Great Western Railway (Train Operating Company) - Great Western Railway Rejected Fleet - Q

Great Western Railway (Train Operating Company) - Q

Great Western Railway Rejected Fleet

It was planned for Great Western Railway to operate nineteen Class 769/9 units once they were fully rolled out. The operator intended to run the first services in spring 2019, but this was delayed by issues faced by Porterbrook in converting the units. However, the first vehicle has been delivered and all were expected to be delivered by the end of 2021.

Although initially planned for use in London and the Thames Valley, while 12 Class 387 units were modified for Heathrow Express services, the future plan for these units was to be operating on services between Oxford, Reading and Gatwick Airport, which would have meant operating on non-electrified 25 kV AC OHLE and 750 V DC third-rail routes.

To enable this, GWR's allocation of Class 769 units would have retained their dual-voltage capability in addition to being fitted with diesel power units. The units would also receive an internal refurbishment and be fitted with air cooling.

The first Class 769 to be delivered to GWR was unit 769943, which arrived at Reading TMD in August 2020. It was expected to enter service in early 2021. The Class 769 was expected to enter service with GWR between June and December 2021, but this was later delayed to 2022.

In December 2022, GWR announced that the introduction of the Class 769 fleet would be abandoned and the units handed back to Porterbrook in April 2023.

Great Western Railway Future Fleet

In 2022, GWR's parent company FirstGroup issued an expressions of interest notice to manufacturers to supply a new fleet of bi-mode locomotives for its subsidiary TransPennine Express, with an option for additional locomotives to replace GWR's Class 57 sleeper service locomotives.
On 31 May 2022, GWR announced it was looking for 30 four-coach 110 mph capable 25 kV EMU trains for services between London Paddington and Swindon, capable of continuing to Cardiff.
In February 2023, GWR purchased a number of assets from the administrators of battery train manufacturer Vivarail, including 67 former London Underground D78 Stock carriages and intellectual property rights to the Class 230.

GWR have also employed nine Vivarail staff. It intends to trial the Class 230 units on the Greenford branch line between West Ealing and Greenford.

Great Western Railway Overview

Great Western Railway Franchise(s):

InterCity Great Western 4 February 1996 – 31 March 2006

Greater Western 1 April 2006 – 25 June 2028

Main Region(s): Greater London, South East England, South West England, Wales

Great Western Railway Other Region(s): East MidlandsWest Midlands

Great Western Railway Fleet Size:

12 Class 43 HST Castle sets

5 Class 57 diesel locomotives for 2 Night Riviera sleeper sets

19 Class 150 Sprinter units

18 Class 158 Express Sprinter units

36 Class 165 Networker Turbo units

21 Class 166 Networker Turbo units

30 Class 387 Electrostar units

57 Class 800 IET units

36 Class 802 IET units

Great Western Railway Stations Called At: over 270

Great Western Railway Stations Operated: 198

Great Western Railway Parent Company: FirstGroup

Reporting Mark: GW

Great Western Railway Predecessor:

First Great Western Link

Wessex Trains

Great Western Railway Technical Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Great Western Railway Electrification:

25 kV 50 Hz AC OHLE

Great Western Railway Length: 1,323.0 mi (2,129.2 km)

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