SWR Class 458 to be retained

[HamworthyGoods]

Goldfish62 put it well, the DfT isn't a railway organisation and they have been tasked with running something they know too little about. But this has been discussed many times on many threads!

However they also aren’t going to let go in the control of running the railway and they are also the link to the treasury who provide the funding!

 

[Goldfish62]

However they also aren’t going to let go in the control of running the railway and they are also the link to the treasury who provide the funding!

That can change on both counts if the current or a future government decides!
Whatever the impression that may be given civil servants do actually have to do what government instructs. The alternative is a short career.

I wonder if these 20-year old outdated notices will finally be removed during the refurb or whether they're destined to eventually go to the scrapyard with the units.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Yesterdays 5Q73 transfer of 458524 from Bournemouth to Widnes was cancelled, but it appears to have departed tonight although only as far as Christchurch where it is now causing some disruption;

Realtime Trains | 5Q73 1810 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Brockenhurst | 09/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q73 1810 departure from Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Brockenhurst on 09/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Due to a fault on a train at Christchurch the line towards Brockenhurst is blocked.
What's Going On:
Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 22:00 09/11.
What We're Doing About It:
We have been informed that a train has developed a fault at Christchurch. This means that the line towards Brockenhurst is blocked.

 

[444045]

Yesterdays 5Q73 transfer of 458524 from Bournemouth to Widnes was cancelled, but it appears to have departed tonight although only as far as Christchurch where it is now causing some disruption;

Realtime Trains | 5Q73 1810 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Brockenhurst | 09/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q73 1810 departure from Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Brockenhurst on 09/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Due to a fault on a train at Christchurch the line towards Brockenhurst is blocked.
What's Going On:
Train services running through this station may be delayed. Disruption is expected until 22:00 09/11.
What We're Doing About It:
We have been informed that a train has developed a fault at Christchurch. This means that the line towards Brockenhurst is blocked.

Eventually the brake fault on the train was cleared but the train limped back to Bournemouth from Christchurch bang road and then
continued onto Bournemouth Depot at reduced speed.
An investigation into what caused the problem has now started as it caused lots of delays to London bound services.

1W30 1803 Weymouth to Waterloo was 91 mins late from Bournemouth as a result of above.

 

[paul1609]

The DfT isn't a dedicated organisation. It's run by civil servants, not industry professionals. It's the cause of the majority of ills with the network.

The problem is that everytime its delegated to industry "professionals" the finances run way out of control to the extent that if the true costs at inception had been known no reasonable person would have suggested that it proceed. The real problem is that the rail industry itself and many of its "professionals" are no longer fit for purpose. It desperately needs modernising and that means the end of some steam age working practises.

 

[pompeyfan]

Eventually the brake fault on the train was cleared but the train limped back to Bournemouth from Christchurch bang road and then
continued onto Bournemouth Depot at reduced speed.
An investigation into what caused the problem has now started as it caused lots of delays to London bound services.

1W30 1803 Weymouth to Waterloo was 91 mins late from Bournemouth as a result of above.

It then caused knock on delays to Portsmouth services leaving Waterloo. It’s unusual for SWR control to allow trains to run that late.

 

[WarrenTManager]

8405/7 are at Wimbledon for berthing to give Bournemouth a bit of space. 8405 is the end nearest the District Line and 8407 the Durnsford Bridge end of the Top Yard.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Why haven't they painted the top half of the gangway black like they have the Desiros? I hate discontinuity in liveries that are supposed to be the same for all stock.

 

[D365]

Why haven't they painted the top half of the gangway black like they have the Desiros? I hate discontinuity in liveries that are supposed to be the same for all stock.

I don't understand what you mean.

 

[traji00]

I don't understand what you mean.

The unit-end gangway on 450’s, is split black/yellow like this:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/20230527_SWR_450054.jpg

In contrast, the refurb 458’s gangway is full yellow.

 

[D365]

The unit-end gangway on 450’s, is split black/yellow like this:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/20230527_SWR_450054.jpg

In contrast, the refurb 458’s gangway is full yellow.

Ah, the gangway door. Thanks.

 

[dorsetdesiro]

I did wonder about the full yellow gangways instead of half like the 450s then concluded this might be possibly for identification purposes as the 450 and 458 look very similiar when looking from the front/rear. The full yellow is to set the 458 apart from the 450.

Likely no issue between 444 & 450 as from same family also more mechanically alike/identical inside.

 

[Goldfish62]

I did wonder about the full yellow gangways instead of half like the 450s then concluded this might be possibly for identification purposes as the 450 and 458 look very similiar when looking from the front/rear. The full yellow is to set the 458 apart from the 450.

