British Rail Class 168

The Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit (DMU) train used on services between London and the Midlands.

Description
The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by BREL York. The Networker-design cab was an interim solution pending the design of a completely new cab for further Turbostar batches. Subsequent builds, which are subclassed as 168/1 and 168/2, were constructed at the same time as the Class 170 Turbostar and thus are part of the Turbostar family of trains.

The first batch of Clubman carriages ordered by Chiltern Railways were the first units to be ordered by any train operating company since the privatisation of the UK industry in 1996. They were originally delivered as 3 car sets but were later lengthened to 4 car sets. The Midland Mainline Class 170/1 were the first production Class 170 Turbostars to be constructed and are based on the experience learnt from the Class 168.

Technical details
The Clubman/Turbostar platform is a modular design, optimised for speedy manufacture and easy maintenance. It consists of an underframe, which is created by seam-welding a number of extrusions, upon which bodyside panels are mounted followed by a single piece roof, again made from extruded sections.

The car ends are made from glass-reinforced plastic and steel, and are bolted on. Underframe components are collected in ‘rafts’, which are bolted into slots on the underframe extrusion.

The drive system consists of a MTU diesel engine with a two speed Voith T211r hydrodynamic transmission system. This is the same gearbox as previously used on all Sprinter variations. A cardan shaft links the output of the gearbox to ZF final drives on the inner bogie of each vehicle.

Automatic Train Protection (ATP) equipment, manufactured by Alcatel is fitted as well as a tripcock system for operation on the London to Aylesbury Line, where tracks are shared with London Underground.

Seating
A typical Class 168 consists of 2+2 standard class seating throughout, arranged either round tables or in airline style seating with pull-down tables. The majority of seats are facing seats. The Class 168 is carpeted throughout with luggage racks, air conditioning, and two or more toilets per set (one for disabled users, with baby changing facilities).

Passenger information systems are in fitted every car and on the outside of class 168/2 cars. The Clubman fleet has problems with its passenger information system, which is based on GPRS and GSM technology, but frequently fails to accurately find its position, resulting in misleading information being displayed to passengers.

Variants
Three different variants of the 168 have been produced - they are 168/0, 168/1 and 168/2 - both Classes 168/1 and 168/2 are actually of the same design as the Class 170 Turbostar DMU trains, mainly due to the redesigned cab ends. The nine Class 170s that Chiltern will obtain from First TransPennine Express will be converted to operate with the Class 168 fleet, and redesignated as Class 168/3.

Operations
Network South East (NSE) originally planned the Class 168 for their expansion of service on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill or New Street. These units were planned to have a higher top speed of 100 mph and better acceleration than the Class 165 Network Turbo DMU trains.

In the event, privatisation intervened before NSE acquired any units; Chiltern Railways operates these units, in similar diagrams to those originally planned by NSE.