Autumn refresh for GWR Class 165/166 Turbos

[3973EXL]

166218

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 1500 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops | 18/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 1500 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops on 18/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166218

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1800 Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh | 30/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1800 departure from Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh on 30/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166202

Realtime Trains | 5Q33 1409 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops | 31/08/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q33 1409 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops on 31/08/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[3973EXL]

166220

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1511 Wolverton Centre Sidings to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 10/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1511 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 10/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Caped

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 0849 Wolverton Centre Sidings to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 12/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 0849 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 12/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Caped

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1800 Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh | 13/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1800 departure from Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh on 13/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Snow1964]

According to this article, Gemini Rail (at Wolverton) have finished the internal refresh of the turbos

The 57 Class 165/166 Turbo fleet trains, that GWR leases from Angel Trains have been given a deep refresh at the Wolverton railway works, where the train were stripped back to basics and rebuilt to keep them in service for more years to come.

In an ideal world, these 35-year-old desiel trains wouldn’t be required anymore as the railways would have been electrified by now, but with electrification of the branch and rural lines looking a distant prospect at the moment, keeping the diesel trains in service was essential.

Starting in September 2021, each of the 57 trains was taken one at a time to Wolverton, where Gemini Rail Services manages a refurbishement facility. There, they were given a full interior refresh, including a comprehensive strip out of the vehicles and replacement of all floor coverings.

During the refurbishment, all the seats were removed, and the seat shells were repaired and painted. New moquette was fitted throughout, and seat foams were replaced as required. The interior was also repainted and deep cleaned, and eight of the Class 166 units still in the previous blue livery had their exteriors painted in GWR green, bringing them in line with all the other units.

GWR’s £10 million refurbishment project: Final train set to rejoin passenger service

After three years of work and £10 million of investment, the last of a fleet of refurbished GWR trains is preparing to rejoin the network to carry passengers again.

www.ianvisits.co.uk

EDIT : GWR also have news article

Customers’ journey experience enhanced as Great Western Railway trains undergo makeover | GWR News

A three-year refurbishment of Great Western Railway’s regional and suburban train fleet has been completed – providing an improved journey experience for customers.

news.gwr.com

 

[fgwrich]

Claiming that the customer experience has been “Enhanced” is stretching it by some. I travelled on one of the refurbished 166s last month to Portsmouth Harbour and aside from the usual dead air on, the interior was rather dirty and feeling somewhat unloved already. The strange choice of replacing the carpet with light grey Lino floor has also made the experience worse - they are now considerably noisier than before, not helped by the somewhat rough Perkins lump underneath.

 

[3973EXL]

165122

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 14/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 14/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166215

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1613 Wolverton Centre Sidings to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 14/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1613 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 14/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166202

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 0952 Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 16/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 0952 departure from Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 16/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166220

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 1035 St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh to Doncaster Works Wabtec | 17/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 1035 departure from St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh to Doncaster Works Wabtec on 17/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[GeekyJamez]

Claiming that the customer experience has been “Enhanced” is stretching it by some. I travelled on one of the refurbished 166s last month to Portsmouth Harbour and aside from the usual dead air on, the interior was rather dirty and feeling somewhat unloved already. The strange choice of replacing the carpet with light grey Lino floor has also made the experience worse - they are now considerably noisier than before, not helped by the somewhat rough Perkins lump underneath.

Indeed, it's basically a refresh, they need new seats with a 2+2 seat layout with tables for the routes they're used on

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I agree it's a shame that they've decided to pull the carpet out.

 

[REVUpminster]

Indeed, it's basically a refresh, they need new seats with a 2+2 seat layout with tables for the routes they're used on

Paignton-Exmouth need 3+2 and will get an extra turbo. They often have four now on the 7 diagrams.

 

[cactustwirly]

I agree it's a shame that they've decided to pull the carpet out.

Indeed the 166s feel more like a 165 now

 

[Snow1964]

Indeed the 166s feel more like a 165 now

I agree, more of a short hop commuter train, than one specified for the 3-4 hours journeys they are often used on.

Unfortunately some of the 165s and 166 are already wearing badly because of the very heavy usage, and regular crowding due to short forms. If this refresh is supposed to make them look good for another 6 years until about 2030, then it is going to struggle.

 

[Recessio]

Claiming that the customer experience has been “Enhanced” is stretching it by some. I travelled on one of the refurbished 166s last month to Portsmouth Harbour and aside from the usual dead air on, the interior was rather dirty and feeling somewhat unloved already. The strange choice of replacing the carpet with light grey Lino floor has also made the experience worse - they are now considerably noisier than before, not helped by the somewhat rough Perkins lump underneath.

Personally I think the experienced has been improved because they don't look completely clapped out. Beforehand, they felt like 30+ year old trains. Now at least they look a lot smarter.

I don't think losing the carpet is necessarily a bad thing, I can't say personally I've noticed much difference in the noise, and hopefully the new floor is more long-lasting than the ruined stained old carpets. Admittedly though, I only travel on the North Down Line. For longer journeys, I think carpets and better tables is a fair expectation, but I guess choosing interior style is a perennial problem on any unit that does multiple types/lengths of journeys, you'll never get it perfectly suited.

