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| British Rail Class 158 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Class 158 |
| Service | 1990–present |
| Manufacturer | British Rail Engineering Limited |
| Yearconstruction | 1989–1992 |
| Numberbuilt | 182 |
| Formation | 2–3 cars per unit |
| Operator | Northern Trains, ScotRail, Transport for Wales, East Midlands Railway, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Greater Anglia |
| Depots | Longsight depot, Heaton TMD, Haymarket TMD, Area Depot, Chester, Llandudno Junction depot |
| Maxspeed | 90 mph (145 km/h) |
| Engine | Cummins NT855-R1 (original) |
British Rail Class 158 is a diesel multiple unit built from 1989 to 1992 for regional and inter-urban services across England, Scotland, and Wales. Conceptualised during the late stages of British Rail's sectorisation, the fleet replaced ageing British Rail Class 101 and British Rail Class 108 units and was intended to provide quieter, higher-speed regional services. The units entered service amid franchise changes involving InterCity, Regional Railways, and later private operators following the Railways Act 1993.
Designed by British Rail Engineering Limited at a time of rolling stock renewal, the units incorporated features influenced by earlier DMUs such as British Rail Class 153 and British Rail Class 155. The specification responded to policy shifts under transport ministers including Nicholas Ridley and Jack Cunningham, and operational needs identified by Network SouthEast and Regional Railways. The bodyshell drew on corrosion-resistant aluminium techniques used by Leyland Motors subcontractors and benefited from suspension developments tested on Advanced Passenger Train prototypes. Manufacturing took place at Holgate Road Works and other BR factories, with bogie designs related to those used on InterCity 125 coaching stock.
The Class 158 employs diesel-hydraulic transmission with Cummins engines and Voith gearboxes, enabling a top speed of 90 mph comparable to British Rail Class 159 and faster than many first-generation DMUs used by ScotRail and Northern Trains. Each car features air suspension and disc brakes similar to equipment on Class 175 and Class 170 units. Passenger amenities introduced included central heating, flush toilets with retention tanks compliant with standards later overseen by Office of Rail and Road, and electrical systems compatible with PTC and auxiliary alternators used across Network Rail fleets. Crashworthiness followed criteria emerging after inquiries such as those prompted by the Clapham Junction rail crash investigations, influencing cab design and structural reinforcement.
Subclasses emerged through operator-led modifications; some units were reclassified when adapted for specific roles by East Midlands Railway and Transport for Wales. Major refurbishment programmes were undertaken by contractors including Knorr-Bremse, Brush Traction, and private workshops in Doncaster and Middlesbrough, introducing features such as CCTV, passenger information systems compatible with ATC and TPWS, accessible toilets meeting standards advocated by Transport Scotland, and refreshed interiors inspired by refurbishments on InterCity 125 carriages. Select sets received wifi and power sockets following franchise commitments by Arriva and FirstGroup operators.
The fleet has been operated across routes formerly within Regional Railways and later under franchises awarded to companies including Northern Rail, Arriva Trains Wales, and ScotRail. Units appear on routes connecting hubs such as Manchester Piccadilly, Glasgow Central, Cardiff Central, Newcastle, and Penzance, and have been deployed on longer regional services alongside CrossCountry inter-regional workings. The operational history reflects franchise changes stemming from the Railways Act 1993 and subsequent franchise competitions involving organisations like Transport for London for overlapping services.
Class 158 units have been involved in several notable incidents investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and predecessors such as the Health and Safety Executive rail inspectorate. Investigations referenced signalling systems like AWS and TPWS, and sometimes involved infrastructure elements managed by Network Rail. Public inquiries into derailments and collisions prompted recommendations adopted across multiple fleets, including cab safety enhancements influenced by lessons from accidents involving other types such as Class 156 and Class 170 units.
Preservation efforts encompass initiatives by heritage bodies including National Railway Museum volunteers and regional preservation groups operating at sites like Severn Valley Railway and Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Model manufacturers have produced replicas in OO gauge and N gauge; producers include Hornby Railways, Bachmann and specialist firms such as Accurascale. Enthusiast societies document unit allocations and liveries in publications by publishers like Platform 5 Publishing and Ian Allan Publishing, while railtours organised by groups such as Steam Dreams and The Railway Touring Company have occasionally used preserved or refurbished examples.
Category:Diesel multiple units of Great Britain