Class 175, no. 175111 'Brief Encounter' at Crewe on 1st June 2003, with a service to Holyhead. This unit is named after the film Brief Encounter, set at Carnforth station.

Class 175, no. 175115 at Crewe on 1st November 2003, with a late-night service to Holyhead. This unit is painted in First North Western livery.

Description

The British Rail Class 175 "Coradia" is diesel multiple unit built from 1999-2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. Eleven 2-car and sixteen 3-car units were built for First North Western to allow retirement of elderly Class 101 'heritage' DMUs, as well as replacement of locomotive-hauled trains to Bangor and Holyhead.

The two-car units are numbered 175001-011, with individual carriages numbered 50701-711 and 79701-711. The three-car units are numbered 175101-116, with individual carriages numbered 50751-766, 56751-766 and 79751-766.

Current Operations

The units were originally built for First North Western, but since then franchise reorganisations have meant the fleet has been transferred to Arriva Trains Wales.

Arriva Trains Wales

Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) took over responsibility of the North Wales Coast line in 2004, and the Class 175 fleet was transferred to this franchise. Services operated by these units include Crewe and Manchester to Bangor, Llandudno and Holyhead. ATW has removed the First North Western branding, but as yet has not reliveried any units. It is expected ATW will use Class 175 units for its new Cardiff to Holyhead service.

TransPennine Express

After inheriting certain routes from First North Western in late 2004, TransPennine Express hires back units to work service from Manchester to Blackpool, Barrow-in-Furness and Windermere.

Fleet Details