View source for British Rail Class 159

{{Short description|British DMU operated by South Western Railway}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox train
| background = #003F7F
| name = British Rail Class 159<br />''South Western Turbo''
| image = New SWR livery variation.jpg
| imagealt = 
| imagesize = 
| caption = [[South Western Railway (2017–2025)|South Western Railway]] Class 159 in 2018
| interiorimage = SWR's partially refurbished interior of 159014.jpg
| interiorimagealt = 
| interiorcaption = Standard-class interior as refreshed by SWR
| stocktype = 
| service = 10 June 1993{{snd}}present<ref name="rail192" />
| manufacturer = [[British Rail Engineering Limited]]
| designer = 
| assembly = 
| ordernumber = 
| factory = [[Derby Litchurch Lane Works]]
| family = [[British Rail Sprinter|''Sprinter'']]
| replaced = Locomotive-hauled trains
| yearconstruction = {{ubl|159/0: 1992–1993|159/1: 1989–1992<ref name="pbrook" />}}
| yearservice = 
| refurbishment = {{ubl|2000–2001 (159/0 units only)|2007–2008 (all units)}}
| yearscrapped = 
| numberconstruction = 
| numberbuilt = 22<br />(plus 8 converted from [[British Rail Class 158|Cl. 158]])
| numberservice = 29<!-- cited in Fleet Details table-->
| numberpreserved = 
| numberscrapped = 2 vehicles<!-- cited in Fleet Details table-->
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| formation = 3 cars per unit: {{avoid wrap|{{abbr|DMCL|Driver's cab, Motor car, Composite (first- and standard-class seating (open saloon), Lavatory}}-{{abbr|MSL|Motor car, Standard class (open saloon), Lavatory}}-{{abbr|DMSL|Driver's cab, Motor car, Standard class (open saloon), Lavatory}}<ref name="pbrook" />}}
| diagram = 
| code = 
| fleetnumbers = {{ubl|159/0: 159001–159022|159/1: 159101, 159103-159108<ref name="Fleetlist"/>}}
| capacity = 169 seats<ref name="swt-twu">{{cite web |title=Class 159 'South Western Turbo' |url=https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-159-south-western-turbo |publisher=First MTR South Western Trains |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124185241/https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-159-south-western-turbo |archive-date=24 November 2022 |location=London |url-status=live}}</ref> {{avoid wrap|(23 first-class, 146 standard)}}
| owner = [[Porterbrook]]<ref name="Rail1017">{{cite magazine|last=Dunn|first=Pip|title=Sprinters: the privatisation years|department=Feature Rolling Stock|magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue=1017|date=4 September 2024|pages=38–43}}</ref>
| operator = [[South Western Railway]]
| depots = [[Salisbury TMD|Salisbury]]<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Clifton|first=Paul|title=New sanders boost braking on SWR passenger units|department=Network News|magazine=[[Rail Magazine]]|issue=1023|date=27 November 2024|page=17}}</ref>
| lines = [[West of England Main Line|West of England Line]]<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://www.modernrailways.com/article/bi-modes-west-england|title= Bi-modes for West of England?|date=24 May 2024|magazine=Modern Railways}}</ref>
| carbody = [[Welding|Welded]] [[aluminium]]
| trainlength = 
| carlength = {{convert|22.57|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="angeldata">{{cite web |title=Regional Passenger Trains – Class 158 |url=https://angeltrains.co.uk/Products-Services/Regional-Passenger-Trains/6 |publisher=Angel Trains |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310041915/https://angeltrains.co.uk/Products-Services/Regional-Passenger-Trains/6 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |location=London |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| width = {{convert|2.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="pbrook" />
| height = {{convert|3.73|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name="pbrook" />
| lowfloor = 
| floorheight = 
| platformheight = 
| entrylevelorstep = 
| doors = Double-leaf plug<ref name="pbrook" /> {{avoid wrap|(2 per side per car)}}
| wheeldiameter = 
| wheelbase = 
| maxspeed = {{convert|90|mph|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="pbrook" />
| weight = {{abbr|approx.|Approximately}} {{convert|38.5|t|0|abbr=on}} {{avoid wrap|per car<ref name="pbrook">{{cite book |title=Class 159 Diesel Multiple Unit |date=January 2013 |publisher=Porterbrook Leasing Company |location=Derby |edition=1A |url=http://www.porterbrook.co.uk/downloads/brochures/159%20Brochure.pdf |access-date=8 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616073743/http://www.porterbrook.co.uk/downloads/brochures/159%20Brochure.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2015 |format=PDF<!--Deny Citation Bot-->}}</ref>}}
| axleload = [[Route Availability]] 1<ref name="pbrook" />
| steep gradient = 
| engine = {{ubl|159/0 units: {{nowrap|3 × [[Cummins UK|Cummins]] NTA855-R3}}|159/1 units: {{nowrap|3 × Cummins NTA855-R1}}|(one per car)}}
| enginetype = [[Straight engine|Inline-6]] [[Four-stroke engine|4-stroke]] [[turbo-diesel]]<ref name="NTA855"><!--MARINE ENGINE HAS SAME CONFIGURATION AND BLOCK, MAJOR DIFFERENCES ARE IN COOLING WHICH DON'T APPLY FOR THESE PARAMS-->{{cite book |title=Marine Engine General Data Sheet N/NT/NTA 855-M |id=DS-4962 |date=18 February 2002 |publisher=Cummins Engine Company |location=Columbus, Indiana |page=1 |url=https://mart.cummins.com/imagelibrary/data/assetfiles/0055783.pdf |access-date=7 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207162525/https://mart.cummins.com/imagelibrary/data/assetfiles/0055783.pdf |archive-date=7 December 2022 |format=PDF<!--Deny Citation Bot--> |url-status=live}}</ref>
| displacement = {{cvt|855|cuin|L|0|order=flip}} per engine<ref name="NTA855" />
| poweroutput = {{ubl|159/0: {{convert|1200|hp|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}|159/1: {{convert|1050|hp|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}|(total)}}
| tractiveeffort = 
| transmission = [[Voith]] T{{narrow no-break space}}211{{narrow no-break space}}rz ([[Hydrokinetic transmission|hydrokinetic]])<ref name="pbrook" />
| acceleration = 
| deceleration = 
| aux = 
| powersupply = 
| hvac = 
| electricsystem = 
| uicclass = 2′B′+B′2′+B′2′
| bogies = {{ubl|Powered: BREL P4-4|Unpowered: BREL T4-4}}
| minimum curve = 
| brakes = [[Railway air brake|Pneumatic]] ([[Railway disc brake|disc]])<ref name="pbrook" />
| safety = {{ubl|[[Automatic Warning System#British Rail AWS|AWS]]|[[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]]}}
| coupling = [[BSI coupling|BSI]]<ref name="pbrook" />
| multipleworking = Within class, and with {{avoid wrap|Classes [[Pacer (British Rail)|14x]]}}, [[Sprinter (British Rail)|15x]], {{avoid wrap|and {{brc|170|n}}<ref name="pbrook" />}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
| notes = 
}}

