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SWR Class 458 to be retained

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Bletchleyite

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Would Angel Trains have any incentive to provide Porterbrook with seats?

Large businesses don't run personal vendettas like that, they're only interested in money, so if Porterbrook offered to pay them more than scrap value I don't doubt they'd happily sell.

However as they already have reasonable seats in 2+2 layout I doubt they will significantly change the interior.
 

Snow1964

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It is now 15 months since the withdrawal of 442s and replacement by 28 class 458s, reduced to 4 cars were announced.

So what has actually happened in that 15 months ?
- have any lost their 5th vehicle
- have any been regeared for 100mph
- have any been repainted in SWR grey
- have any had change of seats or seat layout

Is the programme actually happening, or is it mythical and the completion date so vague, it might not happen by 2024
 

warwickshire

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Scrap probably
Yes. 458501 to 458528. Not 507 517. Which we already know about. Will all go to Long Marston or should do..
In due course. However will all get split up there . A coach from each ex 460 will go for scrap to a local dealers. Literally up the road from there. Whilst the others will go by road from Long Marston to Widnes. To be reformed at Widnes as 4 cars and Refurbished as well etc.
However what is unclear is who has the contract to haul them back to Swr, from Widnes. As the newly reformed 4 cars. .
Rail operations group do have the contract from Wimbledon though according to my local sources I know.
However 458529 to 458536 after being kept that little longer most likely will go straight to Newport Simms. Unless to Long marston and by coach and coach for scrap locally from there. However haven't heard much locally about that or unsure myself currently about them myself.
 

warwickshire

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Ie hav
Yes. 458501 to 458528. Not 507 517. Which we already know about. Will all go to Long Marston or should do..
In due course. However will all get split up there . A coach from each ex 460 will go for scrap to a local dealers. Literally up the road from there. Whilst the others will go by road from Long Marston to Widnes. To be reformed at Widnes as 4 cars and Refurbished as well etc.
However what is unclear is who has the contract to haul them back to Swr, from Widnes. As the newly reformed 4 cars. .
Rail operations group do have the contract from Wimbledon though according to my local sources I know.
However 458529 to 458536 after being kept that little longer most likely will go straight to Newport Simms. Unless to Long marston and by coach and coach for scrap locally from there. However haven't heard much locally about that or unsure myself currently about them myself.
Ie note 507 517 already at Long marston and two coaches already gone for scrap. Local scrap dealers. And rest by road to Widnes for clarity.
 

D6130

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Is the programme actually happening, or is it mythical and the completion date so vague, it might not happen by 2024
Maybe they're waiting for the result of the next general election....or, more likely, how things are going to pan out with Great English Railways!

:D
 

southern442

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It is now 15 months since the withdrawal of 442s and replacement by 28 class 458s, reduced to 4 cars were announced.

So what has actually happened in that 15 months ?
- have any lost their 5th vehicle
- have any been regeared for 100mph
- have any been repainted in SWR grey
- have any had change of seats or seat layout

Is the programme actually happening, or is it mythical and the completion date so vague, it might not happen by 2024
I don't think anything has happened bar a few moves north. Most of the 458s are still needed on suburban services at the moment thanks to The Units Who Shall Not Be Named :D
 

Snow1964

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Looking at posts in the SWR withdrawal thread and from TT-ONR-NRN 7 May 2022 458507 and 458517 are at Widnes for refurbishment. Any updates?

So Widnes have basically had them for 8 weeks
which seems rather excessive to remove a coach, change some gearing and shock absorbers, run it through the paint shop, and unbolt a replace a few seats, and do a refurbishment, and perhaps a few other tasks.

I wonder what is actually being done that 8 weeks is insufficient to return 4/5ths of a unit back to traffic.
 

spark001uk

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I heard something I think on the 701 thread a while back that Widnes were supposed to be helping out with some of the 701 mods, so if true maybe the 458 refurb is still waiting?
 

fgwrich

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Hmm… you’ll be surprised!

Indeed. There isn’t many times that Porterbrook and Angel have worked together (only some of the HST refurbishments for the Western was the last time that springs to mind) and I gather there’s no love lost between the two. There’s also been a lot of too-ing and throwing between certain franchise and stock from Porterbrook and Angel - I mean, if this goes ahead, this will be the second if not third time Porterbrooks 458s will have seen off Angel’s units (442, 450, 442).
 

Bigfoot

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So Widnes have basically had them for 8 weeks
which seems rather excessive to remove a coach, change some gearing and shock absorbers, run it through the paint shop, and unbolt a replace a few seats, and do a refurbishment, and perhaps a few other tasks.

I wonder what is actually being done that 8 weeks is insufficient to return 4/5ths of a unit back to traffic.
"do a refurbishment"
"perhaps a few other tasks"

Why not pop up to Widnes and offer to help out and speed things up dramatically if it is taking too long.

Whilst you're at it I'm sure HS2 could be built in 2 years, it's only a bit of metal and stone after all.
 
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I believe swr paid for the refurb, so wouldn't the parts technically be theirs?
Anything fitted to the train becomes the property of the ROSCO usually.

So Widnes have basically had them for 8 weeks
which seems rather excessive to remove a coach, change some gearing and shock absorbers, run it through the paint shop, and unbolt a replace a few seats, and do a refurbishment, and perhaps a few other tasks.

I wonder what is actually being done that 8 weeks is insufficient to return 4/5ths of a unit back to traffic.
First units for projects are usually a long time. First 444/450 around a year, 455 C62 10 months ish 159 C6 over a year. That’s where method statements are written up, measurements taken. Issues might be found that weren’t part of the plan like corrosion. 450 repaint is 2 weeks circa. Changing the gearing is not easy nor is it done at Widnes. They are David Brown gearboxes.
 
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Spirit555

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Both 507 & 517 seen at Widnes today. 507 looks untouched, 517 was inside with a coach sticking out of shed rubbed down.

HTH

Mark
 

Spirit555

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Is 507 visible from passing trains or did you see them from inside alstom at Widnes?
507 was outside on new track section with yellow battery shunter attached and 517 was sticking out of shed. All viewed from passing LNWR train.

Mark
 

Class450/4DES

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507 was outside on new track section with yellow battery shunter attached and 517 was sticking out of shed. All viewed from passing LNWR train.

Mark
I have just seen the images on Flickr, they still don't have the SWR livery yet, I am unsure if they are being returned to 458/0's again.
It does look like they could of been refurbished inside.
Is there any images of 458517?
 

Pep and co

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507 was outside on new track section with yellow battery shunter attached and 517 was sticking out of shed. All viewed from passing LNWR train.

Mark
Thanks for the update. Might have a run into Liverpool tomorrow morning for a look

507 was outside on new track section with yellow battery shunter attached and 517 was sticking out of shed. All viewed from passing LNWR train.

Mark
507 and 517 both back inside at Widnes. Can see the cabs through the open doors but was unable to see which was which.
 
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387star

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These are lovely trains. I hope I can sample one on the Portsmouth direct before long!
I guess Fratton Drivers don't sign them yet?
 

43096

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They’re horrible
They're not. 2+2 seating with spacers between the seats (which means you're no bumping shoulders with the person you're sat next to) makes them the best of SWR's suburban units and vastly more comfortable than a Desiro.
 

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