SWR outgoing Metro fleet withdrawals (complete)

[norbitonflyer]

Just had some information come through that 5708/5711 have been involved in an explosion at fulwell today.
Could this be the end for these units?

Probably not, as they have now ended their 4 and a half hour sojurn at Fulwell and are on their way, ECS to Wimbledon - suggesting the problem was the track, not the train.

First Shepperton train just left Waterloo, 17 late, and will run non-stop to Teddington - which i'm sure will delight anyone who has been waiting at Vauxhall, Clapham Junction, Wimbledon etc for a Shepperton train since 10 o clock this morning...................

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Fast moving as this thread is, the metro clip wasn't visible to me!

Here's a screenshot of it for you.

Looks a bit more than just normal arcing; maybe some debris got caught in the shoegear?

Accessibility statement: Image shows the affected train with an extremely bright arcing coloured light under the entire front carriage forward of the rear bogie and reaching up to the lower edge of the windows in places.

 

[Boalbads]

/5s are not even doing training yet. Let alone being anywhere near service.

There was one in Waterloo a while back, will see if I can find the headcodes & unit in a couple hours.

 

[Bikeman78]

Here's a screenshot of it for you.

Looks a bit more than just normal arcing; maybe some debris got caught in the shoegear?

Accessibility statement: Image shows the affected train with an extremely bright arcing coloured light under the entire front carriage forward of the rear bogie and reaching up to the lower edge of the windows in places.

View attachment 190790

I think it's fair to say it's game over for 5708. That doesn't appear to be near the shoe gear, and the third rail is on the other side. Looks more fierce than the Networker on the Maidstone line two years ago.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think it's fair to say it's game over for 5708. That doesn't appear to be near the shoe gear, and the third rail is on the other side. Looks more fierce than the Networker on the Maidstone line two years ago.

I agree... I think 455 708 has run its final passenger service...

It looks like the unit it was working with, 455 711, dragged it back to Wimbledon this afternoon:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:22084/2025-10-20/detailed

 

[Southern Dvr]

/5s are not even doing training yet. Let alone being anywhere near service.

So it seems bold to be operating a no 455 timetable from December then. Or is that the service level doesn’t require the 701/5s?

 

[Goldfish62]

So it seems bold to be operating a no 455 timetable from December then. Or is that the service level doesn’t require the 701/5s?

Around 35 (plus a handful of spares) of the 60 701/0s will cover all the 455s so the 701/5s surely won't be required yet. Can't see them being required to replace the 458s either.

 

[stadlerflirt]

Here's a screenshot of it for you.

Looks a bit more than just normal arcing; maybe some debris got caught in the shoegear?

Accessibility statement: Image shows the affected train with an extremely bright arcing coloured light under the entire front carriage forward of the rear bogie and reaching up to the lower edge of the windows in places.

View attachment 190790

Reported to be a bird trapped on the shoegear

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Reported to be a bird trapped on the shoegear

Crikey!! I wouldn't have expected such a huge flash from a bird; was it a fairly large bird shorting across onto something?

 

[Malcolmffc]

Reported to be a bird trapped on the shoegear

Poor thing. Nasty way to go

 

[Razorblades]

Perhaps a rail got trapped on the rail?

 

[brooklynbound]

Anyone wanting a last chance of experiencing what the 455s can do should take the 1702 Waterloo - Guildford which is first stop Surbiton. I took it the other day and the driver properly went for it from the start. Sadly the points at Queenstown Road slowed us down but we overtook the 1653 ex Waterloo before arriving at Surbiton. Also, much to my amusement we overtook an Arterio leaving Waterloo at the same time but taking the Windsor Lines rather than the Main.

 

[CarltonA]

I prefer the 455s to the Arterio, the seats are designed for midgets. I remember the novelty sliding doors on the 455 first appearing at Windsor Riverside. Does not seem long ago to me, but then I still see Mk 3 coaches as modern. Will have to make an effort to get the last few 455s before they are gone. Which would be best, Reading or Windsor?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I prefer the 455s to the Arterio, the seats are designed for midgets. I remember the novelty sliding doors on the 455 first appearing at Windsor Riverside. Does not seem long ago to me, but then I still see Mk 3 coaches as modern. Will have to make an effort to get the last few 455s before they are gone. Which would be best, Reading or Windsor?

Neither are planned to see 455s.

