SWR Class 458 to be retained

[swt_passenger]

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/

Now reappeared at Allbrook at 1840, might just have recessed in East Yard to get back on booked timings. Now approaching Worting Junction.

 

[pigs bay]

Can anyone give any info on how many 458's have been done now and what units the are please

 

[Siemens Staines]

Can anyone give any info on how many 458's have been done now and what units the are please

458/4 Completed and delivered to Bournemouth (6)
458405,407,417,423,425,428

458/4 Work in progress at Widnes (2)
458x16,x24

458/5 In service (27)
458501-504,506,508-515,518-522,526,527,529-532,534-536

458/5 Long-term out of service (1)
458533 28.01.22

 

[Goldfish62]

458/4 Completed and delivered to Bournemouth (6)
458405,407,417,423,425,428

458/4 Work in progress at Widnes (2)
458x16,x24

458/5 In service (27)
458501-504,506,508-515,518-522,526,527,529-532,534-536

458/5 Long-term out of service (1)
458533 28.01.22

Thanks for the update.

 

[Dstock7080]

2x 458/4s were in Wimbledon depot yesterday 20/11

 

[WarrenTManager]

2x 458/4s were in Wimbledon depot yesterday 20/11

See post 2017

 

[aliceh]

417 and 423 (I think) left Bournemouth today on 5Q90. Caught them heading through Pokesdown. I assume on a test run.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I can't wait.Let me get at them.

 

[Sebastian]

Will the interiors be refurbished with the new blue seat covers?

 

[Goldfish62]

Will the interiors be refurbished with the new blue seat covers?

Completely new seats, not just covers, plus carpets.

 

[D7666]

I am dying to post it, but have been specifically asked to (well instructed actually) not to pass it on, some new news about 458/4s.

I'll say it is something different in detail, and not entirely new in concept, but is a jigsaw puzzle piece that fits neatly with other gen of late.

 

[Class15]

I am dying to post it, but have been specifically asked to (well instructed actually) not to pass it on, some new news about 458/4s.

I'll say it is something different in detail, and not entirely new in concept, but is a jigsaw puzzle piece that fits neatly with other gen of late.

So maybe they’ll be used after all!

 

[cav1975]

I am dying to post it, but have been specifically asked to (well instructed actually) not to pass it on, some new news about 458/4s.

I'll say it is something different in detail, and not entirely new in concept, but is a jigsaw puzzle piece that fits neatly with other gen of late.

Take the new seats out of the 458s and fit them into some 450s to make Waterloo to Portsmouth journeys tolerable???

 

[swr444]

I am dying to post it, but have been specifically asked to (well instructed actually) not to pass it on, some new news about 458/4s.

I'll say it is something different in detail, and not entirely new in concept, but is a jigsaw puzzle piece that fits neatly with other gen of late.

Does this mean they’re coming to the suburban / Windsor services for the foreseeable

 

[Surreyman]

A 10 car 458 seems to regularly terminate every day at Guildford @ 11am - ish usually in platform 2, presumably covering for a 455?

 

[JonathanH]

A 10 car 458 seems to regularly terminate every day at Guildford @ 11am - ish usually in platform 2, presumably covering for a 455?

Diagrammed specifically for 10-car operation on a busy service within the diagram.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/swr-class-458-to-be-retained.215775/page-63#post-6439909
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/swr-class-458-to-be-retained.215775/page-63#post-6439876

 

[Juniper Driver]

I am dying to post it, but have been specifically asked to (well instructed actually) not to pass it on, some new news about 458/4s.

I'll say it is something different in detail, and not entirely new in concept, but is a jigsaw puzzle piece that fits neatly with other gen of late.

You tease.

 

[Goldfish62]

Does this mean they’re coming to the suburban / Windsor services for the foreseeable

This morning the 0709 from Reading was 5 cars (crush loading from Bracknell) and the 0739 cancelled. Both are diagrammed 10-458.

We could really do with those shiny 458/4s before we get our new 10 car trains.

 

[swr444]

This morning the 0709 from Reading was 5 cars (crush loading from Bracknell) and the 0739 cancelled. Both are diagrammed 10-458.

We could really do with those shiny 458/4s before we get our new 10 car trains.

on a line that used to get 3tph in the peak, that sounnds like a horror show.

 

[Juniper Driver]

This morning the 0709 from Reading was 5 cars (crush loading from Bracknell) and the 0739 cancelled. Both are diagrammed 10-458.

We could really do with those shiny 458/4s before we get our new 10 car trains.

Short of stock, I would guess.Leaf fall season doesn't help.

 

[SWT_USER]

This morning the 0709 from Reading was 5 cars (crush loading from Bracknell) and the 0739 cancelled. Both are diagrammed 10-458.

We could really do with those shiny 458/4s before we get our new 10 car trains.

We could do with the whole program being paused until the 701's are in service really, rather than SWR continuing to actively cut capacity on the Windsor lines. I guess for contractual reasons this is not an option.

The diagram that forms the 18:20 from Waterloo was 5-car yesterday too. Woefully inadequate.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

We could do with the whole program being paused until the 701's are in service really, rather than SWR continuing to actively cut capacity on the Windsor lines. I guess for contractual reasons this is not an option.

The diagram that forms the 18:20 from Waterloo was 5-car yesterday too. Woefully inadequate.

It’d be fine if they were to be used, but the fact services are being short formed so that stock can undertake a refurbishment and then never again return to service is so very messed up.

 

[SWT_USER]

It’d be fine if they were to be used, but the fact services are being short formed so that stock can undertake a refurbishment and then never again return to service is so very messed up.

To be honest even that wouldn't really be fine. The number of services has already been drastically cut, so cutting the remainder from 10 car to 8 car just makes things worse. Better than no train.. but still not really good enough.

 

[JonathanH]

The number of services has already been drastically cut, so cutting the remainder from 10 car to 8 car just makes things worse.

Where demand, and therefore revenue, has reduced, there isn't really a good argument for maintaining the previous service, or capacity.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Where demand, and therefore revenue, has reduced, there isn't really a good argument for maintaining the previous service, or capacity.

Where is your source for this?

 

[Goldfish62]

on a line that used to get 3tph in the peak, that sounnds like a horror show.

Used to be 4tph in the peaks actually!

 

[GWVillager]

Where demand, and therefore revenue, has reduced, there isn't really a good argument for maintaining the previous service, or capacity.

If that’s true, then yes. But that doesn’t mean capacity should be absolutely obliterated to the point where 5 car trains have to be crush loaded.

 

[JonathanH]

Where is your source for this?

I was talking in the generality, but this seems sufficient source about the position of SWR https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...back-to-the-dft-treasury.250798/#post-6291854

The point I was taking exception to was that the service level in March 2020 should dictate the service level now. It totally doesn't excuse running 5 cars instead of 20 against the current timetable though.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Where demand, and therefore revenue, has reduced, there isn't really a good argument for maintaining the previous service, or capacity.

This makes me think. If SWR can almost cope with the fleets they have now one does have to wonder why they want to struggle with the 701s. Temptation must be to hang on to what they have already got.
Keep the re-tractioned 455s ?.
Leave the 458s as 5 car ?.

 

[Goldfish62]

This makes me think. If SWR can almost cope with the fleets they have now one does have to wonder why they want to struggle with the 701s. Temptation must be to hang on to what they have already got.
Keep the re-tractioned 455s ?.
Leave the 458s as 5 car ?.

The 455s are over 40 years old and the retractioning was based on an extended 10 year life, which is nearly up.

Plus the not insignificant issue that the 455/458 fleet provides insufficient capacity now, let alone catering for future growth.