The '''British Rail Class 159''' is a class of British [[diesel multiple unit]] passenger trains of the [[British Rail Sprinter|Sprinter family]], built in 1989–1992 by [[British Rail Engineering Limited]] (BREL)'s [[Derby Litchurch Lane Works]] as Class 158. Before entering traffic, the original 22 units were modified at Rosyth Dockyard to Class 159 to operate services from [[West of England Main Line|London Waterloo to Salisbury and Exeter St Davids]], replacing various locomotive-hauled passenger trains.

The units were originally branded by Network SouthEast as '''South Western Turbo'''.<ref name="rail192">{{cite magazine |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=192 |date=20 January 1993 |title=Enter the South Western Turbos |location=Peterborough}}</ref>

==History and design==
[[File:159 019 DMU.jpg|thumb|left|Class 159 unit in Network SouthEast livery departing from Southampton in 1996]]
In the late 1980s, the locomotive-hauled stock on Network SouthEast's ''[[West of England Main Line|West of England]]'' route from [[London Waterloo railway station|London Waterloo]] to [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]], [[Yeovil Junction railway station|Yeovil Junction]] and [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]] was in urgent need of replacement. The [[British Rail Class 50|Class 50]] locomotives were not suited to the stop-start nature of the route, and frequently broke down.<ref name="semg50">{{Cite web |url=http://www.semgonline.com/diesel/class50_2.html |title=Class 50 |publisher=Southern E-Group |access-date=12 December 2009}}</ref> Because of the long sections of single track west of Salisbury following the [[Beeching cuts]], a single breakdown could cause chaos. Various options were considered including electrification, shortened [[InterCity 125|HSTs]], construction of new locomotives and stock (a passenger version of the proposed [[List of British Rail unbuilt locomotive classes|Class 48]]), or the proposed Class 171 (which would have been part of the [[Networker (train)|Networker]] family, an intercity version of the Class 165 – not to be confused with the later [[Turbostar]]s). A study found the best options were electrification or new DMUs.<ref name="semg" />

