British Rail Class 159

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British Rail Class 159
South Western Turbo
South Western Railway Class 159 in 2018
Standard-class interior as refreshed by SWR
In service10 June 1993 – present[1]
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family nameSprinter
ReplacedLocomotive-hauled trains
Constructed
  • 159/0: 1992–1993
  • 159/1: 1989–1992[2]
Refurbished
  • 2000–2001 (159/0 units only)
  • 2007–2008 (all units)
Number built22
(plus 8 converted from Cl. 158)
Number scrapped2 vehicles
Formation3 cars per unit: DMCL-MSL-DMSL[2]
Fleet numbers
  • 159/0: 159001–159022
  • 159/1: 159101, 159103-159108[3]
Capacity169 seats[4] (23 first-class, 146 standard)
OperatorsSouth Western Railway
DepotsSalisbury
Lines servedWest of England Main Line
Specifications
Car body constructionWelded aluminium
Car length22.57 m (74 ft 1 in)[5]
Width2.70 m (8 ft 10 in)[2]
Height3.73 m (12 ft 3 in)[2]
DoorsDouble-leaf plug[2] (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed90 mph (145 km/h)[2]
Weightapprox. 38.5 t (38 long tons; 42 short tons) per car[2]
Axle loadRoute Availability 1[2]
Prime mover(s)
  • 159/0 units: 3 × Cummins NTA855-R3
  • 159/1 units: 3 × Cummins NTA855-R1
  • (one per car)
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[6]
Displacement14 L (855 cu in) per engine[6]
Power output
  • 159/0: 895 kW (1,200 hp)
  • 159/1: 783 kW (1,050 hp)
  • (total)
TransmissionVoith T 211 rz (hydrokinetic)[2]
UIC classification2′B′+B′2′+B′2′
Bogies
  • Powered: BREL P4-4
  • Unpowered: BREL T4-4
Braking system(s)Pneumatic (disc)[2]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemBSI[2]
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 159 is a class of British diesel multiple unit passenger trains of the Sprinter family, built in 1989–1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL)'s Derby Litchurch Lane Works as Class 158. Before entering traffic, the original 22 units were modified at Rosyth Dockyard to Class 159 to operate services from London Waterloo to Salisbury and Exeter St Davids, replacing various locomotive-hauled passenger trains.

The units were originally branded by Network SouthEast as South Western Turbo.[1]

History and design[edit]

Class 159 unit in Network SouthEast livery departing from Southampton in 1996

In the late 1980s, the locomotive-hauled stock on Network SouthEast's West of England route from London Waterloo to Salisbury, Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids was in urgent need of replacement. The Class 50 locomotives were not suited to the stop-start nature of the route, and frequently broke down.[7] Because of the long sections of single track west of Salisbury following the Beeching cuts, a single breakdown could cause chaos. Various options were considered including electrification, shortened HSTs, construction of new locomotives and stock (a passenger version of the proposed Class 48), or the proposed Class 171 (which would have been part of the Networker family, an intercity version of the Class 165 – not to be confused with the later Turbostars). A study found the best options were electrification or new DMUs.[8]

With the UK economy in decline in the early 1990s, it was found that Regional Railways had over-ordered Class 158s at the same time as Network SouthEast was looking for a similar number of new diesel trains. NSE agreed to take on the surplus Class 158s.[8]

The original 22 units were built as Class 158 units, but were rebuilt by Babcock Rail in Rosyth Dockyard before entering traffic. This entailed fitting first-class accommodation and retention toilets, and various other modifications. The rebuild was required because it was not possible for Network SouthEast and the newly privatised BREL to agree terms on the variation order to NSE specification.[9]

The first unit (159004) was handed over to NSE on 6 January 1993.[1]

The units converted to Class 159 specification during construction are numbered 159001–159022, with individual vehicles numbered 52873–52894 and 57873–57894 for driving motor vehicles, and 58718–58739 for intermediate motor vehicles. The entire class is maintained at a purpose-built depot at Salisbury.[3][2]

In 2007, eight further Class 159 units were created through the rebuilding of surplus Class 158 units displaced from TransPennine Express.[10]

The units feature BSI couplers. This enables them to work in multiple not only with other units from the same class, but also Class 170 and the classes of the Pacer and Sprinter families.[2]

Accidents and incidents[edit]

Operations[edit]

A refurbished Class 159/0 No. 159012 at Plymouth

The units were dedicated to the West of England sector of Network South East, operating services between London Waterloo and Exeter; they also worked services between Salisbury and Southampton and on the Reading to Basingstoke line, replacing elderly DEMUs. They then transferred to the South West Trains shadow franchise in readiness for privatisation.

Upon the privatisation of British Rail, the West of England route passed in 1996 to the South West Trains franchise, which was won by the Stagecoach Group.[15] Starting in 2000, units were progressively refurbished and repainted from Network SouthEast's blue, red and white livery into South West Trains' express livery. Other post-privatisation modifications included clearer LED destination displays, upgraded air-conditioning, and more openable windows.

