BR-Klasse 166

2017-02-04T19:51:29Z

82.8.231.13:

{{Refimprove|date=February 2009}}
{{Infobox DMU
| name = British Rail Class 166<br>''Networker Turbo Express''
| image = 166208 in GWR by Chris Warman.jpg
| caption = [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] unit 166208 at {{rws|Didcot Parkway}}
| interiorimage = Reading railway station MMB 39 166208.jpg
| imagesize = 300px
| interiorcaption =Original Interior of 166208 at [[Reading railway station|Reading station]]
| background = #0a493e; color: white;
| manufacturer = [[ABB Group|ABB]] York
| family = [[Networker (train)|Networker]]
| formation = 3 cars per trainset
| fleetnumbers = 166201 - 166221
| numberbuilt = 21 trainsets
| service = 1992 - Present
| yearconstruction = 1992 - 1993
| carbody = Welded aluminium
| fuelcap = {{convert|1030|impgal|abbr=on}} per car.
| weight =
| capacity =
| maxspeed = {{convert|90|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| brakes =
| engine = One per car, [[Perkins Engines|Perkins]] 2006-TWH [[Diesel engine|Diesel]]
| poweroutput = {{convert|350|hp|0|abbr=on}}
| transmission = [[Voith]] [[Hydrokinetic transmission|Hydraulic]] T211r <br> 2 axles driven per car
| operator = [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]
| safety = [[Automatic Warning System#British Rail AWS|AWS]], [[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]]
| coupling = [[BSI coupling|BSI]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rssb.co.uk/RGS/Pages/MECHANICALANDELECTRICALCOUPLINGINDEX.aspx |title=Mechanical And Electrical Coupling Index |accessdate=20 December 2010 |publisher=Rail Safety and Standards Board |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221005408/http://www.rssb.co.uk/RGS/Pages/MECHANICALANDELECTRICALCOUPLINGINDEX.aspx |archivedate=21 December 2013 |df= }}</ref>
}}

The [[British Rail]] '''Class 166 ''Turbo Express''''' is a fleet of [[diesel multiple unit]]s (DMUs), originally specified by and built for [[British Rail]], the then [[United Kingdom]] state owned railway operator. They were built by [[ABB Group|ABB]] at [[York]] Works between 1992 and 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.firstgreatwestern.info%2Fcotswolds.html+thames+turbo&btnG=Search|title=First Great Western Info}}{{dead link|date=June 2011}}</ref> The trains were designed as a faster, air conditioned variant of the [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165 ''Turbo'']], intended for longer distance services, and, like the 165s, belong to the [[Networker (train)|Networker family of trains]]. They were originally known as '''''Networker Turbos''''' to distinguish them from the electrically propelled members of that family.

The class is still in service, and is extensively operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] on its services out of [[London Paddington station]]. The trains, along with that operator's Class 165 trains, are often known as '''''Thames Turbos'''''.

==Description==
These units are a modification of the [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] design. They have a top speed of {{convert|90|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} (suitable for mainline use), are carpeted throughout and have air-conditioning. Externally, the class 166 can be distinguished from a [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] by opening hoppers on every other window. Until late 2013 the presence of first class at each end was another distinguishing feature.

Other differences over a 165 are as follows:
*Air conditioning
*Two toilets (a 165 only has one toilet per unit)
*Tables in first class and in one third of the middle carriage
*Dedicated cycle/luggage storage in the middle carriage
*Different interior panelling between the door and seating areas

Twenty-one 3-car units were built, numbered 166201-221. Each unit was formed of two outer driving motors, and an intermediate motor. The technical description of the formation is DMCO+MSO+DMSL. Individual carriages are numbered as follows:
*58101-58121 - DMCO
*58601-58621 - MSO
*58122-58142 - DMSL changed from DMCO in 2013<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/about-us/media-centre/2015/february/passengers-to-benefit-from-additional-carriages |title=Passengers to benefit from additional carriages |date=23 February 2015 |publisher=First Great Western |accessdate=3 April 2015 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017}}</ref>

One driving vehicle had serious fire damage, as a result of the Betchworth train fire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/train-evacuated-after-engine-fire-10448575|title=Passengers 'standing around in country lane' after train fire|first=James|last=Chapple|date=16 November 2015|publisher=}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2017|reason=Source does not mention what class of train was involved.}} During this period, the centre coach 58609 intercepted the middle of 165128 and the unaffected driving vehicle was out of service in Reading Train Care Depot. However, as of 21st May 2016, it was put back in service following 6 months of repairs.

The units were built to replace elderly [[British Rail Class 117|Class 117]], [[British Rail Class 119|Class 119]] and [[British Rail Class 121|Class 121]] DMUs, and locomotive-hauled trains on services from [[London Paddington]] along the [[Great Western Main Line]].

Six cars were added to the original order in 1991 after [[Network SouthEast]] acquired some of the [[Cotswold Line]] services from [[Regional Railways]] to allow [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] units to be converted to [[British Rail Class 159|Class 159s]] for the [[West of England Main Line|''West of England'']] services.<ref name="hansard">{{cite journal| url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/written_answers/1991/jun/06/turbo-trains| title=Turbo-trains| work=Hansard| date=6 June 1991| volume=192| page=278W| accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref><ref name="semgonline">{{cite web| url=http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class159_1.html| title=Class 159| publisher=Southern E-Group| accessdate=9 June 2011}}</ref>

Class 166 units were some of the first trains in Britain to be designed for Driver Only Operation, in cases where a Guard is required they must carry out their door operation duties via a bell system to signal the Drivers to close doors and start the train. This requires the Guard to return to a vacant cab at each station to carry out these duties; this practice can be observed on [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] services on the Cotswold Line.

