A GWR Turbo - Date? Nigel Wordsworth.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has taken delivery of its final Class 166 train from Gemini Rail Services following a total internal refresh.
 
Train 166220 was the last of 57 Class 165/166 Networker Turbos that have been refreshed by the Wolverton-based refurbishment specialist.
 
Passengers will notice new seat coverings, repainted interior panels, and a new floor.
 
They are less likely to notice anti-corrosion work that has been carried out in certain locations, although there was surprising little of this considering that the trains are now 32-years-old.
 
The first eight Class 165 trains were repainted from First Group blue to GWR green, all of the other trains had already been repainted.
 
Most of the class is already back in service, with 166220 set to join its stablemates in the next few days.
 
20 Class 165 two-car trains serve Gloucester to Frome and on to Weymouth or Portsmouth, Bristol local services (including Weston-super-Mare), Oxford local services, and the Thames Valley branch lines.
 
16 three-car Class 165s and 21 Class 166 three-car trains operate services between Cardiff and Portsmouth (including Westbury), Exeter local services, and the North Downs line from Reading to Gatwick.
 
Work on the 57 train fleet commenced in September 2021, with each train being out of service for four to five weeks.
 
GWR Engineering Director Dr. Simon Green was very pleased with the result of the refresh, saying, "This has been a really good demonstration of the railway industry working collaboratively and I'd like to thank Angel Trains and Gemini Rail Services for their diligence over the past three years. This is all part of our commitment to improving the journey experience for our customers. We're delighted with the results and hope our passengers enjoy the refreshed feel of our carriages."
 
Gemini Rail Services Chief Operating Officer Sean Forster was pleased with his customer's reaction.
 
"We are very pleased to have successfully delivered this project through an effective partnership with GWR and Angel Trains," he said, "and all the team at Gemini look forward to working with GWR again, delivering future projects that continue to improve rail passengers' experience."
 
The trains' owner is Angel Trains, and Chief Operating Officer David Jordan commented, "Thanks to Great Western Railway and Gemini for the successful refurbishment of our Class 165 and 166 trains. These improvements will make the journey more enjoyable for passengers, which we hope will lead to more people choosing to travel by train in the South West."
 
Danny Longhorn