke ‘Cross-City’ service.

In 2002, Anglia introduced a new Cambridge to Norwich direct service, and acquired four two-carriage units dedicated to working these services.
In 2004, Anglia Railways was merged into the new Greater Anglia franchise, which was won by the National Express Group subsidiary 'one'. All units except 170 272 and 170 273 have now been repainted into the new ''One Anglia'' livery.
With trains drawn by Class 90 locomotives having replaced on the Norwich–London route and the return of the four units hired to Hull Trains, three-carriage Turbostars are now used for the Cambridge to Norwich route, and also on new through services including Peterborough and Lowestoft to London Liverpool Street via Colchester.
The three-carriage trains used to include a buffet and first-class area, but because more seating was needed, the buffet area has been replaced and there are only a few first-class seats remaining.

Central Trains/ Central Trains Citylink

'Central Trains' has a fleet of 53 Class 170 units from various subclasses.
In 1999, Central received its first batch of twenty-three 2-car 'Class 170/5' and ten 3-car 'Class 170/6' units. These were used to replace Class 156 units on long distance "Citylink" services. These units all carry the vibrant Central Trains livery of green, blue and yellow. 170505 previously wore an advertising livery for the Birmingham Bull Ring, and 170513 previously wore an advertising livery for the Robin Hood Line (Nottingham-Worksop).
From late 2004, Central also took on three 'Class 170/3' spot-hire units from Porterbrook. Units 170397 and 170398 are 3-car units and 170399 is a 2-car unit. The units originally carried a white livery with purple doors (the house colours of owners Porterbrook). All three of these units have first class accommodation, which is not provided on the Central Trains services they work, and this is declassified.
170397 and 170398 retain their Porterbrook livery, however Central Trains branding has been applied. 170397 and 170398 have Central Trains interiors with slightly different seats to the original fleet in standard class, but retain Midland Mainline-style First Class accommodation. 170399 has carried a pink livery supporting Birmingham's bid to become European Capital of Culture for 2008 (an honour which was won by Liverpool) and until autumn 2006 carried an advertising livery for the Derwent Valley Line (Derby-Matlock). It now carries a livery similar to 170397 and 170398, without Central Trains branding. 170399 retains its South West Trains interior as it was a follow on from the SWT batch. During the maintenance in which it lost its advertising livery, it was also fitted with the new style 'Bombardier' headlight clusters, replacing the old Adtranz versions it was built with.

In late 2004, Central inherited 17 'Class 170/1' units from sister National Express company Midland Mainline. Ten units (170101-110) are 3-car units, with the remaining 7 units (170111-117) being 2-car units.
All units have had their Midland Mainline branding removed, being replaced by Central Trains branding in 2005. These 17 units are affectionately referred to as "Bambi Trams".
As with the 3 spot-hire units, these 17 units also have first class accommodation, which is also declassified. The 3-car units also have a buffet counter in their middle car, which is locked out of use. This bar could be removed in favour of additional seating in the future.
170101 was involved in a collision with a tractor near March in mid-2005. Its centre car was reformed into unit 170117. 170101 is now repaired and back in service, but its centre car still remains in 170117.
All Class 170 units in service with Central are used on a multitude of services, but are mostly concentrated on long distance "Citylink" services, Birmingham-Stansted Airport, Norwich-Liverpool and Nottingham-Cardiff. Class 170 units have been replaced by Class 350 "Desiro" units on Birmingham-Liverpool services. They also work the majority of Birmingham to Leicester and Birmingham to Shrewsbury services, which are contained with the same daily diagram of work for the units as the "Citylink" routes mentioned above.

CrossCountry

CrossCountry will use some Class 170 Turbostars inherited from Central Trains. These will be mainly used on short distance services around the Midlands.
CrossCountry have the following plans for their future Class 170 fleet:

★ Reconfiguring the fleet internally to give more seats and more luggage space

★ Introducung first class / using the old Midland Mainline first class sections again
CrossCountry will receive 29 turbostars. The numbers add up to them receiving 170101-170117 - ex Midland Mainline of 2 and 3 car length with first class, 170630-170639 - 3 car length and 170397-170398 - 3 car length with first class; which adds up to 29.

First ScotRail

ScotRail (since taken over by First Group and renamed First ScotRail) introduced the Turbostar in 1999 to complement its fleet of Class 158 "Express Sprinter" DMUs. "Turbostar" Class 170s are used mainly on the Edinburgh Waverley to Glasgow Queen Street Express route (with two 3-car sets run on peak services), but are also common on the routes from Edinburgh to Bathgate,Aberdeen and Inverness as well as the Fife Circle. In addition, they are often used in conjunction with Class 158 sets on the Edinburgh Crossrail route between Newcraighall and Dunblane. The vast majority of sets carry First Class accommodation, and a buffet trolley operates on many peak-time services. In addition, several Class 170s carry the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport livery and operate suburban services in the Glasgow area.

