Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
I hope I didn't make an autocorrupt blunder earlier...!!
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SWR Class 458 to be retained
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TrainLifeGB
On Moderation
I'm curious on how the 8 458/5s would have been refurbished. Did they mean a different refurb. Or...?
Alstom awarded £25m Class 458 upgrading contract
UK: Leasing company Porterbrook has awarded Alstom a contract to upgrade the Class 458 electric multiple-units operated by South Western Railway ahead of their redeployment on medium and long distance services from the south coast. The £25m contract announced on April 6 covers an initial 28 of...www.railwaygazette.com
Leasing company Porterbrook has awarded Alstom a contract to upgrade the Class 458 electric multiple-units operated by South Western Railway ahead of their redeployment on medium and long distance services from the south coast.
The £25m contract announced on April 6 covers an initial 28 of the 36 Class 458 units, with the work to be undertaken at Alstom’s Widnes site between June 2022 and early autumn 2023.
There is also an option to refurbish the remaining eight units, which will be stored at the Long Marston facility which Porterbrook is to take over later this year.
The award of the contract follows SWR’s decision to abandon an ongoing £45m project to refurbish its Class 442 EMUs, and instead extend its lease on the Class 458s until 2027.
The Alstom-built Class 458 Juniper EMUs entered service from 2000 as four-car sets, but were reformed as five-car units from 2014. They are due to be displaced from the London Waterloo – Reading route by the entry into service of new Class 701 Arterio suburban EMUs ordered from Bombardier Transportation (now part of Alstom).
The latest refurbishment will see the Class 458s reconfigured back into four-car units. They will also be regeared, to increase their maximum speed from 120 to 160 km/h and ensure better acceleration.
The trains will receive scheduled heavy maintenance and be repainted in SWR livery. A ‘complete upgrade’ of the interiors will include reconfiguring the seating to a 2+2 layout throughout, with new cushions and covers ‘to achieve the ambiance associated with mainline services’. Flooring will be replaced, new tables and grab rails fitted and the toilets will be upgraded. USB power sockets will be provided in standard class and combined 230 V 50 Hz and USB power sockets in first class, as well as integrated tabletop wireless charging.
‘This fully refurbished fleet of 458s will provide an even better experience for our customers, while delivering efficient and flexible capacity on our medium range services’, said Neil Drury, Engineering Director at SWR.
Porterbrook CEO Mary Grant said the leasing company ‘will be taking responsibility for the performance of these trains and supporting SWR as they transform south coast and long-distance services.’
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
There‘s a fabulous speculative discussion subforum somewhere which is dying to answer that for you
TrainLifeGB
On Moderation
Which one?There‘s a fabulous speculative discussion subforum somewhere which is dying to answer that for you
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
I swear 529 was out yesterday; saw it on its own but didn't photograph it as too much in the way
Interesting, last time I went on it was on Friday, where it eventually went as 5O77 into Strawberry Hill, afaik it hasnt tracked on RTT since, maybe it has moved, but perhaps you were thinking of 535? It's been running single on the windsor side for a few weeks now, or maybe it was 530 but afaik its still sitting in Wimbledon depot.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Yes you're right, it was 535. Unusual it was was on its own - and for so long
mansonlo49
Member
Hope the remaining 458/5s can hold on for a while longer
I took some photos on the day it ran with 529 - it was meant to do a Reading service and got cancelled due to a train fault - then it ran ECS to Wimbledon and afaik it hasnt been running double since (maybe it's broken in multiple, I have no idea)
Goldfish62
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8535 has been out on its own on Readings all day today (Sunday).
The units probably needed some maintenance so weren't available for service, I may be wrong however. @WarrenTManager may know more
TrainLifeGB
On Moderation
8529/8533 have moved to Strawberry Hill Depot, which is strange. I think 8535 is maintained there too now. Could mean they've been extended?
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Realtime Trains | 0001 London Waterloo to Strawberry Hill | 02/08/2025
Real-time train running information for 0001 departure from London Waterloo to Strawberry Hill on 02/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
mansonlo49
Member
I think the remaining units 458/5 still have a while to service, mentioned earlier if I remember correctly
Sutton in Ant
Member
What are the chances of the remaining 458/5s going to another rail operator when SWR gives them up?
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
Hahaha, good one
Sutton in Ant
Member
I was asking a guenine question here.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
There’s virtually not a cat in hell’s chance.
Carnforth_24
Member
Zero.
TrainLifeGB
On Moderation
They either stay with SWR or go to Newport like the 365s. The latter being more prominent.
Goldfish62
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I agree with others that the chances are zero. They're a very small non-standard fleet, getting on a bit now and rather unreliable. The only operators that could take them would be South Eastern or Southern and I see no reason at all why they'd want them.
What real use is a microfleet of 8 units that will have been run with bare minimum maintenance until an hours/miles-based major service is due. At best l suspect that they'll be stripped of parts to support the 458 four car units and their Scottish cousins.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
And if we’re being reaally picky, that microfleet is technically two even smaller microfleets of six 460s and two 458s each with a 460 carriage plonked inside. All of which are third rail only. Can’t see them being attractive to anyone at all.
TrainLifeGB
On Moderation
All they can do is boost capacity with the 458/4s and stay. Nothing else.
Isn't there some open access operator that's planning to run out of Waterloo? To Marchwood, if I'm not mistaken. That could be something. Additionally, don't the 458s have pantograph wells so they could be fitted?
They are planning refurbished 319s. Much more readily available and shedloads of spares.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
True enough.
Goldfish62
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It was found around 20 years ago when the 458/0s were put into storage that fitting of pantographs for use elsewhere was simply practical - it would have required a complete rewire of the units. Yet another reason why these trains were such a poor design.
Gag Halfrunt
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Unlike with later third rail EMUs that have been designed for dual voltage and tested under overhead power, no provision was made on the 458s for dual voltage except for the pantograph wells and pan/up down buttons in the cab that were not connected to anything.
The 460s didn't even have pantograph wells, because they were designed exclusively for Gatwick Express services. This means that the units made up entirely of ex-460 cars don't have pantograph wells.
The pan up/down buttons in the 458s were removed during the 458/5 conversion process, as part of work to make the ex-458 and ex-460 cabs identical.
Snow1964
Established Member
To be used virtually nil
Bought just above scrap value for cheap spare parts, is more of a maybe. From memory some parts are common with Scottish 334s as well as other 458s
If need some spare bogies, or saloon doors etc, why make them when there is ones that just need to be unbolted and cleaned up available.
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TrainLifeGB
On Moderation
Which is a bad idea as they won't work as they've been left untouched for years. 769421 is a prime example. Besides, they're getting life expired.
I think 458/5s and if the /4s go off lease, then they'd be perfect!
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