Southern Class 455 Withdrawal

[JonathanH]

I’d just like to confirm that, beyond the tour, there will be Class 455s in regular, passenger service on the 14th of May?

I think I have read previous postings that have suggested that there will be 455s out on 14 May but they will get progressively withdrawn towards the end of the day with 377s taking over to put stock in the right place for the following day.

 

[Deepgreen]

171s can relatively easily rescue 377s

Yes, but they are passenger units which could be in use as such, whereas the 73 isn't.

 

[Benno]

Yes, but they are passenger units which could be in use as such, whereas the 73 isn't.

If you can recall the last time the 73 rescued a 377 (I can't), then that probably tells you how much they need the 73.

 

[Deepgreen]

Who knows? Except internal sources of course...

Alost certainly no-one knows - it will probably depend on circumstances on the day.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Apr 2022 ==

If you can recall the last time the 73 rescued a 377 (I can't), then that probably tells you how much they need the 73.

Oh absolutely, but I was just mentioning the difference if it came to pass. There is an old adage that you often only need something just after you've thrown it away...

 

[dlj83]

Which routes should be using the class tomorrow?

 

[Southern Dvr]

73202 was stabled down at Littlehampton during the BML block recently and wasn’t needed. I believe that sealed its fate.

The 73 was more use as a 455/456 thunderbird than a 377 one.

 

[PGAT]

Which routes should be using the class tomorrow?

Balham-Epsom Downs (via Norbury)

Balham-Sutton (via Crystal Palace)

London Bridge-Dorking (if you're lucky)

London Bridge-Beckenham Junction

Sutton, Crystal Palace and Balham are therefore the best places to find the 455s

 

[Surreytraveller]

If you can recall the last time the 73 rescued a 377 (I can't), then that probably tells you how much they need the 73.

I think it was used a few months ago to rescue some 375s on SouthEastern. Can't remember the circumstances now.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Balham-Epsom Downs (via Norbury)

Balham-Sutton (via Crystal Palace)

London Bridge-Dorking (if you're lucky)

London Bridge-Beckenham Junction

Sutton, Crystal Palace and Balham are therefore the best places to find the 455s

These are worked by (mainly) Class 3776 and 377/7 although any old 377 might turn up.

I have no idea when Southern 455s regularly worked to Dorking but I'm sure it was a while ago. And I'm not counting the peaks

 

[Surreytraveller]

These are worked by (mainly) Class 3776 and 377/7 although any old 377 might turn up.

I have no idea when Southern 455s regularly worked to Dorking but I'm sure it was a while ago. And I'm not counting the peaks

455s were booked to Dorking last Sunday

 

[Southern Dvr]

455s were booked to Dorking last Sunday

That was likely the planners giving them an unofficial last visit or two down there. They haven’t been down there regularly since 2018.

 

[foggy69]

If you can recall the last time the 73 rescued a 377 (I can't), then that probably tells you how much they need the 73.

A 73 was used to rescue 2 377 units which has lost their shoes between Redhill and Reigate in February last year.
It wasn't 73202, but and ED that was sent up from Tonbridge

 

[PGAT]

These are worked by (mainly) Class 3776 and 377/7 although any old 377 might turn up.

I have no idea when Southern 455s regularly worked to Dorking but I'm sure it was a while ago. And I'm not counting the peaks

Usually they aren't, but on weekends and bank holidays, it's anyones game.

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

That was likely the planners giving them an unofficial last visit or two down there. They haven’t been down there regularly since 2018.

I remember seeing a Class 455 working a Dorking-London Bridge service on 23/5/2021. I was at Sutton at around 11:30 and saw one, and I think it was doing that the whole day.

Finally, there is an extremely rare case where the Epsom Downs via Norbury service gets diverted to Dorking, calling at all stations. In every case, I have seen Class 455s running this route. I believe the last time (I might be wrong here) this happened was 22/8/2021.

 

[MCR247]

Finally, there is an extremely rare case where the Epsom Downs via Norbury service gets diverted to Dorking, calling at all stations. In every case, I have seen Class 455s running this route. I believe the last time (I might be wrong here) this happened was 22/8/2021.

