British Rail Class 158
| British Rail Class 158 "Express Sprinter" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Manufacturer | BREL |
| Built at | Derby Works |
| Family name | Sprinter |
| Constructed | 1989—1992 |
| Number built | 182 trainsets |
| Number in service | 170 trainsets |
| Formation | 2 or 3 cars per trainset |
| Operators | Arriva Trains Wales East Midlands Trains First Great Western First ScotRail Northern Rail South West Trains |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 22.16m |
| Articulated sections | Flexible diaphragm within and between units |
| Braking system(s) | Pneumatic, Disc |
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at their Derby Works. They were built to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains. Class 159 trains are almost identical to Class 158s having been converted from Class 158 to Class 159 in two batches.
BREL also built similar units for State Railway of Thailand,[1] which featured metre-gauge bogies and different outer-end gangways.
Description
Variants
A total of 182 units were built, numbered 158701—872 and 158901—910. The majority of units were built as two-car sets, with individual carriages numbered 52701—872/901—910 and 57701-872/901-910. Seventeen units (158798—814) were built as three-car units, with the centre carriages numbered 58701—717 - eight of these units have since had the centre car removed, while another eight have been upgraded to be Class 159s. The final ten units (158901—910) were built specifically for West Yorkshire PTE Metro services around Leeds.
There were three varieties of unit when built. The standard batch, two- and three-car units (158701—158814 and 158901—158910) had 350 hp (260 kW) Cummins engines. The next batch (158815—158862) were built as non-standard to enable 350 hp Perkins engines to be fitted. The final batch (158863—158872) were given higher-powered Cummins engines of 400 hp (300 kW) as it was originally intended that these units work the steeply graded Welsh Marches Line. Another 22 of these higher-powered units were built, and became three-car Class 159 trains. Over time, the units have become mixed up as franchises changed and higher- and lower-powered units can be seen working on the same routes.
Despite some similarities in appearance, the Class 158 is not based on the Mark 4 carriage bodyshell design, although they were developed at roughly the same time. The Class 158 also bears a passing external resemblance to Iarnród Éireann's 2700 Class DMU. However this is coincidental, as the two types were built almost a decade apart by different manufacturers.
Technical problems
The Class 158 trains were first members of the Sprinter family to use disc brakes. When first introduced, the Class 158 trains had traction problems on steeply graded routes during the autumn leaf-fall season, due to the build-up of leaf mulch on the wheels. As a temporary solution in October 1992, some two-car units were formed using one car from a Class 158 and another from a Class 156 SuperSprinter.[2] The Class 158 trains were later fitted with scrubbing blocks to clean the wheels.
Many units have non-functional air-conditioning.[citation needed] This is because the air-con units were designed to be filled with CFC gases which are now illegal, owing to the environmental impact they have. Most have not had their air conditioning upgraded and have no cooling available other than the four opening hopper windows in the centre of each carriage.
Comfort and performance
Compared with previous members of the Sprinter family, specifically the Class 156 SuperSprinter, the Class 158 is a large improvement. With provision for a buffet service and an increased top speed of 90 miles per hour (140 km/h), the Class 158 is best suited to longer journeys with fewer stops and provides a much quieter and more comfortable environment than its contemporaries. Regrettably, the buffet service is limited on those longer journeys and is not refreshed throughout the course of travel[citation needed].
Current operations
After Privatisation of British Rail, the Class 158 fleet was divided amongst several franchises, all of which are detailed below. There is an ongoing fleet shuffle with many units being swapped between operators.
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales originally operated a large fleet of units inherited from Wales and Borders Trains (nos. 158815—854) on the Cambrian Line and long-distance services such as Cardiff to Manchester, Cardiff to Penzance and Cardiff to London Waterloo.
By the end of 2006, units 158842—158854 had returned to the leasing company as Arriva gained exclusive use of the Class 175 Coradia fleet formerly shared with First North Western and First TransPennine Express.
The units making up the current Arriva fleet were refurbished while in use by Wales and West prior to 2001 and repainted in new blue and silver livery at Doncaster works. Arriva have now reduced their fleet to 24 units, repainted some units in their own turquoise livery and installed CCTV inside carriages.
