Design
These trains are powered by Cummins QSK19-R engines through a Voith 3 speed hydrodynamic transmission powering both axles on one bogie per car with the other bogie unpowered. Mechanically the trains are very similar to Alstom's Class 180 Coradia DMUs although the 185s have a lower top speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).
The Class 185 trains are designed to be quick accelerators and faster at climbing hills; First TransPennine Express expect these trains to be able to make up time more easily than the 158s should they be delayed due to the higher acceleration afforded by the 2,250 horsepower (1,680 kW) provided by a 185's engines (as compared with a Class 158 with 1,050 hp (780 kW) provided by a 3 car set). There are also concerns about the logic in these fuel efficient times of replacing relatively light Class 158 units with heavier Class 185s, that have fewer seats per coach.
The units have higher axle weight and lower route availability (RA 5 compared to the RA 2 of a Class 158) which means they are too heavy to run at the faster speed limits designed for sprinter class trains that are in place on some parts of the First TransPennine Express network. Therefore they can only run at the lower standard speed limits. Due to the higher acceleration of the Class 185 they are still able to run to the Class 158 timings on these routes.
The first units were delivered from Siemens in the old First livery, these were converted to the new First 'Dynamic lines' livery using vinyl wraps upon arrival in the United Kingdom. Later arrivals were delivered blank and given vinyls at Ardwick Depot, Manchester.
Read more about this topic: British Rail Class 185
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