British Rail Class 153 "Sprinter"
153174 at Lincoln Central on the 17th November 2007
In service	1991/2 - present
Manufacturer	Leyland Motors
Family name	Sprinter
Number built	70 (35 as Class 155s)
Formation	1 car
Capacity	75
Operator	Arriva Trains Wales East Midlands Trains First Great Western London Midland National Express East Anglia Northern Rail
Specifications
Car length	23. The Sprinter is a family of Diesel multiple unit Trains in use on the UK Railway system Arriva Trains Wales (Trenau Arriva Cymru is a train operating company that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches East Midlands Trains ( EMT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates London Midland is a Train operating company in the United Kingdom. National Express East Anglia is a Train operating company and brand name of London Eastern Railway Ltd in the United Kingdom. Northern Rail (often referred to simply as Northern) is a Train operating company that has operated local passenger services in the north of England 2 metres
Width	2. 7 metres
Maximum speed	75mph
Weight	41. 2 tonnes
Gauge	1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Safety systems	AWS, TPWS

Both the EMT liveried 153's (153374 and 153355) at Lincoln on the 29th December 2007

153317 at Lincoln on 17th November 2007. Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make up a railway track. The standard gauge (also named the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, or Normal gauge) is a widely-used Rail gauge. The Automatic Warning System (AWS is a form of limited Cab signalling and Train protection system introduced in 1956 in the United Kingdom to help The Train Protection & Warning System (TPWS is a Train protection system deployed across the entire UK passenger railway network, as well as in Victoria This unit was the first 153 in Northern Rail's livery.

153375 at Lincoln Central railway station. Lincoln railway station serves the city of Lincoln in Lincolnshire, England. At this time, the unit was Central Trains operated but is now employed by London Midland. Central Trains was a Train operating company in the United Kingdom, running local and long-distance services in central England. London Midland is a Train operating company in the United Kingdom.

Class 153, no. 153373 at Plymouth on 29th August 2003, with a service to Penzance. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London. Penzance (Pensans also Penzans, IPA: /pɛnˈzæns/ is a town Civil parish, and Port in the Penwith district of Cornwall This unit is operated by First Great Western and no longer carries the Heart of Wessex livery depicted. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates

Class 153, no. 153335 'Michael Palin' at Cambridge on 11th July 2003. The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England This unit is one of only three units repainted in Anglia Railways livery, and is now operated by National Express East Anglia

Class 153, no. Anglia Railways was a British train operating company, owned by GB Railways which between 5 January 1997 and 31 March 2004 operated mainline trains out of London Liverpool National Express East Anglia is a Train operating company and brand name of London Eastern Railway Ltd in the United Kingdom. 153304 at Doncaster on 27th July 2003. Doncaster is a large town in South Yorkshire, England and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. This unit is painted in obsolete Arriva Trains Northern livery. Arriva Trains Northern was a train operating company that operated passenger trains in Yorkshire and the North East of England

153365 at Doncaster on 4th September 2007. This example is now operated by London Midland. London Midland is a Train operating company in the United Kingdom.

Control desk of a Class 153

153375 coupled to 153385 approaching Lincoln Central on 6th September 2007

The British Rail Class 153 "Sprinter" is a diesel multiple unit. See also Rail transport in Great Britain, National Rail, Network Rail This article is about the defunct entity "British Railways" The Sprinter is a family of Diesel multiple unit Trains in use on the UK Railway system A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a Multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board Diesel