Arriva's Class 158 trains are now based at Machynlleth depot and operate all Cambrian Line services, as well as supplementing the Class 175s on other long-distance routes such as Cardiff to West Wales, Manchester and Holyhead.
East Midlands Trains
East Midlands Trains has a fleet of 25 units inherited from Central Trains when that franchise was ended, with some other trains transferred from First Great Western and South West Trains. East Midlands Trains uses its Class 158 trains on many journeys ranging from long to short distance. East Midlands Trains are currently refurbishing their trains one by one. The first refurbished unit was released in November 2008.
East Midlands Trains' 158s operate from:
- Nottingham to Skegness
- Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich via Nottingham (All services unless problems, then Class 153 replacements are used).
- Nottingham to Matlock.
- Leicester to Lincoln Central via Nottingham
- Nottingham to Mansfield Woodhouse/Worksop
- Doncaster to Peterborough via Lincoln Central.
The Class 158 trains have been described as 'hellish' for the long Norwich to Liverpool service[specify]. Regular users select a scenic route via the East Coast Mainline and Transpennine Express to travel between Peterborough and Manchester/Liverpool which, despite requiring two changes, is a far more comfortable journey and the same price on a flexible off-peak ticket[citation needed].
First Great Western
First Great Western inherited the Wessex Trains fleet following the merger of the Great Western and Wessex franchises. They were the first company to receive former Transpennine Express units, despite it looking like negotiations with the DfT for the 158s had failed.
During late 2007 and early 2008, the First Great Western Class 158 fleet was refurbished and reliveried in to First 'Local Lines' livery, an adaptation of the 'Dynamic Lines' livery comprising of names of local places and attractions forming the lines.
In early 2008, some Class 158 trains were reformed into hybrid three-car units in the 15895x series.
The fleet is used on the long-distance Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour/Brighton, and Weymouth to Worcester/Great Malvern services.
First ScotRail
ScotRail inherited the largest number of sets, originally having a fleet of 46 units from new in 1989. These were employed on Glasgow Queen Street to Edinburgh Waverley services, as well as services to Aberdeen and Inverness. From 1998 onwards, units were reliveried in ScotRail Railways livery.
When ScotRail leased new Class 170 units in 1999, the Class 158 fleet was cascaded onto other routes, such as services to Thurso and Wick. The resultant cascade of older units allowed ScotRail to finally retire its elderly Class 101 'heritage' DMUs and end the lease on the Class 150. Six units were also transferred to other franchises. First ScotRail have now completed the repaint of the fleet into First's corporate pink and dark blue livery. First ScotRail have recently[when?] acquired some First Great Western 158s and two units from South West Trains.
In September 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all First ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. The First Group corporate livery on the Class 158s will now be replaced by this new livery, which will not be changed in the event of a change of franchisee. [1]
158863 joined the ScotRail fleet on loan from First Great Western on 9 December 2006. This unit carries standard Wessex Trains "Alphaline" livery.
As of 2008, the operations of the ScotRail 158s are very varied. Journeys range from short hops (such as Glasgow Queen Street to Anniesland) to intercity services from Glasgow/Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Inverness as well as the rural Far North and Kyle of Lochalsh lines. Routes out of Glasgow and Edinburgh are shared with Class 170 Turbostars and Class 156 SuperSprinters. Often a two car Class 158 can be seen running in a five car formation coupled to a three car Turbostar.
Several of the ScotRail units have had names attached - for example 158702 is named "BBC Scotland - 75 Years", 158707 is named "Far North Line - 125th Anniversary", 158715 is named "Haymarket" and 158720 is named "Inverness and Nairn Railway - 150 Years".
Northern Rail
The Northern Rail franchise started on 12 December 2004. This incorporated most of the former Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western franchises. Their current[when?] Class 158 fleet consists of 44 trains (8 three-car and 36 two-car units) this includes eight former First North Western units, the ten Arriva Trains Northern MetroTrain units. The other units have come from Central Trains and First TransPennine Express.
