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British Rail Class 171 Turbostar
171727 Southern.JPG
Southern Class 171/7, no. 171 727 at Lewes railway station
SouthernClass171Interior.JPG
Interior of a Class 171 featuring a customer information system display
In service 2003 - Present
Manufacturer Bombardier Transportation
Family name Turbostar
Constructed 2003 - 2004
Number built 16 trainsets
Formation 2/4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers 171 721 - 171 730
171 801 - 171 806
Capacity 107 seats (2 Car)
241 seats (4 Car)[1]
Operator Southern
Specifications
Car length 23.62 m (77 ft 6 in)
Width 2.69 m (8 ft 10 in)
Height 3.77 m (12 ft 4 in)
Maximum speed 100 mph (160 km/h)
Weight Class 171/7: 90.41 tonnes (88.98 long tons; 99.66 short tons)
Class 171/8: 176.21 tonnes (173.43 long tons; 194.24 short tons)
Engine(s) One per car, MTU 6R 183TD
Power output 422 hp (315 kW)
Transmission Voith Hydraulic T211rzze
2 axles driven per car
Braking system(s) Air[1]
Safety system(s) AWS, TPWS, GSM-R
Coupling system BSI coupling replaced by Dellner coupling
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
British Rail Class 171
Engine type Diesel

The Class 171 Turbostar is a type of diesel multiple unit (DMU) built by Bombardier Transportation (previously ADtranz) at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England which is identical to the Class 170, except for the replacement of the BSI (Bergische Stahl Industrie) coupler with a Dellner coupling. This provision was made to allow emergency joining with Class 377 DC third-rail electric units. The vehicles work on the southern regions of the British railway system, mainly where there are no electric lines and no third rail.

Contents

Design [edit]

Class 170 on the left has a BSI 'Compact' coupler whereas Class 171 on the right has a Dellner coupler.

The Southern fleet are fitted with coupling devices (Dellner) different from other Turbostars, and are classified as Class 171 for this reason.[2] The four-car units were built with the new couplers, but Class 170 two car units were fitted at a later date, and reclassified as Class 171/7 after the modification. Three more two-car units were later acquired, but these were built from new with the new couplers.

Southern gained 170 392 from South West Trains. The coupler on this unit has also been changed to the Dellner type. The unit has been reclassified and renumbered from 170 392 to 171 730. Ironically this unit was first delivered carrying Southern livery and the number 170 727 (this was due to the fact SWT needed another 170 and it was cheaper to place another unit on the Southern order than place a new order). It never operated in this form and transferred to South West Trains where it became 170 392.

These trains have electronic automated station announcements and onboard displays unlike their predecessors.[3][clarification needed]

Seating [edit]

Class 171s have mainly standard class seating plus either nine first class seats on a two-car or 18 on a four-car; all first class seats are reclining.

Standard class seating includes five full-size folding seats in the area by the universal toilet on the DMOCL(W) vehicle. With these seats folded there is room for wheelchair users and bicycles. Each passenger door vestibule area also has two flip-down seats.

Standard Class 1st Class TOTAL
Normal Full-Folding Flip-Down Total
DMOCL(W) 38 5 4 47 9 56
DMOCL 50 0 4 54 9 63
DMOSL 64 0 4 68 0 68
MOS 74 0 4 78 0 78
Class 171/7
(2-Car)
102 5 8 115 9 124
Class 171/8
(4-Car)
236 5 16 257 18 275

The fleet of sixteen units has a total of 2,890 passenger seats.

Operations [edit]

Southern (previously named South Central) acquired an initial fleet of six two-car Class 171/7 and six four-car Class 171/8 units, to replace its ageing Class 205 and Class 207 "Thumper" fleet.[4]

The first units were introduced in 2003 on the Ashford to Hastings "Marshlink Line" (now running further to Brighton). Later services on the Oxted to Uckfield branch of the Oxted Line were also transferred to Turbostar operation. The services from London Bridge to Uckfield went over to Turbostar operation in late 2004.

The two-car Class 171/7 run the Brighton to Ashford International service via Lewes, Eastbourne and Hastings, whereas the four-car 171/8 (and remaining 171/7 two-cars) run the London Bridge to Uckfield via Oxted service. The four-car units occasionally appear on the Marshlink Line during special events such as the Rye bonfire celebrations.

Fleet details [edit]

Formation of 2-Car Class 171/7: DMOCL(W) + DMOSL
Formation of 4-Car Class 171/8: DMOCL(W) + MOS + MOS + DMOCL

Class Operator Number built Year built Cars per set Unit nos.
Class 171/7 Southern 10 2003–2004 2 171 721 - 171 730[5]
Class 171/8 6 2004 4 171 801 - 171 806[5]
Class 171 Southern Diagram.PNG

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Marsden, Colin J. (2007). Traction Recognition. Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4. 
  2. ^ Class 171 - Welcome to the Southern E-Group Web Site. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  3. ^ Southern On Train Facilities - Retrieved 2011-05-10.
  4. ^ Class 170 2Page - Welcome to the Southern E-Group Web Site. Retrieved 2011-05-01.
  5. ^ a b http://www.thejunction.org.uk/flist_171.html The Junction Class 171 Fleet List
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