British Rail Class 171

The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar is a type of diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train built by Bombardier Transportation at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in England. It is identical to the Class 170, except for the replacement of the BSI coupler with a Dellner coupler. This provision was made to allow emergency joining with Class 377 DC third-rail electric units, which Southern runs extensively on most lines. The units work on the southern regions of the British railway system, operating services from London Bridge to Uckfield and from Eastbourne to Ashford International, these routes being unelectrified between Hurst Green Junction and Uckfield and between Ore and Ashford International, respectively.

British Rail Class 171
Turbostar
Southern 171721 at Hastings in 2014
The Standard Class interior aboard a Class 171
In service2003 - present
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family nameTurbostar
Replaced
Constructed2003–2004
Number built20 sets
Number in service17 sets
Formation2/3/4 cars per unit[1]
Fleet numbers
  • 171 201
  • 171 721 – 171 730
  • 171 801 – 171 806
Capacity
  • 107 seats (2 Car)
  • 241 seats (4 Car)[2]
Operator(s)Southern
Specifications
Car length23.62 m (77 ft 5+7⁄8 in)
Width2.69 m (8 ft 9+7⁄8 in)
Height3.77 m (12 ft 4+3⁄8 in)
Maximum speed100 mph (160 km/h)
Weight
  • Class 171/7: 90.41 tonnes (88.98 long tons; 99.66 short tons)
  • Class 171/8: 176.21 tonnes (173.43 long tons; 194.24 short tons)
Prime mover(s)One MTU 6R 183TD13H per car
Engine typeTurbo-diesel
Cylinder count6
Displacement13 L (790 cu in)
Power output422 hp (315 kW) per engine
TransmissionVoith Hydraulic T211rzze
2 axles driven per car
Acceleration0.5 m/s2 (1.1 mph/s)[3]
Braking system(s)Air[2]
Safety system(s)AWS, TPWS
Coupling systemDellner
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The fleet is operated by Govia Thameslink Railway on Southern services.

Design
Class 170 on the left has a BSI compact coupler whereas Class 171 on the right has a Dellner coupler

The fleet is fitted with coupling devices (Dellner) different from other Turbostars, and is classified as Class 171 for this reason.[4] The four-car units were built with the new couplers, but Class 170 two-car units were fitted at a later date, and reclassified as Class 171/7 after the modification. Three more two-car units were later acquired, but these were built from new with the new couplers.

Southern gained 170392 from South West Trains. The coupler on this unit has also been changed to the Dellner type. The unit has been reclassified and renumbered from 170392 to 171730. This unit was first delivered carrying Southern livery and the number 170727 (because SWT needed another 170 and it was cheaper to place another unit on the Southern order than place a new order). It never operated in this form and was transferred to South West Trains where it became 170392.

These trains have electronic onboard displays and automated next station announcements.[5]

Seating

Class 171s have mainly standard-class seating plus either nine first-class seats on a two-car or 18 on a four-car; all first-class seats are reclining and have AC power sockets adjacent to the seats.

Standard-class seating includes five full-size folding seats in the area by the universal toilet on the DMOCL(W) vehicle. With these seats folded there is room for wheelchair users and bicycles. Each passenger door vestibule area also has two flip-down seats.

Standard Class 1st Class All seats
Normal Full-Folding Flip-Down Total
DMOCL(W) 38 5 4 47 9 56
DMOCL 50 0 4 54 9 63
DMOSL 64 0 4 68 0 68
MOS 74 0 4 78 0 78
Class 171/7
(2-Car)		 102 5 8 115 9 124
Class 171/8
(4-Car)		 236 5 16 257 18 275

Operations
A class 171 at Pevensey & Westham

Southern acquired an initial fleet of six two-car Class 171/7 and six four-car Class 171/8 units, to replace the slam-door Class 205 and Class 207 "Thumper" fleet.[6]

The first units were introduced in 2003 on the Marshlink Line from Ashford to Hastings and were extended in 2005 to Brighton, but in 2018 the service was cut back to Eastbourne due to overcrowding and a shortage of additional diesel stock. Services on the Oxted to Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line were later also transferred to Turbostar operation. Services from London Bridge to Uckfield went over to Turbostar operation in late 2004.

