They certainly were delayed. That would appear to be a slightly revised (during the course of the work?) delivery schedule compared to the contract document I have which indicates anticipated delivery date(s) (eg of units 1 and 36 to give a general idea) of 1st April 2013 and 27th April 2014 respectively, albeit the latter set of dates were the start of reporting periods, so perhaps not as exact as those in your list. But that's splitting hairs.
It certainly was long gone by the late 2000s, as I don't recall hearing that voice on family day trips to Largs, Ayr, Balloch and Helensburgh. That is, if 334s were the trains that turned up; just as much of a chance of it being a 318 (or a 320 in the case of the North Clydes).
He was certainly Project Manager at one point and involved in the specification of them, but not sure if he had retired by the time the work started at Loughborough and Doncaster. I'm always thankful that he was involved as the gap between the seats is down to him, which makes a huge difference when sat next to someone.
My memory might be playing tricks but I don't think the 458s got a new PIS it's just the LEDs were adjusted to reach the required spacing, with a colour adjustment.
This website seems to disagree (albeit I wasn't even alive at the time...)
The PIS itself wasn't changed - the sets got new display screens that were deeper (as can be seen from the photos) so that they were compliant with the required standard.
Ah makes sense, were the scotrail 334s just always with their red text?
So the font and stuff was the same, it wasn't the ugly red text as seen on 334s?
458s definitely ran to Alton at that time. I travelled on 8005 on 27/04/02 to Alton, for the diesel gala if I recall correctly. The only other 458 I had off the Reading line was 8006 from Aldershot to Guildford in 2010. When did Reading go quarter hourly? If my calculations are correct, that would need 13 sets of stock. Ascot to Guildford required five units, so there wouldn't be enough 458s to cover those two routes, never mind anything else.
I do remember the 458 introduction on on Alton and Guildford to Waterloo.
Nice photo, do you remember if the PIS was setup & functional during that? I'm wondering if they had the route codes for the mainline side, as I read somewhere that they only got mainline side route codes a short while after becoming 458/5s.
Does anyone know why the 458s initially had the SWT mainline livery?
That was the only Stagecoach livery at that point for "modern" stock - the 159s and 442s got it as well upon refurbishment.
It was 24 years ago and I have done tens of thousands of miles in 458s since, so no idea. I also don’t have strange interest in PIS installations and usage!
Interesting, that makes sense. I’ve only ever seen the white livery on Stagecoach buses before, so it must have been the main livery of Stagecoach.
That would be a 139x series... there were eight of those.
One of the former 4-BIG units that transferred to SWT and became CIGs 1392-1399 by replacing the buffet with a CEP TSO?
They seem to have adopted the new liveries only in the early 2000s with the Desiro order. Then carried it to EMR where blue was used for non air-con stock and thrle white for the HSTs, Meridians and 158s.
A bit digging ref the above image: the Vep is 3470 and the Cig 1393. The Di-icer/sandite is 930102, presumable ex 9300xx?
930 102 was a former class 416; 930 002 to 930 011 were former class 405, 930 078/9 were ex-class 416/2 trailers, 930 082 was a class 411, 930 101 I'm not sure what it used to be.
Long since lost the plot I'm afraid, so just assumed that 930 102, not being listed in one of the few combined volumes I still have, had been a renumbering from 930/0. Wrong again, lol!
Ah... try the volumes around 2000 or thereabouts if you ever get the chance to get hold of one...
Thanks. As hinted at, 'one' has moved on in many respects, so trying not to collect anything these days unless it's of very personal interest. Speaking of which, and also steering this thread back to its core title (458 history), the railway, as many will know, lived on mugs of tea, something I learnt very early on in my career. Those at SETG involved with 4 VEP 3417 (7717) are keeping the tradition alive, should anyone want a VEP themed mug.
