on account of reliability problems; several services were substituted for by older locomotive-hauled trains at short notice. To address these issues, the fleet was subject to remedial work, which was largely centred around improvements to the performance of the brakes and bogies. These changes were reportedly successful, having resulted in the reliability of the trains improving substantially. As part of a restructure of franchise areas, during October 2003, FNW's services on the North Wales Coast Line from Birmingham and Manchester to Llandudno and Holyhead were transferred to the Wales & Borders franchise. All 27 Class 175s were transferred to Wales & Borders, who then sublet 11 to FNW. This arrangement was maintained following FNW's Manchester to Barrow and Windermere services being transferred to First TransPennine Express (FTPE) in February 2004. After FTPE took delivery of faster Class 185 DMUs, this arrangement ceased during December 2006. During December 2003, all of the Class 175s were transferred along with the Wales & Borders franchise to the new franchisee Arriva Trains Wales. Their sphere of operations was promptly extended to South Wales via the Welsh Marches Line, serving destinations such as Cardiff, Swansea, Pembroke Dock, Fishguard and Milford Haven. In October 2018, the fleet passed with the franchise to Transport for Wales Services; earlier that same year, the operator had announced its plans to replace the Class 175 with new-build Class 197 DMUs by 2023. In 2019, a comprehensive refurbishment of the Class 175 fleet commenced. Performed at Alstom's Widnes facility, this work saw various improved amenities being installed for passengers, such as re-covered seats, the addition of at-seat USB and electrical sockets, new carpets throughout, and various other new interior fittings; a new external livery was also applied. Refurbishment of the last unit was reportedly completed in January 2022. During February 2021, operation of the Class 175s was transferred along with the franchise to the Welsh Government-owned operator Transport for Wales Rail. Accidents and incidents On 16 January 2010, unit 175103 operating the 08:30 service from to struck two cars at Moreton-on-Lugg crossing between Hereford and Leominster. The front seat passenger in one of the cars was fatally injured, although there were no casualties on the train. The train did not derail. The signaller had raised the barriers in error when the train was approaching the crossing, and he was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter in July 2010. The same service collided