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| Class 175 Coradia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Class 175 Coradia |
| Manufacturer | Alstom |
| Family | Coradia |
| Yearconstruction | 1999–2000 |
| Formation | 2/3 cars per unit |
| Operator | initially First North Western, later Arriva Trains Wales, TransPennine Express, Transport for Wales |
Class 175 Coradia
The Class 175 Coradia is a British diesel multiple-unit passenger train built by Alstom at Washwood Heath as part of the Coradia family designed for intercity services in the United Kingdom. Introduced at the turn of the 21st century, the type was procured under franchises awarded to operators such as First North Western and later cascaded to Arriva Trains Wales, TransPennine Express, and Transport for Wales during periods of franchise reorganisation. The fleet entered service amid debates in the UK railway privatisation era and has since been involved in timetable planning, depot allocation, and fleet modernisation programmes tied to Network Rail infrastructure upgrades.
The procurement followed requirements set by the Strategic Rail Authority and franchise bidders including FirstGroup and Arriva plc, leading to a contract with Alstom that leveraged the Coradia platform used by operators such as SNCF and regional fleets in France and Germany. Design work referenced earlier multiple-unit projects including the Class 158 and Class 175 conceptual lineage, while engineering teams consulted standards used on TransPennine corridors and mainline electrification schemes overseen by Railtrack and later Network Rail. Development included crashworthiness compliance with Railway Group Standards and compatibility testing on routes serving Manchester Piccadilly, Holyhead, Cardiff Central, and other principal stations under scrutiny by infrastructure planners from Department for Transport offices. Supplier networks involved components sourced from firms such as Cummins, Voith, and Siemens subcontractors, with commissioning overseen by franchised operators in coordination with Office of Rail and Road inspectors.
Units were built in two- and three-car formations with traction packages specified for regional express services, employing diesel engines coupled to hydraulic transmissions similar to other Coradia derivatives used in Europe. The bodyshell used aluminium alloys and energy-absorbing structures referenced in European Committee for Standardization rail vehicle guidelines; bogies and suspension systems were developed with inputs from Bombardier-linked suppliers and tested at facilities including Railway Technical Centre test tracks. Onboard systems integrated passenger information equipment, accessible toilets meeting standards advocated by Disability Rights Commission and later Equality and Human Rights Commission, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning units to comply with intercity comfort expectations set by franchising authorities such as Welsh Government transport bodies. Safety features encompassed train protection systems interoperable with AWS and TPWS installations across the West Coast Main Line and regional lines.
After introduction, units entered scheduled services on routes linking Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, and Wales Coast Line destinations, operated initially by First North Western under franchise commitments supervised by the Strategic Rail Authority. The fleet saw reallocation during franchise changes to Arriva Trains Wales reflecting service patterns influenced by the Heart of Wales Line and timetable recasts from Office of Rail Regulation. In subsequent years, units were transferred or leased to TransPennine Express and later to Transport for Wales as part of fleet rationalisation prompted by rolling stock cascades following awards to KeolisAmey Wales and later revisions influenced by Welsh Government transport policies. Maintenance and overhaul programmes were conducted at depots like Crewe and Machynlleth, coordinated with asset managers in Network Rail asset plans and depot modernisation grants.
Throughout their operational life, units wore liveries reflecting franchise brand identities including FirstGroup corporate colours, Arriva blue, TransPennine Express schemes, and Transport for Wales red and white branding. Operational deployments included peak commuter services into Manchester Victoria and inter-regional services to Holyhead connecting to ferry services to Ireland. Crewing and rostering were governed by agreements with trade unions such as the RMT and ASLEF, while passenger-facing services adhered to standards set by bodies like Transport Focus. Occasional event-driven diagrams supported services for events at venues such as Wembley Stadium, Principality Stadium, and freight-affected diversions coordinated with Network Rail control centres.
The fleet experienced a number of incidents investigated by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and documented in safety bulletins by the Office of Rail and Road. Investigations referenced factors similar to those examined in reports on other UK incidents such as the Grayrigg derailment and operational findings circulated to operators like Northern Rail and Virgin Trains for industry-wide learning. Outcomes included recommendations for maintenance regimes at depots similar to Heathrow Express and signalling reviews on routes controlled by signalling centres at Warrington and Cardiff.
With newer units such as the Class 185 and forthcoming fleets from manufacturers including Stadler and Hitachi entering UK service under contracts awarded by Department for Transport and devolved administrations, the remaining units face decisions on refurbishment, secondary-market leasing, or withdrawal. Preservation interests among groups akin to Vintage Carriage Trust and heritage railways including Mid-Norfolk Railway may consider long-term storage or static display, while commercial decisions will involve firms like Beacon Rail and leasing entities similar to Angel Trains and Eversholt Rail Group. Policy directions influenced by UK Government net-zero targets and rolling stock decarbonisation strategies will determine whether powertrain retrofits, hybrid conversions demonstrated by projects with Battery Electric Multiple Unit prototypes, or phased retirements occur.
Category:British diesel multiple units