Great Western Railway (GWR) has implemented a reduction in its timetable effective Monday, 7 September 2026, removing six weekday services and fewer on Saturdays between Penzance and Plymouth/Exeter. The cuts aim to reduce cancellations linked to the ongoing unreliability of its train fleet, particularly on regional routes in Devon and Cornwall.
Class 175 Fleet Issues and Impact on Service
GWR is currently receiving 26 second-hand Class 175 trains intended to replace aging former high-speed trains used on local stopping services in Devon and Cornwall. Of these, only 15 have arrived at the operator, and just one or two are performing satisfactorily on any given day. The new trains
have required a higher level of recommissioning than initially expected due to a prolonged period spent in storage and inactivity before entering service.
The technical problems with the Class 175 trains have resulted in frequent faults, causing multiple service reductions, notably on the Dartmoor Line, which experienced three separate service disruptions due to train faults between 19 and 25 August 2026.
Technical Review and Background on Class 175 Trains
A joint technical investigation team made up of representatives from GWR, Angel Trains (the owner of the fleet), and Alstom (the original manufacturer) has been established to perform a full forensic review of all reported defects. The team is
analyzing new and existing data to identify the causes of the faults and assess how maintenance and repair processes can be improved.
Class 175 trains were originally built between 1999 and 2001 and have recently been introduced into GWR service as second-hand units to modernize the regional fleet.
GWR Official Statement on Service Performance and Apology
GWR acknowledged in a stakeholder note that the newly delivered trains “have required a higher level of recommissioning work than expected following a prolonged period in storage and out of service” and are currently experiencing technical issues needing immediate attention.
The operator admitted that punctuality and performance on Devon and Cornwall routes
“hasn’t been good enough recently,” citing frequent cancellations and delays. GWR said the timetable reductions aim to provide greater schedule certainty and protect capacity for its remaining services. The operator apologized to passengers and committed to restoring the withdrawn services “as soon as possible.” Since 1 September 2026, 94 percent of branchline services have run, with nearly 85 percent arriving within three minutes of their scheduled time.
Passenger Impact and Industry Context
The timetable cuts have resulted in cancellations on key routes including the Dartmoor Line and services between Penzance and Exeter. Passengers affected by these withdrawn services are not eligible for delay repay compensation.
Frequent short-notice cancellations amid ongoing reliability issues have caused frustration among customers and staff alike.
Similar introduction challenges have affected other UK operators, such as East Midlands Railway, which faced disruptions following the rollout of new Hitachi express trains on the London to Nottingham and Sheffield routes. GWR continues its technical investigations and maintenance enhancements while working with staff and unions to improve fleet reliability in the region.
