SWR outgoing Metro fleet withdrawals (complete)

[norbitonflyer]

Two 458/5s out today, both operating solo

 

[Class455]

Are they having component recovery then?
My understanding is that when they were going to Newport they just got scrapped. So, why would it be different with them going to Derby?

Thought I read somewhere that they’re being stripped of any useful components at Derby before they get transported by road for scrapping.

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

According to LRR.
5702 last worked on Friday 5th (0820 Woking Waterloo).
5708 last worked on 5th 00+09 empties Dorking to Wimbledon, off its last passenger job - 2310 Waterloo Dorking on 4th.

Thank you!

 

[Boalbads]

Two 458/5s out today, both operating solo

Wonder why 533 isnt out

 

[WWTownEnth]

Wonder why 533 isnt out

Maybe it’s finally out of miles and being prepared for the knacker’s yard

 

[Richard Scott]

Wonder why 533 isnt out

Sorry for possibly missing something further up the thread but what's happening with 458s? Assume not all being converted to 4 car? Are 4 cars being kept?

 

[nctd2306]

Wonder why 533 isnt out

Back out today on the 2C05 diagram.

 

[physics34]

.....ignore

 

[WWTownEnth]

I thought the 23rd would be the last day,

 

[sad1e]

So saturday the last day of 455 operation then? How many units do we suspect are left?

The last day of 455 operation is the 23rd , Not this Saturday

 

[physics34]

The last day of 455 operation is the 23rd , Not this Saturday

Ok thanks for that info.

 

[traji00]

Sorry for possibly missing something further up the thread but what's happening with 458s? Assume not all being converted to 4 car? Are 4 cars being kept?

458501-528 were converted to 4-car (now 458401-428), running on the Windsor / Reading / Chertsey lines until replacement by 701.
529-536 remain as 5-car (but are to be withdrawn as each unit runs out of miles).

 

[adc82140]

The last day of 455 operation is the 23rd , Not this Saturday

Isn't that just the last day of diagrammed 455s? I reckon a few will be stood up vice 701 or 450 for a few weeks afterwards.

 

[Siemens Staines]

0V75 0644 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Swindon East Loop
0W76 1557 Swindon East Loop to Alexandra Docks Udg

0V75 now cancelled and replaced by 0W76 running direct from Derby this afternoon

0W76 1411 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Alexandra Docks Udg

Realtime Trains | 0W76 1411 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Alexandra Docks Udg | 11/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 0W76 1411 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Alexandra Docks Udg on 11/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

A path for tomorrows drag of 5723 is now on RTT

5Q57 0735 Alexandra Docks Udg to Derby Litchurch Lane

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 0735 Alexandra Docks Udg to Derby Litchurch Lane | 12/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 0735 departure from Alexandra Docks Udg to Derby Litchurch Lane on 12/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[WWTownEnth]

Isn't that just the last day of diagrammed 455s? I reckon a few will be stood up vice 701 or 450 for a few weeks afterwards.

Somehow i doubt it. They are all off lease WEF 31 Dec and I imagine SWR would rather suffer cancellations than pay any lease extension fees.

 

[Wyrleybart]

458501-528 were converted to 4-car (now 458401-428), running on the Windsor / Reading / Chertsey lines until replacement by 701.
529-536 remain as 5-car (but are to be withdrawn as each unit runs out of miles).

Thanks for that. I had wondered.
so basically 529-536 get binned when out of miles and 401-428 get binned once the 701s are in place making them redundant.

Is there much difference in quality between the 4xx and the 5xx after Widnes overhauled them. or actually was the work mechanical and electrical, and not internal ?

 

[Nimbus020]

Somehow i doubt it. They are all off lease WEF 31 Dec and I imagine SWR would rather suffer cancellations than pay any lease extension fees.

Thanks - that's interesting - I thought that a longer lease had been signed earlier this year for the 455s: https://www.modernrailways.com/article/class-455s-gain-three-year-life-extension - maybe that was changed more recently

 

[Class15]

Somehow i doubt it. They are all off lease WEF 31 Dec and I imagine SWR would rather suffer cancellations than pay any lease extension fees.

I thought there was an extension with flexible end dates done fairly recently?!

 

[Goldfish62]

Thanks for that. I had wondered.
so basically 529-536 get binned when out of miles and 401-428 get binned once the 701s are in place making them redundant.