Overall GWR and Gemini have done a good job here in my opinion, and it shows what could be done to other similar vintage trains (notably Southeastern's Networkers).

 

[Mikey C]

The 166s have always been a bit of half baked medium distance train anyway. During that era of train design, it always struck me that whereas previously there was a big divide between commuter stock and genuinely more comfortable longer distance stock, the replacements seemed to meet in the middle!

 

[3973EXL]

Realtime Trains | 5Q74 0950 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot | 28/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q74 0950 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot on 28/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 28/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 28/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166220

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 0959 Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 30/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 0959 departure from Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 30/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166221

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 1035 St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh to Doncaster Works Wabtec | 01/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 1035 departure from St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh to Doncaster Works Wabtec on 01/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[FGW_DID]

Realtime Trains | 5Q74 0950 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot | 28/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q74 0950 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot on 28/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 28/09/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 28/09/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Q74 = 165122

5Q70 = 165123

 

[Snow1964]

Yesterday 166205 seemed to be in trouble at Bath Spa whilst working 1F26 Portsmouth-Cardiff.

5car set (165 leading) but last 2 cars of the 166 were out of use, severe crowding (as it was service after rugby match had finished), didn't make it beyond Bristol (where both units were terminated).

Seems to be lots of failures with the refreshed 166s
example 2E59 (166220) canx yesterday due to safety system problems)

 

[Bikeman78]

The worst part is, is that they’ve been like that since they left Reading. It wasn’t uncommon to see tables like that, internal doors held open with tape, and the carpets so dirty they were turning brown. Apart from a replacement of carpets, the dire state has continued on Cardiff - Portsmouth, often now including notices such as “toilet awaiting parts” dated from September / October / November of last year.

I remember them from new. They were clean at that time but the heating and air con was always garbage. I recall travelling along the North Downs line in winter. The inside of a 166 was no warmer than outside.

 

[3973EXL]

165123

Realtime Trains | 5Q74 0950 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot | 12/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q74 0950 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot on 12/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 12/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 12/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166221

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1057 Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 14/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1057 departure from Doncaster Works Wagn Shops to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 14/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166209

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 1035 St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh to Doncaster Works Wabtec | 15/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 1035 departure from St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh to Doncaster Works Wabtec on 15/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Siemens Staines]

I am guessing

5Q70 165126?
5Q23 166209?

 

[JN114]

I am guessing

5Q70 165126?
5Q23 166209?

126 is at Wolverton yes

I can’t speak for the west side unfortunately

 

[Siemens Staines]

Thank you for that confirmation

 

[01d-and]

166 209 sighted through Bromsgrove earlier.

 

[3973EXL]

Realtime Trains | 5Q74 0950 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot | 26/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q74 0950 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot on 26/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 26/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 26/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[FGW_DID]

Realtime Trains | 5Q74 0950 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot | 26/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q74 0950 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Reading Traincare Depot on 26/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 26/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 26/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

165126 Wolverton > Reading
165118 slated for Reading > Wolverton

 

[3973EXL]

166209

Realtime Trains | 5Q81 1710 Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Mrsh H S T D | 28/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q81 1710 departure from Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Mrsh H S T D on 28/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

166204

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 1230 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops | 29/10/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 1230 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops on 29/10/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Sun Chariot]

5Q81's data fed to Realtime Trains made me chuckle: "Pathed as High Speed Train, 56mph max"

 

[fgwrich]

5Q81's data fed to Realtime Trains made me chuckle: "Pathed as High Speed Train, 56mph max"

Well it is a Turbo…

(Insert polite version not drivers version here)

 

[3973EXL]

166204

Realtime Trains | 5Q82 1236 Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh | 09/11/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q82 1236 departure from Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh on 09/11/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Caped

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 09/11/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 09/11/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q23 0954 St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops | 10/11/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q23 0954 departure from St Philips Mrsh H S T D to Doncaster Works Wagn Shops on 10/11/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[FGW_DID]

Realtime Trains | 5Q82 1236 Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh | 09/11/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q82 1236 departure from Doncaster Works Wabtec to St Philips Marsh Depot Fhh on 09/11/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 5Q70 1349 Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 09/11/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q70 1349 departure from Reading Traincare Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 09/11/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

5Q70 will not be running. It should be a path Wolverton > Reading. 165118 (at Wolverton) is the last of the Turbos requiring attention.

 

[Siemens Staines]

5Q70 will not be running. It should be a path Wolverton > Reading. 165118 (at Wolverton) is the last of the Turbos requiring attention.

Does this mean that 165129 will be reallocated back to Bristol in the near future?

 

[FGW_DID]

Does this mean that 165129 will be reallocated back to Bristol in the near future?

I should think so, it was brought over specifically for cover.

5Q74 09:50 Wolverton - Reading TCD should be appearing on the system soon for Saturday (09/11)