Southern Class 455 PRM modifications

[Class455]

Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide Progress List

Units fully modified and in service (all 46 units now have Wi-Fi fitted)
455801
455802
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Units partially modified and in service
None
Units currently being modified at Wolverton
455807
Units currently in service and still to be modified




Last updated: 19/06/20

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...5-emus-to-be-modified-for-prm-compliance.html

ESG Rail have today been awarded a contract to modify the Southern Class 455's to make them compliant with the 2020 PRM TSI regulations. The work will include:

• New door buttons and sounder units installed
• A new seating layout which is PRM compliant
• New inter-gangway door handles

Glad to see work finally commence on the Southern Class 455's, following the fitting of new LED lights onboard the units. I wonder where the work will be carried out though? Wolverton or in-house?

Now that the work has commenced, I have created a list of the units that have been done and units still to be done, similar to the "Thameslink Class 319's into storage" thread. Click above to view the list

 

[MatthewRead]

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/...5-emus-to-be-modified-for-prm-compliance.html

ESG Rail have today been awarded a contract to modify the Southern Class 455's to make them compliant with the 2020 PRM TSI regulations. The work will include:

New door buttons and sounder units installed
A new seating layout which is PRM compliant
New inter-gangway door handles

Glad to see work finally commence on the Southern Class 455's, following the fitting of new LED lights onboard the units. I wonder where the work will be carried out though? Wolverton or in-house?

When the work commences in January, I will create a list of the units that have been done and units still to be done, similar to the "Thameslink Class 319's into storage" thread

Hope they get new seat covers they could do with some.

 

[class387]

I'm interested in why they are being reseated. Isn't the plan for them to be replaced at the next franchise - does this suggest they will be retained? Knowing GTR I expected them just to do the basic 'just make the hustle alarm louder modifications.

 

[43096]

I'm interested in why they are being reseated. Isn't the plan for them to be replaced at the next franchise - does this suggest they will be retained? Knowing GTR I expected them just to do the basic 'just make the hustle alarm louder modifications.

Who said anything about reseated? It says new seating layout - I read that as existing seats retained but changes to how they are laid out; probably minimal changes to provide necessary wheelchair spaces and priority seats for PRM compliance.

 

[class387]

Who said anything about reseated? It says new seating layout - I read that as existing seats retained but changes to how they are laid out; probably minimal changes to provide necessary wheelchair spaces and priority seats for PRM compliance.

Sorry, by 'reseated' I meant something like what was done to the 357/3 conversations with 2+2 metro layout, not changing the actual seats. I wouldn't call removing a few seats to add a wheelchair space a 'new seating layout' though.

 

[Domh245]

Sorry, by 'reseated' I meant something like what was done to the 357/3 conversations with 2+2 metro layout, not changing the actual seats. I wouldn't call removing a few seats to add a wheelchair space a 'new seating layout' though.

Someone wanting to make something small sound more impressive might however...

 

[bramling]

Sorry, by 'reseated' I meant something like what was done to the 357/3 conversations with 2+2 metro layout, not changing the actual seats. I wouldn't call removing a few seats to add a wheelchair space a 'new seating layout' though.

I would imagine it may well be replacing a few facing seats with airline ones, such that some seats somewhere have extra legroom and can thus be declared priority seats. Like was done on the 365s.

 

[physics34]

Great ..more bloody intrusive alarm sounds

 

[class387]

I would imagine it may well be replacing a few facing seats with airline ones, such that some seats somewhere have extra legroom and can thus be declared priority seats. Like was done on the 365s.

I don't think 3+2 airline seats is a good idea...

 

[387star]

Great ..more bloody intrusive alarm sounds

fun on a london bridge-west croydon lol

 

[swt_passenger]

I'm interested in why they are being reseated. Isn't the plan for them to be replaced at the next franchise - does this suggest they will be retained?

The main discussion for the last two years seems to have been around people presuming they should be replaced now once Thameslink replaces many 377s by 700s. The reply from insiders has then usually been that there are no plans to send them off lease during the current franchise, just to diagram them less intensively.
I suspect people have therefore again just presumed that means they will probably be replaced during the next franchise, but I don't think there is any formal evidence for that yet...

Meanwhile, I wonder if it would have been easier to wait and recycle SWR's 455s, (generally thought to be in all round better condition). So I guess we'll have to assume the dates just don't line up.

 

[physics34]

The main discussion for the last two years seems to have been around people presuming they should be replaced now once Thameslink replaces many 377s by 700s. The reply from insiders has then usually been that there are no plans to send them off lease during the current franchise, just to diagram them less intensively.
I suspect people have therefore again just presumed that means they will probably be replaced during the next franchise, but I don't think there is any formal evidence for that yet...

Meanwhile, I wonder if it would have been easier to wait and recycle SWR's 455s, (generally thought to be in all round better condition). So I guess we'll have to assume the dates just don't line up.

also different leasing companies might be an issue. We have to assume the new franchise in 2021 will include "a replacement for class 313 and 455 units" but of course that could happen 3 or 4 years into the franchise.

The rumours, ideas and slight frustration is based on common sense which doesnt often prevail.....
...the spare 365s should go to SE, the 377/5s and spare southern 377s displaced by the Thameslink services should replace 455s and 313s. The SN 455s and 313s should be scrapped and the newer SWR 455s should find a home for the last 5 years or so of their life.

 

[Class455]

I don't think 3+2 airline seats is a good idea...

