British Rail Class 171
British Rail Class 171
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British Rail Class 171

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British Rail Class 171
Turbostar
Southern 171/7 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 or 3 cars per unit[1]
Fleet numbers
  • 171201
  • 171727 – 171730
  • 171801 – 171812
Capacity
  • 107 seats (2 Car)
  • 241 seats (former 4 Car)[2]
OperatorSouthern
Specifications
Car length23.62 m (77 ft 5+78 in)
Width2.69 m (8 ft 9+78 in)
Height3.77 m (12 ft 4+38 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 moverOne 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 systemAir[2]
Safety systemsAWS, TPWS
Coupling systemDellner
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar is a type of diesel-hydraulic multiple unit 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.

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

Design

[edit]
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,[when?] 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]

Operations

[edit]
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, were nearly always operated by the two-car Class 171/7; the four-car Class 171/8 units occasionally appeared on the route during special events such as the Rye bonfire celebrations.

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

As of 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 resulted in Southern having a fleet of four two-carriage and 13 three-carriage sets by December 2022.[7][8][9]

Fleet details

[edit]
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.

In September 2022, 171202, 171401 and 171402 were transferred to East Midlands Railway and renumbered to 170422, 170423 and 170424.[1]

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

Class Operator Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos. Notes
171/2 Southern 1 1999-2001 3 171201 Converted from a former First ScotRail Class 170 unit in 2016.[10]
171/7 4 2003-04 2 171727 - 171730[11] 171730 formerly 170392
171/8 12 2003-04 3 171801 - 171812[11] Units 171801–171806 were originally four-car units, but as of December 2022, each of them lost one intermediate vehicle that was inserted into each of originally two-car units 171721–171726 to form units 171807–171812

References

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from Grokipedia
The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar is a family of diesel multiple units (DMUs) designed for regional and rural passenger services on unelectrified lines in southern England.[1] Built by Bombardier Transportation at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works, the Class 171 features a lightweight welded aluminium body structure and hydraulic transmission system, enabling reliable operation on routes with tight schedules and mixed traffic.[2] Introduced into service in 2004, the initial fleet was ordered for the Southern franchise to replace ageing slam-door trains on key non-electrified routes, including the Uckfield line from London Bridge and the Marshlink line from Ashford to Hastings.[3] Over time, the fleet has been reconfigured for optimal capacity, with units reformed from original two-car and four-car layouts into a mix of two-car and three-car sets to better suit demand variations.[1] Operated exclusively by Govia Thameslink Railway under the Southern brand, as of 2022 the fleet comprises 4 two-car units and 13 three-car units, totaling 47 vehicles, all based at depots such as Selhurst and Brighton.[4] These trains achieve a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h) and include modern amenities such as air conditioning, passenger information systems, CCTV, and accessible facilities compliant with TSI PRM standards, supporting daily services that connect London with coastal and rural destinations.[5][6] As of 2025, the Class 171 remains a vital part of Southern's diesel operations amid ongoing discussions for route electrification and fleet decarbonisation, with no immediate plans for withdrawal but potential transfers or conversions under consideration to align with net-zero goals.[7][8]

History and Development

Background and Specification

In the early 2000s, southern England's rail network featured several unelectrified branch lines, including the Marshlink route from Ashford to Hastings via Romney Marsh and the Uckfield branch off the Oxted line, which continued to rely on aging slam-door diesel multiple units (DMUs) such as Classes 205 and 207 for local passenger services. These older trains, dating back to the 1950s and 1960s, were increasingly seen as unreliable and non-compliant with evolving safety standards, prompting the need for modern, efficient DMUs to enhance reliability and passenger comfort on these routes.[9] The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar emerged as a specialized variant within Bombardier's Turbostar family of DMUs, closely related to the Class 170 but adapted with Dellner semi-automatic couplers to enable mixed-formation working with electric units on through services. The units were initially ordered and classified as Class 170/7 (two-car) and 170/8 (four-car), but reclassified as 171/7 and 171/8 upon fitting of the Dellner couplers for interoperability on hybrid diesel-electric routes in the region, while retaining the core diesel-hydraulic design for non-electrified sections.[9] On May 12, 2003, the UK's Strategic Rail Authority finalized a £50 million contract with Govia South Central, Porterbrook Leasing, and Bombardier Transportation for 42 Class 170 Turbostar DMU cars, comprising nine two-car sets (DMCL-DMS) and six four-car sets (DMCL-MS-MS-DMS), capable of 100 mph operation. An additional two-car unit was later incorporated from ex-South West Trains stock. These units were leased by Porterbrook to Govia for deployment on non-electrified services, specifically to replace slam-door stock on the London Bridge to Uckfield line from late 2003 and the Brighton to Ashford (Marshlink) services from 2004.[10][9]

