Class 442s - Now at the end of the road and to be withdrawn permanently

[moley]

That’s a shame when you consider it’s delivering extra services.

 

[Goldfish62]

Comments on socials and overheard on the platforms aren’t particularly positive.

In terms of what?

 

[sleeper fan]

Any manage to get any pictures from this morning?

 

[pompeyfan]

In terms of what?

Comfort and perceived reliability.

Pictures are floating about. I’ll ask someone and see if I can borrow.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They're the existing Chapman seats, aren't they? Never heard anyone complain about those. Have SWR managed to turn even those into ironing board equivalents?

 

[BRX]

perceived reliability.

Seems a bit soon to come to any conclusions on that front.

 

[Goldfish62]

Comfort and perceived reliability.

Pictures are floating about. I’ll ask someone and see if I can borrow.

I've seen photos on Facebook. The trains certainly look very smart internally.

 

[TEW]

They're the existing Chapman seats, aren't they? Never heard anyone complain about those. Have SWR managed to turn even those into ironing board equivalents?

Same seats, just new padding and standard SWR flat cloth covers. I'm a fan of Chapman seats generally but I never got on with the ones in the 442s particularly.

 

[MatthewRead]

Same seats, just new padding and standard SWR flat cloth covers. I'm a fan of Chapman seats generally but I never got on with the ones in the 442s particularly.

There not Chapman there actually Grammar seats.

 

[piresistable]

I was on the first train this morning from Woking. There were problems on the line this morning so it was 13 late into Waterloo. I was surprised at how many people were on the train when it arrived at Woking, but I got in the back carriage and there were plenty of seats - it will be interesting to see how quickly people in Woking twig that this is a good train to catch. The seats were acceptable, though quite firm.

Due to the congestion this morning the train didn't really stretch its legs. But it did feel noticeably slower to accelerate away from Woking, which could have a negative impact on performance. Probably worth seeing how performance does over the next week or so.

 

[molecrochip]

Due to the congestion this morning the train didn't really stretch its legs. But it did feel noticeably slower to accelerate away from Woking, which could have a negative impact on performance. Probably worth seeing how performance does over the next week or so.

Hardly a surprise its slower away. Isn't improved acceleration one of the headline wins from the retractioning (which hasn't yet happened)?

 

[swt_passenger]

They're the existing Chapman seats, aren't they? Never heard anyone complain about those. Have SWR managed to turn even those into ironing board equivalents?

Just to check, the “existing seats” were presumably those fitted by GatEx/Southern. So not the original seats as delivered to BR, and recovered by SWT. Also, the GatEx interior layout has been significantly changed again, with 2+2 in first as expected, just like the modified 444s?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Just to check, the “existing seats” were presumably those fitted by GatEx/Southern. So not the original seats as delivered to BR, and recovered by SWT. Also, the GatEx interior layout has been significantly changed again, with 2+2 in first as expected, just like the modified 444s?

Yes, correct.

 

[swt_passenger]

I was on the first train this morning from Woking. There were problems on the line this morning so it was 13 late into Waterloo. I was surprised at how many people were on the train when it arrived at Woking, but I got in the back carriage and there were plenty of seats - it will be interesting to see how quickly people in Woking twig that this is a good train to catch. The seats were acceptable, though quite firm.

Due to the congestion this morning the train didn't really stretch its legs. But it did feel noticeably slower to accelerate away from Woking, which could have a negative impact on performance. Probably worth seeing how performance does over the next week or so.

Welcome to railforums.

I expect their eventual hope is to fill 9B88 with people from Southampton Parkway, Eastleigh and Winchester - creating space on following services. I’d expect by the time it gets to Woking it should really have no more space than any other calling service.

But as I posted earlier from the May timetable change the 0628 off Parkway was planned to be a 10.444, with the 10.442 forming the 0651 which doesn’t stop after Winchester...

So this 442 call at Woking may not be there in the medium term after all...

 

[sleeper fan]

If this has been said before I apologise but do the Class 442s still carry the first class compartments from the days of SWT?

 

[swt_passenger]

If this has been said before I apologise but do the Class 442s still carry the first class compartments from the days of SWT?

Not at all, they were removed by GatEx, who relocated first to the middle coach, and completely rebuilt the original driving car to standard only.

