Southern Class 455 Withdrawal

[75D]

455833 seen in the sidings at Horsham this morning, so assuming the other two attached

 

[Timmyd]

Since the last timetable change pretty much every train I’m seeing on the inner suburbans is pairs of 455s again. As its still a reduced service (eg Beckenhams every 90), is there any way Southern can withdraw them all so soon? There‘s nothing much wrong with them other than the absolutely disgusting state of the seat covers, a longstanding problem a bit of deep cleaning would solve. I’m sure passengers would prefer a full service of 8 car 455s than 5 car trains at a lower frequency

 

[paul1609]

It's a shame we cannot see current levels of demand on Southern, SW and SE Metro to ascertain return to normality.

TfL break it down and while the tube is only at 65% and buses nearing 75%, tube stations in poorer areas have recovered quicker than say west London where more working from home. TfL also show variations with LO, trams and DLR.

Southern Metro and SE Metro serve some of the poorest parts of London don't they? It'd be interesting to see current passenger levels at peak and off peak.

Then again TfL have retained a decent service while metro rail routes from SE, SWR and Southern have been badly hit with cuts which will already hamper return to usage.

I'd say that the metro and Coastway services have recovered well but that the mainline and airport services especially the morning peaks have been devastated. The one exception I've seen is HS1 from Ashford which seems to be back to near normal (I never see North Kent services).
Think the problem is that for Southeastern and Southern overall that means their revenue overall has been devastated.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

I'd say that the metro and Coastway services have recovered well but that the mainline and airport services especially the morning peaks have been devastated. The one exception I've seen is HS1 from Ashford which seems to be back to near normal (I never see North Kent services).

On weekends, the mainline services are rammed.

 

[paul1609]

5g

On weekends, the mainline services are rammed.

The SEML and Hastings Line haven't, the BML has been diverted via Littlehampton and the diverts have largely been fresh air expresses. The Arun Valley Line services have had a few busy up trains in the morning and return in the evening but overall nothing like normal in my experience.

 

[Peregrine 4903]

5g

The SEML and Hastings Line haven't, the BML has been diverted via Littlehampton and the diverts have largely been fresh air expresses. The Arun Valley Line services have had a few busy up trains in the morning and return in the evening but overall nothing like normal in my experience.

Are you sure about that?

I was out and about the last Saturday and the diverts were very busy, some were fulll and standing, and pretty much all trains going north of East Croydon were full and standing.

If anything it was the West Coastway trains that were the empty ones.

 

[brad465]

Saw this posted elsewhere “377163/164 will return to Southern from Southeastern in April, more (but not all) may follow at a later date.”

Is there any further update on when this might happen, thinking specifically of the two 377/1s going back in April, as that's next month?

 

[387star]

Saw a 455 in Hove siding

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Saw a 455 in Hove siding

5830 on recon bogies, didn't see number of other set.

West Worhing sidings were relayed a few years ago and languish empty, couldn't 6 sets be stored there?

 

[75D]

455806 +2? Have turned up at Horsham sidings. Can't ID the others from the road, the ones from earlier in the week have gone

 

[trainmania100]

455806 +2? Have turned up at Horsham sidings. Can't ID the others from the road, the ones from earlier in the week have gone

806,838,839 arrived 14/03, set swap

 

[Fincra5]

5840 on recon bogies, didn't see number of other set.

West Worhing sidings were relayed a few years ago and languish empty, couldn't 6 sets be stored there?

As they're still in service... They'd get tagged up in days down at West Worthing Siding

 

[Islineclear3_1]

As they're still in service... They'd get tagged up in days down at West Worthing Siding

I know

But when those sidings were host to new Class 717 units for GN, security was provided

 

[Fincra5]

I know

But when those sidings were host to new Class 717 units for GN, security was provided

That costs extra... No Need when Hove and Horsham have Space/ Staff already!

 

[03_179]

455810/824/831 Stewarts Lane - Hove Yard 5Z55 11+10 (arr 12+43)
Today

 

[Southern Dvr]

I know

But when those sidings were host to new Class 717 units for GN, security was provided

the point is those were ‘new’ Class 717s with careers ahead of them, the 455s are off on a one way trip to Booths or Simms and so why pay out for a security guard? Also consider that anyone graffitiing units who gets hurt gets to claim against the railway.

End result, it’s not worth it if ‘safer’ sidings exist.

 

[trainmania100]

455810/824/831 Stewarts Lane - Hove Yard 5Z55 11+10 (arr 12+43)
Today

Saw them at Preston park, was hoping maybe the other 8 car there would go back like the Horsham ones swapped out like.

 

[tricky18jan]

Morning, does anyone happen to know the current location of 455813 ?

Last one I need for sight and I am in London all day

 

[03_179]

Should be Streatham Hill Down Siding

 

[tricky18jan]

Should be Streatham Hill Down Siding

Thank you next stop for me then!

 

[Class455]

Just seen 455839 on the back of a 12 car formation passing Purley en route to Hove. Took me by complete surprise! Any idea what the other units were?

 

[brad465]

Saw them at Preston park, was hoping maybe the other 8 car there would go back like the Horsham ones swapped out like.

Must be a very rare move in 12 car form, have they ever operated like this in passenger service (considering limited suburban platforms are 12 car)?

 

[Class455]

455810/824/831 Stewarts Lane - Hove Yard 5Z55 11+10 (arr 12+43)
Today

Can’t have been 455824 in that consist as I’ve just seen that at Kenley paired with 455802 on 2J37!

 

[03_179]

Can’t have been 455824 in that consist as I’ve just seen that at Kenley paired with 455802 on 2J37!

I can only go on what was reported to me
Looking just now:
831, 810 and 827 went down

 

[Bikeman78]

Must be a very rare move in 12 car form, have they ever operated like this in passenger service (considering limited suburban platforms are 12 car)?

I don't think they have run 12 cars on the central division but I have it in my mind that 12 car 455s have run to Basingstoke. Can anyone confirm or deny?

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Have they ever run on the annual London-Brghton bike ride as 12car?

 

[brad465]

Have they ever run on the annual London-Brghton bike ride as 12car?

Having completed that ride before (in 2013), my understanding is bikes are not allowed to use Southern (and I'm guessing TL as well) on the day of that ride, so unless there is a need for specials to move spectators/relatives of riders, I'd have thought extra demand could have been met with lengthening/more frequent services out of 377s that would otherwise be spare on a Sunday service.

 

[mmh]

Have they ever run on the annual London-Brghton bike ride as 12car?

I was wondering if they've ever been used Norwood Junction - Brighton on a football special, but those would layover in platform 6 there which I think is maximum 8 car (or possibly 10).

 

[Islineclear3_1]

EPBs with their large brake vans were used but can't remember if 455s were used after their withdrawal

 

[Class455]

Just seen 455839 on the back of a 12 car formation passing Purley en route to Hove. Took me by complete surprise! Any idea what the other units were?

And 5Z58 16:28 Hove Yard to Stewarts Lane ran today, reported to be an 8 car 455 so I can only assume this was 455809/830 returning to SL.

Realtime Trains | 5Z58 1628 Hove Yard to Stewarts Lane T&R.S.M.D | 18/03/2022

Real-time train running information for 5Z58 1628 departure from Hove Yard to Stewarts Lane T&R.S.M.D on 18/03/2022. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Mar 2022 ==

I was wondering if they've ever been used Norwood Junction - Brighton on a football special, but those would layover in platform 6 there which I think is maximum 8 car (or possibly 10).

They have been used on the football specials, but only as 8 cars. I don't think there has been a 12 car 455 in passenger service in the last 20 years at least.