Class 165
These 'Networker' Turbo units were built by BREL and introduced in around 1993. They are available as two car units seating 170 standard class and 16 first class, or as three cars seating 264 standard and 24 first. The Class 165/0 have a top speed of 75mph, whereas the newer Class 165/1 can do 90mph.
The Class 165/0 units were built in 1990 to replace the Class 115 on the Chiltern Line out of London Marylebone, which is where most of them still work, but some have got displaced. The Class 165/1 was introduced in 1992 to work services out of Paddington, replacing Class 156 units.
Despite working quite long distances, these trains are in design similar to a commuter train, with doors evenly spaced down both sides of the carriages, but apparantly they ride like a long distance train. Some people have criticised them as being ugly, a view with which I am inclined to agree.
The current allocation of these units is below. The numbers recorded are the number of three car units first, followed by the number of two car units.
* Chiltern Railways Ltd. - 11/23*
Numbers 165005-165028 are 2-car units in Networker livery.
Numbers 165029-165039 are 3-car units in Networker livery.
* Thames Trains Ltd. - 17/24*
Numbers 165001-165004 are 2-car units in Networker colours.
Numbers 165101-165114, 165116-165117 are 3-car Class 165/1 units in Networker livery.
Numbers 165118-165137 are 2-car Class 165/1 units in Networker livery.
Number 165115 has recently been removed from service. This was the unit destroyed in the crash at Ladbrook Grove in October 1999. (Thanks to Dave Root for this info).
Class 165/1 "Thames Turbo" diesel multiple unit no. 165132 in Networker livery at Oxford station platform 1 (Southbound). Photo by David Root.
Class 166
These units are very similar to the Class 165s both in appearance and abilities, with the only real difference being that they are airconditioned. They were built by ABB/Adtranz, and introduced in 1994 to work on the line from Paddington to Didcot, Oxford, Banbury, Newbury, and Malvern.
The Class 166 units are three car units, seating 243 Standard Class, and 32 1st Class. They are capable of 90mph.
The current stock of 21 units are all allocated to Thames Trains Ltd and are in the Networker colours.
Class 166 DMU number 166216 at Oxford platform 2 (Northbound). Photo by David Root.
Class 168
The Class 168 'Clubman' units were the first rolling stock to be bought after the privatisation of British Rail. They were ordered by Chiltern Trains Ltd. from Adtranz to run services on the line from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill. This service is a direct competitor of Virgin Trains Class 87 hauled service from London Euston to Birmingham New Street, and the new units were intended to reduce the journey time, so increasing the Chiltern line's share of the traffic. On the Winter 1999-2000 timetable Virgin Trains take 1 hour 35 minutes for the journey, whereas the Chiltern Line takes about 2 hours 15, so they haven't got there yet, but they are becoming more competitive.
The units have a top speed of 100mph, 10mph faster than the Networker units which they replaced. They still retain some of the commuter style though, with the doors being spaced at intervals down the side of the carriage. The original order of 5 units were four car units, though they were designed so that the central cars could be removed quickly and easily if necessary. They seat 276 standard class, but somewhat surprisingly have no 1st class accomodation.
The five units currently in existence are all in Chiltern Railways blue and white livery. Numbers 168002, 168004, and 168005 are still as they were, but car 58651 has been transferred from unit 168001 to 168003, to replace 58453. This has left 168001 as a three car unit.
5 more 2-car units are currently on order for Chiltern Railways Ltd.
These units are so new that I haven't photographed one yet. Anyone got a picture?
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