Clapham Junction this morning

[Capybara]

I pass through Clapham Junction two or three times a week at the same sort of time so have a pretty good idea of what can be expected through there and when, even if I can't tell you which particular services they are. This morning a 450 came through Platform 10 at about 8:15 with a 'Waterloo via Wimbledon' service which was presumably off the Kingston Loop which is normally operated entirely with 455s. No sooner had this departed than a 458 came through Platform 8 non-stop with another Waterloo service from the Woking direction. Other than stock movements to Wimbledon depot I have not seen a 458 along that line in recent times. Any ideas?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Interesting... although not often, I have seen 458s carrying passengers along the main line in the peak hours, but not for a few months now.

As to the 450, there is often the odd working or two which is vice 455; I'd guess there may be a few more now that 5913 is no longer usable. I have seen a 450 regularly stopped in the up platform Earlsfield while going the other way on the 17.54 or 18.24 Waterloo to Epsom but haven't been able to identify which working it is.

But I see it often enough to suspect it's a booked vice diagram.

 

[455/8]

In the evenings there are a couple of services that are booked 450's that come up from shepperton, the service goes down via Richmond, then comes back up via kingston, so that would explain the 450s in the evening.

As for the 458's and 450's this morning I can't say for sure as I don't go back to work till tomorrow, I can only think that because there maybe a stock shortage of 455's then 458s have replaced the 455's before as 458's are cleared to work stoppers up the main to/from from woking and the 450's are cleared to work most suburban lines with restrictions. Other than that all I can think is there many have been a problem somewhere else on the line and these were diversions. There are a couple of 458 services that start from Aldershot stopping at all most every station to Waterloo via Ascot, these trains have been diverted before to run up the main via Woking and 450s are diverted/altered all the time but I would say that it would be a working via Kingston.

Alan

 

[Ibex]

Aren't 458's known to work Alton services sometimes?

I guess if theres a 450 substituting for a 455, something has to substitute for the 450.

 

[455/8]

As far as I am aware the 458's are not permitted to work Alton services (I may be wrong on this so i will check tomorrow evening).

 

[MCR247]

They used to didn't they before they moved to Readings?

 

[455/8]

Originally the 458's were supposed to work the Portsmouth,Weymouth and Alton services to replace the slammers yes but after there were issues with the 458's they didn't actually run any passenger services over those lines. Instead they were put into storage in Clapham yrad & Wimbledon Park depot and then finally after a few years of doing nothing Alstom sorted out bits on the units and by this time the Desiros were in full service so the 458's were put onto the Reading line.

 

[swt_passenger]

The 2009 baseline declaration, (basically a snapshot of the then current sectional appendix), shows 458s allowed on the direct routes between Waterloo and Weymouth, Guildford, Alton, Shepperton, in addition to their normal routes.

The main exception to what you might expect seems to be south of Guildford.

 

[455/8]

The 2009 baseline declaration, (basically a snapshot of the then current sectional appendix), shows 458s allowed on the direct routes between Waterloo and Weymouth, Guildford, Alton, Shepperton, in addition to their normal routes.

The main exception to what you might expect seems to be south of Guildford.

Thats more that likely due to the SDO requirements, as i said before i wasn't too sure cheers for clearing that up one less job for me when i go back in

 

[thefab444]

Originally the 458's were supposed to work the Portsmouth,Weymouth and Alton services to replace the slammers yes but after there were issues with the 458's they didn't actually run any passenger services over those lines.

Nah, the 458s started life on the Basingstoke and Alton services albeit not for long. I don't think they were ever even planned to work to Weymouth.