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What will a GWR Class 165 or 166 from Southampton to Cheltenham be like?

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DanBC

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I will be travelling from Southampton to Cheltenham Spa in October. I've somehow managed to book myself onto a GWR train that will be using either Class 165 or Class 166 for the entire journey, instead of a British Rail Class 800 for most of the journey. (I think that's the new Hitachi units being used by GWR?)

I have a couple of questions.

1) How likely is it that I'll have at-seat mains power? Or at-seat USB charging?

2) Do these trains have a mix of comfy and normal seating? How do I know from looking at the train as it arrives into the station which bit has the comfy seats?

Thank you.
 
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Mills444

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Hello and first of all I would like to welcome you to the forum.
In order to ascertain what the likely unit will be for your journey would it be possible to display the departure tie and what route i.e number of changes you will need to make.
 
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Puppetfinger

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The one I was on a few days ago had plug sockets as described above. Considering I have seen 150's operate this nature of service I'd be very happy on the 165 or 166. Not aware 800's have ever done it, or are even cleared to Southampton?
 
Kite159

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The majority of 165/166s now have plug sockets with USB sockets on the wall. Hopefully you will get a 166 which has nice 2+2 seating in the two areas behind the cabs, plus some smaller tables within the 3+2 area.

If you get a 2-coach 165 with it's luxurious suburban 3+2 seating good luck as those things don't have any sort of tables to rest half drunk coffee cups on, a massive step backwards for passenger quality from a 150/2
 
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DanBC

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Mills444 said:
Hello and first of all I would like to welcome you to the forum.
In order to ascertain what the likely unit will be for your journey would it be possible to display the departure tie and what route i.e number of changes you will need to make.
Click to expand...

Thank you, and sorry I missed off that information. "Southampton Central at 12:27 travel by Train service provider Great Western Railway to station Cheltenham Spa arrives 15:46 ( seats reserved: Coach: * Seats: ***, *** )" -- seats are not reservable on this service apparently. No changes.
 
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PHILIPE

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Puppetfinger said:
The one I was on a few days ago had plug sockets as described above. Considering I have seen 150's operate this nature of service I'd be very happy on the 165 or 166. Not aware 800's have ever done it, or are even cleared to Southampton?
Click to expand...

150s haven't worked these services for a while now unless standing in for an unavailable Turbo. 800s have never orhave ever been intended to do this type of run
 
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GoneSouth

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Is that a train to Worcester/Malvern? Don’t they also have 158s on those services? Having said that I’ve caught a Southampton train from Shrub Hill before which was a 166.

Head for what used to be first class which is at either end by the cabs. They have 2x2 with tables. I believe all first class is declassified, apologies and hope someone corrects me if I’m wrong!
 
AlastairFraser

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GoneSouth said:
Is that a train to Worcester/Malvern? Don’t they also have 158s on those services? Having said that I’ve caught a Southampton train from Shrub Hill before which was a 166.

Head for what used to be first class which is at either end by the cabs. They have 2x2 with tables. I believe all first class is declassified, apologies and hope someone corrects me if I’m wrong!
Click to expand...
Some of the first class sections are declassified,but a few weeks ago I came across a 1st class section that wasn't declassified on the Henley branch. Maybe it's different out west but I would advise @DanBC to check the first class section at the front of the train,and,if it's been declassified, then sit in it,quickly! Because those Class 166 Turbos get really busy quickly,at least they did when they were in the Thames Valley.
 
AlastairFraser

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DanBC said:
I will be travelling from Southampton to Cheltenham Spa in October. I've somehow managed to book myself onto a GWR train that will be using either Class 165 or Class 166 for the entire journey, instead of a British Rail Class 800 for most of the journey. (I think that's the new Hitachi units being used by GWR?)

I have a couple of questions.

1) How likely is it that I'll have at-seat mains power? Or at-seat USB charging?

2) Do these trains have a mix of comfy and normal seating? How do I know from looking at the train as it arrives into the station which bit has the comfy seats?