Normally one Shepperton diagram, and a handful of Dorking, Guildford, Woking, Chessington and Hampton Court diagrams are 455s.

 

[GW43125]

Neither are planned to see 455s.

Sadly, 2C05, 2C16, 2C09 & 2C20 see them with alarming regularity.

A rare fast one though as 2C05 missed out most stops this morning.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Will have to make an effort to get the last few 455s before they are gone. Which would be best, Reading or Windsor?

I'd recommend hanging around on Vauxhall on platforms 7 and 8 with a Travelcard if you're after as many 455 haulages as you can get before they vanish.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

I'd recommend hanging around on Vauxhall on platforms 7 and 8 with a Travelcard if you're after as many 455 haulages as you can get before they vanish.

And be prepared to wait up to half an hour or more on a weekday.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

And be prepared to wait up to half an hour or more on a weekday.

Yes, they are that thin on the ground now - but at least being on 7/8 one can cover both inbound and outbound.

Of course, using RTT would help as well.

 

[Flange Squeal]

Neither are planned to see 455s.

Normally one Shepperton diagram, and a handful of Dorking, Guildford, Woking, Chessington and Hampton Court diagrams are 455s.

If @CarltonA specifically wants the Windsor side, then the 1552 Waterloo to Weybridge via Hounslow (and 1740 return from Weybridge back to Waterloo via Hounslow) is also a booked 4 car 455, which then goes on to work the 1907 Waterloo to Twickenham via Hounslow.

 

[CarltonA]

Thanks to those who made suggestions above. I am likely in Staines next week, so a slim chance of seeing a 455 that's not heading west on the GWML.

 

[GW43125]

Thanks to those who made suggestions above. I am likely in Staines next week, so a slim chance of seeing a 455 that's not heading west on the GWML.

Depending on how brave you feel, the 22.33 Waterloo-Windsor & return 23.35 Windsor-Staines is booked a 4 car 455.

 

[lookapigeon]

I prefer the 455s to the Arterio, the seats are designed for midgets. I remember the novelty sliding doors on the 455 first appearing at Windsor Riverside. Does not seem long ago to me, but then I still see Mk 3 coaches as modern. Will have to make an effort to get the last few 455s before they are gone. Which would be best, Reading or Windsor?

If anyone wants a 455 with some beans underfoot the last few times I've caught the 08:47 from Surbiton fast to Waterloo it has been a 455.

 

[pompeyfan]

What are the chances of on the day alterations putting a 455 to Basingstoke or Haslemere? I assume it’s a regular occurrence where both members of crew sign 455 stock?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

What are the chances of on the day alterations putting a 455 to Basingstoke or Haslemere? I assume it’s a regular occurrence where both members of crew sign 455 stock?

You assume wrong It’s not happened once in ten years.

 

[Flange Squeal]

You assume wrong It’s not happened once in ten years.

There were a number of 8 car Class 455 formations working Basingstoke stopping services throughout the ASLEF strike period, however it is indeed not a regular thing under normal running. It would be particularly complicated these days on a normal day by the fact Basingstoke crew haven't signed 455s for a several years now and them working quite a share of the Basingstoke stopping services, as well as their drivers doing the shunts in and out of the down siding to get them off the running line for their 26 minutes between arrival and departure.

They (and 456s) aren't a complete stranger to Haslemere, but I can't think of any recent passenger workings off the top of my head. There's been quite a few empty moves for overnight stabling purposes in the loop at Haslemere, at times when capacity has been strained at Guildford for one reason or another.

 

[TEW]

A pair of 455s worked several trips to Haslemere on the 1st February 2020. It would be very difficult nowadays with the current crewing arrangements.

 

[pompeyfan]

Well I count this as laying down the gauntlet to any SWR controllers that might happen to read this forum then!

 

[CarltonA]

Thanks to those who made suggestions above. I am likely in Staines next week, so a slim chance of seeing a 455 that's not heading west on the GWML.

Windsor - Staines branch is closed next week, lucky I checked. Will go today instead.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

Windsor - Staines branch is closed next week, lucky I checked. Will go today instead.

You will not see a 455 through Staines.
Elsewhere on the Windsor lines, the 19:04 from Twickenham to London Waterloo is 5712+5717.

 

[CarltonA]

Okay, not here specifically to see a 455. Might see the Anglia service to Basingstoke going through.