Description

These single-car units were originally built as two-car Class 155 units by Leyland from 1987-88, but were converted by Hunslet-Barclay at Kilmarnock from 1991-92. The British Rail Class 155 "Super- Sprinter " is a Diesel multiple unit. Andrew Barclay Sons & Co was a steam and later diesel Locomotive builder based in Kilmarnock, Scotland founded in 1840 Kilmarnock (Cill Meàrnaig locally known as Killie) is a large Burgh in East Ayrshire, Scotland, with a population of 44170 In a tradition following on from the Class 121 and Class 122 units, these units are sometimes referred to as "Bubble-cars" or "super-bubbles", and are also sometimes derogatorily referred to as "Dogboxes" or "V1 Flying Bombs" / "Scuds" - as they take off but one has no idea where they might end up. Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960 numbered 55020-55035 The British Rail Class 122 Diesel multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958 The layout of the original non-cab ends was subtly different from the original cab end, so the ends are noticeably different, and the vehicle not symmetrical. The new cab is significantly smaller than the original Leyland cab and pushes back into the door area, which can lead to slow boarding. They look much like a one-car 156, but the doors on a 153 are the plug type and a 156's doors are sliding. The front of a 153 also looks similar to a 156. Units are numbered in the range 153301-335 and 153351-385. Individual cars are numbered 52301-335 and 57351-385 (originally 57301-335), with the last three digits corresponding to the unit number.

Current operations

Upon privatisation of British Rail, the Class 153 fleet was divided amongst several different operators. See also Rail transport in Great Britain, National Rail, Network Rail This article is about the defunct entity "British Railways"

Arriva Trains Wales

Arriva Trains Wales have a fleet of 8 Class 153s. Arriva Trains Wales (Trenau Arriva Cymru is a train operating company that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches They are normally used on rural branchlines, such as the Heart of Wales Line from Shrewsbury to Swansea and the line from Wrexham to Bidston but are also used on some mainline services, which can lead to overcrowding. History Historically the line was known as the Central Wales Line (Llinell Canol Cymru and also included routes through Gowerton, where the railway crossed the Shrewsbury ( /ˈʃruːzbri/ or /ˈʃroʊzbri/ is the County town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England Swansea ( Abertawe "mouth of the Tawe " is a city and county in Wales. Since December 2005 Arriva have employed a Class 153 to "shuttle" along the Butetown Branch Line between the Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay stations. Cardiff Queen Street railway station (Caerdydd Heol y Frenhines is Wales' second busiest railway station in Cardiff, Wales. Cardiff Bay railway station ( gorsaf trennau Bae Caerdydd is a station serving the Cardiff Bay and Butetown areas of Cardiff. However a bubblecar is now used on this line.

As of the timetable change on the 9th December 2007, Arriva Trains Wales has lost 3 Class 153 units. Two to East Midlands Trains with the other transferring to First Great Western. East Midlands Trains ( EMT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates

East Midlands Trains

East Midlands Trains use class 153s on quiet or rural routes in the East Midlands. East Midlands Trains ( EMT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom.

These are: Nottingham to Worksop

Nottingham to Skegness(stopping service)

Peterborough to Lincoln Central and Doncaster

Newark Northgate to Cleethorpes

Leicester to Lincoln Central

Derby to Matlock

Derby to Crewe

East Midlands Trains inherited a "mixed bag" of Class 153 units, receiving 6 examples of the class from Central Trains, 3 from National Express East Anglia and four from storage at Eastleigh depot (formerly in service with First Great Western). Central Trains was a Train operating company in the United Kingdom, running local and long-distance services in central England. National Express East Anglia is a Train operating company and brand name of London Eastern Railway Ltd in the United Kingdom. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates As of 9th December 2007 East Midlands Trains has also received 2 additional Class 153 units from Arriva Trains Wales (Numbers 153310 and 321) and two additional trains from Northern (153319 and 357). Arriva Trains Wales (Trenau Arriva Cymru is a train operating company that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches Northern Rail (often referred to simply as Northern) is a Train operating company that has operated local passenger services in the north of England

Two 153 units have also been repainted into EMT colours - specifically 153374 and 153355.

