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Class 165 Network Turbo

The Class 165 "Network Turbo" was built for British Rail in the early 1990s to replace first generation diesel multiple units on Thames Valley and Chiltern route suburban services [1]. Seventy six 2-car and 3-car sets were built and all but one, which was destroyed in the Ladbroke Grove rail disaster, remain in service today with Chiltern Railways and Great Western Railway.

GWR 165 106 arrives at Reading West


Information
Number built: 144 (76 2- and 3-car sets)
Built: 1990-92
Builder: BREL York
Engine: Perkins 2006-TWH diesel (one per car)
Power: 700 / 1, 050 hp (520 / 780 kW)
Formations: 165/0: Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)+
Motor Standard (MS)+Driving Motor Standard (DMS)
or DMSL+DMS

165/1: Driving Motor Composite Lavatory (DMCL)+MS+DMS
or DMCL+DMS

The Class 165 are two sub-classes. the 165/0 was originally built for Chiltern services on Network South East and remains on the same routes including services from London Marylebone to Birmingham, to Aylesbury and to Stratford-upon-Avon. Trip-cock equipment has been fitted to Chiltern units as they travel on London Underground track between Harrow-on-the-Hill and Amersham.

The 165/1 was built for services out of London Paddington along the Great Western main line. They are still in service on Thames Valley services to destinations such as Oxford and Banbury. They have bogie modifications to allow for a higher top speed (90 mp/h as opposed to 75 mp/h on the 165/0).

GWR 116 at Basingstoke


Chiltern 165 035 at Little Kimble


GWR 165 018 at Reigate

GWR 165 117 and friend at Oxford

Chiltern 165 011 at Haddenham & Thame Parkway



[1] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recogition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 149