Is there much difference in quality between the 4xx and the 5xx after Widnes overhauled them. or actually was the work mechanical and electrical, and not internal ?

Apart from not painting the interior panelling, or refurbishing the toilets, the 458/4s have had a complete interior refit. New carpets, seats, tables, repainted grabrails.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Thanks - that's interesting - I thought that a longer lease had been signed earlier this year for the 455s: https://www.modernrailways.com/article/class-455s-gain-three-year-life-extension - maybe that was changed more recently

The problem is, having the will and the resources to keep them going when the priority is to get the 701's in service. Why bother when there are loads of new trains sitting around awaiting commissioning and entry into traffic

 

[swt_passenger]

Thanks for that. I had wondered.
so basically 529-536 get binned when out of miles and 401-428 get binned once the 701s are in place making them redundant.

Is there much difference in quality between the 4xx and the 5xx after Widnes overhauled them. or actually was the work mechanical and electrical, and not internal ?

The numbers of 458/4 re-converted reflects the 2021 idea to use them in place of the 442s. It’s basically allowing for 9 x 12 car trains, plus a spare unit. There’s been previous discussion about it being more logical to have reverted to 30 units and just abandoned the ex 460 vehicles, but 28 was the deal…

 

[SWT_USER]

Apart from not painting the interior panelling, or refurbishing the toilets, the 458/4s have had a complete interior refit. New carpets, seats, tables, repainted grabrails.

Pretty surprising that the old South West Trains information stickers have survived all that!

... and pretty unsurprising we're still being subject to 4 coach 455's on Windsor and Weybridge services despite all this 'new' stock arriving weekly

 

[Goldfish62]

Pretty surprising that the old South West Trains information stickers have survived all that!

... and pretty unsurprising we're still being subject to 4 coach 455's on Windsor and Weybridge services despite all this 'new' stock arriving weekly

Only a week or two more to endure!

 

[Richard Scott]

458501-528 were converted to 4-car (now 458401-428), running on the Windsor / Reading / Chertsey lines until replacement by 701.
529-536 remain as 5-car (but are to be withdrawn as each unit runs out of miles).

Thank you.

 

[LUYMun]

delete

 

[cduncan]

The remaining two 458/5s running solo from next week as seen here:

 

[pompeyfan]

One unit does the following;

5R02 / 2R02 / 2S11 / 2S20 / 5Y86 / 5S47 / 2S47 / 2S56 / 2V57 / 5V58 / 2S73 / 5Y66.

The other does;

5C09 / 2C09 / 2C20 / 2C23 / 2C34 / 2V43 / 2R49 / 2S59 / 2S68 / 2U73 / 2U80 / 5U80

The remaining two 458/5s running solo from next week as seen here:

I’ve already posted the diagrams

 

[The_Train]

0V75 now cancelled and replaced by 0W76 running direct from Derby this afternoon

0W76 1411 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Alexandra Docks Udg

Realtime Trains | 0W76 1411 Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Alexandra Docks Udg | 11/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 0W76 1411 departure from Derby R.T.C.(Network Rail) to Alexandra Docks Udg on 11/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

A path for tomorrows drag of 5723 is now on RTT

5Q57 0735 Alexandra Docks Udg to Derby Litchurch Lane

Realtime Trains | 5Q57 0735 Alexandra Docks Udg to Derby Litchurch Lane | 12/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 5Q57 0735 departure from Alexandra Docks Udg to Derby Litchurch Lane on 12/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The loco appears to have made it to South Wales but the unit move was canned according to RTT (unless it ran on an alternative path)

 

[Siemens Staines]

The loco appears to have made it to South Wales but the unit move was canned according to RTT (unless it ran on an alternative path)

The loco is now returning to Wembley minus the 455

Realtime Trains | 0H72 0950 Alexandra Docks Udg to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r | 12/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 0H72 0950 departure from Alexandra Docks Udg to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r on 12/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[The_Train]

The loco is now returning to Wembley minus the 455

Realtime Trains | 0H72 0950 Alexandra Docks Udg to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r | 12/12/2025

Real-time train running information for 0H72 0950 departure from Alexandra Docks Udg to Wembley Loco Sidings P,q,r on 12/12/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Has the 455 welded itself to the rails in super quick time?

 

[WWTownEnth]

Are we likely to see two scrap moves next week? I assume these would be the last of the year?