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The popular British Rail Class 158 "Express Sprinter" (also nicknamed the 'Wessex express' or 'BREL express' after one of the regions it served and its manufacturer) is a diesel multiple unit, built from 1989-92 by BREL at Derby Works. They were built to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains.
BREL also built similar units for Thai State Railways *
Description
A total of 182 units were built, numbered 158701-872 and 158901-910. The majority of units were built as two-car sets, with individual carriages numbered 52701-872/901-910 and 57701-872/901-910. Seventeen units (nos. 158798-814) were built as three-car units, with the centre carriages numbered 58701-717. The final ten units (nos. 158901-910) were built specifically for the West Yorkshire PTE-sponsored services around Leeds.
There were three varieties of unit when built. The standard batch, two and three car units from 158701 to 158840 and 158901 to 158910 had 350hp Cummins engines. The next batch, 158841 to 158860 were built as non-standard to enable 350hp Perkins engines to be fitted to maintain Perkin's interest in train manufacture. The final batch, 158863 to 158872 were given higher power Cummins engines, 400hp, as it was originally intended that these units work the steeply graded Newport to Shrewsbury Welsh Marches Line. Another 22 of these high power units were built, and became Class 159. Nowadays, however, the units have become mixed up as franchises changed and higher and lower power units can be seen working the same diagrams.
The Class 158 is based on the Mark 4 bodyshell design, which was developed at roughly the same time. The resulting sloping sides of the coaches have given rise to the nickname "The Coffin" among railway operatives and enthusiasts.
Operations since privatisation
After privatisation of Britain's railways, the Class 158 fleet was divided amongst several franchises, all of which are detailed below.
Arriva Trains Northern
Arriva Trains Northern (ATN), originally called Northern Spirit, inherited a large fleet of units. However, all but ten units have were transferred to First TransPennine Express. The ten remaining sets (nos. 158901-910) are primarily used on services around Leeds. The ATN franchise became part of the new Northern franchise in late 2004.Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) is the new name for the Wales and Borders franchise. Wales and Borders had originally operated a large fleet of units (nos. 158815-842/863-872), but some of these units were subsequently been transferred to Wessex Trains. However, the fleet was increased with the addition of 12 units (nos. 158843-854) when Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli services were transferred from Central Trains to allow just one train operator in Wales.Wales and Borders used its fleet on long-distance services, such as Cardiff to Manchester, Cardiff to Penzance and Cardiff to London Waterloo services. From 2003, it refurbished its fleet at Doncaster works and repainted them in its new blue and silver livery. In 2004, the franchise was transferred to Arriva, who have introduced a new turquoise livery.
Central Trains
Central Trains inherited a large fleet of units, which it used on long distance journeys. These included Birmingham to Cambridge and Stansted Airport, Liverpool to Norwich, and Nottingham to Cardiff. With the introduction of newer Class 170 "Turbostars", some units were cascaded onto other routes, such as Birmingham to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. A new Central Trains livery was introduced in 1999 to replace the original Express Regional Railways livery.In 2003, Central Trains reformed some of its standard 2-car units into 3-car units, numbered 158951-958. These were composed of three driving motor cars, with the innermost cab locked out of use. These units allowed the lengthening of carriages of some of the busiest trains during the summer months.
In late 2004, the three-car units were disbanded and reformed as two-car units. Due to the arrival of 17 Class 170/1 units from Midland Mainline, several units were transferred to other operators, leaving Central Trains with just 12 units.
First Great Western
First Great Western inherited the Wessex Trains fleet following the merger of the Great Western and Wessex francises. Some of the fleet have recently been refurbished at Doncaster Works, and was repainted into Wessex Trains's silver and maroon Alphaline livery. The fleet is used on the long-distance Cardiff to Portsmouth/Brighton, Bristol to Penzance and Bristol to Worcester services.In late 2004, Wessex Trains received further units from Central Trains. This allowed the formation of several 3-car units, which were renumbered into the 158961-968 range. Like the Central Trains three-car sets, they were formed of three driving motors, with the middle cab locked out of use. However these are being disbanded and reformed as two carraige sets following the DfT blocking the transfer of ex First TransPennine Express units to Great Western. Following further negotiations with the DfT, FGW will be taking on some of the Transpennine fleet. Unit 158750 arrived in June 2006, and enthusiast rumours suggest that 7 of the three car units may be transferred to replace the disbanded 96x series.
