SWR outgoing Metro fleet withdrawals (complete)

[dodger]

Is anyone able to advise which unit was on 5X95 to Bournemouth this morning.

Sorry I missed it myself. At present 458412 is working its way back to Wimbledon Park on 5Y51.

Dodger

 

[Siemens Staines]

Sorry I missed it myself. At present 458412 is working its way back to Wimbledon Park on 5Y51.

Thank you. Given that 458412 was in service yesterday and ended on 5Y55 to Wimbledon last night, then I think it is safe to assume that 458412 was one of the two units on 5X95 this morning, escorting one of the unserviceable units to Bournemouth

 

[WrongRoad]

458427 & 458412 were the two units to Bournemouth this morning 5X95

458412 acted as the taxi and worked back to Wimbledon Park as 5Y51

 

[Siemens Staines]

458427 & 458412 were the two units to Bournemouth this morning 5X95

458412 acted as the taxi and worked back to Wimbledon Park as 5Y51

Thank you for this information. I notice that 458427 was one of yesterdays serviceable units

 

[Class43lover]

Any 455 outings pathed for tomorrow? And which units are still on standby?

 

[mansonlo49]

Any 455 outings pathed for tomorrow? And which units are still on standby?

455712
455717
455727
455732
These four are the remaining, and you can type each unit on the search box at the top right corner

 

[Tickle]

455712
455717
455727
455732
These four are the remaining, and you can type each unit on the search box at the top right corner

5717 & 5727 now stood down and will leave XWP 13/03.

 

[Bikeman78]

It's been said before that crew knowledge is the limiting factor with 455s on the Windsor Side, Feltham and Staines no longer sign them, you'd end with with parts of the diagram cancelled, which is why most recent 455 trips have been on "one round trip diagrams" in the morning or evening peak.

I'm not completely dull. Clearly they'd put the 455s on the Wimbledon side and use the displaced 450s on the Windsor side. If they had kept a booked 455 diagram, e.g the Guildford and Woking diagram they have frequently worked, then the lapse in competency would be slower. If they are going to short form whilst four units stand idle, then they might as well go for scrap now.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I'm not completely dull. Clearly they'd put the 455s on the Wimbledon side and use the displaced 450s on the Windsor side. If they had kept a booked 455 diagram, e.g the Guildford and Woking diagram they have frequently worked, then the lapse in competency would be slower. If they are going to short form whilst four units stand idle, then they might as well go for scrap now.

This is what I feel has happened. The 455s have got to the stage where they are now a microfleet.
Two ways :-
Crew knowledge is mentioned but surely they have been used enough recently on Wimbledon side.
Maintenance - it must be simpler to concentrate on the 458s, and of course commissioning 701s.

 

[Rail_Sussex]

Hopefully they bring the last 2 units out next week!

 

[EYFanatic]

I know there was the Farewell Tour, but what if somebody at SWR control decided in one last long run out for the girls and diagramed them for a run to Weymouth and back on the last day

 

[Rail_Sussex]

I know there was the Farewell Tour, but what if somebody at SWR control decided in one last long run out for the girls and diagramed them for a run to Weymouth and back on the last day

That’s would be great!

When is the last day? (Apologies if I’ve missed it in this thread)

 

[Peter Sarf]

That’s would be great!

When is the last day? (Apologies if I’ve missed it in this thread)

Last day was last year (the special tours).

Everything since has a bonus. No planned last day but from reports in the thread I quote below it seems likely the last use of 455s could well have been Wednesday (04/03/2026) last week.

5727 is actually the last one to carry passengers. It did a round trip to Weybridge on Wednesday morning.

Better to discuss or discover any more runs in the thread above.

This thread is for withdrawals.

Two of the remaining four x 455 go for scrap this coming week and it seems inevitable the last two will go the following week.

 

[DelW]

I know there was the Farewell Tour, but what if somebody at SWR control decided in one last long run out for the girls and diagramed them for a run to Weymouth and back on the last day

Were they ever passed for that far? I think they ran to Bournemouth, but only ECS.

That’s would be great!