It really isn't. Sitting in the middle on a packed morning commuter service can make you feel squashed to say the least. Hopefully this "new seating layout" gets rid of it. I'd also quite like to see a longitudinal "tube style" seating at the back of the DTSO like on the SWR Class 455's, as this also creates more standing space.

 

[ert47]

I don't think 3+2 airline seats is a good idea...

It "works" on the LM class 150s

 

[Class455]

I’m quite suprised that power sockets aren't going to be fitted to the 455’s, considering Eversholt are currently fitting the 318’s with them, but I think Southern will take the opportunity to add WiFi to the 455’s during these refurbishments. Am I right in thinking that the retrofitting of power sockets is mandatory now or is that just for WiFi?

Also, I’m hoping that the new seating layout has more standing room available, not just creating more wheelchair space ,and remove the seats closest to the doorway. The SWR 455’s have plenty of standing space available in the doorway area, perfectly suited to Metro services whereas the Southern ones currently do not. Therefore you have more people cramming on. These units are supposed to be for Metro only so I think this has to be done.

 

[Class455]

the newer SWR 455s should find a home for the last 5 years or so of their life.

I can see Southern taking the remaining 455/8’s if they wanted to boost capacity on Metro services for a short term basis until the whole fleet is replaced, like Greater Anglia have done with the ex GTR 321’s. I’m sure the 455/7’s would find a new home, albeit in a three car formation, and the 455/9’s too. But the question of where still remains to be seen. If they’re not used again, I wonder if the traction equipment could be recycled for use on the Southern 455’s?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It "works" on the LM class 150s

I can see an argument for it - at least you don't have to play kneesie *and* be squashed up against people sideways.

 

[Jonny]

I can see Southern taking the remaining 455/8’s if they wanted to boost capacity on Metro services for a short term basis until the whole fleet is replaced, like Greater Anglia have done with the ex GTR 321’s. I’m sure the 455/7’s would find a new home, albeit in a three car formation, and the 455/9’s too. But the question of where still remains to be seen. If they’re not used again, I wonder if the traction equipment could be recycled for use on the Southern 455’s?

Maybe, but a lot of the traction equipment (on the 455s as built) was itself recovered from slam-door units. This means that recycling equipment is always going to be a bit touch-and-go.... at best...

 

[Fincra5]

I can see Southern taking the remaining 455/8’s if they wanted to boost capacity on Metro services for a short term basis until the whole fleet is replaced, like Greater Anglia have done with the ex GTR 321’s. I’m sure the 455/7’s would find a new home, albeit in a three car formation, and the 455/9’s too. But the question of where still remains to be seen. If they’re not used again, I wonder if the traction equipment could be recycled for use on the Southern 455’s?

Maybe they'll end up replacing 313s down on the Sussex Coast - Until a new franchise and a new fleet.

 

[Class455]

Maybe they'll end up replacing 313s down on the Sussex Coast - Until a new franchise and a new fleet.

I hope so, but I very much doubt it, considering the 313's are currently being upgraded to PRM. There are also 40-odd Class 319's sitting in Long Marston not being used, maybe Southern could make use of them? However I think it would be logical to replace the 313's with 20 Class 455/7's

 

[Fincra5]

I hope so, but I very much doubt it, considering the 313's are currently being upgraded to PRM. There are also 40-odd Class 319's sitting in Long Marston not being used, maybe Southern could make use of them? However I think it would be logical to replace the 313's with 20 Class 455/7's

They are but that's to be done by 2020 anyways. Its unlikely there would be enough 455/7's free by the time the Mods would have had to be done.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It wouldn't totally surprise me if PEP EMUs were in better nick than Mk3 EMUs because of the ally bodies.

 

[BestWestern]

Maybe, but a lot of the traction equipment (on the 455s as built) was itself recovered from slam-door units. This means that recycling equipment is always going to be a bit touch-and-go.... at best...

I assume the poster means the new kit on SWT's retractioned units?

 

[Class455]

I assume the poster means the new kit on SWT's retractioned units?

Exactly.

 

[Southern Dvr]

Yet more money going to waste at GTR then.

SWR has Class 707 units is does not want, and its inevitable that at some point GTR will be taking them on to replace the Class 455 units. All you are going to be seeing here is a light refurb on the existing units to eek out as much life as they can from them.

 

[Class455]

Yet more money going to waste at GTR then.

SWR has Class 707 units is does not want, and its inevitable that at some point GTR will be taking them on to replace the Class 455 units.

Don’t forget there are 46 Class 455/8’s in Southern’s Fleet and 30 Class 707’s, so unless they retained a small fleet of 455’s, there wouldn’t be enough 707’s to replace the entire fleet of 455’s. I personally think the 707’s may end up at Southeastern.

 

[Class455]

Today’s Railways have confirmed that the 455 modifications will be done in house. I would assume it’s being done at Selhurst since they have been responsible for the overhauls of the Class 377’s and the recent Class 377/3 repaints

 

[urpert]

I don't think 3+2 airline seats is a good idea...

The PRM Networkers have them (presumably to keep their seat count the same whilst removing seats elsewhere/replacing with side-facing seats). They are a nightmare when it's even slightly busy.

 

[Class455]

Now that January is well underway, have any units gone in for overhaul, or have been overhauled yet?

 

[Southern Dvr]

Has the 700/707 production line been shut down? They could always produce some more.