Class 170 'Turbostar' Profile and Models

Class 170 'Turbostar'

170114 at Derby in January 2001. ©Steve Jones

The British Rail Class 170 Turbostar is a British diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train built by Adtranz and later Bombardier Transportation at Derby Litchurch Lane Works. Introduced after privatisation, these trains operate regional as well as long-distance services, and to a lesser extent suburban services. A total of 139 units were built, but some were later converted to Class 168 and Class 171 units. These trains are currently in use with West Midlands Trains (formerly London Midland), CrossCountry, East Midlands Railway, Transport for Wales Rail, ScotRail and Northern Trains. The class is a development of the design used in the British Rail Class 165 and 166 DMUs known as the Networker Turbos and built by British Rail Engineering Limited and later ABB Transportation Ltd before that company became part of Bombardier. ScotRail is the largest operator of the Class 170. Class 170 units have been categorised into six (originally seven) sub-classes; the basic specifications remain the same (engine, length, transmission, etc.), the differences being the seating arrangements specified by the different operators. Because of the different interior fittings the sub-classes differ in weight from one another by a small amount, up to around 2 tonnes.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

Diesel Multiple Unit

Builder

Adtranz & Bombardier

Build Dates

1998 to 2005

Total Built

139 sets

Coaches Per Unit

2 or 3-car

Power Output

844 to 1,266hp

Top Speed

100 mph

Passenger Capacity

204 to 272 seats

Operated By

Anglia
Central Trains
Cross Country Trains
East Midlands Railway
First Scotrail
Hull Trains
London Midland
Midland Mainline
Northern Trains
ONE
ScotRail
Southern Rail
South West Trains
Strathclyde PTE
Thameslink
Transport for Wales
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains

Main Duties

Regional Passenger

In Service Until

Present

Surviving Examples

119 sets
(9 converted to 168, 11 converted to 171)