When is the last day? (Apologies if I’ve missed it in this thread)

Unknown but imminent. One pair left, covering for failures if the 458s can't.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Were they ever passed for that far? I think they ran to Bournemouth, but only ECS.

I believe that is correct.

Unknown but imminent. One pair left, covering for failures if the 458s can't,

Unfortunately looks like SWR are no longer using the 455s to cover for 458s (or any other units) judging by the short forms of 458s and no use of the 455s recently.

I think the last two 455s are now just waiting their turn to go to Derby for scrap (most likely w/c Monday 16/03/2026).

 

[WWTownEnth]

When are the remaining 458/5s likely to be dragged away to their deaths?

 

[Peter Sarf]

When are the remaining 458/5s likely to be dragged away to their deaths?

I think it was said up tread that the 458/5s would go when their major exams become due.

 

[Rail_Sussex]

Thanks, do their lease run out at the end of March?

 

[wickham]

I know there was the Farewell Tour, but what if somebody at SWR control decided in one last long run out for the girls and diagramed them for a run to Weymouth and back on the last day

455s are without doubt passed in passenger service as far as Basingstoke and I think to Eastleigh but no further (although I stand to be corrected !).

 

[St. Paddy]

Has anyone got any updates on the latest disposals by road from Litchurch Lane?

 

[aliceh]

Were they ever passed for that far? I think they ran to Bournemouth, but only ECS.

I seem to recall a 455 made it to Weymouth a few times coupled to a 442 as part of the testing for the ill-fated 442 retractioning in 2021

 

[NSEWonderer]

458530 on 2S07 https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P62247/2026-03-09/detailed

Leaves Weybridge as the busy, 07:33 2S16 Weybridge to Waterloo service.

 

[wickham]

I seem to recall a 455 made it to Weymouth a few times coupled to a 442 as part of the testing for the ill-fated 442 retractioning in 2021

455s and 442s could not couple - they have completely different couplers and systems including traction and brakeing systems. I don't think one has ever been further than Branksome to access Bournemouth Depot as ECS.

 

[swt_passenger]

455s and 442s could not couple - they have completely different couplers and systems including traction and brakeing systems. I don't think one has ever been further than Branksome to access Bournemouth Depot as ECS.

However there are posts in the forum about 455s reaching Weymouth for their AC traction testing, likely to be regenerative brake testing - I think the remote nature of the end of the route means all SWT/SWR regen trials took place there.

 

[nctd2306]

455s and 442s could not couple - they have completely different couplers and systems including traction and brakeing systems. I don't think one has ever been further than Branksome to access Bournemouth Depot as ECS.

Not my video so credit to the original videographer, but this shows that they could couple and did go past Branksome

 

[wickham]

Not my video so credit to the original videographer, but this shows that they could couple and did go past Branksome

I stand corrected !! I wonder how it was done - perhaps the 442 hauled the 455s with an emergency coupler. The lights are on in the 455s so they appear to be cut in, perhaps they had two drivers one on the 442 and one on the 455. And it proves they did visit Weymouth.......(wrong again !).

 

[Bikeman78]

This is what I feel has happened. The 455s have got to the stage where they are now a microfleet.
Two ways :-
Crew knowledge is mentioned but surely they have been used enough recently on Wimbledon side.
Maintenance - it must be simpler to concentrate on the 458s, and of course commissioning 701s.

Unless they have developed faults, they won't need much maintenance. Exam intervals are in the region of 7000 miles. Assuming an all day diagram is around 400 miles, that 17 days between exams. Anyway, it's all moot now. One pair supposedly going this week, and most likely the last pair next week.

 

[WarrenTManager]

Unless they have developed faults, they won't need much maintenance. Exam intervals are in the region of 7000 miles. Assuming an all day diagram is around 400 miles, that 17 days between exams. Anyway, it's all moot now. One pair supposedly going this week, and most likely the last pair next week.

Exams intervals on 455 are 20K for maintenance with an intermediate shoegear check

 

[Bikeman78]

Exams intervals on 455 are 20K for maintenance with an intermediate shoegear check

Thanks for the info. My guess was based on similar 150s and 317s.

 

[CallmeDave]

5712 5732 are out this PM starting 1702 Waterloobto Guildford. See post in 455 workings forum.