I believe this has happened this year. That is, both those diversions took place and I’m sure I saw a 455 on one of the services

 

[route101]

Do the 455s run on Sundays?

 

[PGAT]

Do the 455s run on Sundays?

Yes

 

[physics34]

Do the 455s run on Sundays?

London Bridge to East Croydon via Norbury, London Bridge to Crystal Palace, Victoria to Sutton, Victoria to Epsom Downs, Victoria to West Croydon via Crystal Palace. Bare in mind thats when there are no engineering works

 

[Islineclear3_1]

One of the London Bridge-Beckenham Junction diagrams has been a 377 for most, or all of this weekend

 

[Timmyd]

It was anything goes this weekend. Waiting at North Dulwich yesterday there were 4, 6, 8 and 10 car trains all showing on the platform displays among the next 6 trains. It's been solid 8 cars for years. The shape of things to come I guess.

 

[Railcar]

London Bridge to East Croydon via Norbury, London Bridge to Crystal Palace, Victoria to Sutton, Victoria to Epsom Downs, Victoria to West Croydon via Crystal Palace. Bare in mind thats when there are no engineering works

Victoria to west Croydon via crystal Palace has used 377s, to allow the driver to walk through the train when in the West Croydon reversing siding (whch has running rails either side of it)

 

[Southern Dvr]

Victoria to west Croydon via crystal Palace has used 377s, to allow the driver to walk through the train when in the West Croydon reversing siding (whch has running rails either side of it)

Not on weekends when it’s booked 4-car class 455

 

[evergreenadam]

It was anything goes this weekend. Waiting at North Dulwich yesterday there were 4, 6, 8 and 10 car trains all showing on the platform displays among the next 6 trains. It's been solid 8 cars for years. The shape of things to come I guess.

What do current passenger levels through North Dulwich generally justify?

 

[Intro298]

What do current passenger levels through North Dulwich generally justify?

I went on a London Bridge - Caterham service during evening peak a couple of weeks ago, and 8 cars was very cosy, so i would say 10 car during peak. I also went on an eight car in the middle of the day on a Sunday, and it was empty, so it really depends on the day and time.

 

[Timmyd]

8 cars generally. Remember these are areas of south London without the tube, and the service will continue to be reduced (Beckenhams hourly rather than half hourly) for much of the day after May

 

[Surreytraveller]

I went on a London Bridge - Caterham service during evening peak a couple of weeks ago, and 8 cars was very cosy, so i would say 10 car during peak. I also went on an eight car in the middle of the day on a Sunday, and it was empty, so it really depends on the day and time.

The platforms don't fit 10 cars in them. People keep pulling the alarm now as they don't understand about being in the front 8 coaches when there's 10 cars on

 

[PGAT]

Off peak it isn’t hard to find an empty carriage on these routes, but during the peak (especially the morning peak) these services can be horribly overcrowded (especially the Epsom-London Bridge)

The platforms don't fit 10 cars in them. People keep pulling the alarm now as they don't understand about being in the front 8 coaches when there's 10 cars on

Even though there are clear announcements both on the station and on the train.

 

[Southern Dvr]

Even though there are clear announcements both on the station and on the train.

Problem is that the passengers board through the last carriage at London Bridge, then don’t move forwards and cannot along at their desired stop. There are so many announcements that important ones get missed.

 

[PGAT]

Problem is that the passengers board through the last carriage at London Bridge, then don’t move forwards and cannot along at their desired stop. There are so many announcements that important ones get missed.

Even this morning I was on a morning Victoria-Sutton service. The rear 2 coaches doors weren't working and there were loud and clear driver announcements addressing the issue, but someone still pulled the passenger alarm and delayed the train.

 

[physics34]

Problem is that the passengers board through the last carriage at London Bridge, then don’t move forwards and cannot along at their desired stop. There are so many announcements that important ones get missed.

Im surprised that the recent 377 mods arent including a better way of displaying that the doors wont open in a particular coach, such as what the 700s have got. More failed attention to detail

 

[Goldfish62]

Im surprised that the recent 377 mods arent including a better way of displaying that the doors wont open in a particular coach, such as what the 700s have got. More failed attention to detail

I suppose it depends whether the PIS can be upgraded to incorporate it, or whether the whole system would have to be replaced.