Planning a day out to ride on class 455s

[LudwigTails]

So by tomorrow I wanted to have a quick day out in London riding the class 455s. Out from waterloo what is the longest/furthest journey I can take on a class 455?

 

[yorkie]

London to Guilford is probably the longest in normal regular service that I could immediately think of.

 

[JonathanH]

Tomorrow isn't a great day for 455s at Waterloo because the line is shut via Wimbledon. Waterloo to Shepperton via Richmond and Kingston is possibly the only service with 455s tomorrow.

The other route is Guildford to Worcester Park via Epsom.

Buses from Clapham Junction to Worcester Park, Effingham Junction via Surbiton, Surbiton via Norbiton and Kingston, Weybridge, Chessington South and Hampton Court.

 

[Pep and co]

Engineering works to/from Waterloo this weekend might reduce your options sadly.

 

[LudwigTails]

London to Guilford is probably the longest in normal regular service that I could immediately think of.

Tomorrow isn't a great day for 455s at Waterloo because the line is shut via Wimbledon. Waterloo to Shepperton via Richmond and Kingston is possibly the only service with 455s tomorrow.

The other route is Guildford to Worcester Park via Epsom.

Buses from Clapham Junction to Worcester Park, Effingham Junction via Surbiton, Surbiton via Norbiton and Kingston, Weybridge, Chessington South and Hampton Court.

Is the one from Guildford to Worcester any longer than Waterloo to Shepperton /Kingston? Or maybe i should reserve the class 455 for another time and go and score another old train out of London for something else?

 

[JonathanH]

The 455s will be round for a while. Guildford to Worcester Park is about 20 miles. Waterloo to Shepperton via Richmond and Kingston is about 24 miles.

If you only want to experience one 455 trip, then it doesn't really matter that there is only one route tomorrow. However, leaving it for another day would give more choice.

 

[Kite159]

Probably something like Waterloo to Reading, using RTT to determine which services are 455s.

 

[LudwigTails]

Probably something like Waterloo to Reading, using RTT to determine which services are 455s.

i believe those are the planned 75 mph max trains on RTT right?

 

[JonathanH]

i believe those are the planned 75 mph max trains on RTT right?

No, all Reading trains are timed for 100mph units. The speed limit is no more than 70mph on the route so 455s can operate them as well as 450s.

 

[cactustwirly]

Reading is the longest trip, although Sundays are normally all 450s.
There is normally 1 working on weekdays

 

[boiledbeans2]

London to Guilford is probably the longest in normal regular service that I could immediately think of.

The rounders via Strawberry Hill are also a good option, with the benefit of being fully within the Travelcard region, e.g.

Realtime Trains | 0930 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 13/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0930 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 13/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If you want a bit of high speed Class 455 within the Travelcard region, aim for the "Woking" or "Guildford via Cobham" stoppers. These run non-stop between Wimbledon and Surbiton. Even better, wait for a delayed 455, which gets sent on the fast lines non-stop Waterloo to Surbiton (or vice-versa).

(not this Sunday though)

 

[boiledbeans2]

[...] Or maybe i should reserve the class 455 for another time and go and score another old train out of London for something else?

Perhaps you might want to try the Class 158/159s going via Staines, e.g.

Realtime Trains | 1L25 0936 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1L25 0936 departure from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[LudwigTails]

The rounders via Strawberry Hill are also a good option, with the benefit of being fully within the Travelcard region, e.g.

Realtime Trains | 0930 London Waterloo to London Waterloo | 13/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 0930 departure from London Waterloo to London Waterloo on 13/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

If you want a bit of high speed Class 455 within the Travelcard region, aim for the "Woking" or "Guildford via Cobham" stoppers. These run non-stop between Wimbledon and Surbiton. Even better, wait for a delayed 455, which gets sent on the fast lines non-stop Waterloo to Surbiton (or vice-versa).

(not this Sunday though)

Ah shucks, if the line to guildford wasnt closed this sunday I would've been able to try that line out.
But the line to Shepperton and Kingston is also okay?

 

[boiledbeans2]

Ah shucks, if the line to guildford wasnt closed this sunday I would've been able to try that line out.
But the line to Shepperton and Kingston is also okay?

Yep, Shepperton via Kingston today (19th Jan). As of now, some have already been confirmed as 455s, e.g.

Realtime Trains | 1114 London Waterloo to Shepperton | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1114 departure from London Waterloo to Shepperton on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Tip #1: when on a 455/7, remember to ride on the former Class 508 trailer as well. Try pressing the buttons to open the doors on the trailer.

The Class 508 trailer can be identified easily by its different body profile compared to the rest of the train - see the 3rd carriage here:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Class_455_train_seen_on_the_Kingston_loop_line.jpg

Tip #2: when on any 455, remember to take note of the SWT maps above each door. Eurostar departs from Waterloo. (Though recently, I've noticed more SWR maps instead of SWT maps)

Tip #3: The compressors are on the driving trailers. I believe they are from the 1960s? Very loud.

Tip #4: try to spot BR blue 455868: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...55_units_at_Sunbury_station_in_March_2024.jpg

Tip #5: sit behind the driver's cab to hear the classic ding-ding right away bell from the guard.

 

[LudwigTails]

Yep, Shepperton via Kingston today (19th Jan). As of now, some have already been confirmed as 455s, e.g.

Realtime Trains | 1114 London Waterloo to Shepperton | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1114 departure from London Waterloo to Shepperton on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Tip #1: when on a 455/7, remember to ride on the former Class 508 trailer as well. Try pressing the buttons to open the doors on the trailer.

