Class 458/5

[TEW]

Think I read on a newsletter that the 458/5s are going to run the Reading Road.Sooner or later.

Something like that anyway.(but your comment covers both bases)

458s will return to the Readings when the 707s arrive and displace them. I'm not sure what the final mix is going to be of 458s and 707s on the other Windsor Line services though. It appears that there will be some 10 car trains on Alton & Basingstoke trains too, I'd guess 458s as they are going to have First Class.

 

[Juniper Driver]

458s will return to the Readings when the 707s arrive and displace them. I'm not sure what the final mix is going to be of 458s and 707s on the other Windsor Line services though. It appears that there will be some 10 car trains on Alton & Basingstoke trains too, I'd guess 458s as they are going to have First Class.

Will they reinstate the first class,is it needed as opposed to capacity?
I mean I know there is not a lot of difference,but to partition off a bit costs £ and yet another (minor) conversion.

 

[swt_passenger]

They don't actually need to re-partition the 'first' areas, Southern don't have the doors on many of their trains, just the signage.

It's been discussed earlier in the thread that the potential for 'first' re-instatement is probably why they left the tables in those areas.

 

[Goldfish62]

They don't actually need to re-partition the 'first' areas, Southern don't have the doors on many of their trains, just the signage.

It's been discussed earlier in the thread that the potential for 'first' re-instatement is probably why they left the tables in those areas.

And indeed on the 458/0 conversions the blue moquette is still in place. Odd that they've removed the power sockets, though.

First Class is busy on the Reading line in the peaks, but virtually nil off-peak. I find it useful using the £5 upgrade when there's rugby on at Twickers and the trains are absolutely heaving.

 

[evergreenadam]

10 car trains on the Reading line can't come soon enough. The extra capacity to cope with Twickenham rugby is much needed. Two eight car trains an hour cannot cope with demand from Reading on match days.

 

[TEW]

The 8 car trains struggle to cope on normal days, let alone match days. At least more and more of the trains through Twickenham will be 10-cars as 458/5s start to arrive.

 

[evergreenadam]

The 8 car trains struggle to cope on normal days, let alone match days. At least more and more of the trains through Twickenham will be 10-cars as 458/5s start to arrive.

If sufficient line capacity were available an x15min frequency between Reading and Waterloo would be very popular and would release suppressed demand in the M4 corridor. The Bracknell to Reading section is really used like a metro into Reading and a higher frequency would create a turn up and go service.

 

[hassaanhc]

If sufficient line capacity were available an x15min frequency between Reading and Waterloo would be very popular and would release suppressed demand in the M4 corridor. The Bracknell to Reading section is really used like a metro into Reading and a higher frequency would create a turn up and go service.

The frequency already is every 15 minutes during the peaks, with the extras running fast between Wokingham and Reading in both directions. Therefore there shouldn't be issues at other times as it runs reliably during the peak.

 

[southern442]

458s will return to the Readings when the 707s arrive and displace them. I'm not sure what the final mix is going to be of 458s and 707s on the other Windsor Line services though. It appears that there will be some 10 car trains on Alton & Basingstoke trains too, I'd guess 458s as they are going to have First Class.

They now only have a 75mph top speed though, don't they?

 

[cjmillsnun]

They now only have a 75mph top speed though, don't they?

Yup.

There are already 10 car services to Basingstoke (and beyond).

I'm guessing class 444s will do the Alton services, or they will stop offering first class to Alton which will allow for 707s

 

[infobleep]

The frequency already is every 15 minutes during the peaks, with the extras running fast between Wokingham and Reading in both directions. Therefore there shouldn't be issues at other times as it runs reliably during the peak.

The thing that might stop an increased frequency is the cost. Someone has to pay for putting on more services.

I was surprised on new years eve to see a 450 being used for the 16.37 Guildford to Waterloo service via the Cobham line. I thought that coaching would only be used when they were running a week day timetable due to stock shortage. It was a Saturday timetable yesterday and I'd have thought with some trains having less carriages than a usual week day service and hardly any additional peak services, they could get away with using 455s. However clearly they couldn't or would have done so.

 

[hassaanhc]

The thing that might stop an increased frequency is the cost. Someone has to pay for putting on more services.

I was surprised on new years eve to see a 450 being used for the 16.37 Guildford to Waterloo service via the Cobham line. I thought that coaching would only be used when they were running a week day timetable due to stock shortage. It was a Saturday timetable yesterday and I'd have thought with some trains having less carriages than a usual week day service and hardly any additional peak services, they could get away with using 455s. However clearly they couldn't or would have done so.

I asked on Twitter about allocations on Tuesday when I found 10 cars instead of 4 on the 1722 Waterloo to Weybridge, I was told that allocations were slightly different to normal for this week. Looks like that extended elsewhere too, although that Cobham service is normally 450 on weekdays. Some 455s running to Windsor & Eton Riverside as well.

Yeah cost would be an issue with extra services, personally I'd rather they sorted the 1tph Sunday service on most branches first

 

[Goldfish62]

Yup.

There are already 10 car services to Basingstoke (and beyond).

I'm guessing class 444s will do the Alton services, or they will stop offering first class to Alton which will allow for 707s

Disgusted of Farnham may not appreciate the lack of toilets...

