The first of the Class 159/1 fleet of three-car DMUs, No. 159102 has entered service on South West Trains. The set operated the 08.20 Yeovil Junction - Waterloo and then formed the 11.20 Waterloo - Yeovil as far as Salisbury where it was detached and stabled in the bay platform for inspection by stakeholders, press and members of passenger user groups.

The set has been totally refurbished at Wabtec Doncaster and now sports a very high class interior. The first class seating has come from former Anglia Railways Class 170s recovered in SWT dark blue moquette, while standard class seats of the same design as in Class 159/0 sets has been installed. The interior is very much in keeping with the Class 159/0 series, but revised lighting is fitted and a door has been provided between the first and standard class seating.

The press were told this will form the basis for squadron refurbishment of Class 159/0s which is due to start next summer, one down point is that no mobile telephone/computer power sockets have been fitted.

South West Trains have also announced that the Class 170/3 sets will start to be transferred away from Salisbury to First TransPennine Express next week, with the first sets to move north being Nos. 170301/302. The units will be taken to Crofton depot for rebranding in FTPE colours. The 'odd man out' of the SWT '170' fleet No. 170392 is to be transferred to Southern Railway in early 2007 and will be reclassified as a Class 171.