First Great Western

First Great Western took over the Wessex Trains fleet upon the merger of the two franchises. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup, which operates Wessex Trains had, in turn, inherited its fleet of 13 units from its predecessor, Wales and West. Wessex Trains was the primary passenger rail operator in the South West of England. The company operated routes along Wales and the South West coast as seen in their route map Units are operated on local services in Cornwall, Devon, and around Bristol. Cornwall ( Kernow ˈkɛɹnɔʊ is the most southwesterly county of England, on the Peninsula that lies to the west of the River Tamar Devon is a large county in the South West of England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London They are also used on Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth, Southampton, and Worcester services and Swindon via Melksham to Southampton service. Bristol Temple Meads railway station is the oldest and largest Railway station in Bristol, England Weymouth (ˈweɪməθ is a town in Dorset, England situated on a sheltered bay at the mouth of the River Wey on the English Channel coast Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England Worcester (ˈwʊstə is a city and County town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Swindon ( is a large town in the ceremonial county of Wiltshire in the South West of England, midway between Bristol (64 km / 40 miles Melksham is a medium-sized English town lying on the River Avon. Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England

In mid-2004, Wessex Trains received a further two units from Central Trains (unit nos. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Central Trains was a Train operating company in the United Kingdom, running local and long-distance services in central England. 153329/369) to allow it to lengthen some services.

Following the introduction of a new timetable on 12th December 2006, four units were taken off lease and stored at the former Alsthom works at Eastleigh. They were Nos. 153302,153308,153355 and 153374. The decision was heavily criticised at the time by passengers for increasing overcrowding on services in the West Country, and in the case of the Looe-Liskeard line, depriving it on occasions of operational units. The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region Looe (Logh is a small coastal town and fishing port in the Caradon district of south-east Cornwall, England, UK, with a population Liskeard ( IPA /lɪˈskɑd/ — correctly stressed on the second syllable but often wrongly on the first (Lys Kerwyd or Lyskerrys is an ancient stannary and After a period in storage these four units were been pressed into service with East Midlands Trains. East Midlands Trains ( EMT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom.

On 9th December 2007, First Great Western received an additional Class 153 (number 153361) from Arriva Trains Wales bringing the total to 12. Arriva Trains Wales (Trenau Arriva Cymru is a train operating company that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches

From late 2007, a refurbishment programme commenced to refurbish the 153 fleet. This included fitting new seats, refreshing the interior and applying the First 'Local Lines' livery, an adaptation of the 'Dynamic Lines' livery comprising of names of local places and attractions forming the lines. This refurbishment programme was completed by early June 2008.

London Midland

London Midland use 10 class 153 DMUs on commuter lines in the West Midlands including Coventry to Nuneaton, Stourbridge Town Branch Line and the Birmingham to Stafford via Walsall line. London Midland is a Train operating company in the United Kingdom. Coventry ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in the County of West Midlands in England. Nuneaton is the largest town in the English county of Warwickshire, and the borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth. The Stourbridge Town Branch Line is a short (08 mile railway Branch line, in Stourbridge, West Midlands, England. All ten units were inherited from Central Trains and carry its livery. Central Trains was a Train operating company in the United Kingdom, running local and long-distance services in central England. Train-crew training is currently taking place to allow the introduction of these trains on the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley. The Marston Vale Line (Network Rail route MD 140 is the railway line from Bletchley to Bedford in England.

Northern Rail

The new Northern Rail franchise started operations in December 2004. Northern Rail (often referred to simply as Northern) is a Train operating company that has operated local passenger services in the north of England December 2004: ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September They inherited the fleets previously operated by Arriva Trains Northern and First North Western, whose routes the new franchise incorporated. Arriva Trains Northern was a train operating company that operated passenger trains in Yorkshire and the North East of England First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England