With the UK economy in decline in the early 1990s, it was found that [[Regional Railways]] had over-ordered [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158s]] at the same time as Network SouthEast was looking for a similar number of new diesel trains. NSE agreed to take on the surplus Class 158s.<ref name="semg">{{Cite web|url=http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class159_1.html |publisher=Southern Email Group |access-date=21 September 2009 |title=Class 159 page at SEMG}}</ref>

The original 22 units were built as [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] units, but were rebuilt by [[Babcock International Group|Babcock Rail]] in [[Rosyth Dockyard]] before entering traffic. This entailed fitting first-class accommodation and retention toilets, and various other modifications. The rebuild was required because it was not possible for Network SouthEast and the newly privatised BREL to agree terms on the variation order to NSE specification.<ref name="semg2">[http://www.semgonline.com/gallery/class159_2.html Southern E-Group article] (retrieved 3 September 2007)</ref>

The first unit (159004) was handed over to NSE on 6 January 1993.<ref name="rail192" />

The units converted to Class 159 specification during construction are numbered 159001–159022, with individual vehicles numbered 52873–52894 and 57873–57894 for driving motor vehicles, and 58718–58739 for intermediate motor vehicles. The entire class is maintained at a purpose-built depot at Salisbury.<ref name="pbrook" /><ref name="Fleetlist">{{cite web|url=http://www.thejunction.org.uk/flist_159.html|title= Class 159 Fleetlist showing unit formations| access-date= 3 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070911180408/http://www.thejunction.org.uk/flist_159.html| archive-date=11 September 2007}}</ref>

In 2007, eight further Class 159 units were created through the rebuilding of surplus Class 158 units displaced from [[TransPennine Express]].<ref name="seg159-1">{{Cite web |url= http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/swt/2006-159-1-preview.html |title= South West Trains News |publisher= Southern Electric Group |author= Duff, Colin |access-date= 13 December 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140417142242/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/swt/2006-159-1-preview.html |archive-date= 17 April 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The units feature BSI couplers. This enables them to work in multiple not only with other units from the same class, but also {{brc|170}} and the classes of the [[Pacer (British Rail)|Pacer]] and [[Sprinter (British Rail)|Sprinter]] families.<ref name="pbrook" />

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 4 January 2010, [[British Rail Class 142|Class 142]] [[diesel multiple unit]] 142029 collided with a train composed of two Class 159 units at {{rws|Exeter St Davids}}. Nine people were injured.<ref name="Exeter">{{cite book |title=Rail Accident Report 10/2010: Collision at Exeter St Davids station, 4 January 2010 |date=June 2010 |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport |location=Derby |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/411193/100621_R102010_Exeter_St_Davids.pdf |access-date=16 January 2023 |format=PDF<!--Deny Citation Bot-->}}</ref>
*On 31 October 2021, [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] Class 159 unit 159102<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The trains involved |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=944 |date=17 November 2021 |page=7 }}</ref> [[2021 Salisbury rail crash|collided]] with a [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] Class 158 train at Fisherton tunnel in Salisbury.<ref>{{cite news |date=2021-10-31 |title=Salisbury train crash: Major incident as two trains collide |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-59114569 |access-date=2021-11-01}}</ref> As a result of the damage caused following the incident, 2 carriages of 159102 (vehicles 57803 and 58703) were written off and scrapped.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dunn |first1=Pip |title=Rail Guide 2023 |date=3 April 2023 |publisher=Crecy |isbn=9781800352674}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2023}}<ref name="TRM1489"/>

==Operations==
[[File:159012 Plymouth.JPG|left|thumb|A refurbished Class 159/0 No. 159012 at Plymouth]]
The units were dedicated to the West of England sector of Network South East, operating services between London Waterloo and Exeter; they also worked services between Salisbury and Southampton and on the Reading to Basingstoke line, replacing elderly DEMUs. They then transferred to the South West Trains [[shadow franchise]] in readiness for privatisation.

