Class 159 Express Sprinter

The Class 159 is a sister class to the Class 158, indeed the twenty-two original sets were built as Class 158s but were converted at Babcock Rail for London Waterloo services to replace locomotive hauled trains to Exeter [1].

SWR 159 012 at Woking

The conversion took place before their entry into traffic and the modifications included adding first class compartments and retention toilets. Eight more were converted from Class 158s in 2006-7 forming the 159/1 (the original sets are 159/0).

Information
Number built:	30 3-car sets
Built:	1989-93, 2006-7 (159/1)
Builder:	BREL Derby / Babcock Rail (159/0) BREL Derby / Wabtec Doncaster (159/1)
Motor:	Cummins NTA855R diesel per car
Power:	1, 200 hp (900 kW) - 159/0 1, 050 hp (780 kW) - 159/1
Formation:	Driving Motor Composite Lavatory (DMCL)+Motor Standard Lavatory (MSL)+Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)

They were originally operated by British Rail Network South East, later South West Trains. They are now all operated by South Western Railway. They mostly operate on services from London Waterloo to Salisbury and Exeter as well as Bristol. In the past they have also worked services to the likes of Penzance, Southampton and Reading.


One of the SWT fleet of Class 159s, 159 007, was chosen to take part in a Network Rail bio-fuel test in 2008 [2]. It ran for several months on a mixture of diesel, soya bean and oil seed rape oil. The fuel mixture did not affect performance or cause any damage to the engines of the unit though was found to be more expensive than conventional fuel.

SWT 159 108 at Clapham Junction

SWT 159 005 at Clapham Junction

Cab end of 159 010 at London Waterloo

[1] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 146
[2] John Balmforth, South West Trains (Ian Allan, 2011) p. 57