The class 170 "Turbostar" is the diesel hydraulic multiple unit designed for longer distance services from builders Adtranz, now Bombardier. Vehicles, which are of nominal 23m long, are of welded aluminium with steel ends construction and all cars are motored providing 422h.p. @ 1900 r.p.m. per car. Units can be formed of either two, three or four cars. Cars are gangwayed within the unit and are air-conditioned. First deliveries of 170/1 two car units began in January 1999 to Midland Mainline.

photograph by Colin Duff

This class gains eligibility to be included on the SEmG site with the commencement in the May 2000 summer timetable of Anglia Railways' innovative Crosslink Service. Crosslink connects East Anglia to Basingstoke avoiding a change in Central London. There were six services each way Monday to Saturday on a two hourly interval with most currently starting at Chelmsford or Colchester (although a small number start from Ipswich or Norwich). The trains called at Stratford (interchange with First Great Eastern, Docklands Light Railway, Silverlink Metro, and LUL Central and Jubilee Lines), Highbury and Islington (interchange with West Anglia Great Northern, Silverlink Metro and LUL Victoria Line), West Hampstead (interchange with Thameslink, Silverlink Metro and LUL Jubilee Line), Feltham (for Heathrow Airport Gateway), Staines, Woking and Farnborough. From the North London line the service was routed from South Acton junction reaching Southern territory at Old Kew Junction and thence via the Hounslow loop.

photograph by Colin Duff

For Crosslink Anglia Railways drew on their eight strong fleet of 170/2 three car units which are leased from Porterbrook. Deliveries from Adtranz were between May and July 1999. The units are formed DMCL (driving motor composite lavatory) - MSLRB (motor standard luggage buffet) - DMSL (driving motor standard lavatory).

photograph by Colin Duff

photograph by Colin Duff