British Rail Class 158

British Rail Class 158
Express Sprinter
A ScotRail Class 158 at Scotscalder
ScotRail interior in 2024
In service17 September 1990 – present
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited[1]
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works[1]
Family nameSprinter
Replaced
Constructed1989–1992[1]
Number built180 (8 converted to Cl. 159/1)
Number in service171[2]
Number scrapped1
Formation2 or 3 cars per unit
Fleet numbers(See § Fleet details)
Capacity
  • NT: 138 or 142 seats per 2-car unit, 207 seats per 3-car unit[3]
  • SWR: 125 seats per 2-car unit[4]
  • TfW: 138 seats per 2-car unit[5]
Owners
[6]
Operators
Specifications
Car body constructionWelded aluminium[1]
Car length22.57 m (74 ft 1 in)[1]
Width2.70 m (8 ft 10 in)[1]
Height3.73 m (12 ft 3 in)[8]
DoorsDouble-leaf plug (2 per side per car)[1]
Maximum speed90 mph (145 km/h)[1]
Weight38.5 tonnes (42.4 short tons; 37.9 long tons) per car[1]
Axle loadRoute Availability 1[1]
Prime mover(s)
  • Units 158701–158814: Cummins NTA855-R1
  • Units 158815–158862: Perkins 2006 TW-H
  • Units 158863–158872: Cummins NTA855-R3
  • Units 158901–158910: Cummins NTA855-R1
  • (one per car, unit numbers as built)
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[9][10]
Displacement
  • Cummins: 14.0 L (855.00 cu in)[9]
  • Perkins: 12.2 L (742.64 cu in)[10]
  • (per engine)
Power output
  • NTA855-R1: 260 kW (350 hp)[1]
  • 2006-TWH: 260 kW (350 hp)[1]
  • NTA855-R3: 300 kW (400 hp)[1]
TransmissionVoith T 211 rz or T 211 rzz (hydrokinetic)[1]
Acceleration0.8 m/s2 (2.6 ft/s2)[11]
UIC classification
  • 2-car: 2′B′+B′2′
  • 3-car: 2′B′+B′2′+B′2′
Bogies
  • Powered: BREL P4-4
  • Unpowered: BREL T4-4
Braking system(s)Pneumatic (disc)[1]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemBSI[13]
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170[13]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train. It is a member of the Sprinter series of regional trains, produced as a replacement for British Rail's first generation of DMUs; of the other members, the Class 159 is almost identical to the Class 158, having been converted from Class 158 to Class 159 in two batches to operate express services from London Waterloo to the West of England.[14][15]

The Class 158 was constructed between 1989 and 1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works. The majority were built as two-car sets; some three-car sets were also produced. During September 1990, the first Express Sprinters were operated by ScotRail; the type was promptly introduced to secondary routes across the Midlands, Northern England, Wales and the South West. The Class 158 enabled the replacement of large numbers of elderly DMUs but also several locomotive-hauled trains as well; this was partially accomplished via the cascading of existing Sprinter units onto other routes.[16] To capitalise on the Class 158's improved onboard amenities in comparison to other rolling stock in use for regional services, the Alphaline branding was launched during the mid-1990s; it was also used for a time in the post-privatisation era.

As a result of British Rail's privatisation in the mid-1990s, the Class 158s were divided amongst various newly created operators broadly along their existing routes. Due to their relatively young age at that time, most operators elected to retain them for the following decades. Several, such as Northern Rail and Arriva Trains Wales, had their Class 158 fleets modernised and refitted with various new facilities, such modifications often including greater accessibility, onboard passenger information systems, Wi-Fi connectivity, and toilet retention tanks. By the 2020s, many Class 158 operators had started to or had replaced the type with newer rolling stock, such as the Class 170 Turbostar, Class 185 Desiro, and Class 197 Civity multiple units.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Regional Passenger Trains - Class 158". London: Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  2. ^ Pritchard, Robert (2020). Diesel Multiple Units (34th ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. p. 28. ISBN 9781909431638.
  3. ^ Bevan Brittan LLP (26 March 2014). The Northern Interim Franchise Agreement (Conformed Copy) (PDF). London: Department for Transport. Appendix 1 to Schedule 1.1, Table 1 (in work p. 83). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Class 158 "Express Sprinter"". London: First MTR South Western Trains. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. ^ "Class 158" (PDF). Cardiff: KeolisAmey Wales. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  6. ^ Dunn, Pip (4 September 2024). "Sprinters: the privatisation years". Feature Rolling Stock. Rail Magazine. No. 1017. pp. 38–43.
  7. ^ "Regional Train Fleet". Swindon: First Greater Western. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 29 April 2010.
  8. ^ Class 159 Diesel Multiple Unit (PDF) (1A ed.). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b Marine Engine General Data Sheet N/NT/NTA 855-M (PDF). Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Engine Company. 18 February 2002. p. 1. DS-4962. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  10. ^ a b Perkins 2000 Series User's Handbook (PDF) (12th ed.). Shrewsbury: Perkins Engines Company. May 1999. p. 9. TSD 3215E. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Class 158". London: Eversholt Rail Group. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  12. ^ "Pioneering rail technology gets tested in Wales". Milton Keynes: Network Rail. 12 February 2010. Archived from the original on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  13. ^ a b System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  14. ^ "Our Trains: Class 158 "Express Sprinter"". South Western Railway. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  15. ^ "Class 159" (PDF). Porterbrook. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 July 2011.
  16. ^ Garratt, Colin (2010). The Complete Book of Locomotives. Anness Publishing Ltd. 1997. pp. 134–135. ISBN 978-1844770229.