SWR Class 458 to be retained

[dodger]

458419 is heading to Wimbledon on 5Y51 now.

 

[Siemens Staines]

10 pairs of 458/4 in passenger service this morning with the extra set coming out for 2U13 0733 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside

Realtime Trains | 2U13 0733 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 15/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 2U13 0733 departure from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 15/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Perhaps this is associated with a ramp up to 12 pairs in use next week?

458535 is covering for a pair of 455 on the 2J92 Surbiton diagram. Meanwhile 458530 lies dormant.

 

[Nimbus020]

10 pairs of 458/4 in passenger service this morning with the extra set coming out for 2U13 0733 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside

Realtime Trains | 2U13 0733 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 15/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 2U13 0733 departure from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 15/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Perhaps this is associated with a ramp up to 12 pairs in use next week?

458535 is covering for a pair of 455 on the 2J92 Surbiton diagram. Meanwhile 458530 lies dormant.

Thanks v much: short-formed suburban services into W'loo seem to be 07:24 from Woking, 07:41 from Chess South, 08:29 from Surbiton (458535 as above) & 08:33 from Hampton Ct - so compared to Monday eve, not too bad?

 

[Siemens Staines]

And finally, if the data feed to RTT is correct, 458419 is in passenger service for the first time today

2U09 0633 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside

Realtime Trains | 2U09 0633 London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside | 23/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 2U09 0633 departure from London Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside on 23/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

This is the last 458/4 conversion to enter service, 3 years and 8 months since the programme started with 458507 + 458517 last day in service as 458/5 on 23.09.21

 

[moley]

Contractually obliged to get it in service ahead of Sunday?

 

[WarrenTManager]

Contractually obliged to get it in service ahead of Sunday?

No. Just had the work it needed to be ready and a return to service exam before it could be sent out. So many cynics.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

And finally, if the data feed to RTT is correct, 458419 is in passenger service for the first time today

I photographed 458 419 at Clapham Junction today, on a later part of this diagram, so the data feed was correct.

458 407 was on the London end of the rake.

 

[Bessie]

I’m on a Class 458/4 to Reading. It was 8:18 from Martins Heron. Front unit is 023

 

[Goldfish62]

I’m on a Class 458/4 to Reading. It was 8:18 from Martins Heron. Front unit is 023

I've just had a look on RTT. Today on Reading services we have (all pairs):

2 x 458/4
1 x 458/5
1 x 455
3 x 450

So not the flood of 455s as weekdays are now.

 

[nctd2306]

The introduction of 8419 doesn't appear to have helped much, three short formed 458/4s out today with two (right behind each other) on the Windsor services, let's hope there aren't too many people going to Windsor today

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I’m on a Class 458/4 to Reading. It was 8:18 from Martins Heron. Front unit is 023

I think you mean 423?

Should be a consecutive pair with 458 422 on the back there.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

The introduction of 8419 doesn't appear to have helped much, three short formed 458/4s out today with two (right behind each other) on the Windsor services, let's hope there aren't too many people going to Windsor today

Ah, well if it keeps the forever complaining Reading line lot happy

 

[Goldfish62]

Ah, well if it keeps the forever complaining Reading line lot happy

Of which I'm one.

 

[nctd2306]

Ah, well if it keeps the forever complaining Reading line lot happy

I'd rather an 8-455 that I can actually get on than a 4 car train with all the gadgets but no room to board!

I think you mean 423?

Should be a consecutive pair with 458 422 on the back there.

Unfortunately I was due to catch this train on its return run up to London but it got cancelled at Reading due to a fight breaking out on board and injuries being sustained that required medical attention (yes you read that right), these units didn't return to service and got replaced by a pair of 450s on the diagram

 

[SWT_USER]

Has the rejig of diagrams pushed more short formations on to Windsor services? Two 4 coach trains in the past two days for me. Surely there are spare 450's kicking about on weekends

 

[43096]

Of which I'm one.

As am I!

Justifiably so, too.

 

[Invincible]

Has the rejig of diagrams pushed more short formations on to Windsor services? Two 4 coach trains in the past two days for me. Surely there are spare 450's kicking about on weekends

Today from RTT Windsor seems a mixture of 8 car 458, 450 and a 10 car 701.

The Weybridge line via Hounslow, which has been running 458s every 30 minutes , on but normally Sundays goes to Woking hourly rather than Weybridge, and looks like 8 car 458 and 450s today.