 

[hassaanhc]

Yup.

There are already 10 car services to Basingstoke (and beyond).

I'm guessing class 444s will do the Alton services, or they will stop offering first class to Alton which will allow for 707s

The end doors on the 444s will cause issues with excessive dwell times, and imagine how majority 444-operated services to Alton will go down at Portsmouth .

 

[Via Bank]

Yup.

There are already 10 car services to Basingstoke (and beyond).

I'm guessing class 444s will do the Alton services, or they will stop offering first class to Alton which will allow for 707s

Good luck getting the removal of First Class past the Alton Line Users' Group! There are already a few Alton services worked by 444s, one of which has catering(!) thanks to their lobbying.

 

[infobleep]

That would give Alton line users free WiFi. I'm sure the Alton line users would love that. No doubt Portsmouth line users in their 450s might think it unfair.

We must not forget though that some services from Portsmouth run during the morning peak to London are 444s and again the same is the case in the opposite in the evening. Of curse I believe even more 444s work the opposite direction to these. Of course less commuters are travelling on these services.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Good luck getting the removal of First Class past the Alton Line Users' Group! There are already a few Alton services worked by 444s, one of which has catering(!) thanks to their lobbying.

Good god, Just give the 455s :P

 

[455driver]

Good god, Just give the 455s :P

Dont you dare mention giving that bunch of self important <deleted>s my beloved 455s!

 

[southern442]

Dont you dare mention giving that bunch of self important <deleted>s my beloved 455s!

Get the 455's to pretend that they're 317/6's, the layouts are similar ish

You could add a fake first class like on the electrostars in Southeastern!

 

[Juniper Driver]

Dont you dare mention giving that bunch of self important <deleted>s my beloved 455s!

I was wondering whether you would see that.

 

[cjmillsnun]

Dont you dare mention giving that bunch of self important <deleted>s my beloved 455s!

you are so easy to wind up

 

[Kite159]

Good god, Just give the 455s :P

Nah, the 455s are too nice.

Once Great Northern have replacements for the 313s for Moorgate trains, give the Alton line 313s

And have them all terminate at Woking

 

[TEW]

The thing that might stop an increased frequency is the cost. Someone has to pay for putting on more services.

I was surprised on new years eve to see a 450 being used for the 16.37 Guildford to Waterloo service via the Cobham line. I thought that coaching would only be used when they were running a week day timetable due to stock shortage. It was a Saturday timetable yesterday and I'd have thought with some trains having less carriages than a usual week day service and hardly any additional peak services, they could get away with using 455s. However clearly they couldn't or would have done so.

There were about 6 pairs of 450s running on Suburban services on New Years Eve. There were about 4 in a row via Cobham from the 1637 departure from Guildford. I believe this was due to the usage of 455s for the additional services in the early hours of the day from Waterloo on New Years Day.

 

[455driver]

you are so easy to wind up

I thought it was quite a funny idea, I would love to see the look on some of their faces if a 455 turned up!

But I do have my (hard earned) reputation to think about!

 

[infobleep]

There were about 6 pairs of 450s running on Suburban services on New Years Eve. There were about 4 in a row via Cobham from the 1637 departure from Guildford. I believe this was due to the usage of 455s for the additional services in the early hours of the day from Waterloo on New Years Day.

I would have thought it would make sense for the 450s to be used as early new years day services, given they have toilets on board and people would have been out celebrating, aka drinking.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I would have thought it would make sense for the 450s to be used as early new years day services, given they have toilets on board and people would have been out celebrating, aka drinking.

I don't think so though,what's so different this year?

I had a 450 on my Dorking which is very rare for me.

 

[infobleep]

I don't think so though,what's so different this year?

I had a 450 on my Dorking which is very rare for me.

Nothing is different. People celebrated last year too and my comments apply to that year or any year they choose not to use trains with toilets on board.

Unless people who have been drinking and celebrating don't need access to toilets.

 

[TEW]

That would have been my thought too. But the 4 toilets on an 8-car 450 would likely have been swamped anyway. And it is much easier to clean a 455 which is in a state than a 450.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Nothing is different. People celebrated last year too and my comments apply to that year or any year they choose not to use trains with toilets on board.

Unless people who have been drinking and celebrating don't need access to toilets.

I know,it was more of a jokey comment but forgot the smiley.

I really think they are short of 455's.(or short of stock)

450's on the Dorking...would that be less than ten times or less than five that I have worked a 450 to Dorking since 2004.

 

[hassaanhc]

I know,it was more of a jokey comment but forgot the smiley.

I really think they are short of 455's.(or short of stock)

450's on the Dorking...would that be less than ten times or less than five that I have worked a 450 to Dorking since 2004.

Think you are just unlucky since May 2014 there are about 5 journeys every weekday to Dorking for 450s
1124 out from Waterloo, 1235 return, 1924 out, 2035 return, 2309 out, then ECS
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Nothing is different. People celebrated last year too and my comments apply to that year or any year they choose not to use trains with toilets on board.

Unless people who have been drinking and celebrating don't need access to toilets.

Toilets would probably be out of use by that time due to the tanks being full.