465906 allocated to Medway Valley line this evening (07/08/26)

[brad465]

The unit appeared to have been brought in ad-hoc in lieu of a 375/3 that must have broken down. In the end 465906 only did one service, then ended up running empty back to Gillingham depot:

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:P89536/2026-08-07/detailed

While a long time ago you could find 465s on the branch in passenger service, I didn't believe this was allowed now as changes in dispatch protocol meant some platforms were not quite long enough for a 465 to alight with a guard. Was this unit therefore allocated by mistake?

 

[Cach17]

2-car 466s were the usual stock on the MVL until around 2011/2012. I didn't think 465s were ever regular visitors to the line, moreso seeing as it was worked by 508s until '06.

 

[brad465]

2-car 466s were the usual stock on the MVL until around 2011/2012. I didn't think 465s were ever regular visitors to the line, moreso seeing as it was worked by 508s until '06.

4-cars, of either 465 or 2x 466, occurred during the leaf-fall season pre-2012. Then it was mostly 3-car 375s, apart from during 2016 while the Dover sea wall was being repaired (3-car 375s did shuttles east of Dover), and mid-2018 to the end of 2019 1x 466 was allocated to Maidstone W terminators. In the final 3 weeks before the Dec 2019 timetable change, and the PRM rules coming in, 466s took over the whole branch in an effective swansong spell, due to power problems on the Sheerness branch leading to unit swaps.

For many years there was one ECS move of 2x 465s that ran from Strood-Maidstone W, turned round and went back to either Slade Green or Plumstead, until a few timetable changes ago when the Cannon St-Strood terminator was extended to Rochester, presumably due to the lack of a pilot available to assist in the Strood shunting move at that particular hour.

 

[Class999999]

Don't expect to see a 465 on the MVL in passenger service anytime soon! It's been confirmed they're not permitted unless ECS or calling at no Intermediate stations

 

[Class15]

Don't expect to see a 465 on the MVL in passenger service anytime soon! It's been confirmed they're not permitted unless ECS or calling at no Intermediate stations

So how did this one run?

 

[RJ]

Did I read somewhere that these trains have a basic SDO function that allows only the doors in the front carriage to be released? Is the line usually worked with a guard on board?

Would also be interested in if the 465 did indeed turn out and work in passenger service.

 

[brad465]

Don't expect to see a 465 on the MVL in passenger service anytime soon! It's been confirmed they're not permitted unless ECS or calling at no Intermediate stations

Yes the thinking is this one was allocated by mistake, hence after completing the down service to Paddock Wood, it was then cancelled thereafter to return to Gillingham ECS. You'd think though that a particular class not operating on a given route for several years would raise questions before being allocated officially.

Did I read somewhere that these trains have a basic SDO function that allows only the doors in the front carriage to be released? Is the line usually worked with a guard on board?

Would also be interested in if the 465 did indeed turn out and work in passenger service.

The line is guard-operated, as 465 doors can only be controlled from the cabs, anywhere where a cab door doesn't fit in the platform properly, or where line of sight prevents either the driver and/or guard seeing the whole train, such as at Swale (hence why 465s only ever went to Sheerness on peak extras until Covid made the service obsolete). This didn't use to be the case, but obviously protocol was tightened some years back.

Long-term I can see the Networker replacements being allocated to the branch line, and also Sheerness. They would be more suitable than 375/3s if they're given better acceleration, and as both branches are max 70mph (apart from the brief 100mph between Paddock Wood and Tonbridge), are more suited to metro-type stock.

 

[Class999999]

So how did this one run?

a c*ck up

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==

Did I read somewhere that these trains have a basic SDO function that allows only the doors in the front carriage to be released? Is the line usually worked with a guard on board?

Would also be interested in if the 465 did indeed turn out and work in passenger service.

You can release front doors only, or train crew can go and manually lock out doors EG coach 4.


Even at Cuxton, the guard's door will open above the sloping platform ramp. Used to be an agreement years ago with SE that heads-out dispatch was permitted at certain stations on the valley, but this has changed, and it's always boots on the ground for dispatch

 

[FR510]

a c*ck up

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 12 Aug 2026 ==


You can release front doors only, or train crew can go and manually lock out doors EG coach 4.


Even at Cuxton, the guard's door will open above the sloping platform ramp. Used to be an agreement years ago with SE that heads-out dispatch was permitted at certain stations on the valley, but this has changed, and it's always boots on the ground for dispatch

They have buttons that do release the doors on only the leading vehicle. Historically I think these were used for the now obsolete Hoo Junction Staff Halt.

It's also possible for the driver to release the doors on all vehicles except the rear vehicle or all vehicles except the front vehicle. But drivers are forbidden to use this basic form of SDO on Networkers.