SWR 455 twilight diagrams/workings

[Nimbus020]

That plaque that refers to them running from 1983 to 2025 is already out of date, as a handful are still running this year.

I'm sure I rode my first one in 1982, on Saturday November 6th, which would make the start year inaccurate too.

March 1983 seems to be given as the ‘official’ launch month for the 455s in passenger service - maybe some were used in late 1982 before officially entering service - seems a long time ago anyway!

 

[WessexEclectic]

Sounds a bit like the ‘official’ vs. unofficial speed records for 3rd rail - ‘though don’t know whether any 455 would have made it much past 80mph, downhill with a following wind…

 

[Big Jumby 74]

March 1983 seems to be given as the ‘official’ launch month for the 455s in passenger service

That is correct. Many of the first 455 8xx's were still at Wolverton in December 1982, including 5802/3/4 & 6, gradually being moved to the SR in January 1983. A couple arrived towards the end of 1982, 5805 was one of (possibly the) first to arrive at Strawberry Hill depot from Wolverton on 10 November 1982, being hauled from there to Waterloo for a display for the benefit of the TUCC on 16 November 1982.
5801 arrived on the SR on 20 December 1982, with 5804 arriving 10 January 1983, 5802 & 5811 arriving 25 January.

Having had some involvement in stock matters back then, I was able to visit Strawberry Hill and Wimbledon depots on business, and have photo's of some of the early units in 'as new' (unused) condition on 5 February 1983, including 5802, which became one of the units that were used for initial crew training, and I have that recorded in Waterloo South sidings on the 22 February, for that purpose.

This may be a subject for the Historical thread in due course?

 

[tb2]

Does anyone truly know when these will be fully retired? It’s my understanding that there’s still actually a fair few knocking about. Need to pop down and see them before they go, but worried they might already be gone before I get the chance.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

AFAIK there are only 3 pairs kept back and in serviceable condition. As soon as enough 701's are in service to cover the daily diagrams and maintenance/training operations, they will go. There does appear to be one circuit (two unit diagrams) that is still running as 455 quite often - listed elsewhere on here - but any such working (455) will now be a Wimbledon depot start and finish circuit, which will limit the services worked by 455.

 

[tb2]

AFAIK there are only 3 pairs kept back and in serviceable condition. As soon as enough 701's are in service to cover the daily diagrams and maintenance/training operations, they will go. There does appear to be one circuit (two unit diagrams) that is still running as 455 quite often - listed elsewhere on here - but any such working (455) will now be a Wimbledon depot start and finish circuit, which will limit the services worked by 455.

Yeah I’ve seen that. They all do come out of WD or head back after working. Hopefully I’ll be able to snag one before they all go. Much appreciated reply chief

 

[Ian Hardy]

Does anyone truly know when these will be fully retired? It’s my understanding that there’s still actually a fair few knocking about. Need to pop down and see them before they go, but worried they might already be gone before I get the chance.

The current STP timetable runs until Saturday 7th Feb, then there probably will be a change in the diagrams which could mean the end is this week, but as no new 701s have been introduced into service recently, who knows.

Wimbledon depot could be trying to get a final Modern Railways Golden Spanner award for the 455s in 2026 so they might want them to be in service for as long as possible to get that BR era EMU award rather than it going to ScotRail's 318s and 320s as they are the only other BR era EMUs left.

 

[Goldfish62]

Wimbledon depot could be trying to get a final Modern Railways Golden Spanner award for the 455s in 2026 so they might want them to be in service for as long as possible to get that BR era EMU award rather than it going to ScotRail's 318s and 320s as they are the only other BR era EMUs left.

Most unlikely.

Over on the 701 thread it's suggested with some obvious knowledge that the six 455s are still hanging around because SWR are having problems commissioning further 701s - seems they've got through all the good ones and are now on to the early ones which have been in store the longest. The remaining 455s are off by the end of March (as stated by the SWR MD) so let's hope 2-3 more 701s are commisioned by then!

 

[rmHawk765]

Hoping to catch a final 455 next week. It is objectively remarkable that they've lasted so long past the supposed farewell, but then again I was fully expecting it.