 

[cactustwirly]

Ah, well if it keeps the forever complaining Reading line lot happy

It is justified, you'd be in the same position if short formed 455s started operating on the Alton line

If the service was still operated by 10 car 458s everyone would be happy

 

[43096]

It is justified, you'd be in the same position if short formed 455s started operating on the Alton line

If the service was still operated by 10 car 458s everyone would be happy

Indeed. The peak Reading service has dropped from 4 x 10-car per hour to 2 x 8-car (if you’re lucky). That’s a 60% drop - has anywhere else had a bigger cut?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It is justified, you'd be in the same position if short formed 455s started operating on the Alton line

If the service was still operated by 10 car 458s everyone would be happy

But you (the Reading line, not actually you specifically) want your cake and to eat it. To complain about a reduction in formation aka less capacity, but then say you want the 458/4s, which have lower capacity than the 450s, or complain about getting 701s instead in future, which have the most capacity of all, proves that.

 

[43096]

But you (the Reading line, not actually you specifically) want your cake and to eat it. To complain about a reduction in formation aka less capacity, but then say you want the 458/4s, which have lower capacity than the 450s, or complain about getting 701s instead in future, which have the most capacity of all, proves that.

It doesn't "prove" anything. The line has been downgraded from outer suburban (like Alton, Basingstoke) to inner suburban with the 701s. The ideal train for the line is/was the 458/5 fleet.

 

[cactustwirly]

But you (the Reading line, not actually you specifically) want your cake and to eat it. To complain about a reduction in formation aka less capacity, but then say you want the 458/4s, which have lower capacity than the 450s, or complain about getting 701s instead in future, which have the most capacity of all, proves that.

I think the Reading line would be happy with 450s

It's the 455s and 701s which are not suitable with the 2+2 uncomfortable seating

 

[DelW]

I think the Reading line would be happy with 450s

It's the 455s and 701s which are not suitable with the 2+2 uncomfortable seating

As opposed to the 3+2 uncomfortable seating in 450s?

 

[Goldfish62]

As opposed to the 3+2 uncomfortable seating in 450s?

I find them comfortable enough since the seats were repadded during the refurb programme.

 

[LUYMun]

It's the 455s and 701s which are not suitable with the 2+2 uncomfortable seating

Disagree on the 455s, they have a small bit of spacing between the seats which makes it more comfortable not pressing up against someone's shoulder.

 

[Goldfish62]

Disagree on the 455s, they have a small bit of spacing between the seats which makes it more comfortable not pressing up against someone's shoulder.

The downside is that the vast majority of the seat cushions have collapsed, not making them particularly comfortable.

 

[OneTrackMinded]

Disagree on the 455s, they have a small bit of spacing between the seats which makes it more comfortable not pressing up against someone's shoulder.

The 701s have the same thing, it's just the cushion is wider creating the visual illusion that there's no space between.

Meanwhile 450s have no spacer:

 

[43096]

The 701s have the same thing, it's just the cushion is wider creating the visual illusion that there's no space between.
View attachment 180744
Meanwhile 450s have no spacer:
View attachment 180745

You can't have the spacer on the 450s as with 2+3 seating the aisle would be too narrow (like a GA 720...).

 

[Invincible]

But you (the Reading line, not actually you specifically) want your cake and to eat it. To complain about a reduction in formation aka less capacity, but then say you want the 458/4s, which have lower capacity than the 450s, or complain about getting 701s instead in future, which have the most capacity of all, proves that.

After Virginia Water to Waterloo the Reading train effectivly becomes a suburban train. Ideally the 458/4s should have kept the handrails when overcrowded with several passengers standing, so eventually will be 701s. (With the refurbished 458/4s deep cleaned and going to the Portsmouth main line?)

 

[Goldfish62]

But you (the Reading line, not actually you specifically) want your cake and to eat it. To complain about a reduction in formation aka less capacity, but then say you want the 458/4s, which have lower capacity than the 450s, or complain about getting 701s instead in future, which have the most capacity of all, proves that.

Unless you've carried out a survey of Reading line users you seem to be drawing your own conclusions with little foundation.

For me the 701s can't come sooner enough. As much as I like the 450s they get a little too cosy in the peaks, the 458/4s as nice as they are aren't really suitable for crush-loading suburban services and have far seats, as do the 455s, resulting in standing room only often from Egham inwards towards Waterloo.