In June 2005 all the Class 158 trains were transferred to Leeds to work former Arriva Trains Northern services in exchange for unrefurbished Class 150 units. Almost all of the 158s that Northern Rail have acquired have since gone to the Leeds depot, with some 156s being transferred across the Pennines as the 158s arrived. The 3-car units are used on the York to Blackpool service. Class 158 trains were due to operate the Liverpool Lime Street to Manchester Airport via Newton-le-Willows express service. However, Northern have opted to use 156s on that service instead.[citation needed]
The introduction of extra Class 158 trains has seen some of Northern Rail’s Class 142 Pacers taken out of service.[3]
In 2007 Northern Rail began replacing the seat cushions in its Class 158 fleet, as part of a project which received funding from Metro and South Yorkshire PTE[4] - this is due to be completed by October 2008. Northern Rail has also started re-painting its sets in its own livery.
South West Trains
In June 2005, South West Trains gained two former Central Trains units for the Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads service. Though refurbished and repainted to match the South West Trains Class 159 fleet these trains later moved on to First ScotRail in 2007, as the two Class 158 units were leased from Angel Trains whilst the original Class 159 fleet are all leased from Porterbrook. As the additional 19 trains procured in 2007 were to be leased from Porterbrook rather than Angel Trains, the decision was taken to return the original two Class 158s to Angel Trains and to keep all leased DMUs with one company.[citation needed]
In 2007, the further 19 trains were received from First TransPennine Express. Eight three-car units have since been converted into Class 159/1s, with the 11 two-car units refurbished and renumbered into the 15888x series. All SWT units now have an audio-visual PIS similar to that in the Desiros.
The Class 158 trains are now mostly used on the Salisbury to Southampton Central via Romsey service, and some local journeys within Hampshire, allowing South West Trains' small Class 170 Turbostar fleet to be transferred to First TransPennine Express and Southern.
From December 2008, the units will also augment the Waterloo-Salisbury service, allowing some 10 car (2+2+3+3) operation in the peaks. An hourly local service from Axminster to Exeter St Davids service is also possible following the West of England line upgraded loops for the hourly Exeter service, planned for 2009. In the meantime, two units are on loan to East Midlands Trains - 158881 and 158882.
Former operations
Pre-Privatisation
Upon introduction under British Rail, Class 158 units were used on various Regional Railways services. These included ScotRail and TransPennine express services, along with upgraded services under the Alphaline brand. Additionally, units 158747-158751 were used by InterCity to supplement its core Cross-Country fleet.
Arriva Trains Northern
Arriva Trains Northern (originally called Northern Spirit and descended from Regional Railways North East) inherited a large fleet of Class 158 units - many of these trains were used on TransPennine Express services. These long-distance services were transferred to a separate franchise First TransPennine Express from early 2004 with all but ten units have been transferred to the new franchise. The ten remaining trains (nos. 158901-910) are primarily used on services around Leeds. The Arriva Trains Northern franchise became part of the new Northern Rail franchise in late 2004.
Central Trains
Central Trains (descended from Regional Railways Central) used its original Class 158 fleet to operate express, long-distance Alphaline-branded services. However, after privatisation the company quickly procured a large fleet of Class 170 Turbostar units for such services, displacing the Class 158 fleet to secondary routes such as Birmingham New Street to Hereford and Derby to Matlock.
Central Trains were the first company to temporarily re-form some of its standard two-car units into three-car units, doing so originally in 2001 and again between 2003 and late 2004. These were composed of three driving motor cars, with the innermost cab locked out of use.
The transfer of Cambrian Line services to Wales and Borders Trains in 2001, along with the introduction of 17 further Turbostar units transferred from Midland Mainline in 2004, eventually allowed Central Trains to reduce its fleet to just 12 units.
In February 2007, the fleet began to increase in size again, as 9 three-car units were acquired from First TransPennine Express for Central Citylink services which is Liverpool Lime Street to Norwich via Nottingham, Nottingham to Birmingham New Street and Cardiff Central via Derby and Stansted Airport to Birmingham New Street via Leicester and Nuneaton.