Likely no issue between 444 & 450 as from same family also more mechanically alike/identical inside.

Good point!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I did wonder about the full yellow gangways instead of half like the 450s then concluded this might be possibly for identification purposes as the 450 and 458 look very similiar when looking from the front/rear. The full yellow is to set the 458 apart from the 450.

Likely no issue between 444 & 450 as from same family also more mechanically alike/identical inside.

I'd be very concerned if the people working 450s and 458s couldn't tell them apart.

 

[GWVillager]

I'd be very concerned if the people working 450s and 458s couldn't tell them apart.

It’s more an instant, from a distance sort of thing. Like seeing it approach a station from half a mile away, and being able to immediately tell that it’s the 458 service, rather than wait for it to get closer and pick out smaller details.

 

[43096]

It’s more an instant, from a distance sort of thing. Like seeing it approach a station from half a mile away, and being able to immediately tell that it’s the 458 service, rather than wait for it to get closer and pick out smaller details.

You can tell from the headlights - the 458s have brighter, more 'white' headlights, and the destination screen location is a giveaway, too.

 

[Bigfoot]

Why haven't they painted the top half of the gangway black like they have the Desiros? I hate discontinuity in liveries that are supposed to be the same for all stock.

Probably and possibly because the amount of yellow area on the rest of the cab of a 458 doesn't meet the requirements of the safety standards for visability

 

[Juniper Driver]

When are we going to get the chance to drive them?

 

[D365]

When are we going to get the chance to drive them?

Excellent question

 

[45076]

When are we going to get the chance to drive them?

According to some individuals never...."they are being refurbished for the scrap man" apparently

 

[Juniper Driver]

According to some individuals never...."they are being refurbished for the scrap man" apparently

Thanks.That's a shame.

 

[45076]

Thanks.That's a shame.

my response was tongue in cheek bud..

 

[Goldfish62]

It’s more an instant, from a distance sort of thing. Like seeing it approach a station from half a mile away, and being able to immediately tell that it’s the 458 service, rather than wait for it to get closer and pick out smaller details.

I suppose a bit like the triangle on the end of many slam door Southern EMU's indicating where the guard/luggage van was.

 

[GWVillager]

I suppose a bit like the triangle on the end of many slam door Southern EMU's indicating where the guard/luggage van was.

Yes, or the yellow coupling bar to indicate the first class end of Voyagers. It’s common railway practice, even if it wasn’t intentional it’s a useful side effect.

 

[Monty]

When are we going to get the chance to drive them?

Soon..

But they will come eventually, the real question is where. Lots of talk that they may go back on the Windsor lines until the 701s are finally ready. Still holding out they will go on the PDL at somepoint.

Was on one earlier this week and managed to get 101 out of a 4 car unit which wasn't bad, quite smooth too.

 

[Siemens Staines]

It looks like a second attempt to transfer 458524 to Widnes is planned for Monday

5Q58 1711 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Widnes Transport Tech

Realtime Trains | 5Q58 1839½ Eastleigh to Widnes Transport Tech | 20/11/2023

Real-time train running information for 5Q58 1839½ departure from Eastleigh to Widnes Transport Tech on 20/11/2023. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Juniper Driver]

Soon..

But they will come eventually, the real question is where. Lots of talk that they may go back on the Windsor lines until the 701s are finally ready. Still holding out they will go on the PDL at somepoint.

Was on one earlier this week and managed to get 101 out of a 4 car unit which wasn't bad, quite smooth too.

Thanks for the info.
Is the blasted computer any faster than a Commodore 64?

 

[brownandrew15]

458524 (assuming that is the correct unit) appears to have already started its journey to Widnes, but has disappeared off the signalling maps at Eastleigh: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/5q58-bomo-widnes-20-11.258007/

 

[Wyrleybart]

The problem is that everytime its delegated to industry "professionals" the finances run way out of control to the extent that if the true costs at inception had been known no reasonable person would have suggested that it proceed. The real problem is that the rail industry itself and many of its "professionals" are no longer fit for purpose. It desperately needs modernising and that means the end of some steam age working practises.

I joined BR in 1978 - a decade after the last steam hauled BR train ran, and have now done over 45 years of service on the railway. I would really appreciate you explaining which particular steam age practices you believe should end.

 

[D7666]

I joined BR in 1978 - a decade after the last steam hauled BR train ran, and have now done over 45 years of service on the railway. I would really appreciate you explaining which particular steam age practices you believe should end.

Seconded.