I fear that the cost of such a refurbishment, which necessarily would involve replacing obsolete electronic systems (and the integration and testing grief that likely goes with that), would likely approach the cost of procuring new rolling stock.
As has already been said, the price of a major refurbishment and mechanical overhaul of the Networker fleet would be expensive to the extent of it being completely unfeasible.
I'd suspect replacing the remainder of the Met Cam tractioned fleet so all 465/466s are powered by Hitachi motors or similar. Add to that new seating in a 2+2 layout, replacement of door buttons for PSVAR friendly ones, replacing the flooring, fitting PSVAR compliant toilets on all units and probably painting them all dark blue for good measure, and that's the fleet sorted for another 10-15 years. In the latter half of that timeframe, the planning for new rolling stock can begin with construction, testing and introduction accounted for.
That would be somewhat feasible ten years ago, but now these trains are 30 years old and any money spent on them is a waste. The 465s should not be in service into their 40s, and really should have been replaced long ago.
I think they are. PS var compliant already with the exception of the 466 which do not have a mega bog but I don't see any issue. The rest of what you suggest and with this done and ongoing good maintenance cannot see why they would not last another 15 years
I wouldn't expect anything to be shown yet for storage moves. A pair of 707s typically spent two weeks at Gillingham preparing them for Southeastern service and then got moved to a location with 707 diagrams. Stabling space is limited particularly in metro locations, but some maintenance locations should have a space in case of unexpected arrivals. A single 10-car networker formation would fit somewhere as could be split up or moved further out if needed.
Fair enough, maybe keep an eye out on the Beckenham siding in the coming days, as in mid-2021 this played host to a 10-car Networker for at least a few weeks (although only 1 of the 3 units there went to storage soon after).
It is the norm they can only do up to 6 coaches because 8 car trains without SDO can’t stop at the short platform at Elephant & Castle
Pre-covid 8 car formations existed, but I'm guessing either they were focused into the right platforms and/or Health & Safety gone mad has happened since then. They do also send a single 376 on some of the peak diagrams.
There looked after below the sole bar thats mandatory. Tarting up the inside is avoidable expenditure albeit I totally get to the passenger its what will appeal to them and certainly for the optional traveller help give them an impetus to return.
Although you always have to remember that the inside gives a perception of the general quality of maintenance standards and care and attention.
Beckenham sidings or more unusual locations shouldn't be required, mid-2021 there were a lot of 707s not yet in service in various places on the Southeastern network. This time around it's only a few more units and 4-car Networkers should be easier to hide at the end of a stabling siding if needed though I'd be surprised if a road wasn't available somewhere.
Unlikely. The October budget is setting the departmental expenditure limits for financial year 2025-2026, the replacement fleet will only incur cost after that. The DfT contract pipeline has an estimated award date of July 2025 for the "Eversholt Networker Replacement" and Southeastern would only pay once the first trains are accepted. It's incredibly common for estimated dates to be over optimistic in public procurement.
Interesting, I assume they have stopped offering the Aventra platform.Alstom are possibly proposing a level boarding train for Southeastern based on the Adessia train platform.
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How old is the Aventra platform? 15 years old? Think I remember the initial designs and introduction talks in 2009. So seems indeed the Aventra platform may be at its end.
No Aventra has effective been rolled into the boarder Adessia family as has been covered numberous times before.
It is worth noting that DfT (and SE's ) definition of "level boarding" is actually "unassisted boarding" rather than level boarding taken literally so floor levels may not be what people are expecting - e.g. an angled extending ramp as specified for HS2 may make an appearanceAlstom are possibly proposing a level boarding train for Southeastern based on the Adessia train platform.
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