 

[sleeper fan]

Not at all, they were removed by GatEx, who relocated first to the middle coach, and completely rebuilt the original driving car to standard only.

Thank you. Had a feeling they wouldn't still carry them but would have been interesting if they did still have it. Finally did GX remove the snug area in the guards coach?

 

[swt_passenger]

Thank you. Had a feeling they wouldn't still carry them but would have been interesting if they did still have it. Finally did GX remove the snug area in the guards coach?

Yes. Part of relocating first, I think the new first area replaced both buffet and snug, with the necessary new enlarged windows being fitted.

 

[sleeper fan]

Yes. Part of relocating first, I think the new first area replaced both buffet and snug, with the necessary new enlarged windows being fitted.

Shame but understandable. Thank you for confirming

 

[piresistable]

Welcome to railforums.

I expect their eventual hope is to fill 9B88 with people from Southampton Parkway, Eastleigh and Winchester - creating space on following services. I’d expect by the time it gets to Woking it should really have no more space than any other calling service.

But as I posted earlier from the May timetable change the 0628 off Parkway was planned to be a 10.444, with the 10.442 forming the 0651 which doesn’t stop after Winchester...

So this 442 call at Woking may not be there in the medium term after all...

Ah right, I feel privileged to have been on the first run!

 

[RichSwitch]

Having been refurbished, does anyone have the inside on how long SWR expect to keep them in service?

I don’t like the livery much, the white is too dominant. It could have been broken down a bit by more of the SWR light blue.

I’ll be interested to see what happens when the first one fails in service. Not because I want that. But to see how long it takes to clear it off the line compared to a 444/450.

Looking forward to seeing how passenger evaluations fare.

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

Why are the 442s currently only doing the 0628 So'ton Airport to Waterloo and 1848 Waterloo to Poole, and not doing the Portsmouth Direct Line?

 

[swt_passenger]

Why are the 442s currently only doing the 0628 So'ton Airport to Waterloo and 1848 Waterloo to Poole, and not doing the Portsmouth Direct Line?

Because it’s only the first day of introduction. The next phase will be to ramp up to the first 3 all day diagrams, which include Portsmouth. All perfectly normal so far...

 

[SWRtrain_fan]

Because it’s only the first day of introduction. The next phase will be to ramp up to the first 3 all day diagrams, which include Portsmouth. All perfectly normal so far...

Right, so even if the 442s were introduced 'on time' on 19th May, would only one pair of 442s be working on the first day of the timetable change?

 

[swt_passenger]

Right, so even if the 442s were introduced on the 19th May, would only one pair of 442s be working on the first day of the timetable change?

Quite possibly. Such info should only be read as “probable”, not as guaranteed.

 

[samuelmorris]

I'm a bit out of the loop with these - I understand no work has been done on the traction gear yet (despite recalling that was a big part of them being withdrawn from GX to begin with) but what work was carried out on the interiors? Have any PRM-related changes been made at this point?

 

[swt_passenger]

I'm a bit out of the loop with these - I understand no work has been done on the traction gear yet (despite recalling that was a big part of them being withdrawn from GX to begin with) but what work was carried out on the interiors? Have any PRM-related changes been made at this point?

They’ve repositioned the first back to one end, 32 seats of 2+2 which basically matches the general layout of the modded 444s. Were any PRM changes needed?

 

[pompeyfan]

I'm a bit out of the loop with these - I understand no work has been done on the traction gear yet (despite recalling that was a big part of them being withdrawn from GX to begin with) but what work was carried out on the interiors? Have any PRM-related changes been made at this point?

The universal toilet has been completely rebuilt along with door chimes. 2 units are in Eastleigh undergoing AC conversion as well.

 

[samuelmorris]

They’ve repositioned the first back to one end, 32 seats of 2+2 which basically matches the general layout of the modded 444s. Were any PRM changes needed?

The universal toilet has been completely rebuilt along with door chimes. 2 units are in Eastleigh undergoing AC conversion as well.

Thanks - so have they seen a proper interior refurbishment or are they otherwise as-GatEx other than that? (i.e. what I'm basically asking is have they been 'reliveried' on the inside as well, I haven't seen any decent interior photos yet)

 

[GW43125]

Were any PRM changes needed?

There was the more than minor issue of wheelchairs not/only just going through the doors. No idea if they've dealt with it.