Upon the [[privatisation of British Rail]], the ''[[West of England Main Line|West of England]]'' route passed in 1996 to the [[South West Trains]] franchise, which was won by the [[Stagecoach Group]].<ref name="Stagecoach history">{{Cite web |url=http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/about/history/ |title=Greener Smarter Travel: Company History |publisher=Stagecoach Group |access-date=27 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417155749/http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/about/history |archive-date=17 April 2010 }}</ref> Starting in 2000, units were progressively refurbished and repainted from [[Network SouthEast]]'s blue, red and white livery into South West Trains' express livery. Other post-privatisation modifications included clearer LED destination displays, upgraded air-conditioning, and more openable windows.

Currently, the Class 159s operate mainly from London Waterloo to Salisbury/Exeter in formations of six, eight, or nine coaches (2 × Class 159, 2 × 159 plus 1 × 158, or 3 × 159 respectively) and between Salisbury and Exeter in three- or six-coach formations. Until the December 2009 timetable change,<ref name="hansardwestofex">{{Cite web |url= https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090506/text/90506w0006.htm#090506104000026 |title=Hansard Written Answers: Railways: Torbay |date=6 May 2009}}</ref> some trains continued beyond Exeter to [[Paignton]], [[Plymouth]] and [[Penzance]]; these usually operated as three-coach units, though at weekends there were some six-coach formations. These services are now operated by the [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]. The service to [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]] is now also operated by Class 159s.

Since 2006, the original Class 159 fleet of 22 has been supplemented by eight three-coach 158s (renumbered into the 159/1 series) and 11 two-coach [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]]s. The decision to standardise on 158s and 159s allowed the nine [[British Rail class 170|Class 170]] 'Turbostar' units to be transferred to other operators.<ref name="seg159-1" /> Eight went to [[First TransPennine Express]], with the remaining unit going to [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]] for integration into [[British Rail Class 171|Class 171 Turbostars]].

===Routes Served===
These trains serve the following routes:

*[[London Waterloo station|London Waterloo]] to [[Basingstoke railway station|Basingstoke]], [[Salisbury railway station|Salisbury]] and [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]] via [[Yeovil Junction railway station|Yeovil Junction]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Class 159 |url=https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/our-trains/class-159-south-western-turbo |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=Southwestern Railway}}</ref>
*London Waterloo & Salisbury to [[Yeovil Pen Mill]] (Via Westbury or Yeovil Junction)

==Refurbishments and conversions==
[[File:Inside SWR 159016 (MCL 52888, first class).JPG|alt=|thumb|First class interior of a [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]] unit]]

=== Refurbishment of the Class 159/0===

==== 2000 ====
South West Trains began a refurbishment programme for its 22 Class 159/0s in 2000. The seats were re-trimmed and interiors repainted. The units were repainted into SWT livery.{{Citation needed|date=March 2012}}

==== 2008 ====
The units received another refurbishment in 2008 at [[Wabtec]] [[Doncaster]]. [[CCTV]] and PIS ([[Passenger information system|Passenger Information Systems]]) were installed,<ref name="CCTV and PIS">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016190942/http://therailwaycentre.com/UK%20News%20Oct%202007/041007-159work.html Railway Centre post about the fitment of CCTV and PIS]}}. Retrieved 5 October 2007.</ref> new seating was installed in first class and at the same time the units received a modified version of the SWT express livery (with orange doors as opposed to the red doors on [[British Rail Class 444|Class 444]] units) for compliance with disabled access regulations.

===Class 158 conversions===
[[File:159102 Standard Class Interior.jpg|right|thumb|Standard class interior of a Class 159/1 unit in South West Trains colours]]
Eight of TransPennine's surplus three-coach [[British Rail Class 158|Class 158]] units were refurbished to match SWT's existing Class 159 units at [[Wabtec]] [[Doncaster]],<ref name="seg159-1" /> and renumbered into Class 159 subclass /1.<ref name="Fleetlist"/> The first updated units were delivered to South West Trains in November 2006, and by May 2007 all of the new subclass were in service.<ref name="seg159-1" />