The Class 508 trailer can be identified easily by its different body profile compared to the rest of the train - see the 3rd carriage here:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Class_455_train_seen_on_the_Kingston_loop_line.jpg

Tip #2: when on any 455, remember to take note of the SWT maps above each door. Eurostar departs from Waterloo. (Though recently, I've noticed more SWR maps instead of SWT maps)

Tip #3: The compressors are on the driving trailers. Very loud.

Tip #4: try to spot BR blue 455868: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe...55_units_at_Sunbury_station_in_March_2024.jpg

Tip #5: sit behind the driver's cab to hear the classic ding-ding right away bell from the guard.

I have been on 455s for about... 2 times actaully haha. My first ever Class 455 rode was in fact the BR blue one! 868! But both times are all /8s so I do hope to get on both /7 and /9 by Sunday! The second time I think both times I had rode in the trailer car in fact but I have only ride between Waterloo and Clapham junction. Never rode them outside there due to lack of time I have in London haha.
Hopefully I get to achieve some of the tips you have given. And then i will catch the 455s again in another sunday. Hopefully the guildford line aint closed when that sunday comes.

 

[Siemens Staines]

As per yesterday, three pairs of 455 are on Waterloo - Readings today;

Realtime Trains | 2C15 0739 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C15 0739 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2C17 0809 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C17 0809 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2C19 0839 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C19 0839 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

plus one pair of 458/5

Realtime Trains | 2C21 0909 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C21 0909 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Kite159]

Perhaps you might want to try the Class 158/159s going via Staines, e.g.

Realtime Trains | 1L25 0936 London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 1L25 0936 departure from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Only if you want to get annoyed with the low speed at certain points due to speed restrictions for sprinters via Staines.

 

[route101]

I had 455 on Clapham Junction to Kingston yesterday.

 

[LudwigTails]

As per yesterday, three pairs of 455 are on Waterloo - Readings today;

Realtime Trains | 2C15 0739 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C15 0739 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2C17 0809 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C17 0809 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Realtime Trains | 2C19 0839 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C19 0839 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

plus one pair of 458/5

Realtime Trains | 2C21 0909 London Waterloo to Reading | 19/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C21 0909 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 19/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I just saw 455 868 to be one a reading run. Sadly as k am typing this I am on a 455 to Shepperton!

And is there a part on the Shepperton to Waterloo line where drivers would usually thrash the 455 motors?

 

[LudwigTails]

Alright after much needed rest. Here was what my day out was.

Starting from Brighton I would ride my first ever train in 2025. Being 1A21 1039 Brighton to London Victoria 377 475 + 377 101. What a contrasting consist.
After spotting a couple trains at London Victoria before I headed up to Waterloo for lunch. And waited for 2H39 1414 London Waterloo to Shepperton with 455 725 + 455 913 rode on both units with changing units when turning around at Kingston.
Then waited for 913 and 725 leaving Shepperton and waited for around 39 minutes ish? Before having to wait for
2H54 1716 Shepperton to London Waterloo 455 920 + 455 727. Once again changing unit and ends at Kingston before returning to Waterloo, filmed it leave before headed for dinner. There was one more place that I hope to visit during the that late evening and I quickly hopped on a 2C67, a pair of class 450s up to Vauxhall, which was the MI6 building! I took pictures of it from a nearby bridge before headed back to Victoria via the Victoria Line from Vauxhall. Once back to Victoria I filmed one more train before accidentally waited for a 1H70, as I never rode a 1H train to Brighton before as the headcode is regularly used by trains to Littlehampton. However it was a sole 4 car, seeing as there wasn’t anymore 8 car trains I just got on it and it was 377 215 doing the run down back to Brighton. And I was home.

A pretty plentiful day out. Will defiantly come back to the 455 again once the Wimbledon line to Guildford is open on a Sunday. And because I woke up early-ish while came back late I was tired and during my journeys on the 455, I sometimes had fallen asleep haha. Suppose their motor sounds are so good that I fell asleep to it.

And not gonna lie throughout the 455 trips the one thing I did struggle with was the lack of toilets being somewhat annoying. No toilets at Shepperton station but I was able to find toilets at a nearby club.

 

[infobleep]

And not gonna lie throughout the 455 trips the one thing I did struggle with was the lack of toilets being somewhat annoying. No toilets at Shepperton station but I was able to find toilets at a nearby club.

Lack of toilets is why I'll be glad to see them go.

I've even had the misfortune to be on one running from Vauxhall, stopping at Clapham Junction, Woking and Guildford when I didn't think 455s were used for fast trains.

After that I was more careful, making sure I wouldn't need the loo whilst on the train.

Did the windows open at all whilst you were travelling? Can happen when fast trains go past you.

 

[LudwigTails]

Lack of toilets is why I'll be glad to see them go.

I've even had the misfortune to be on one running from Vauxhall, stopping at Clapham Junction, Woking and Guildford when I didn't think 455s were used for fast trains.

After that I was more careful, making sure I wouldn't need the loo whilst on the train.

The only times I was able to go to the loo before Shepperton was only way Waterloo.

Did the windows open at all whilst you were travelling? Can happen when fast trains go past you.

Not that I think this has ever happened during my ride with the 455s

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Did the windows open at all whilst you were travelling? Can happen when fast trains go past you.

I've never seen that happen.

What I have seen happen almost every time I ride the 455s is that if they get overtaken by a 450 or 444 west of the flyover at Wimbledon with quite a big difference in speed, any open windows will immediately get sucked shut with a very loud slam as the Desiros generate a quite strong low pressure vortex.

 

[infobleep]

I've never seen that happen.

What I have seen happen almost every time I ride the 455s is that if they get overtaken by a 450 or 444 west of the flyover at Wimbledon with quite a big difference in speed, any open windows will immediately get sucked shut with a very loud slam as the Desiros generate a quite strong low pressure vortex.

Maybe I'm confusing the two, and it's the shutting I'm thinking of.