TransPennine Express (TPE) has marked a major milestone as its iconic Class 185 fleet celebrates 20 years in service. A special event held on 16 March at Siemens Mobility’s Ardwick depot in Manchester brought together colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to recognise two decades of reliable, high‑performing rail operations across the North.
Since entering service on 14 March 2006, the Class 185 fleet has transformed intercity travel across the TransPennine network. The trains have collectively travelled almost 180 million miles — the equivalent of circling the globe more than 7,200 times — and have become a backbone of rail connectivity for communities and businesses across the region.
Celebrating Two Decades of Service Excellence
Attendees were given exclusive, behind‑the‑scenes access to the Ardwick depot, including engineering tours, demonstrations of specialist maintenance equipment, and the opportunity to try TPE’s state‑of‑the‑art driver simulators.
The event embraced a celebratory atmosphere, complete with party hats and brownies, as colleagues reflected on the impact of the Class 185 trains and the teams that keep them running.
Paul Staples, Engineering, Safety and Sustainability Director at TPE, said:
“Reaching 20 years of service for our Class 185 fleet is an immense milestone and a testament to the dedication of the many colleagues at TPE, Siemens and Beacon Rail who keep these trains running for our customers every day.
“The fleet plays a vital part of connecting communities and supporting regional growth across the North and it was great to celebrate this anniversary with our partners and colleagues at Ardwick depot.”
Aglaja Schneider, Joint UK&I CEO of Siemens Mobility and Managing Director for Rolling Stock and Customer Services, added:
“The whole Siemens Mobility team is so proud to celebrate two decades of the Class 185 fleet serving millions of passengers across the North.
"A huge thank you to our Siemens Mobility, the Beacon Rail and the TransPennine Express maintenance and engineering teams, whose dedication to safety, performance and passenger experience keeps these trains running. And with the digital upgrade to the fleet enabling data-driven maintenance; the 185s are ready for the future.”
A Proven Fleet with a Strong Reliability Record
Today, the Class 185 trains serve 66 stations and have called at more than 100 stations across the network over their two decades of operation. The fleet is widely regarded for its dependability, earning recognition as Most Reliable First Generation New DMU at the Golden Spanner Awards for the tenth time in 2025.
This achievement reflects the consistent quality of work from engineers, drivers, and technicians dedicated to maintaining high performance standards.
Refresh Programme Underway
In addition to the anniversary celebrations, the Class 185 fleet is currently undergoing an extensive refresh. A deep-clean programme launched in autumn 2025 includes:
- Full interior cleans, with seats and tables removed to restore carpets and upholstery to like-new condition.
The programme aims to enhance comfort and deliver an improved customer experience as the fleet enters its next chapter.
Image credits: TPE
