Class 150 Sprinter preservation begins at The Watercress Line

Class 150 Sprinter preservation has reached The Watercress Line in Hampshire. The railway says it is the first UK heritage railway to take this type into its running fleet, as reported by RailUK.

The move marks a step toward safeguarding more modern railway heritage alongside the line’s better-known historic steam operation.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

The second-generation Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU), numbered Class 150 Sprinter Unit 150231, has been donated by rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook, with the railway setting out the plan in its own update, The Watercress Line. Built in 1987, the Class 150 is part of the iconic Sprinter family introduced by British Rail to replace first-generation DMUs.

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The Watercress Line heritage railway adds a modern DMU

Sprinters placed engines and passenger accommodation within a single structure and brought in features such as power-operated sliding doors, changes that marked a major step forward in design and the passenger experience. Before unit 150231 enters public service, the Watercress Line team will complete an operational induction and staff training.

Earlier this year, the train was repainted into its original 1987 external livery. The work was intended to commemorate the introduction of the Sprinter type and to fill a gap in the historical timeline of multiple unit development. It took place at The Greatest Gathering in Derby, a “Railway 200” celebration showcasing Britain’s railways from the National Railway Museum’s Locomotion No. 1 through to the very latest high-speed trains, as noted by RailAdvent.

Class 150 150231 and an operational gap at the Alton end

The arrival of the Class 150 150231 is expected to address a long-standing operational gap for The Watercress Line, particularly for visitors travelling from Alton and the London end of the line. Rebecca Dalley, CEO of The Watercress Line, said the railway has been looking for an opportunity to restore this kind of service since its previous multiple unit, the Class 205 Hampshire Unit, came out of service in 2004.

She added that the team hopes to start restoration of the 1959 Hampshire Unit as the mainstay for the Alton service, with the Class 150 in support. With the Class 150 joining the running fleet and the restoration of the Hampshire Unit planned, she said the railway can once again provide a service that connects perfectly with its steam-hauled trains.

Porterbrook Chief Investment Officer Stefan Rose said The Watercress Line is a fitting new home for a train that has served communities reliably for decades. He added that it will remain something the public can enjoy, while also helping to educate future generations about the UK’s railway heritage.

From Newton Heath to preservation on the Watercress Line

Unit 150231 was delivered new to Newton Heath depot, Manchester, in February 1987 and later operated across multiple regions, including Regional Railways Central, BR Anglia, Silverlink Trains and Arriva Trains Wales. In September 1994 it was named King Edmund at Bury St Edmunds station, a title it carried throughout its service life.

Its final working passenger service ran on Wednesday 9 July 2025, operating the 18:35 Shrewsbury to Swansea service, before moving to Derby to take part in The Greatest Gathering celebrations. It will now begin its next chapter in Class 150 Sprinter preservation with The Watercress Line, becoming the first of its class to enter heritage operation.

Richard Bentley, Operations Manager at The Watercress Line, said that if the line had stayed open through the 1980s, this is exactly the type of unit that might have run there. He added that the Class 150 will enable an earlier departure from Alton, improving flexibility and enhancing the visitor experience on operating days, while complementing the railway’s iconic steam services.

Trustee and Alton resident Jonathan Morris said it is extraordinary that more time has passed since the Class 150 entered service than between the building of Canadian Pacific and the reopening of The Watercress Line. He added that his children can enjoy the train today and, in years to come, see it preserved as part of living railway history, while also thanking Porterbrook for its generosity and the Greatest Gathering team for restoring it to its original livery.

To mark the arrival of 150231, The Watercress Line Heritage Railway Trust is launching a new supporters’ scheme, The 150 Club, to help fund the ongoing restoration, maintenance and long-term care of this important unit, ensuring it remains part of the working heritage fleet for future generations.

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