Class 458 movements

[Phillipimo]

Between Shawford and Eastleigh today (26/4/13) at about 16:30 I think I saw a class 458 going northbound, i think on the slow line. Any explanations? had it just come from Eastleigh works or something?

 

[dcd]

It was waiting by works exit yesterday afternoon.

 

[Phillipimo]

Do you know why it was there?

 

[WVL14]

It was there in connection with the HLOS project. Unit 8025

 

[Phillipimo]

what sort of connection would that be? HLOS seems to be quite broad.

 

[swt_passenger]

what sort of connection would that be? HLOS seems to be quite broad.

I think 'HLOS project' is the term used within SWT as a shorthand for their own aspects of the CP4 HLOS, e.g. the additional/lengthened rolling stock such as the 458/5 project. However as you say there are 'HLOS projects' going on all over the place.

So I think you're quite right to ask, because 'in connection with the HLOS project' doesn't really answer your question at all. It gives absolutely nothing away as to why the unit was at Eastleigh Works...

 

[WVL14]

It was at Eastleigh for some kind of 'assessment' for when they start convering them into 5 cars. It was there for two days.
Do not know any more than that.

 

[Eagle]

Bit late for an assessment given that Porterbrook started said conversion a while ago. Unless it's a problem with this specific unit that needed scoping out perhaps?

 

[Monty]

There is a unit knocking about with a brand spanking new coupling. I didn't get the unit number though, perhaps it was something to do with that?

 

[WVL14]

Not sure what the assessment on this unit involved, but as you say, the plans for conversion to 5 cars and all the associated works are well advanced. Understand it was something specific to this unit, but not sure what that is.

 

[455driver]

Bit late for an assessment given that Porterbrook started said conversion a while ago. Unless it's a problem with this specific unit that needed scoping out perhaps?

No 458/0s have started to be converted yet, only the 460s have.

 

[swt_passenger]

Might have worked out why there was a 458 at Eastleigh the other day. It seems they are going to be transferred to/from Wabtec by rail, unlike the 460s that went by road.

Seems then that Arlington have had to test a pair of translator vehicles for work with 458s, and this visit was mainly to do with the translators - so might not necessarily have been a sign of anything being done to the particular 458 at all?