Class 465/466

[Sean Davidson]

Hi, I am new to this forum so I hope this is in the correct section.
The 465 / 466 trains are looking really rather tired these days, are there plans to replace them or will they be modernized similar to the SWR 455 or GA 321?

 

[Class465pacer]

I’m guessing their time is up when the SE franchise is awarded, but at this rate it’ll probably happen in 2040.

 

[RealTrains07]

Not sure. As they are early 90s build they are good enough to keep going another 9 years easily.

Most likely the next SE franchise whenever that occurs will see some change?

 

[brad465]

As above the awarding of a long term franchise agreement, as opposed to endless short term extensions, will probably seal their fate. It took 4 years for the 190 Networker units to be built and deployed (1991-94), so a full withdrawal will be at least that length of time. Going by that, if a full franchise award was made to start in October 2021, with Networker replacements ordered in conjunction, then the earliest they'd be gone by is 2025, allowing them all to have seen 30 years of service.

Personally I don't see any other existing fleet in service fully replacing the Networkers via cascade (there are nowhere near enough 707s), so (rightfully I think) a brand new fleet is likely to replace them.

 

[supervc-10]

I feel like it's almost a guarantee that the next 'proper' franchisee will replace them with either Desiro City stock or Aventras. Perhaps Desiro Cities will have an advantage there when the 707s end up at South Eastern.