The refurbishment included making the first-class accommodation area larger and completely refitting it, brighter interior lighting with new diffusers and the plating-over of the disused toilet in the MSO vehicle. The Class 159/1s have been fitted with retention toilets. Additional alterations include the installation of a [[Passenger information system]] (PIS) and CCTV as is fitted on the 159/0s.<ref name="SWTFleetinfo">{{Cite web |url= http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/TravelInformation/OurFleetOfTrains/Class+159+Three-Coach+Diesel+Multiple+Unit.htm |title= Class 159 information page |publisher= South West Trains |access-date= 3 September 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080618054822/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/SWTrains/TravelInformation/OurFleetOfTrains/Class%2B159%2BThree-Coach%2BDiesel%2BMultiple%2BUnit.htm |archive-date= 18 June 2008 |url-status= usurped }}</ref>

The converted units however retained their original [[Cummins UK|Cummins]] NTA855-R1 engines, which produce {{cvt|50|hp|kW|order=flip}} less power than the R3 variants fitted to the Class 159/0 fleet.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/rolling-stock/fleet?s=class-159-south-west-trains |title=Class 159 – South West Trains |publisher=Porterbrook Leasing Company |access-date=2017-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413070844/https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/rolling-stock/fleet?s=class-159-south-west-trains |archive-date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/rolling-stock/fleet?s=class-158-1591-south-west-trains |title=Class 158 & 159/1 – South West Trains |publisher=Porterbrook Leasing Company |access-date=2017-04-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170412224642/https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/rolling-stock/fleet?s=class-158-1591-south-west-trains |archive-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>

==Fleet details==

{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Operator
!Qty.
!Year built
!Cars per unit
!Unit nos.
!Notes
|-
!159/0
|rowspan=2|South Western Railway
|align=center|22
|align=center|1992–1993
|rowspan=3 align=center|3
|159001–159022
|Original fleet
|-
!rowspan=2|159/1
|align=center|7
|rowspan=2 align=center|2006–2007 (converted)
|159101, 159103–159108
|rowspan=2|Converted from Class 158
|-
|''Scrapped''
|align=center|2 vehicles
|159102{{notetag|As a result of being damaged in the [[2021 Salisbury rail crash]].<ref name="ir1">{{cite book |title=Rail Accident Investigation Interim Report IR1/2022: Collision between passenger trains at Salisbury Tunnel Junction, 31 October 2021 |date=February 2022 |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport |location=Derby |at=paras. 17, 25, 32, 34 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1055846/IR012022_220221_Salisbury_Tunnel_Junction.pdf |access-date=7 December 2022 }}</ref> Vehicles 57803 and 58703 subsequently scrapped.<ref name="Rail977">{{cite magazine |title='321s' stored… and '158s' scrapped |magazine=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |place=Peterborough |issue=977 |date=22 February 2023 |page=9 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Butlin |first=Ashley |title=Stock Changes |department=Track Record |magazine=The Railway Magazine |issue=1466 |date=May 2023 |page=93 |publisher=Mortons Media Group |place=Horncastle |issn=0033-8923}}</ref><ref name="TRM1489">{{cite magazine|last=Butlin|first=Ashley|title=Multiple Units|department=Stock update|magazine=[[The Railway Magazine]]|volume=171|issue=1489|date=April 2025|page=83}}</ref>}}
|}
===Named units===
Some units have received names:<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Class 158 & Class 159 Fleet List|magazine=[[Modern Locomotives Illustrated]]|issue=190|date=August 2011|pages=82–87}}</ref>
*159001 ''City of Exeter''
*159002 ''City of Salisbury''
*159003 ''Templecombe''
*159004 ''Basingstoke & Deane''

== Liveries ==
{{Unsourced|section|date=February 2023}}
{| class="wikitable"
! align="left" |Operating Company
! align="left" |Livery
|-
|[[South Western Railway]]
|[[File:Class_159_South_Western_Diagram.png|757x757px]]
|-
|[[South West Trains]]
|[[File:Class 159 South West Trains Diagram.PNG|757x757px]]
|-
|[[Network SouthEast]]
|[[File:Class 159 NSE Diagram.PNG|757x757px]]
|}

==Notes==
{{notefoot}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category inline|British Rail Class 159}}

{{British Rail Sprinter}}
{{British Rail DMU}}

[[Category:British Rail diesel multiple units|159]]
[[Category:BREL products|159]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1993]]