Construction and Entry into Service

The British Rail Class 171 diesel multiple units were constructed by Bombardier Transportation at its Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England, between 2003 and 2006. The build process involved assembling the Turbostar-family units with Dellner couplers for compatibility with electric multiple units, distinguishing them from standard Class 170 sets. The ten two-car units were completed and delivered between 2003 and 2004, while the six four-car units were delivered in 2005-2006.[9] The first Class 171 units were formally accepted in March 2004 following completion of initial acceptance trials. They entered revenue passenger service on 8 December 2003 on the Uckfield branch line from London Bridge, under Southern (Govia South Central) operation. Marshlink services between Ashford International and Hastings commenced in 2004. This marked the class's debut in regular timetable use on non-electrified routes in southeast England.[9][11] Prior to entry into service, the units underwent extensive testing and certification on the Uckfield branch line, including dynamic speed trials up to 100 mph and braking performance evaluations to meet railway safety standards. These trials confirmed the units' capability for high-speed operation on regional services and secured approval from the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate.[9] The early fleet was delivered as ten two-car sets, numbered 171721–171730, each comprising a driving motor composite with lavatory (DMCL) and a driving motor standard (DMS) vehicle, and six four-car sets, numbered 171801–171806, allowing flexible formation for initial deployment.[9]

Design and Specifications

Body and Interior

The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar units are built with a welded aluminium body shell, offering a lightweight construction suitable for diesel multiple unit operations. Each car has a length of 23.6 metres, a width of 2.69 metres, and a height of 3.77 metres, with the standard two-car formation measuring 47.24 metres overall. This compact design facilitates efficient use on regional routes while maintaining structural integrity under varying load conditions.[6] Inside, the Class 171 provides standard class accommodation for 98 seated passengers per two-car unit, complemented by 9 first-class seats arranged in a 2+1 configuration with reclining facilities. The seating follows an airline-style layout with tables at selected positions, promoting comfort on longer journeys, and includes dedicated spaces for wheelchairs and bicycles when tip-up seats are folded. A universal accessible toilet is incorporated, along with priority seating areas to assist passengers with reduced mobility. Accessibility features align with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Non-Intercity) Regulations 1998, incorporating a low-floor design for step-free access between cars and from platforms where possible, along with wide doors and designated spaces for mobility aids. The units comply with Persons with Reduced Mobility Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI PRM), ensuring provisions for inductive hearing loops and tactile indicators.[12] Passenger amenities include air-conditioning throughout the interior for temperature control, fluorescent lighting for even illumination, and, following refurbishments on some units, the addition of plug sockets at seats for device charging. Overhead luggage racks and bicycle storage areas enhance practicality for commuters and leisure travellers.[12]

Propulsion and Couplers

The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar employs a diesel-hydraulic propulsion system, with each powered car equipped with an MTU 6R 183 TD engine delivering 315 kW (422 hp) at 1,900 rpm.[9] Power is transmitted to two axles per car via a Voith T211 series hydraulic transmission, enabling a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).[13][12] The units feature a fuel capacity of approximately 1,500 liters per car, supporting efficient operation on non-electrified routes. Performance characteristics include an acceleration rate of 0.5 m/s², allowing a two-car unit to reach 60 mph (97 km/h) in roughly 60 seconds under typical conditions.[6] Braking is provided by an electro-pneumatic air system, with standard disc brakes on all axles for reliable stopping power.[14] A key distinguishing feature of the Class 171 is its coupling system, which uses Dellner anti-climber couplers instead of the BSI compact couplers found on standard Class 170 units.[11] This modification enhances compatibility for emergency formations with Class 377 electric multiple units, particularly on Southern's East Coastway and related routes. The fleet also incorporates essential safety systems, including the Automatic Warning System (AWS) for driver alerts and the Train Protection and Warning System (TPWS) for overspeed prevention.[15]

