Great Western Railway (GWR) has implemented timetable reductions starting Monday 7 September 2026, in response to ongoing unreliability of its second-hand Class 175 train fleet. Twenty-six Class 175 trains are being delivered to GWR, but as of now only 15 have arrived, with only one or two functioning satisfactorily on any given day.
Class 175 Trains Stored Before Delivery and Impact on Regional Services
The Class 175 trains used by GWR were previously stored for an extended period, requiring more recommissioning work than initially anticipated. This prolonged storage led to technical challenges that have affected the introduction of the trains into passenger service. The fleet is intended to replace ageing former
high speed trains on regional routes across Devon and Cornwall.
Due to these issues, GWR has had to cancel six weekday services between Penzance and Plymouth/Exeter, with fewer cancellations expected on Saturdays. The unreliability of the fleet has resulted in frequent short-notice service disruptions on these routes.
Passenger Impact and Service Reliability Measures
Passengers affected by the timetable reductions will find fewer available services and will not be eligible for compensation under the operator’s delay repay scheme for cancelled trains. GWR has cited the timetable cuts as necessary to improve service reliability and avoid the unpredictability of unscheduled cancellations that have recently affected the Devon and
Cornwall regional services.
The aim of the timetable change is to provide greater certainty for customers and protect capacity on the remaining services.
Ongoing Technical Review and Official Statements
A technical investigation team has been formed including GWR, Angel Trains—owners of the fleet—and Alstom, the original manufacturer of the Class 175 trains. This team is conducting a comprehensive forensic examination of all reported defects, using data to identify failure causes and enhance maintenance and repair processes.
In a note to stakeholders, GWR acknowledged the unexpected extent of recommissioning required after storage and the impact of technical issues on service reliability. It stated: “have required a higher
level of recommissioning work than expected following a prolonged period in storage and out of service.” The note also recognized recent underperformance in punctuality and cancellations on Devon and Cornwall routes, leading to the timetable reductions effective from 7 September.
GWR confirmed it will restore the cut services “as soon as possible” once reliability issues are resolved.
