Class 170397 / 170398

[whhistle]

So from what I understand, Class 170397/98 are the last production models of the 170 series of Turbostars (yes, 399 is the absolute last).

Why wern't they put with the other turbostars at Hull trains, now with Scotrail?

It's the only two in that number range that Cross Country operate.

I gues it's just because they're mainly ex-central units who had turbostars from many other operators?

 

[sprinterguy]

170397 and 398 aren't even close to being the last production class 170 units. They were built in 2002: 170393 - 396 for Hull Trains, 170425 - 434, 170450 - 461 and 170472 - 478 for Scotrail, 170392, and 170721 - 726 (Which subsequently became 171721 - 726) are all newer.

170399 is in fact older still.

The Hull Trains units went off lease as a result of the 222/1s replacing them in 2005 and so were available for Scotrail to lease, however at the time 170397/398 had an active lease with Central Trains, and there's no good reason why they should be grouped together with the Hull Trains units, which were to a different spec.

 

[CAF397]

There were some units ordered speculatively by Porterbrook in the late 170/3 series?

 

[sprinterguy]

There were some units ordered speculatively by Porterbrook in the late 170/3 series?

Yes; 170399 (Now 170309) was the first in 2000, 170397/398 followed in 2002, but subsequently settled down into regular employment with Central Trains, prior to the franchise breakup that saw them transfer to the new XC franchise.

 

[Domh245]

Yes; 170399 (Now 170309) was the first in 2000, 170397/398 followed in 2002, but subsequently settled down into regular employment with Central Trains, prior to the franchise breakup that saw them transfer to the new XC franchise.

399 became 309 when it moved to TPE, but it has since become 168329 having moved to Chiltern

Also, those speculative 170s (397-399) were supposed to be for spot hire, rather than speculative in the sense of Porterbrook's speculative 387 order which was split between c2c and GWR, as far as I am aware.

 

[sprinterguy]

399 became 309 when it moved to TPE, but it has since become 168329 having moved to Chiltern

True, I'd forgotten that it'd had a further change of identity.

And you're quite right, 170397 - 399 were intended as spot hire units, though still units without portfolio either way.