The first of Great Western Railway’s recommissioned Class 175 trains has entered into passenger service ahead of their phased rollout next year.
Yesterday’s 1340 Plymouth-Penzance service was operated by 175001. It then operated the 1552 return service.
GWR leased 26 Class 175 trains 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 on Saturday. 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.
