Focus on the Turbostar: Class 171

[@pitchykoo_botsalot_yt]

We love these trains, just because they're the rarest units near where we are based, in Brighton!

[@theimperialist2686]

Excellent railway compilation of the Southern Rail class 171s Boogies Trains.

[@DKS225]

Indeed and very informative

[@nathansrailwayphotography8125]

Great video

[@carnivorousvegan69]

On sat the 3rd of April I went on 171723 from London Bridge to east Croydon Best train I've ever been on by miles

[@o.ttravels]

Really good video! At the moment the Class 171/8 trains and some Class 171/4 trains are operating between Ashford International and Eastbourne providing a 4 car service to enable social distancing which would've been tricky on a 2 car train. The London Bridge to Uckfield trains are generally formed of 3 Class 171/7 (or 171/2) trains (6 carriages in total). On the Marshlink line some stations are only long enough for 1 or 2 carriages to fit on the platform so if there were 2 Class 171 trains attached to make a 4 car train then people in Carriages 3 and 4 would not be able to get off at some stations as they'd be stuck which is why they need the Class 171/4 or /8 on that route.

[@pitchykoo_botsalot_yt]

@@o.ttravels The majority of units now have 3 coaches!

[@BoogiesTrains]

@pitchykoo_botsalot_yt. Yes, they reorganised the fleet to make it more standard. Bizarre when you think how much trouble they had breaking the former Scottish units into 2 and 4 car sets all those years ago. They have moved on to EMR now I believe.

[@uhegbu]

Been on this rolling stock twice before to Uckfield in 2016 and 2018. I am planning to go there this week, my third in five years.

[@uhegbu]

I have just done it, today Thursday July 15th to Uckfield. Read somewhere that these modern units are to be replaced, in the near future.

[@BoogiesTrains]

They are scheduled to be cascaded to another operator but no replacements have been identified. Bizarre situation. More 769s would seem to be the obvious short term answer. Extending the third rail is the right thing to do. Perhaps the rolling programme of electrification that is to be announced soon will include this.

[@geoffbarry9540]

The truncation of the Uckfield line ensured that electrification would probably never be viable and there was a school of thought at the time that this and other "economy" measures like the partial singling were deliberate attempts to try and run down patronage and eventually force closure. The Cowden collision caused a huge outcry, however, and the powers that be reluctantly allowed investment in infrastructure to ensure its survival. Even when I was living in England (2002-6) there were influential calls for services and infrastructure to be upgraded and the use of eight car trains clearly indicates that rider numbers have increased dramatically. With recent developments in hybrid technology, however, I think the best that could be expected for the future might be some redoubling of single track sections to allow service improvements. On the Hastings route, I lived in Hastings for much of my time in England and used the turbo services when convenient to travel to Eastbourne for work related meetings. My recollection is that at that time at least some services were running through from Ashford to Brighton. Certainly one of the morning peak trains in which I travelled was doing this - and much fun it wasn't too, with a single two-car unit crush loaded from Warrior Square ro Eastbourne and beyond!

[@davidashton3396]

Interesting, I did think though that there might be some comment on the interior of these trains which personally I think is very good for a commuter land unit - ver6 good seats and legroom. Made a lot of journeys between ECR and LBG and if I could get on one of these and get a seat it was a pleasurable 15-20 minutes!

[@BoogiesTrains]

I've never had the opportunity to get on one. I must try to do London Bridge to East Croydon when we are allowed to travel for pleasure again.

[@nasirgoldbourne9940]

I like the turbo stars class 171, mostly the 2 coaches one.

[@2terabytes714]

I find it a little bit weird that the 377's don't assist the 171's through the electrified parts of the network.

[@BoogiesTrains]

Although the two types can be coupled, this is only for emergency rescue purposes. I doubt that the traction control systems would allow both traction types to operate at the same time. See my reply to another comment about class 769.

[@geoffbarry9540]

A ten car consist at 9.20? Can the stations beyond Hurst Green accommodate ten now? I know they were being extended but I thought it was only to eight.

[@thedanster2352]

I don't think Cowden can but the rest can all hold 10

[@deauvilledad07]

Super video as always from Boogies trains. Is there a geographical reason the uckfield line wasn't electrified or is it pureeconomice. Well done 💙 stay safe 🤓💙

[@BoogiesTrains]

Not sure why Uckfield wasn't electrified at the same time as East Grinstead. Probably cost as substations would have been required. Official policy was probably still tilted towards closure.

[@Pulsarnix]

Some of these are going to EMR in 2022

[@BoogiesTrains]

Allegedly. I suspect that reduced demand for travel will lead to some changes in current plans in many places.

[@HMStrainspotter]

I want to correct you if you don't mind when you said Ashford international and Hastings you ment to say Ashford international to Eastbourne and vice versa

[@BoogiesTrains]

Thank you. Always happy to receive corrections and comments.

[@CPTrains]

Good video about the Class 171s. I believe some are going to EMR so recently after getting them from Scotrail. How will they be replaced? I don’t know why they don’t electrify those two lines, as then the 377s can use them.

[@BoogiesTrains]

The plan to cascade them doesn't seem to include any plan to replace them. Bizarre. Presumably someone thinks that they can force a crisis that will force the electrification of the Uckfield and Marshlink lines to be approved. More realistically, if the class 769 concept works, there are plenty of 319s available for conversion.

[@CPTrains]

The 769s do seem like a good idea, and could also replace the 455s. The interiors look very modern, from the GWR video about them. More trains are obviously needed, as there will only be 4 4 car sets and 4 2 car sets left (24 carriages and they currently run some 10 car sets???). They could work very well and will give the 319s a new fresh of life. I believe Network Rail want to move away from third rail and don't want to electrify whole lines. They could use OHLE to electrify these lines as some 377s are compatible with that power, but will there be enough 377s.

[@oldtechnobodycaresabout]

There is a large campaign to electrify Marshlink

[@BoogiesTrains]

There seemed to be a suggestion that the ban on more third rail might be eased to allow some small infill projects, however there is now no money and future demand levels are uncertain.

[@Andrewjg_89]

How many Class 171s are going to East Midlands Railway. And will Southern retain some of the Class 171s for the Uckfield Line and Marshlink Line services. Or is EMR inheriting the whole entire Class 171 fleet from Southern. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_171

[@joeakona6638]

do 171's classes go to tonbridge?

[@BoogiesTrains]

Not in the normal course of operations. Only on London Bridge to Uckfield and the Marshlink line normally.

[@AlteranAnciote]

Not routinely. However, 171s have been known to travel up from Hastings and via Tunbridge Wells as stock moves up towards Selhurst and/or London. And whilst it's conceivable they could run them on the Godstone line, the Redhill to Tonbridge service is one of the first routes that Southern normally cut during strikes and/or times of disruption.