Class 166 'Networker Turbo' Profile and Models

Class 166 'Networker Turbo'

166209 at Keynsham in April 2021. ©Hugh Llewelyn

The British Rail Class 166 Networker Turbo is a fleet of diesel multiple unit passenger trains (DMUs), originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then Great Britain state-owned railway operator. They were built by ABB at York Works between 1992 and 1993. The trains were designed as a faster, air-conditioned variant of the Class 165 Turbo, intended for longer-distance services, and, like the 165s, belong to the Networker family of trains. They were originally known as Networker Turbos to distinguish them from the electrically propelled members of that family. Today the 166s, alongside the 165s, are normally referred to as Thames Turbos or just simply Turbos. The Class 166s are still in service today, solely operated by Great Western Railway. Until 2017, they operated only on express and local services in the Thames Valley area alongside the Class 165 units. In this time, they were based at Reading TMD but since July 2017, the 166 units have been gradually moved over to be based at St Philip's Marsh depot to operate local and regional services around Bristol and Exeter. Nowadays, the majority of the 166s are based in Bristol while many 165s remain in the Thames Valley.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

Diesel Multiple Unit

Builder

ABB Transportation

Build Dates

1992 to 1993

Total Built

21 sets

Coaches Per Unit

3-car

Power Output

1,050 hp

Top Speed

90 mph

Passenger Capacity

288 seats

Operated By

British Rail
Great Western Railway

Main Duties

Regional Passenger

In Service Until

Present

Surviving Examples

75 sets