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British Rail Class 158Description The British Rail Class 158 "Express Sprinter" is a diesel multiple unit, built from 1989-92 by BREL at Derby Works. They were built to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs and locomotive-hauled passenger trains. 182 units were built, numbered 158701-872 and 158901-910. The majority of units were built as two-car sets, with individual carriages numbered 52701-872/901-910 and 57701-872/901-910. Seventeen units (nos. 158798-814) were built as three-car units, with the centre carriages numbered 58701-717. The final ten units (nos. 158901-910) were built specifically for the West Yorkshire PTE-sponsored services around Leeds. Current Operations After privatisation of Britain's railways, the Class 158 fleet was divided amongst several franchises, all of which are detailed below. Arriva Trains Northern Arriva Trains Northern (ATN), originally called Northern Spirit, inherited a large fleet of units. However, all but ten units have now been transferred to the new TransPennine Express franchise. The ten remaining sets (nos. 158901-910) are primarily used on services around Leeds. The ATN franchise became part of the new Northern franchise in late 2004. Arriva Trains Wales Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) is the new name for the Wales and Borders franchise. Wales and Borders had originally operated a large fleet of units (nos. 158815-842/863-872), but some of these units were subsequently been transferred to Wessex Trains. However, the fleet was increased with the addition of 12 units (nos. 158843-854) when Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli services were transferred from Central Trains to allow just one train operator in Wales. Wales and Borders used its fleet on long-distance services, such as Cardiff to Manchester, Cardiff to Penzance and Cardiff to London Waterloo services. From 2003, it refurbished its fleet at Doncaster works and repainted them in its new blue and silver livery. In 2004, the franchise was transferred to Arriva, who have introduced a new turquoise livery. Central Trains Central Trains inherited a large fleet of units, which it used on long distance journies. These included Birmingham to Cambridge and Stansted Airport, Liverpool to Norwich, and Nottingham to Cardiff. With the introduction of newer Class 170 "Turbostars", some units were cascaded onto other routes, such as Birmingham to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli. A new Central Trains livery was introduced in 1999 to replace the original Express Regional Railways livery. In 2003, Central Trains reformed some of its standard 2-car units into 3-car units, numbered 158951-958. These were composed of three driving motor cars, with the innermost cab locked out of use. These units allowed the lengthening of carriages of some of the busiest trains during the summer months. In late 2004, the three-car units were disbanded and reformed as two-car units. Due to the arrival of 17 Class 170/1 units from Midland Mainline, the seventeen 1587xx units were transferred to other operators, leaving Central Trains with just seven units. First North Western First North Western (FNW) operate a small fleet of units, which were originally used on Manchester and Crewe to Holyhead services. However, with the introduction of newer Class 175 units, they have been displaced onto other services, such as Manchester to Barrow-in-Furness. The FNW fleet is painted in the now obsolete blue and gold livery introduced by North Western Trains in 1997. The FNW franchise became part of the new Northern franchise in 2004. Northern The new Northern Rail franchise started operations on 12th December 2004. This incorporated the old Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western franchises. The current Class 158 fleet consists of eight former FNW units, the ten ATN metro units, and three further units transferred from Central Trains. ScotRail / First ScotRail ScotRail inherited the largest number of sets, originally having a fleet of 46 units. These were employed on Glasgow to Edinburgh services, as well as services to Aberdeen and Inverness. From 1998 onwards, units were reliveried in the new ScotRail livery. When ScotRail bought new Class 170 units in 1999, the Class 158 fleet was cascaded onto other routes, such as services to Thurso and Wick. The resultant cascaded of older units allowed ScotRail to finally retire its elderly Class 101 'heritage' DMUs. Six units were also transferred to other franchises. South West Trains In late 2004, South West Trains received three former-Central Trains units for the new Salisbury to Bristol Temple Meads service that was previously operated by Arriva Trains Wales. The units are expected to be refurbished before entering service in 2005. TransPennine Express TransPennine Express is a new franchise created in 2004, which is formed of the express routes previously operated by Arriva Trains Northern. This franchise inherited all the Class 158 units from ATN, and has slowly added its new brandname over the top of the existing liveries, with interesting results. The fleet is used on long-distance journies, such as Newcastle-upon-Tyne to York and Leeds, Manchester to Grimsby, and Liverpool to Leeds services. The TransPennine Express fleet includes the seventeen 3-car units (nos. 158798-814). In late 2004, TransPennine Express received further units cascaded from Central Trains. This allowed it to form six 3-car units, numbered 158971-976. These were formed of three driving motors, with the central cab locked out of use. Wessex Trains Wessex Trains was created when the Wales and West franchise divided into Wales and Borders (now part of Arriva Trains Wales) and Wessex Trains. They inherited a small fleet of ten units, which has slowly been supplemented by units cascaded from other operators, namely Central Trains. The Wessex Trains fleet has recently been refurbished at Doncaster Works, being repainted in Wessex Trains's silver and maroon livery. The fleet is used on the long-distance Cardiff to Brighton, Bristol to Penzance and Bristol to Birmingham services. In late 2004, Wessex Trains received further units from Central Trains. This allowed the formation of several 3-car units, which will be renumbered into the 158961-970 range. Like the Central Trains three-car sets, they were formed of three driving motors, with the middle cab locked out of use. Fleet Details | o of units | align=left|Unit nos. | | rriva Trains Wales | align=center|37 | 158818-854 | | entral Trains | align=center|7 | 158856-862 | | irst ScotRail | align=center|41 | 158701-736/738-741/780 | | orthern | align=center|21 | 158752-759/782/783/788/901-910 | | outh West Trains | align=center|3 | 158786/787/789 | | ransPennine Express | align=center|47 | 158742/750/760-769/771/772/776/778-781/784/785/790/791/793/796-814/971-976 | | essex Trains | align=center|19 | 158747/792/794/795/855/863/867-872/961-967 |
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