First GWR's recommissioned Class 175 DMU entered passenger service
posted on 19th Dec 2025 11:37
The first of Great Western Railway’s (GWR) recommissioned Class 175 DMUs has entered into passenger service ahead of their phased rollout next year. On 15 December 2025, the unit 175 001 was diagrammed on 13.40 Plymouth to Penzance service, and it then operated the 15.52 return service.
GWR leased 26 Class 175 units earlier this year as part of plans to rejuvenate its regional and suburban services. The full fleet will be introduced throughout 2026, operating predominantly between Exeter St Davids and Penzance, as well as to Barnstaple and Okehampton. In the early stages of the rollout, services operated by the 175s will vary to support wider training and maintenance needs.
It follows the retirement of GWR’s three remaining Castle Class sets. The Class 43 locomotives and Mark 3 coaches, which operated on the Great Western network for almost 50 years, are due to be returned to their leasing companies in the new year.
