SWR outgoing Metro fleet withdrawals (complete)

[Islineclear3_1]

I have no public source - and I'm not going to betray the confidences of those who I've had first-hand discussions with (and no, it's not me) - but there certainly is interest in 455 868, and I'd expect more news on it within the not too distant future.

As mentioned by others, it remains at Derby.

Thank you. If something does come out of this, be good to see it join 313.201 at Eastleigh where it can be kept "warm" on the juice rail

 

[XCTurbostar]

I too have seen reports today that 455868 has been acquired by new owners. Its not expected to enter service with SWR again.

 

[RealTrains07]

5868 is off lease so will not be re-entering service with SWR.

Its a shame, as it only managed just over a year since the repaint. Really they should have used a 455 in better condition instead of 868 that would have actually served the course and made the investment seem more worthwhile than lasting only a year? Oh well.

 

[swr444]

Its a shame, as it only managed just over a year since the repaint. Really they should have used a 455 in better condition instead of 868 that would have actually served the course and made the investment seem more worthwhile than lasting only a year? Oh well.

SWR franchise in a nutshell…

 

[brad465]

Its a shame, as it only managed just over a year since the repaint. Really they should have used a 455 in better condition instead of 868 that would have actually served the course and made the investment seem more worthwhile than lasting only a year? Oh well.

If the 701 rollout had gone to plan, or even only suffered a minor delay, the repaint either wouldn't have happened, or would have happened much earlier and probably had an either shorter life in that livery. Also IIRC, LNER's retro HST only held that livery for its farewell tour, so no more than a few days, well short of what 455868 managed in its retro livery in service.

 

[RealTrains07]

If the 701 rollout had gone to plan, or even only suffered a minor delay, the repaint either wouldn't have happened, or would have happened much earlier and probably had an either shorter life in that livery. Also IIRC, LNER's retro HST only held that livery for its farewell tour, so no more than a few days, well short of what 455868 managed in its retro livery in service.

True but that particular example would never have been allowed to run in passenger service anyway as it didn't meet accessibility regulations whilst the 455 example did. Different situation. This is a discussion for somewhere else.

 

[bb21]

Its a shame, as it only managed just over a year since the repaint. Really they should have used a 455 in better condition instead of 868 that would have actually served the course and made the investment seem more worthwhile than lasting only a year? Oh well.

It doesn't always come into consideration as it can be very difficult to predict the end date of any unit, especially ones of this age, as they can fall victim to big failures or run mileages out quicker than expected due to the amount of step-ups occurring. Often decisions on the unit to scrap is based on a combination of unforeseen factors.

 

[TrainLifeGB]

Its a shame, as it only managed just over a year since the repaint. Really they should have used a 455 in better condition instead of 868 that would have actually served the course and made the investment seem more worthwhile than lasting only a year? Oh well.

None of the 455s are in better condition, they're all starting to get holes and bodyshell cracks from how old they are. The 701s need to be pushed into service faster. The 455s are on their last feet

 

[Goldfish62]

None of the 455s are in better condition, they're all starting to get holes and bodyshell cracks from how old they are. The 701s need to be pushed into service faster. The 455s are on their last feet

At the current rate of introduction of the 701s I don't see the 455s getting to the end of this year.

 

[mansonlo49]

At the current rate of introduction of the 701s I don't see the 455s getting to the end of this year.

do you mean the 455 withdrawing by the end of 2025?

 

[norbitonflyer]

At the current rate of introduction of the 701s I don't see the 455s getting to the end of this year.

There are only 21 weeks left of this year. They're coming into service at the rate of one a week and there are so far seventeen in service (eighteen if you count 701028).
Even if you were to double that rate from next week you would only just get all sixty into service by the New Year

 

[wickham]

There are only 21 weeks left of this year. They're coming into service at the rate of one a week and there are so far seventeen in service (eighteen if you count 701028).
Even if you were to double that rate from next week you would only just get all sixty into service by the New Year

Don't think you need ALL 60 in service to replace just the 455s.

 

[Stephen42]

There are only 21 weeks left of this year. They're coming into service at the rate of one a week and there are so far seventeen in service (eighteen if you count 701028).
Even if you were to double that rate from next week you would only just get all sixty into service by the New Year

There's a big difference between getting all sixty 701/0s into service and getting rid of all the 455s.

Using the July CWNs, there are 41 455 diagrams requiring 21 701/0s, plus another 2 701/0s if covering the 458/5s which could be withdrawn this year as well. The 458/4s are on lease until 2027 so are unlikely to be withdrawn, though if they were that's another 12 701/0s diagrams. That makes either 23 701/0s or 35 701/0s to cover the July CWNs.

However, those assume 14 701/0s rather than 17 701/0s so numbers go down to either 20 701/0s or 32 701/0s more. The former is one a week which is roughly the current rollout speed.

 

[Goldfish62]

Don't think you need ALL 60 in service to replace just the 455s.

Indeed, because the 701s need to go on to replace the 450s and 458/4s on suburban services.