Operations

Southern Routes and Services

The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar diesel multiple units were initially deployed by Southern on the Marshlink Line, operating services between Ashford International and Hastings from 24 May 2004, following driver training that commenced in April of that year.[9] These units replaced older Mark 1 diesel electric multiple units on the non-electrified route, providing improved acceleration and passenger comfort. In 2005, the service was extended eastward to Brighton, allowing through workings across the South Coast, though this extension was later discontinued in favor of focused operations between Ashford and Eastbourne via Hastings.[9] On the Uckfield branch line, Class 171 units entered passenger service on 8 December 2003, enabling direct hourly connections from Uckfield to London Bridge and marking a shift from shuttle operations to through trains that significantly boosted patronage.[9] By late 2004, the units had fully integrated into Southern's timetable, handling both peak and off-peak demands on the 12-mile branch diverging from the Oxted Line at Crowborough. Typical diagrams included morning and evening peak expresses from London Bridge, often formed as 4-car sets by coupling two 2-car units, alongside shorter off-peak runs.[9] Peak operations expanded significantly by 2009, with Southern utilizing up to 6 four-car formations by coupling pairs from its fleet of 12 two-car units for high-demand rush-hour services on both the Marshlink and Uckfield routes, including express shuttles to accommodate commuter flows from stations like Uckfield and Rye. These formations supported typical diagrams such as bidirectional peak workings from London Bridge to Uckfield (up to 10 cars during busiest periods) and Marshlink expresses linking Ashford with Eastbourne, often incorporating Dellner couplers for emergency attachment to Class 377 electric units during disruptions.[16] By the mid-2010s, the fleet's role had stabilized, with units stabled at depots like Selhurst for maintenance to sustain daily operations. From May 2018, Marshlink services were temporarily curtailed to run primarily between Eastbourne and Hastings due to infrastructure challenges, including signaling upgrades and level crossing reliability issues at Rye, reducing the required number of units to around three for core shuttle operations; services were later restored to operate between Ashford and Eastbourne.[17] This adjustment followed timetable enhancements earlier in the year, such as added evening services, but prioritized resilience amid ongoing track constraints.[18] In the early years of operation, Class 171 units experienced reliability challenges, including engine faults and delays in full fleet delivery, which limited initial peak services to 1-2 daily 10-car trains on the Uckfield Line.[16] These issues, compounded by the complexity of the Cummins engine and auxiliary systems, were largely resolved by the mid-2010s through overhauls, achieving an average of 18,000 miles per casualty by 2013—above the industry benchmark for similar diesel multiple units.[19] By 2016, official reviews noted the units as generally reliable despite their diesel-specific maintenance needs compared to electric counterparts.[3] Ongoing mid-life refurbishments, including power pack and door system upgrades, have further supported consistent performance on Southern's diesel islands as of 2018.[18]

East Midlands Transfers and Use

In September 2022, three Class 171 Turbostar units were transferred from Govia Thameslink Railway's Southern operations to East Midlands Railway (EMR) to bolster capacity on regional services in the Midlands.[20] These units, originally two-car and four-car formations, were reformed into three-car configurations prior to transfer to better suit longer-distance operations and increase passenger capacity.[21] The transferred units entered service with EMR in late 2022, initially retaining their Dellner couplings from Southern service and being renumbered as 170922–170924 to reflect the coupling difference.[20] They were deployed on key regional routes, including Nottingham to Skegness and services via Lincoln, often operating in multiple with existing Class 170 units to handle peak demands on these longer Midlands runs.[22] This adaptation allowed for enhanced flexibility compared to their prior short-haul southern duties, with the units providing reliable diesel multiple unit performance on non-electrified lines. The ex-Class 171 units underwent a £23 million refurbishment programme that includes new seating, improved interiors, and accessibility upgrades to extend their service life on regional routes.[23] In April 2025, the first refurbished unit entered service, with the others following as part of the ongoing fleet modernisation, and have been recoupled with standard BSI fittings for better fleet compatibility.[20]

Fleet Details

Formations and Capacities

The British Rail Class 171 Turbostar diesel multiple units were originally constructed as six two-car Class 171/7 units (171721–171726), each comprising a Driving Trailer Composite Open Lavatory (DTOCL) leading vehicle and a Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO) trailing vehicle, and six four-car Class 171/8 units (171801–171806). These configurations provided a seating capacity of 107 passengers per two-car unit, including 9 first-class seats in the DTOCL and 98 standard-class seats across both vehicles.[24] The two-car design emphasized flexibility for regional services, with the DTOCL featuring a small first-class compartment at one end for premium passengers. The four-car units doubled this to 214 seats (18 first-class and 196 standard-class). In 2015, four three-car ex-First ScotRail Class 170/4 units were transferred to Southern and converted to Class 171, with two reformed into two-car 171/2 units (171201–171202) and two retained as three-car 171/4 units (171401–171402). To meet growing demand on busier routes, the fleet underwent further reformations starting around 2009, when additional four-car sets were formed by coupling pairs of two-car units, such as 171721 paired with 171801.[25] The coupled sets retained the Dellner couplers unique to the Class 171, allowing semi-permanent operation while maintaining compatibility with other Turbostar family members. By late 2022, modifications improved service flexibility, particularly following route changes, resulting in reformations to five two-car and twelve three-car units.[26] Three-car sets, formed by inserting a Motor Standard (MS) intermediate vehicle into former two-car units, offered 185 seats (18 first-class and 167 standard-class).[12] Examples include units 171727–171730, which originated from splits of previous four-car formations and retained two-car layouts for shorter routes, while others like 171201 remained as standard two-car sets. In September–December 2022, four units (171202, 171401, 171402, and associated vehicles) were transferred to East Midlands Railway and converted back to Class 170 (renumbered 170422–170424). As of November 2025, the remaining fleet comprises 2 two-car units, 5 three-car units, and 2 four-car units, totaling 27 vehicles.[6] During peak periods, all configurations could accommodate up to 50% additional standing passengers to handle surges in demand.[6] These changes prioritized adaptability across Southern operations, with interior layouts featuring airline-style seating in standard class and reclining seats in first class.

