Yes, the Class 153 "Super Sprinter" is one of the more unusual train classes in Britain because it was literally created by splitting existing Class 155 units in half.
The original Class 155s were built by Leyland Bus in 1987-88 as two-car diesel multiple units for British Rail's Regional Railways sector. Later, British Rail realised it still needed single-car vehicles for lightly used rural branch lines, replacing older railcars such as the Classes 121 and 122. Rather than build new trains, 35 Class 155 units were divided into individual vehicles and given a new driving cab at the former inner end. This conversion, carried out by Hunslet-Barclay in 1991-92, produced 70 Class 153 units. [en.wikipedia.org], [gcrailway.co.uk]
A few interesting things resulted from this conversion:
- One end has the original full-size cab.
- The other end has a smaller cab added during the conversion.
- This gives Class 153s their slightly uneven appearance if you look closely. [gcrailway.co.uk]
Because they were single vehicles, they were ideal for:
- Rural branch lines with low passenger numbers.
- Providing an extra coach on busy services.
- Working in multiple with other Sprinters such as Classes 150, 155, 156 and 158. [en.wikipedia.org], [gcrailway.co.uk]
Many enthusiasts have a soft spot for them because they are a practical British Rail solution: rather than spending money on a completely new fleet, engineers simply adapted what they already had.
If the video is the one I think it is, you may notice how a lone Class 153 can look quite small and almost bus-like. That is not surprising, as the original Class 155 design incorporated some components and ideas from the Leyland National bus, reflecting British Leyland's involvement in the project. [en.wikipedia.org]
In Norfolk and East Anglia, you would often have seen Class 153s on quieter routes, sometimes coupled to other Sprinter units when extra capacity was needed.
One thing I have often wondered is whether the Class 153 represents the last great example of British Rail's "make do and mend" ingenuity: turning 35 trains into 70 trains with relatively modest modifications. It was a very economical solution, and many of them remained in service for over 30 years. [en.wikipedia.org], [gcrailway.co.uk]
The Class 153 and Class 155 are very closely related because most Class 153s started life as Class 155s. However, they were designed for different operating needs. [en.wikipedia.org], [en.wikipedia.org]
| Feature | Class 155 | Class 153 |
|---|---|---|
| Original formation | 2-car DMU | 1-car DMU |
| Built | 1986-87 by Leyland Bus | Converted 1991-92 from Class 155s |
| Number built | 42 units | 70 single vehicles from 35 Class 155s |
| Seating | About 160 seats per 2-car set | Around 59-75 seats depending on layout |
| Engines | 2 engines (one per vehicle) | 1 engine |
| Power | About 570 hp total | About 285 hp |
| Main purpose | Busy regional services | Rural branch lines and capacity strengthening |
| Appearance | Symmetrical at both ends | One original cab, one smaller conversion cab |
| Weight | Around 76 tonnes for 2 cars | About 41 tonnes |
Sources: [en.wikipedia.org], [en.wikipedia.org]
Passenger experience
The Class 155 feels more like a conventional train. With two coaches permanently coupled together, there is more room for passengers and less overcrowding. [en.wikipedia.org]
The Class 153 feels more like a railbus. When travelling alone, it can become crowded quite quickly because all passengers share a single coach. Many travellers on rural routes found them practical but not especially spacious. [en.wikipedia.org], [gcrailway.co.uk]
Railway operator's view
For British Rail, the Class 153 was a clever solution:
- One Class 155 became two Class 153s.
- Branch lines did not need a full two-car train all day.
- Fuel and maintenance costs could be reduced on quieter routes.
- A Class 153 could be attached to another Sprinter when extra capacity was needed. [gcrailway.co.uk], [en.wikipedia.org]
Appearance
Many enthusiasts can spot a Class 153 instantly because one end looks slightly different from the other. During conversion, a new cab was fitted where the gangway connection had originally been. Space limitations produced a noticeably smaller cab. [gcrailway.co.uk]
Which was better?
It depends on the job:
- Class 155: Better for passenger comfort and medium-distance regional services.
- Class 153: Better for lightly used branch lines where a two-car train would be mostly empty.
A good analogy might be that the Class 155 was like a two-car family saloon, while the Class 153 was like taking that same car and turning it into a small delivery van for jobs where full capacity was unnecessary.
As someone interested in East Anglia railways, you may remember seeing single Class 153s on quieter routes where anything larger would have looked almost excessive, while a full Class 155 would have been more at home on busier Yorkshire and Northern regional services.
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