Northern inherited a fleet of eight units from First North Western (FNW) units, which are used on local services around Manchester, Chester and on Lancaster to Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle and Preston to Ormskirk services. First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040 Lancaster (pronounced ˈlæŋˌkæstə or ˈlænˌkæstə is a City in Lancashire, England. Barrow-in-Furness is an industrial town and Seaport in Cumbria, England. Carlisle (pronounced CARLYLE(emphasis on the first syllable is a City in northern England the largest settlement in Cumbria. Preston ( ˈprɛstən is a city and local government district in Lancashire, England, located on the River Ribble. Ormskirk is a Market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool, and southwest The fleet was repainted in the now obsolete North Western Trains blue and gold livery. Prior to becoming part of Northern, four former FNW units were transferred to the Arriva Trains Wales franchise, since the lines operated by FNW in Wales were transferred to this new company. Arriva Trains Wales (Trenau Arriva Cymru is a train operating company that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches

A larger fleet of twelve units were inherited from Arriva Trains Northern (ATN). Arriva Trains Northern was a train operating company that operated passenger trains in Yorkshire and the North East of England These have been refurbished and carry the now obsolete Arriva Trains livery. They are used on various local services around Leeds, Doncaster, and Sheffield. Leeds ( is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England Doncaster is a large town in South Yorkshire, England and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. Sheffield ( is a city and Metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England

In December 2007, two units were taken off lease from Northern and promptly transferred to East Midlands Trains. East Midlands Trains ( EMT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom. Both units, 153319 and 153357 carried Arriva livery.

From late 2007, a re-livery programme has started on Northern's Class 153 trains. All will be repainted into Northern livery.

National Express East Anglia

National Express East Anglia inherited a small fleet of seven units, for local services in Suffolk and Norfolk. National Express East Anglia is a Train operating company and brand name of London Eastern Railway Ltd in the United Kingdom. Suffolk (ˈsʌfək is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. Services operated by these units included Norwich to Sheringham and Great Yarmouth , Norwich to Lowestoft, they were also sometimes seen on the Ipswich to Cambridge line. History Roman The Romans had their regional capital at Venta Icenorum on the river to the south which is near modern-day Caistor St Edmund For the footballer see Teddy Sheringham Sheringham is a seaside Town (population 7143 in Norfolk, England Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a Coastal Town in Norfolk, England. History Roman The Romans had their regional capital at Venta Icenorum on the river to the south which is near modern-day Caistor St Edmund Lowestoft (ˈləʊstɒft/ /ˈləʊstəf is a town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England, lying between the eastern edge of The Broads National Park Ipswich ( ˈɪpswɪtʃ is a Non-metropolitan district and the County town of Suffolk, England on the Estuary of the River Orwell The city of Cambridge (ˈkeɪmbrɪdʒ is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England

Anglia Railways named its Class 153 fleet after famous local figures:

In 2003, Anglia started to refurbish its fleet, and repaint them in Anglia Railways livery. Edith Louisa Cavell ( December 4, 1865 – October 12, 1915) was a British World War I nurse and humanitarian Gerry Fiennes (full name Gerard Francis Gisborne Twistleton-Wykeham-Fiennes OBE, MA) ( 7 June 1906 &ndash 25 May John Constable ( 11 June 1776 &ndash 31 March 1837 Delia Smith OBE (born 18 June, 1941) is an English Cook and Television presenter, known for her interest in teaching Edward Benjamin Britten Baron Britten, OM CH (22 November 1913 – 4 December 1976 was an English Composer, conductor, Edward 'Ted' Ellis (born 23 February 1913 was an Australian rules footballer who played with North Melbourne and Footscray in the VFL. Michael Edward Palin, CBE (born 5 May 1943 is an English Comedian, actor writer and Television presenter best known for being one of the members However, only three (unit nos. 153309/322/335) were completed. In early-2005, two units were due to be transferred to other franchises, the first being unit no. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. 153311 to Arriva Trains Wales followed later by 153326, these two Regional Railways Livered units returned to One Railway in Spring 2007, along with North Western Blue 153313. Arriva Trains Wales (Trenau Arriva Cymru is a train operating company that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches The three last inherited units, 153311,313 & 326 have now been transferred to East Midlands Trains. East Midlands Trains ( EMT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom.

Fleet Details

References