Liveries and Modifications

The British Rail Class 171 units were delivered between 2003 and 2004 in the South Central livery, consisting of a green body with blue doors, window surrounds, and lower panels, as applied to units such as 171721.[9] This scheme was inherited from the Connex South Central franchise and continued under the Southern brand following the franchise award in 2001, with minor updates to branding by 2008 to reflect the operator's identity while maintaining the core green and blue color palette.[9] Under Govia Thameslink Railway from 2016, the units retained the established green livery but received updated Southern logos and GTR fleet numbering for consistency across the operator's diesel fleet.[27] Following the 2022 transfer of four units to East Midlands Railway, those units operated initially in their Southern green scheme with added EMR branding, though they were subsequently repainted into the operator's Regional Rail purple livery before conversion to Class 170 in 2022–2023.[28] Non-structural modifications to the Class 171 included the installation of driver advisory systems across the Southern fleet in 2013, enhancing operational efficiency through real-time performance monitoring.[29] Passenger-focused upgrades in the 2010s encompassed electronic destination displays and automated announcement systems, improving onboard information for routes like the Marshlink and Uckfield lines. In 2015, minor interior refreshes were applied, featuring new moquette upholstery in standard and first-class areas to update the cabin aesthetics without altering the overall layout.[30] As of November 2025, no Class 171 units have been preserved in operational condition, with four units converted to Class 170 for East Midlands Railway and the remainder in active service with Govia Thameslink Railway.[7]

Current Status and Future

Active Units as of 2025

As of November 2025, the British Rail Class 171 fleet consists of 9 active units operated by Govia Thameslink Railway under the Southern brand, comprising 2 two-car units, 5 three-car units, and 2 four-car units, totaling 27 vehicles.[6] These units are allocated to Southern services, with basing at depots including Selhurst, Brighton, and St Leonards for maintenance and stabling to support non-electrified routes.[31] In addition, three former Class 171 units (171202, 171401, and 171402) have been transferred to East Midlands Railway and converted back to Class 170 configuration for integration into their diesel fleet, entering service in this form during 2023–2024.[32][33] No Class 171 units are currently active with East Midlands Railway. Recent fleet changes stem from post-2022 reshuffles by Govia Thameslink Railway, which reformed former four-car units into shorter two- and three-car configurations to optimize capacity and reduce operational costs on lower-demand routes, resulting in the current composition. Reliability has improved notably for 2024, contributing to higher service availability.[7] Maintenance for the active units is handled through overhauls at Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane facility, with emphasis on extending the lifespan of Cummins engines and hydraulic systems to support ongoing diesel operations amid decarbonization plans.[34]

Withdrawals and Conversions

The withdrawals of Class 171 units began to accelerate in 2022 as part of Govia Thameslink Railway's (GTR) efforts to align fleet capacity with demand on its diesel-only routes, including the reformation of several units in December 2022 to reduce operational diesel usage.[35] This process was influenced by GTR's decarbonisation roadmap, which targets the removal of diesel traction from unelectrified lines such as the Uckfield and Marshlink routes through electrification or battery technology, with milestones set for medium-term achievement by 2035 as part of the broader Go-Ahead Group's non-diesel rail fleet goal.[35][36] Between 2022 and 2025, a conversion program saw three Class 171 units—171202, 171401, and 171402—reverted to Class 170 specification for East Midlands Railway (EMR) service. These involved reforming the sets into their original configurations, replacing the Dellner couplers with standard BSI couplers to enable compatibility with EMR's existing Turbostar fleet, and renumbering them as 170422 to 170424.[33] The units were first returned to their leasing company, Eversholt Rail, before overhaul and transfer.[12] Looking ahead, the remaining Class 171 units in Southern service are slated for replacement with electric or battery-electric multiple units on the Uckfield and Marshlink lines, driven by GTR's net-zero emissions ambition by 2050 and ongoing collaboration with Network Rail on viable low-carbon technologies.[8] Economic considerations include lease returns to Eversholt Rail upon withdrawal, allowing the units to be reassigned or stored as demand dictates.[12] Full fleet withdrawal is anticipated by the mid-2030s in line with decarbonisation timelines.[35]

References

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