First TransPennine Express

'First TransPennine Express' receieved eight Turbostars from South West Trains, 170301-170308 at the end of 2006 and the start of 2007. The units are being maintained by Bombardier Crofton. They received First TransPennine Express Dynamic Lines livery at Crofton before entering service. However some of the units carried out testing and driver training whilst still in South West Trains livery.
All units will be refurbished at Clacton to match the interior of the Class 185 units with CCTV and plug sockets also to be added.

170301-170302 were the first to be transferred to Crofton before Christmas 2006, with 170303-170305 following in early 2007. 170306-170307 moved in service with First TransPennine Express on 9 September 2007 following a refurbishent. 170308 is currently being refurbished and are expected to join TransPennine Express shortly, with 170301-305 being refurbished in the near future. 170399 of Central Trains is also due to be moved to TransPennine Express at the end of the Central Trains franchise.
The First TransPennine Express Turbostars have a wider covering of yellow on the front of the units than any other Turbostar. This is due to First TransPennine Express wanting the Turbostars to look similar to their current Class 185 trains.
The First TransPennine Express Class 170 Turbostars also include first class declassified seating accomodation behind one of the driving cabs. This is a portion of the train which was first class accomodation when in service with South West Trains. However First TransPennine Express did not feel that two sections of first class were needed.

Hull Trains

'Hull Trains' began its London King's Cross to Hull services using Turbostars, initially with four sets on short-term lease from Anglia Railways. In 2004, it received four of its 'own' 3 car 'Class 170/3' units, and returned the original units to Anglia. In 2005, following its acquisition by First Group, Hull Trains received four new Class 222/1 "Pioneer" units and transferred the Turbostars to its sister company First ScotRail.

London Midland

London Midland, who are to operate the new West Midlands franchise will inherit Class 170 units from Central Trains. These are most likely to be the 170/5 2 car units of which there are 23 units. Central Trains other Turbostars will go to CrossCountry who are to inherit the other 29 Turbostars Central Trains currently has.

Midland Mainline

'Midland Mainline' (MML) was the first operator to order Turbostars, with the first being introduced in MML's green and tangerine livery in 1998. MML ordered a fleet of seventeen 2-car 'Class 170/1' units, although the first 10 were subsequently made-up to 3-cars. The units were introduced on new 'stopping' services from London St. Pancras to Leicester, Derby and Nottingham. Some units were also used on summer Saturday only services from the capital to York, which later became a year round service with summer extension to Scarborough.
In 2004, MML introduced new Class 222 "Meridian" units, which started to replace the Turbostars. This was because the Meridians have faster acceleration than the Turbostars, and therefore would not slow down an express train travelling on the same route. They also have a higher top speed of 125mph compared to the Turbostar's 100mph top speed, although on most parts of the Midland Mainline route they are restricted to 110mph or less. The acceleration of the Turbostars was a big let down from an operational point of view. They were originally marketed as being far superior to the HSTs on semi-fast work due to "superior acceleration and braking", but in practice HSTs easily outperformed Turbostars on these sort of services. The Meridians also provided a slight capacity increase and an ambience and appearance far more fitting with an InterCity train service. The MML fleet has now been transferred to fellow National Express Group franchise Central Trains.

South West Trains

'South West Trains' (SWT) acquired a fleet of eight 2-car 'Class 170/3' units in 2000, to supplement its existing Class 159 fleet. Units were pressed into service on London Waterloo to Salisbury as well as a new Southampton local train, and Reading to Brighton trains. They were sometimes used on Exeter services, but as they are not fitted with end gangways for catering or selective door opening for the short platforms at some stations, this is not a regular route.
All of units 170301 to 170308 are now either in service with TransPennine Express or pending introduction, and 170392 is now with Southern. 170308 performed the final service with South West Trains on the 28th Of July 2007

Fleet details

Class	Operator	No. Built	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.
'Class 170/1'	Central Trains (ex. Midland Mainline)	17	1998-1999	3	170 101-110
				2	170 111-117
'Class 170/2'	'One' Railway (ex-Anglia Railways)	12	1999	3	170 201-208
			2002	2	170 270-273
'Class 170/3'	TransPennine Express (ex SWT)	7	2000	2	170 301-307
	Under Refurb at Clacton	1	2000	2	170 308
	First ScotRail (ex-Hull Trains)	4	2004	3	170 393-396
	Central Trains	2	2002	3	170 397-398
	Central Trains (To move to TPE)	1	2002	2	170 399
'Class 170/4'	First ScotRail	24	1999-2001	3	170 401-424
		10	2003-2004	3	170 425-434
		12	2004-2005	3	170 450-461
		2	2001	3	170 470-471
		7	2004	3	170 472-478
'Class 170/5'	Central Trains	23	1999-2000	2	170 501-523
'Class 170/6'	Central Trains	10	2000	3	170 630-639