Thank you.
Click to expand...
Hi DanBC, welcome to the forum,hope you stay to read all the different threads on here,although that might take a long time :D . To elaborate on your question about the Class 800/802s,those nice,long,new,spacious bi-mode electric/diesel multiple units are GWR's new Intercity fleet, which is mainly used on fast services from London to the Cotswolds,Oxford,South Wales,the South West and Bristol and a few trains a day each way from London to some smaller destinations. But the route you are taking usually comes under GWR's regional/local services, which are usually operated by the range of Classes 150/153/165/166 that the others have mentioned on this forum. The 165/166s are generally an upgrade on the 150s you would probably get before some of the Class 165/166s were moved from the Thames Valley services closer to London. The Class 165/166 units are sometimes longer than the Class 150 units,depending on how many are sent out,the 166s have a higher top speed so the journey may be quicker depending on the timetable and line speeds, the ride is smoother and quieter on the newer Class 165/166s and the seats are supposedly nicer. It's nice you've got both a 165/166 and a direct service where you're getting on at the start of the journey,so are much more likely to get a decent seat. Feel free to ask me or anyone else on the forum any further questions if you want more detail.
 
Mikey C

Mikey C

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I went on a GWR 165 a couple of days ago on the Henley branch, and yes it had plug sockets (plus the very useful USB sockets for charging that many newer trains don't have)

It also had very effective but really noisy air chilling units in the carriage, they drowned out the noise from the engines!
 
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PHILIPE

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AlastairFraser said:
Hi DanBC, welcome to the forum,hope you stay to read all the different threads on here,although that might take a long time :D . To elaborate on your question about the Class 800/802s,those nice,long,new,spacious bi-mode electric/diesel multiple units are GWR's new Intercity fleet, which is mainly used on fast services from London to the Cotswolds,Oxford,South Wales,the South West and Bristol and a few trains a day each way from London to some smaller destinations. But the route you are taking usually comes under GWR's regional/local services, which are usually operated by the range of Classes 150/153/165/166 that the others have mentioned on this forum. The 165/166s are generally an upgrade on the 150s you would probably get before some of the Class 165/166s were moved from the Thames Valley services closer to London. The Class 165/166 units are sometimes longer than the Class 150 units,depending on how many are sent out,the 166s have a higher top speed so the journey may be quicker depending on the timetable and line speeds, the ride is smoother and quieter on the newer Class 165/166s and the seats are supposedly nicer. It's nice you've got both a 165/166 and a direct service where you're getting on at the start of the journey,so are much more likely to get a decent seat. Feel free to ask me or anyone else on the forum any further questions if you want more detail.
Click to expand...

Forget 153s. GWR don't have any now. If 1227 should be 166
 
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pompeyfan

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Pedant mode: 800s quite often get to Eastleigh

As mentioned the 165/166 are declassified on services via Bristol, so if you can, sit next to either driving cab.

Personally a refurbished 150 is nicer internally than the current mish mash that is the Turbos. I’m not keen on them.

I believe there was a fire on a Turbo recently near Fareham where the plug socket caught alight. I’m not sure if it was misuse or similar. I’m sure others will know.
 
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PHILIPE

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AlastairFraser said:
Good. Have those 153's gone to SR as the glorified bike vans?
Click to expand...

Some did eventually. The last ones left in March which were the 5 remaining ones to TFW. Previously the others had gone last year to Northern and EMT, 5 from Northern including some ex GWR ones have gone to Scotrail and being converted accordingly.
 
CC 72100

CC 72100

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pompeyfan said:
I believe there was a fire on a Turbo recently near Fareham where the plug socket caught alight. I’m not sure if it was misuse or similar. I’m sure others will know.
Click to expand...

Wasn't a turbo in that incident.
 
AlastairFraser

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PHILIPE said:
Some did eventually. The last ones left in March which were the 5 remaining ones to TFW. Previously the others had gone last year to Northern and EMT, 5 from Northern including some ex GWR ones have gone to Scotrail and being converted accordingly.
Click to expand...
So did Northern effectively exchange their 153s for units in a better state I'm assuming by exporting their previously used units to SR to be used as the aforementioned bike vans?
 
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FenMan

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AlastairFraser said:
So did Northern effectively exchange their 153s for units in a better state I'm assuming by exporting their previously used units to SR to be used as the aforementioned bike vans?
Click to expand...

Going way off thread title warning. Fascinated as I'm about Northern's 153s ....
 
AlastairFraser

AlastairFraser

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FenMan said:
Going way off thread title warning. Fascinated as I'm about Northern's 153s ....
Click to expand...
Sure. The mods can split this if they like or perhaps you or other members of the forum can help me by redirecting this to an already existing thread.
 
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