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| British Rail Class 168 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Class 168 |
| Caption | Class 168 at a station |
| Manufacturer | Adtranz Derby |
| Family | Clubman |
| Yearservice | 1998 |
| Numberbuilt | .... |
| Numberpreserved | ... |
| Formation | 3/4 cars per unit |
| Operator | Chiltern Railways |
British Rail Class 168 is a diesel multiple unit used by Chiltern Railways on regional and intercity services in the United Kingdom. Introduced in the late 1990s, the units were procured during the privatization era involving Railtrack, Virgin Trains franchise changes, and rolling stock companies such as Angel Trains and Eversholt Rail Group. The design emerged from work at Adtranz Derby and reflects lineage with the Networker and Turbostar families.
The Class 168 originated from a 1990s requirement to replace locomotive-hauled sets on the Marylebone to Birmingham route, influenced by franchise bids involving M40 Trains and the reorganisations under the Railways Act 1993. Design work at Adtranz and component suppliers like Siemens and Cummins emphasized crashworthiness standards set by the Rail Safety and Standards Board and compatibility with infrastructure managed by Railtrack and later Network Rail. The Clubman-style bodyshell used techniques associated with the Derby Litchurch Lane Works and incorporated air-conditioning systems similar to those on units for FirstGroup and Arriva. Initial prototypes were built with Gangway and flush-sided features compatible with depots at Aylesbury and maintenance regimes influenced by Bombardier Transportation practices.
Subclasses include 168/0, 168/1 and 168/2, reflecting different interior arrangements, powertrains, and carriage formations, comparable to contemporaries like the Class 170 and Class 165. Technical specifications list diesel engines from manufacturers such as MTU Friedrichshafen or Cummins, hydraulic and Voith transmissions, and bogies similar to those used under Adtranz designs. Maximum speed, axle load, braking systems (including pneumatic brakes and wheel slide protection developed alongside Knorr-Bremse technology) and multiple working with units from the Sprinter and Turbostar families were determined to meet standards set by the Office of Rail and Road. Onboard systems include passenger information from suppliers used also by ScotRail and compatibility with Automatic Warning System equipment used across the British Rail network.
Chiltern Railways deployed Class 168 units primarily on services between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street, with diagramming influenced by timetable changes promoted by the Office of Rail Regulation and strategic routes including stops at High Wycombe, Banbury, and Leamington Spa. Units have appeared on charter workings associated with National Rail Awards events and have been temporarily diagrammed on diversionary working during engineering projects coordinated with Network Rail. Passenger experience improvements paralleled upgrades introduced on other operators such as Great Western Railway and Northern Trains, with first-class accommodation, accessible toilets, and cycle storage common on certain formations.
The fleet underwent mid-life refurbishment programmes managed by Chiltern Railways and contracted firms linked to Bombardier and Wabtec, incorporating LED lighting, reupholstered seating, and Wi-Fi systems similar to those retrofitted on stock for London North Eastern Railway and TransPennine Express. Ownership changes and leasing arrangements involved rolling stock companies like RIF and Angel Trains, with depot stabling at locations including Aylesbury TMD and works at Tyseley. Over time, modifications for compliance with the Persons with Reduced Mobility (PRM) TSI were executed alongside mechanical overhauls influenced by engineering practices at Doncaster Works.
Individual Class 168 units have been involved in operational incidents recorded by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and reported in contemporary coverage by outlets such as BBC News and The Guardian. Investigations referenced signalling interactions with systems of Network Rail and human factors framed by regulations stemming from the Health and Safety Executive. Outcomes led to procedural changes affecting driver training overseen by institutions like RSSB and alterations to maintenance routines at depots formerly operated by contractors linked to Arriva UK Trains.
No extensive preservation fleet exists comparable to preserved examples of InterCity 125 power cars preserved at National Railway Museum holdings, but interest from heritage groups including local preservation societies and model manufacturers such as Bachmann and Hornby produced OO gauge models for collectors. Scale models appear alongside commercial releases featuring liveries used by Chiltern Railways and special repaints celebrating anniversaries of routes like the Chiltern Main Line.
Category:Diesel multiple units of Great Britain Category:Train types