Currently, the Class 159s operate mainly from London Waterloo to Salisbury/Exeter in formations of six, eight, or nine coaches (2 × Class 159, 2 × 159 plus 1 × 158, or 3 × 159 respectively) and between Salisbury and Exeter in three- or six-coach formations. Until the December 2009 timetable change,[16] some trains continued beyond Exeter to Paignton, Plymouth and Penzance; these usually operated as three-coach units, though at weekends there were some six-coach formations. These services are now operated by the Great Western Railway. The service to Bristol Temple Meads is now also in the hands of Class 159s.

Since 2006, the original Class 159 fleet of 22 has been supplemented by eight three-coach 158s (renumbered into the 159/1 series) and 11 two-coach Class 158s. The decision to standardise on 158s and 159s allowed the nine Class 170 'Turbostar' units to be transferred to other operators.[10] Eight went to First TransPennine Express, with the remaining unit going to Southern for integration into Class 171 Turbostars.

Refurbishments and conversions[edit]

First class interior of a South Western Railway unit

Refurbishment of the Class 159/0[edit]

2000[edit]

South West Trains began a refurbishment programme for its 22 Class 159/0s in 2000. The seats were re-trimmed and interiors repainted. The units were repainted into SWT livery.[citation needed]

2008[edit]

The units received another refurbishment in 2008 at Wabtec Doncaster. CCTV and PIS (Passenger Information Systems) were installed,[17] new seating was installed in first class and at the same time the units received a modified version of the SWT express livery (with orange doors as opposed to the red doors on Class 444 units) for compliance with disabled access regulations.

Class 158 conversions[edit]

Standard class interior of a Class 159/1 unit in South West Trains colours

Eight of TransPennine's surplus three-coach Class 158 units were refurbished to match SWT's existing Class 159 units at Wabtec Doncaster,[10] and renumbered into Class 159 subclass /1.[3] The first updated units were delivered to South West Trains in November 2006, and by May 2007 all of the new subclass were in service.[10]

The refurbishment included making the first-class accommodation area larger and completely refitting it, brighter interior lighting with new diffusers and the plating-over of the disused toilet in the MSO vehicle. The Class 159/1s have been fitted with retention toilets. Additional alterations include the installation of a Passenger information system (PIS) and CCTV as is fitted on the 159/0s.[18]

The converted units however retained their original Cummins NTA855-R1 engines, which produce 37 kW (50 hp) less power than the R3 variants fitted to the Class 159/0 fleet.[19][20]

Fleet details[edit]

Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos. Notes
159/0 South Western Railway 22 1992–1993 3 159001–159022 Original fleet
159/1 7 2006–2007 (converted) 159101, 159103–159108 Converted from Class 158
Scrapped 1 159102[note 1]

Liveries[edit]

Operating Company Livery
South Western Railway
South West Trains
Network SouthEast

Routes Served[edit]

These trains serve the following routes:

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ As a result of being damaged in the 2021 Salisbury rail crash.[21] Vehicles 57803 and 58703 subsequently scrapped.[22][23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Enter the South Western Turbos". Rail Magazine. No. 192. Peterborough. 20 January 1993.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Class 159 Diesel Multiple Unit (PDF) (1A ed.). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Class 159 Fleetlist showing unit formations". Archived from the original on 11 September 2007. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Class 159 'South Western Turbo'". London: First MTR South Western Trains. Archived from the original on 24 November 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Regional Passenger Trains – Class 158". London: Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b Marine Engine General Data Sheet N/NT/NTA 855-M (PDF). Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Engine Company. 18 February 2002. p. 1. DS-4962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Class 50". Southern E-Group. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Class 159 page at SEMG". Southern Email Group. Retrieved 21 September 2009.
  9. ^ Southern E-Group article (retrieved 3 September 2007)
  10. ^ a b c d Duff, Colin. "South West Trains News". Southern Electric Group. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  11. ^ Rail Accident Report 10/2010: Collision at Exeter St Davids station, 4 January 2010 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. June 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  12. ^ "The trains involved". Rail Magazine. No. 944. 17 November 2021. p. 7.
  13. ^ "Salisbury train crash: Major incident as two trains collide". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  14. ^ Dunn, Pip (3 April 2023). Rail Guide 2023. Crecy. ISBN 9781800352674.
  15. ^ "Greener Smarter Travel: Company History". Stagecoach Group. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
  16. ^ "Hansard Written Answers: Railways: Torbay". 6 May 2009.
  17. ^ Railway Centre post about the fitment of CCTV and PIS[usurped]. Retrieved 5 October 2007.
  18. ^ "Class 159 information page". South West Trains. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 3 September 2007.
  19. ^ "Class 159 – South West Trains". Porterbrook Leasing Company. Archived from the original on 13 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  20. ^ "Class 158 & 159/1 – South West Trains". Porterbrook Leasing Company. Archived from the original on 12 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  21. ^ Rail Accident Investigation Interim Report IR1/2022: Collision between passenger trains at Salisbury Tunnel Junction, 31 October 2021 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. February 2022. paras. 17, 25, 32, 34. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  22. ^ "'321s' stored… and '158s' scrapped". Rail Magazine. No. 977. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. 22 February 2023. p. 9.
  23. ^ Butlin, Ashley (May 2023). "Stock Changes". Track Record. The Railway Magazine. No. 1466. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. p. 93. ISSN 0033-8923.
  24. ^ "Class 159". Southwestern Railway. Retrieved 5 March 2024.

External links[edit]

Media related to British Rail Class 159 at Wikimedia Commons

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