First ScotRail
First ScotRail inherited the largest number of sets, originally having a fleet of 46 units from new in 1989. These were employed on Glasgow to Edinburgh services, as well as services to Aberdeen and Inverness. From 1998 onwards, units were reliveried in the new ScotRail livery.When ScotRail bought new Class 170 units in 1999, the Class 158 fleet was cascaded onto other routes, such as services to Thurso and Wick. The resultant cascade of older units allowed ScotRail to finally retire its elderly Class 101 'heritage' DMUs. Six units were also transferred to other franchises. Scotrail have begun to repaint the fleet into First's corporate pink and purple 'Barbie' livery.
First TransPennine Express
First TransPennine Express was a new franchise created in 2004, it is formed of the express routes previously operated by Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western. The franchise inherited the majority of the Class 158 units from ATN, and has slowly added its new brandname over the top of the existing liveries, with interesting results. The fleet is used on long-distance journeys, such as Newcastle-upon-Tyne to York and Leeds, Manchester to Cleethorpes, and Liverpool to Leeds services. The First TransPennine Express fleet includes the seventeen 3-car units (nos. 158798-814).In late 2004, First TransPennine Express received further units cascaded from Central Trains. This allowed it to form six 3-car units, numbered 158971-976. These were formed of three driving motors, with the central cab locked out of use.
First Transpennine Express's Class 158 units will gradually be replaced by new Class 185 units starting in 2006. The future operators of the First TransPennine Express class 158 units is unclear at present. The 3-car units will transfer to South West Trains to supplement the Class 159 fleet from summer 2006
The Cascade began in June 2006
- First Great Western - 158750
Northern
The new Northern Rail franchise started operations on 12 December 2004. This incorporated the old Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western franchises. The current Class 158 fleet consists of eight former FNW units, the ten ATN metro units, 2 former Central Trains units (still in Central Trains livery) and 2 units on hire from Arriva Trains Wales (also both in Central Trains livery).A general fleet shuffle took place in June 2005 with all 158 units transferred to Leeds to work former Arriva Trains Northern services in exchange for Class 150 units
South West Trains
In late 2004, South West Trains received two former-Central Trains units for the new Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads service that was previously operated by Arriva Trains Wales.The units were refurbished and repainted into South West Trains livery before entering service in late June 2005.
In the summer 2006 South West Trains will receive former First TransPennine Express units in exchange for their Turbostar fleet, these are expected to be converted into Class 159/1's. In addition it is expected that two additional centre cars will be transferred to give a uniform three coach fleet.
Virgin Trains
Prior to the introduction of the Class 220/221 Virgin Voyagers, Virgin Cross Country operated a small number of Class 158 units, numbers 158747-158751. Most of these units are now operated by First Great Western. 158750 is operated by First Great Western and is the sole unit still in Regional Railways livery, albeit with First TransPennine Express vinyls from the windows down.
Current Fleet Details
| Operator | No of units | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|
| Arriva Trains Wales | 37 | 158782/818-845/848-851/853/859-861 |
| Central Trains | 10 | 158780/783/785/787/788/792/856/857/862 |
| First Great Western | 25 | 158745-747/750/793-796/846/847/852/854/855/858/863/870-872/961-968 |
| First ScotRail | 40 | 158701-736/738-741 |
| First TransPennine Express | 45 | 158742/760-769/771/772/776/778-781/790/791/797-814/971-976 |
| Northern | 18 | 158752-759/901-910 |
| South West Trains | 2 | 158786/789 |
"British Rail Class 158"