The Ashford-Eastbourne service, as well as peak-time Ashford-Rye and Ashford-Hastings shuttle services, are nearly always operated by the two-car Class 171/7; the four-car Class 171/8 units occasionally appear on the route during special events such as the Rye bonfire celebrations.

The Uckfield-London Bridge and Uckfield-Oxted services use both the two-car and the four-car units. These units are often coupled together, forming six-car, eight-car or ten-car trains following platform extensions at Uckfield line stations.

Future

As at August 2022, Southern operated 20 sets; 12 two-carriage sets and eight four-carriage sets. In September 2022 the two Class 171/2 and two Class 171/4 sets were reformed back into their original three carriage formations, returned to Eversholt Rail Group and leased to East Midlands Railway (EMR). Three moved to EMR where they will be converted back to Class 170s while the fourth will remain on sub-lease with Southern. Further reshuffling will result in Southern having a fleet of four two-carriage and 13 three-carriage sets by December 2022.[7][8][9]

In September 2022, 171202, 171401 and 171402 were transferred to East Midlands Railway and renumbered to 170422, 170423 and 170424 before being renumbered to Class 170s/9s.[1]

Fleet details
First Class section of a Class 171

Initial deliveries took place when the original two-car units, at the time classified as Class 170/7, entered service in 2003, followed by the four-car Class 171/8 units in 2004. At this time, the two-car sets received their Dellner couplings and were reclassified as Class 171/7. In 2015, four three-car Class 170/4 units were transferred to Southern from First ScotRail to enhance the fleet; two of these had the centre car removed and added to the remaining two, to form a pair of two-car and a pair of four-car units. With the addition of Dellner couplings, the new units were reclassified as Class 171/2 and 171/4.

Formation of two-car Class 171/7: DMOCL(W) + DMOSL
Formation of four-car Class 171/8: DMOCL(W) + MOS + MOS + DMOCL

Class Operator Number Year built Cars per set Unit nos. Notes
Class 171/2 Southern 1 1999-2001 3 171201 Converted from former First ScotRail Class 170 units in 2016.[10] All reformed as three carriage sets in September 2022.[9] 171202 and 171401-171402 renumbered to Class 170/9s in September 2022.[1]
Class 171/7 10 2003–2004 2 171721 - 171730[11] 171730 formerly 170392, six to be reformed as three-carriage sets by December 2022 with centre carriages from 171/8s[9]
Class 171/8 6 2004 4 171801 - 171806[11] All to be reformed as three-carriage sets by December 2022[9]

References
  1. "EMR Evolves for the Future". Modern Railways. No. 889 (August 2022). Key Publishing. pp. 51–56.
  2. Marsden, Colin J. (2007). Traction Recognition. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4. OL 16902750M. Wikidata Q112224329.
  3. "CLASS 170 AND 171". eversholtrail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 August 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  4. "Class 171". Southern Railway E-Group. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  5. "Southern on Train Facilities". National Rail. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2011.
  6. "Class 170". Southern Railway E-Group. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  7. "Four GTR Turbostars moving to EMR". Modern Railways. No. 885. June 2022. p. 102.
  8. "Reconfiguration for GTR 171s". Modern Railways. No. 889. October 2022. p. 90.
  9. "Class 171 Turbostar". UNITS. Rail Express. No. 317. October 2022. p. 27.
  10. Booth, Chris (December 2015). "The Turbostar Family". Today's Railways UK. No. 168. Platform 5 Publishing. p. 38.
  11. "Class 171 Fleet List". The Junction. Archived from the original on 5 February 2012.

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