Project/Operation Churchward (Replacement Of GWR Regional Rolling Stock)

[whole diary]

[eightonedee]

Am I correct in thinking that class 175s cannot work in multiple with class 150/158s? If so, this is a problem, and I would agree with Richard B that class 158s would be preferable.

I also wonder (idle speculation from a layman) whether one of the problems with stock availability is that 165/166s cannot work with 150/158s so swapping out failed units is often not possible.

[UstiImmigrunt]

Correct, 15x and 175s cannot couple up. It used to cause chaos on the Marches if an 15x needed help and the only unit within 50 miles was an 175.

And regarding the TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) 15x going to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). 158s can't due to the ETRMS fitment and wouldn't be ironic if the ex Wessex 150/2s returned to Exeter.

Unfortunately they are due C6 exams and Portercrook won't pay for those.

[grahame]

And regarding the TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) 15x going to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). 158s can't due to the ETRMS fitment and wouldn't be ironic if the ex Wessex 150/2s returned to Exeter.

It struck me that the Cambrian Coast 158s have a lot of £££ signalling stuff on them which wouldn't be much use elsewhere, but they can run elsewhere, surely - they do at the moment.   And if some new trains are ETRMS fitted, what else will be done with them?

[John D]

And regarding the TfW^▸ (Transport for Wales) 15x going to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway). 158s can't due to the ETRMS fitment and wouldn't be ironic if the ex Wessex 150/2s returned to Exeter.

The ETRMS fitment was not originally part of the trains, it was a later add-on, so in theory can be unbolted and taken off again.  Yes it would be more work (and more cost) to make them GWR spec, but it is not impossible.


On another note, the latest version of the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) procurement pipeline spreadsheet, has the GWR project Churchward DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) replacement with slightly earlier date than those for Northern.  Confusing me because Northern have issued a tender, but to best of my knowledge GWR haven't.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/future-commercial-contracts-for-dft-and-partners

The estimated contract start dates are now 9th Jan 2026 for GWR, 2nd March 2026 for Northern DMUs and 27th May 2026 for Northern EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit), battery EMUs and multi mode MUs^▸ (Multiple Unit)

Can anyone enlighten me what is going on.

[anthony215]

I thought GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) were trying to do a joint order with Chiltern and East West rail unless the dft have decided they can get GWR some new rolling stock before then by tagging some onto Northerns.

[ChrisB]

EWR^▸ (East West Railway (Oxford to Bedford), or possibly East Worthing station, depending on context) aren't ordering stock - they are simply building the rails for the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about).

Chiltern have just been confirmed as the operator & have 6 Cl 196s for phase 1 of EWR services. They are going to need extras for phase 3, not sure about phase 2 (Bedford)