==Operations==
[[File:Oxford railway station MMB 06 166220.jpg|thumb|right|166220 arrives at {{rws|Oxford}} with a service to {{rws|London Paddington}}.]]
When built, these units were operated by the ''Thames Line'' and ''North Downs Line'' subdivisions of [[Network SouthEast]] .

Their main destinations included fast-trains to [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]] and [[Oxford]], with some services continuing beyond Oxford to [[Banbury]] and [[Stratford-upon-Avon]], or along the [[Cotswold Line]] to [[Evesham, Worcestershire|Evesham]], [[Worcester, England|Worcester]], [[Great Malvern]] and [[Hereford]]. Units are also used on the Reading to [[Gatwick Airport]] services along the [[North Downs Line]]. Many services operated by the 166 were branded as ''Turbo Express'' in the timetables.

A rail user's group has suggested that Class 165 ''Turbo'' and the express variant, Class 166 ''Turbo Express'' will work services on the {{Stnlnk|Cardiff Central}} to {{Stnlnk|Portsmouth Harbour}} route after the [[Thames line]]{{clarify|date=January 2017}} cascade, subject to line clearance.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1656.0| title=London to the Cotswolds - General Information| work=First Great Western Passengers' Forum| date=6 February 2008| accessdate=9 June 2011 }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=January 2017}} However, a Network Rail document released in 2011 cast doubts on whether this would actually happen after revealing the gauge between Cardiff and Portsmouth is currently not suitable for Class 166s.<ref>[http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/network/working%20group%203%20-%20passenger%20rolling%20stock%20and%20depots/network%20rus%20-%20passenger%20rolling%20stock.pdf Network RUS: Passenger Rolling Stock] - Network Rail. September 2011.</ref>

Following privatisation, the units passed to the [[Thames Trains]] franchise. In April 2004, operation of the Thames Trains franchise passed to the [[First Great Western Link]], and subsequently to First Great Western.

In 2012, First Great Western took delivery of five Class 180 ''Adelante'' units for [[Cotswold Line]] services, and three-car {{brc|150}} ''Sprinter'' units for [[Reading to Basingstoke Line]] services, allowing Class 165 and 166 units to be used to be used entirely for Thames Valley services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://railnews.co.uk/news/general/2011/11/23-return-of-adelantes-to-first.html|title=Return of Adelantes to First Great Western confirmed|publisher=Railnews.co.uk|accessdate=2011-11-23|date=2011-11-23}}</ref>

==London and Thames Valley Refresh==
[[File:166217 at Reading.JPG|thumb|right|166217 in [[Thames Trains]] livery with [[First Great Western Link]] branding. FGWL never repainted the units before being subsumed into the Greater Western franchise as part of [[First Great Western]].]]
Towards the end of January 2010, First Great Western announced an £8 million refresh programme to their fleet of Class 166 Turbo DMU trains.<ref>{{cite press release| url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/NewsItem.aspx?id=632| title=Train operator gives Thames Valley Trains an £8million makeover| publisher=First Great Western| date=25 January 2010| accessdate=9 June 2011 }}</ref>
The carpets & seats were retrimmed, interiors repainted, Passenger Information Displays replaced with a GPS based system and toilets upgraded. The refresh work was carried out at Reading Depot. All 151 vehicles have now been refurbished.

In late 2014, another set of refreshes to the Class 166 was started. This included the fitting of LED head/tail lights, new toilets which are more accessible than the old toilets, new door buzzers & new door buttons of the standard design with a round button on a yellow ring. All units have now received the refresh. Unit 166204 was named in honour of [[Twyford railway station|Twyford]] [[station master]] Norman Topsom MBE who retired in November 2015. The changes made during the 2010 refresh remain in place, however the units will all be receiving new 2+2 seating, for use on longer distance services such as Bristol to Weymouth once the fleet are cascaded to the Bristol area.

==Fleet details==
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Operator
!No. Built
!Year Built
!Cars per Set
!Unit nos.
|-
|'''Class 166/2'''
|[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]
|align=center|21
|align=center|1992–1993
|align=center|3
|166201 - 166221
|}

==Liveries and interiors==
<gallery>
File:Oxford. - geograph.org.uk - 123732.jpg|Original [[Network SouthEast]] livery (166203? in 1994)
File:Oxford Thames Turbo 166 class 2000.png|[[Thames Trains]] livery (166210?, 2000)
File:Deepdene Station - geograph.org.uk - 974753.jpg|[[First Great Western]] Dynamic Lines livery (166207, 2008)
File:Reading Traincare Depot - FGW 166221.JPG| First Great Western refurbished blue livery (166221, 2015)
File:St Philip's Marsh - GWR 166214.JPG |[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] refurbished green livery (166214, 2016)
</gallery>
<gallery>
File:166207 DMCO First Class Interior.JPG|First class in First Great Western scheme (166207, 2007)
File:166207 DMCO Interior.JPG|Standard class in First Great Western scheme (166207, 2007)
File:Inside GWR 166205.JPG|Reupholstered seats for GWR green-liveried units (166205, 2016)
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{commons category|British Rail Class 166}}
{{Networker}}
{{British Rail DMU}}

[[Category:British Rail diesel multiple units|166]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

BR-Klasse 166