Class 185
The Class 185 is a 51 strong fleet of three coach 100mph diesel multiple units, which are currently being operated solely by Trans Pennine Express.
History
[edit | edit source]The class 185s were ordered by First TransPennine Express in 2003 as an obligation as part of there franchise commitments to replace the class 158s and 175s on their network to provide faster and more efficient and frequent services across the Pennines to reverse the managed decline which led to substantial growth on the TransPennine Express franchise. The Strategic Rail Authority reduced the required number of units from 56 to 51. The first units entered service in by the 24th of November 2005 and all 51 units were in service by the January 2007. The 185s have a few unique features for the Pennines which include 752hp cummings QSK19 Turbo Diesel engine which gave the 185s an unusually high power output for a diesel multiple units, it is more common to have a power output of between 350-400 per diesel engine on an Diesel Multiple unit like the Sprinters and turbostars. This higher output was required due to the constant steep grades on the Pennines, the replaced 158s were moved to South West Trains are were converted into Class 159/1s and the Class 175s moved to Arrival Trains Wales. This substantial growth lead to TransPennine Express asking the Department of Transportation if they could lengthen the units to four coach sets rather than current three coach sets however department for transportation said nope.