British Rail Class 168
| Industry | Rail transport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1996 |
Area served | United Kingdom |
| Products | Passenger train services |
The Class 168 Clubman represents a British diesel-hydraulic multiple unit trainset operated by Chiltern Railways, primarily serving routes between London Marylebone and the West Midlands. Constructed by Adtranz at the Derby Litchurch Lane Works starting in 1998, this fleet was introduced in multiple production runs.
The first series, designated 168/0 under the TOPS system, bore a strong resemblance to the earlier Class 165 units produced by BREL York and featured a Networker-style cab as a temporary solution. Subsequent batches, known as subclasses 168/1 and 168/2, were developed alongside the Class 170 Turbostar family, aligning them within the well-established Turbostar series.
History
The Class 168 was initially envisioned by Network SouthEast to enhance services on the Chiltern Main Line extending to either Birmingham Snow Hill or New Street. The goal was to achieve higher speeds and improved acceleration compared to the Class 165 Networker Turbo DMUs. However, privatisation took place before Network SouthEast could procure any units.
In September 1996, Chiltern Railways placed an order with Adtranz for four trains valued at £34 million—marking the first such procurement by a train operating company following privatisation. These initial Clubman 168/0 units were delivered as three-car sets but were subsequently extended to four cars.
One vehicle was modified into a hybrid configuration as of 2022, though it is planned to be reverted back to standard form due to operational challenges.
In 2023, Chiltern revealed plans for a £10.7 million overhaul of the entire Class 168 fleet. Upgrades include new carpeting, refurbished seating upholstery, installation of 5G Wi-Fi, charging facilities, and refreshed exterior livery. The first unit featuring these refurbishments was presented on 10 October 2024.
Variants
The Class 168 family comprises three main variants: 168/0, 168/1, and 168/2. Both subclasses 168/1 and 168/2 share design characteristics with the Class 170 Turbostar DMUs, differing mainly in their cab designs. Additionally, Chiltern converted nine Class 170 units acquired from First TransPennine Express by Brush Traction for compatibility with Class 168s; these were reclassified as Class 168/3.
Unit number 168329 underwent conversion by Porterbrook into a diesel/battery hybrid prototype. After testing in 2021 on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, it commenced service under the name "HybridFlex" in February 2022.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | Quantity | Year constructed | Cars per set | Unit numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 168/0 | Chiltern Railways | 5 | 1998 | 4 | 168001–168005 |
| 168/1 | 2 | 2000 | 168106–168107 | ||
| 6 | 3 | 168108–168113 | |||
| 168/2 | 3 | 2004 | 168214, 168218–168219 | ||
| 3 | 4 | 168215–168217 | |||
| 168/3 | 8 | 2000 | 2 | 168321–168328 | |
| 1 | 168329 ("HybridFlex" demonstrator) |
Named units
The units that have received specific names include:
- 168001 Adrian Shooter
- 168215 Marylebone Station 125 Years