The Class 180 is a high-speed diesel-hydraulic multiple unit from the Coradia 1000 family designed by Alstom (France) for First Great Western (First Great Western did not actually own the trains but leased them through Angel Trains). 14 sets of these 5-car DMUs were built between 2000 and 2001 in Birmingham, England. The Class 180 were initially deployed to the Great Western mainline to supplement the HST in working the then new half-hourly timetable between London Paddington and South Wales. They began service in December 2008 and First Great Western nicknamed these trains Adelante. Unlike the Bombardier Voyager mentioned in a previous post, the Class 180 used a hydraulic transmission instead of electric motors to turn the wheels. Hydrodynamic braking system is equipped and one bogie per coach is powered with both axles driven. All coaches are equipped with a 560 kW (750 hp) diesel engine identical to the one used by the Voyager.