 

[Rich the Eagle]

* Class 455 Allocations - Mon 2nd Feb *

5712+5716

5J97 0523 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Hampton Court (ECS)
2J08 0554 Hampton Court to London Waterloo
1D07 0639 London Waterloo to Dorking
1D16 0748 Dorking to London Waterloo
2G17 0903 London Waterloo to Guildford (via Cobham)
2G28 1034 Guildford to London Waterloo (via Cobham)
2F27 1150 London Waterloo to Woking
2F36 1303 Woking to London Waterloo
2G37 1403 London Waterloo to Guildford (via Cobham)
2G48 1534 Guildford to London Waterloo (via Cobham)
2F47 1650 London Waterloo to Woking
2F56 1803 Woking to London Waterloo
2G57 1903 London Waterloo to Guildford (via Cobham)
2G68 2034 Guildford to London Waterloo (via Cobham)
2F67 2150 London Waterloo to Woking
2F80 2304 Woking to London Waterloo
5Y68 0007 London Waterloo to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs (ECS)

5721+5732

5O53 1712 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo (ECS)
1D51 1753 London Waterloo to Dorking
5Y54 1854 Dorking to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs (ECS)

5719+5729 (Scrap move hauled by 37884)

5Q57 1017 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Derby Litchurch Lane (ECS obviously!)

 

[swr444]

455s staying until April at the earliest

 

[tcw217]

455s staying until April at the earliest

No way the lease expires by March

 

[Goldfish62]

No way the lease expires by March

Why "no way"?

 

[Cravens]

No way the lease expires by March

That’s not strictly true, as IIRC SWR had inked a deal to lease them up until 2028 if needed, and they could be handed back at a month’s notice as needed. If the remaining 701’s to release to traffic are as big a bag of bolts as is made out on the 701 intro thread, it might make sense to keep the 455’s around for some added operational resilience.

 

[Goldfish62]

455s staying until April at the earliest

Clearly things have moved on since the MD's speech on the 455 "Farewell" tour. A sudden realisation that they'll unable to commission any further 701s for he foreseeable future?

 

[Peter Sarf]

The acid test might be whenever a major exam is due on each 455.
SWR will not be wanting to maintain a micro-fleet when the staff could and should be concentrating on 701s. So I think run into the ground is the longest people can expect/hope-for.

 

[Bikeman78]

The current STP timetable runs until Saturday 7th Feb, then there probably will be a change in the diagrams which could mean the end is this week, but as no new 701s have been introduced into service recently, who knows.

Wimbledon depot could be trying to get a final Modern Railways Golden Spanner award for the 455s in 2026 so they might want them to be in service for as long as possible to get that BR era EMU award rather than it going to ScotRail's 318s and 320s as they are the only other BR era EMUs left.

I think there has only been one failure this year. 5721 at Waterloo a week ago Thursday.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 2 Feb 2026 ==

The acid test might be whenever a major exam is due on each 455.
SWR will not be wanting to maintain a micro-fleet when the staff could and should be concentrating on 701s. So I think run into the ground is the longest people can expect/hope-for.

I hope that the selected six have the longest time of the survivors until their next C4 or C6. Other than that they will just need A or B exams every few thousand miles. Given the low mileage usage, each set will last weeks between exams.

 

[Siemens Staines]

A second pair of 455s are currently allocated to a one way working for this evenings peak

5721 + 5732
5O53 1712 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo
1D51 1753 London Waterloo to Dorking
5Y54 1854 Dorking to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs

 

[Nimbus020]

A second pair of 455s are currently allocated to a one way working for this evenings peak

5721 + 5732
5O53 1712 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo
1D51 1753 London Waterloo to Dorking
5Y54 1854 Dorking to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs

Many thanks

 

[Flange Squeal]

No way the lease expires by March

What’s your source for this…?

 

[DelW]

Why "no way"?

What’s your source for this…?

I think that tcw217's comment ["No way the lease expires by March"] can be read in two ways, with opposite meanings:

i) No way [that] the lease expires by March - i.e. they'll be staying longer; or

ii) No way [, because] the lease expires by March - i.e. that's the latest that they can stay.

Another case where punctuation matters!

 

[Rich the Eagle]

* Class 455 Allocations - Tue 3rd Feb *

5712+5716

5J90 0635 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo (ECS)
5J92 0707 London Waterloo to Surbiton (ECS)
2J92 0752 Surbiton to London Waterloo
5J93 0839 London Waterloo to Hampton Court (ECS)
5Y52 0910 Hampton Court to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs (ECS)

5717+5727

5V49 1633 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to London Waterloo (ECS)
2V49 1707 London Waterloo to London Waterloo
2H97 1843 London Waterloo to Shepperton (via Richmond)
2H64 1936 Shepperton to London Waterloo (via Kingston)
2H63 2042 London Waterloo to Shepperton (via Kingston)
2H72 2141 Shepperton to London Waterloo (via Kingston)
2M71 2300 London Waterloo to Chessington South
2M96 2342 Chessington South to Wimbledon
5Y64 0005 Wimbledon to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs (ECS)