Other Central Trains routes which commonly saw Class 158 trains included Birmingham New Street to Great Malvern, Hereford, Leicester, Nottingham, Shrewsbury and Stansted Airport, as well as Cardiff Central to Nottingham via Birmingham New Street, Nottingham to Skegness, Leicester to Lincoln Central and Derby to Matlock and Crewe.
All units were transferred to East Midlands Trains when the Central Trains franchise was spilt up in November 2007.
First North Western
First North Western (descended from North West Regional Railways) had eight Class 158 trains, which were based at Newton Heath and used on various mid- to long-distance routes. In early 2004 some were sub-leased to First Transpennine Express to provide extra capacity. The First North Western Class 158 trains were mainly used on the Manchester Piccadilly to Hull and Bridlington route and remained in North Western Trains livery. At the end of the First North Western franchise, the 158s were returned to Newton Heath, in time for the start of the new Northern Rail franchisee and Northern Rail quickly transferred the Class 158s to their Leeds depot.
First TransPennine Express
Created in 2004 (from parts of the Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western franchises) First TransPennine Express inherited a substantial fleet of Class 158 units from Arriva Trains Northern, including the seventeen original 3-car units, 158798-814. The fleet was used on long-distance journeys, such as Manchester Airport to Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester Airport to Cleethorpes and Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough. First Group slowly added its new brand name using dark blue vinyl branding over the top of the existing liveries. These vinyls were not full-height and so the sets retained part of their existing branding.
In late 2004, further units were cascaded from Central Trains, allowing the formation of six 3-car units, 158971-976.
First TransPennine Express replaced their Class 158 trains with new Class 185 Pennine and Class 170 Turbostar trains, which gradually entered service in 2006/7.
Virgin Trains
Prior to the introduction of the Class 220/221 Virgin Voyagers, Virgin CrossCountry operated a small number of Class 158 trains, numbers 158747-158751. These were used on Manchester Piccadilly/Liverpool Lime Street to Glasgow Central/Edinburgh Waverley services via the West Coast Main Line as well as services through the Stroud Valley between Swindon and Birmingham New Street. Most of these units are now operated by First Great Western.
Wessex Trains
Wessex Trains (formed from part of the Wales and West franchise) originally operated 12 Class 158 trains on the long distance services on the Wessex main line. Later in the franchise, the company acquired additional units and re-formed some into three coach formations. Unlike the purpose-built three car Class 158s and Class 159s, the centre car was a Driving Motor with the cab locked out of use and an adapter to connect the different sized gangways. At the end of the franchise, the Wessex fleet initially transferred to First Great Western.
Current fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 158/0 | Arriva Trains Wales | 24 | 1989-1992 | 2 | 158818 - 158841 | |
| East Midlands Trains | 25 | 158770/773/774/777/780/783/785/788/799 158806/810/812/813/846/847/852/854/856-858/862-866 | ||||
| First Great Western | 5 | 158745/763/766/767/769 | ||||
| 1 | 3 | 158798 | ||||
| First ScotRail | 47 | 2 | 158701- 158736, 158738 - 158741, 158782/786/789 158867 - 158870 | |||
| South West Trains | 11 | 158880 - 158890 | ||||
| Northern Rail | 26 | 158784/787/790-797 158815-817/842-845/848-851/853/855/859-861/871-872 | ||||
| 8 | 3 | 158752 - 158759 | ||||
| Class 158/9 | 10 | 158901 - 158910 | Built specifically for West Yorkshire PTE | |||
| First Great Western | 10 | 2008 | 158950 - 158959 | Modified from Class 158/0 |
References
- ^ "Thai State Railways - Diesel Multiple Unit".
- ^ "Misformed Sets - 156 Super-Sprinter - Trans-Pennine Hybrids". Metro-Cammell Class 156 Super-Sprinter. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
- ^ 158910 is named 'William Wilberforce'. "Angel Trains leases 30 Class 158 Diesel Multiple Units to Northern Rail". Northern Rail. 2007-03-13. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
- ^ "Class 158 Seat Overhaul". West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
External links
