Class 455/7

[HamworthyGoods]

I feel as though surely these should be withdrawn first as the 701s come into more widespread play. The ex 508 trailers seem far, far more dilapidated than 455 carriages.

Fleet rundowns are generally done based upon unit condition and mileage status as this is the most cost effective.

 

[norbitonflyer]

I remember how cramped the 455’s seemed pre-refurbishment.

I’d often see people get up from seats at Earlsfield

On the contrary, the low backed seats gave a much more open and airy feel - the present high backed ironing board seats are decidedly claustrophobic - and the seat pitch is so tight that anyone over average height (50% of the population) cannot sit comfortably in the face to back window seats and can only do so in the gangway seats by putting their legs in the gangway, reducing the space for standing passengers.

And the moquette is too garish.

The original seats also had useful perches shaped into the ends, fir the comfort of the standing passengers.

With the new trains the problem of having to relinquish your seat early no longer existed as you probably didn't get one in the first place because of the reduced seating capacity - the extra standing area so created not even being enough to accommodate those who had previously had seats.

But if you have a window seat on the refurbished units it is very difficult to get out unless your neighbour cooperates.

 

[setdown]

Noticed a Class 455 at Southampton Central today, on its way to Bournemouth. That’s fairly rare I believe, does anyone know why it would be down here?

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Noticed a Class 455 at Southampton Central today, on its way to Bournemouth. That’s fairly rare I believe, does anyone know why it would be down here?

They still go down there for certain exam purposes I believe that can't be undertaken at Wimbledon, but there may be other reasons.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Nov 2024 ==

The original seats also had useful perches shaped into the ends, fir the comfort of the standing passengers.

As per here?, although not sure how useful they really were!

 

[swt_passenger]

Noticed a Class 455 at Southampton Central today, on its way to Bournemouth. That’s fairly rare I believe, does anyone know why it would be down here?

It’s a fairly normal move, I think there’s still permanent Q paths daily each way, (and they‘re in the next working timetable until May 2025), and they do get used a couple of times each month. There’s also daily Salisbury depot to Bournemouth depot Q paths via Southampton for maintenance purposes.

I do wonder though, if it’s partly about keeping the depot ticking over, there’s been a few false dawns eg with the 442 cancellation, and with the decision yet to be made about long term 458 maintenance work.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

How old is some of the underframe equipment - did any of the 455/7 receive second-hand, overhauled air compressors from 1950s-build 4SUBs?

 

[wickham]

I beleive the maintainance of Class 455s at Bournemouth has a lot to do with evening out the work load between depots. At one time Wimbledon were short of fitters, don't know if that still applies or not. Bournemouth is well equipped to do all sorts of work and even has a paint shop but has no permanant unit allocation now ! Presumably the depot is well off for staff too.

 

[norbitonflyer]

As per here?, although not sure how useful they really were!

(Perches on the original seat ends)

I used them a lot.