5721+5732

5J97 0523 Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs to Hampton Court (ECS)
2J08 0554 Hampton Court to London Waterloo
1D07 0639 London Waterloo to Dorking
1D16 0748 Dorking to London Waterloo
2G17 0903 London Waterloo to Guildford (via Cobham)
2G28 1034 Guildford to London Waterloo (via Cobham)
2F27 1150 London Waterloo to Woking
2F36 1303 Woking to London Waterloo
2G37 1403 London Waterloo to Guildford (via Cobham)
2G48 1534 Guildford to London Waterloo (via Cobham)
2F47 1650 London Waterloo to Woking
2F56 1803 Woking to London Waterloo
2G57 1903 London Waterloo to Guildford (via Cobham)
2G68 2034 Guildford to London Waterloo (via Cobham)
2F67 2150 London Waterloo to Woking
2F80 2304 Woking to London Waterloo
5Y68 0007 London Waterloo to Wimbledon Park Depot Sdgs (ECS)

 

[tcw217]

I think that tcw217's comment ["No way the lease expires by March"] can be read in two ways, with opposite meanings:

i) No way [that] the lease expires by March - i.e. they'll be staying longer; or

ii) No way [, because] the lease expires by March - i.e. that's the latest that they can stay.

Another case where punctuation matters!

Sorry for my poor English! I meant for the second case.

What’s your source for this…?

I heard from people in various Facebook Groups. One of them can be found in: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CASSYUUHu/?

 

[Goldfish62]

Sorry for my poor English! I meant for the second case.


I heard from people in various Facebook Groups. One of them can be found in: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CASSYUUHu/?

And it was stated by the MD of SWR on the 455 Farewell Tour, unless we are now going to question whether he knew what he was talking about!

 

[Ian Hardy]

And it was stated by the MD of SWR on the 455 Farewell Tour, unless we are now going to question whether he knew what he was talking about!

But there have been so many 701 launches / press releases stating that X trains will be in service by (any date you care to think of); the MD will have approved what was announced; only for it not to happen, so why would it not be the same this time?

 

[Big Jumby 74]

He, the MD, would have spoken as things were, to the best of his knowledge/information at the time in question. Things can have a habit of changing/throwing a spanner in the works very quickly! Getting the job done has to take priority over spending excessive time giving daily updates to all and sundry!

 

[Goldfish62]

He, the MD, would have spoken as things were, to the best of his knowledge/information at the time in question. Things can have a habit of changing/throwing a spanner in the works very quickly! Getting the job done has to take priority over spending excessive time giving daily updates to all and sundry!

So you're suggesting that maybe the 455s are staying beyond March? That would be music to the ears of those who cannot accept that they're going.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

So you're suggesting that maybe the 455s are staying beyond March? That would be music to the ears of those who cannot accept that they're going.

Not at all. I have no direct knowledge of ongoing events, only speaking from my time on the job long before SWR, and knowing the new MD, he is committed to sorting this out asap, even without any pressure from above.

To be clear I believe I mentioned up thread either here or on another related thread, that my opinion, having been involved in such schemes in the past, is that the remaining 455's need to be off loaded ASAP, but that can only happen once there is confidence that the 701's can cover all base plan diagrams, plus maintenance commitments and any ongoing training requirements.

The only other reason for retaining them (before the 701/5's) are in service, is for odd occasions of engineering work where trains need to use certain infrastructure, such as Kingston bay, or some other locations. But in reality a handful of 455's will make little difference, these instances will likely be covered by either 450 or 458/4 on a planned basis.

Talking of 'planned', I suspect the Planners have by now likely removed any reference to 455's from their working instructions/lists of stock types, that are available to diagram on a planned basis, the only people now able to use them being Control on VSTP moves, exactly as is happening (SX) at present.

 

[swr444]

Not at all. I have no direct knowledge of ongoing events, only speaking from my time on the job long before SWR, and knowing the new MD, he is committed to sorting this out asap, even without any pressure from above.

To be clear I believe I mentioned up thread either here or on another related thread, that my opinion, having been involved in such schemes in the past, is that the remaining 455's need to be off loaded ASAP, but that can only happen once there is confidence that the 701's can cover all base plan diagrams, plus maintenance commitments and any ongoing training requirements.

The only other reason for retaining them (before the 701/5's) are in service, is for odd occasions of engineering work where trains need to use certain infrastructure, such as Kingston bay, or some other locations. But in reality a handful of 455's will make little difference, these instances will likely be covered by either 450 or 458/4 on a planned basis.

Talking of 'planned', I suspect the Planners have by now likely removed any reference to 455's from their working instructions/lists of stock types, that are available to diagram on a planned basis, the only people now able to use them being Control on VSTP moves, exactly as is happening (SX) at present.

They can use 450 or 458s for the bay platform.

 

[Goldfish62]

They can use 450 or 458s for the bay platform.

Chances are the recast timetable may not even feature the Kingston - Hounslow - Waterloo service. It hardly ever seems to run anyway, given the seemingly permanent weekend engineering works on the Windsor lines.