Reported on the 701 introduction thread that as of this week there are 33 455 diagrams, or 16.5 pairs. Two pairs are displaced next week, reducing the diagrams to 14.5 (with 17 701 diagrams). IF the current rate of one 701 replacing a pair of 455s per week continues the 455s will comfortably be gone before the end of the year.

 

[trainmania100]

Very disappointed 455868 isn't being run with SWR anymore. Didn't get a chance to see it due to its months out of action this year, strange to have work done, only to do a few days service and then up to derby for finish. Oh well.

 

[boiledbeans2]

Very disappointed 455868 isn't being run with SWR anymore. Didn't get a chance to see it due to its months out of action this year, strange to have work done, only to do a few days service and then up to derby for finish. Oh well.

Deja vu, isn't it? *cough* pigs

 

[brad465]

Indeed, because the 701s need to go on to replace the 450s and 458/4s on suburban services.

Reported on the 701 introduction thread that as of this week there are 33 455 diagrams, or 16.5 pairs. Two pairs are displaced next week, reducing the diagrams to 14.5 (with 17 701 diagrams). IF the current rate of one 701 replacing a pair of 455s per week continues the 455s will comfortably be gone before the end of the year.

How costly is the 455 lease that got extended to 2028? If it's a dirt cheap lease (like the 313s at Southern in their last days) then it's not so bad, but if they're all withdrawn by the end of this year and it's not a cheap lease that was a rather costly extension (unless there's an easy exit clause).

 

[Big Jumby 74]

How costly is the 455 lease that got extended to 2028?

I would guess that a decision had to be made at some point, and with the whole thing being so fluid, a best guess was made. Whether or not any financial come back is in the wings based upon real time events over the next few months, who knows?

 

[Stephen42]

How costly is the 455 lease that got extended to 2028? If it's a dirt cheap lease (like the 313s at Southern in their last days) then it's not so bad, but if they're all withdrawn by the end of this year and it's not a cheap lease that was a rather costly extension (unless there's an easy exit clause).

The contract is specified as having the ability to hand back units with a one month notice period. All public procurements need an end date and expect the three years is somewhat arbitrary, if it's pay till hand back then the exact end date makes little difference.

Weirdly it's entered as 5 years in the end date on find a tender and 3 years in the actual text. Hopefully more care has been given to the contract value figure. This typically is calculated as the maximum value rather than expected spend, so would assume all 79 units for the entire period unless the contract has a clause limiting the maximum value in some other way. The £55m contract value shouldn't be anywhere near the actual cost as a result.

 

[HamworthyGoods]

Deja vu, isn't it? *cough* pigs

Which is nothing new - class 309s in the late 1980s barely lasted after refurb after new 321s came surplus following a drop in demand…

 

[mansonlo49]

BTW, there’s a scrap move to Newport tomorrow, wonder if it’ll be the 455/9 at any point

 

[sad1e]

https://x.com/joesrailtrainp1/status/1954461794094788734?s=46

Apparently 455868 has been brought for preservation by an unknown buyer

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Aug 2025 ==


Screenshot for those who do not have twitter confirming that 455868 has been preserved

 

[TrainLifeGB]

BTW, there’s a scrap move to Newport tomorrow, wonder if it’ll be the 455/9 at any point

Would be 455915/919 if so. A shame we're getting so low on /9s. Although 5913 is being put back together for Service for a while. You can see it at Wimbledon. Been over 5 months since I last saw it.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Good luck to the new owner

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Good luck to the new owner

Ditto. But given the somewhat troubled history of EMU preservation over the years, one has to wonder! It's well known that even certain locos (eg Peak, 45015?) have become utter basket cases.

 

[Southern Dvr]

Ditto. But given the somewhat troubled history of EMU preservation over the years, one has to wonder! It's well known that even certain locos (eg Peak, 45015?) have become utter basket cases.

If it’s (and I have no information if it is or isn’t) kept with 313201 on juice then it should do fine.

 

[sad1e]

Realtime Trains | 2C73 2209 London Waterloo to Reading | 10/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C73 2209 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 10/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Apparently this will be the last 455 worked service to Reading so if anyone wants to get 455's to reading this is your last chance.

 

[swr444]

Realtime Trains | 2C73 2209 London Waterloo to Reading | 10/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C73 2209 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 10/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Apparently this will be the last 455 worked service to Reading so if anyone wants to get 455's to reading this is your last chance.

this has been said multiple times. a 455 could still pop up during the weekend or as a last min swap

 

[WarrenTManager]

How costly is the 455 lease that got extended to 2028? If it's a dirt cheap lease (like the 313s at Southern in their last days) then it's not so bad, but if they're all withdrawn by the end of this year and it's not a cheap lease that was a rather costly extension (unless there's an easy exit clause).

Each unit can be removed at a months notice. So there’s no need to leap into some ridiculous notion that 70 units are being paid for in 2028. If they are all gone bar 4 units by February 2026 then four is all that need paying for *date just an example not gospel

 

[Class455]

Realtime Trains | 2C73 2209 London Waterloo to Reading | 10/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C73 2209 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 10/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Apparently this will be the last 455 worked service to Reading so if anyone wants to get 455's to reading this is your last chance.

Turns out it wasn't...as the train was cancelled due to a train crew shortage!