High Capacity SWT Class 450

[TransportHub]

The Class 450/5s were renumbered as /5s when they were made high capacity and first class removed. in 2013 some of these were reverted back to normal capacity and first class reinstated. However a friend of mine went on one a 450/5 over the weekend and there was no first class at all!

Does any one know if there are any high capacity 450s left or why the whole train was standard.

Also there were two standard and one disabled toilet but the SWT website states the trains only have two. Typo on the website?

Many thanks in advance for any information

 

[TEW]

All the 450/5s have had First Class reinstated for a number of years now, and they all only have one standard toilet and one disabled toilet.

 

[Deepgreen]

The Class 450/5s were renumbered as /5s when they were made high capacity and first class removed. in 2013 some of these were reverted back to normal capacity and first class reinstated. However a friend of mine went on one a 450/5 over the weekend and there was no first class at all!

Does any one know if there are any high capacity 450s left or why the whole train was standard.

Also there were two standard and one disabled toilet but the SWT website states the trains only have two. Typo on the website?

Many thanks in advance for any information

Was it possibly a 458/5?

 

[TransportHub]

He was on this train
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y40204/2016/04/17/advanced

Is there any way to work out what number train he was on?

 

[Deepgreen]

He was on this train
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/Y40204/2016/04/17/advanced

Is there any way to work out what number train he was on?

Well, that would not have been a 458/5, so, unless someone happens to have the unit number on that run, the mystery remains.

 

[Paul180]

Unit numbers 450089 & 450566?

 

[Deepgreen]

Unit numbers 450089 & 450566?

Is that confirmation or a question? I'll keep an eye out for 566 to see if its first class is still not reinstated.

 

[Paul180]

Is that confirmation or a question? I'll keep an eye out for 566 to see if its first class is still not reinstated.

Sorry some one ask the same questran on twitter earlier should have said and the Twitter team gave those numbers out for that train at that time.

 

[swt_passenger]

The Class 450/5s were renumbered as /5s when they were made high capacity and first class removed. in 2013 some of these were reverted back to normal capacity and first class reinstated. However a friend of mine went on one a 450/5 over the weekend and there was no first class at all!

Others have suggested that the train without any first class may well have been a 458/5.

But the 450/5 weren't actually reverted back to the original state, that's why they are still numbered as 450/5s. The various areas of the train where the 5th seats of 5 were removed, generally near the doors, were not put back.

Someone asked why the remaining standard seats were not reinstated in a web chat last year, and as usual the web chat response didn't answer the question, perhaps because they were unaware that there was more to the change than just putting the First Class area back in...

 

[Deepgreen]

Others have suggested that the train without any first class may well have been a 458/5.

But the 450/5 weren't actually reverted back to the original state, that's why they are still numbered as 450/5s. The various areas of the train where the 5th seats of 5 were removed, generally near the doors, were not put back.

The first class was re-instated but not in exactly the layout of the 450/0s, which is why they retained their sub-class numbers. Having looked at the RTT detail supplied, I concluded that it would not have been a 458/5.

 

[RobShipway]

I am sure that some of the 450/5's have worked with other class 450's on the Reading route.

 

[bb21]

There is no real separation between the /0s and /5s these days, and yes, the train above was indeed formed of the two units quoted upthread.

 

[swt_passenger]

I am sure that some of the 450/5's have worked with other class 450's on the Reading route.

They work everywhere, mixed with /0s in multiple as well. There have been no specific diagrams for them since changed back to nearly normal.

 

[Siemens Staines]

I am sure that some of the 450/5's have worked with other class 450's on the Reading route.

The other day there was a 450/0 + 450/5 combo on the Reading route that appeared to be formed as a semi-permanent 8 car set with the cab windows in the middle of the train taped over one one unit and blanked off on the other. There were no working toilets in the 8 cars so I presume this was to make it compatible with an 8 car 455

 

[Matt Taylor]

Correct, one of those units is 450118, not sure on the other one.

 

[bb21]

0555 is the other one, semi-permanently coupled due to smashed windscreens after tree strikes last year.

 

[Bigfoot]

Both are due for repair works later this week. Or at least they were last time I looked...

 

[43096]

Both are due for repair works later this week. Or at least they were last time I looked...

At a guess, the car from 450555 will require works attention, as it has various dents on the front corner as well.

I assume these two being kept in traffic is due to the pressure on the SWT fleet with the chronic late delivery of the 458/5s, the continued absence of 458501 with fire damage and losing 3 units to the 455 AC traction project. With the AC 455s coming into service and all the 458s delivered, this will reduce pressure on the fleet. The Farnham-Alton block may also mean less diagrams which will ease the pressure further for a couple of weeks at least.

 

[Bigfoot]

At a guess, the car from 450555 will require works attention, as it has various dents on the front corner as well.

I assume these two being kept in traffic is due to the pressure on the SWT fleet with the chronic late delivery of the 458/5s, the continued absence of 458501 with fire damage and losing 3 units to the 455 AC traction project. With the AC 455s coming into service and all the 458s delivered, this will reduce pressure on the fleet. The Farnham-Alton block may also mean less diagrams which will ease the pressure further for a couple of weeks at least.

Or that Siemens were waiting for part new cab shells to be built and delivered and the magic German welders to be free to come over and weld up the aluminium body shell. Why stop two units that can run in service until they are ready to be repaired? The ac traction 455 has little or no affect on the 450s.

 

[43096]

Both are due for repair works later this week. Or at least they were last time I looked...

Well, 450555 hasn't been stopped. Seen working today still with damaged cab end.

 

[Helvellyn]

Back to the original question, all Class 450/5 units have First Class seats. As others have said they remain numbered 450/5 due to the seating in Standard not being restored to the original layout. Possibly due to the extra handrails added, which due to being bolted to the floor would require the holes filled and replacement carpets fitted. I wouldn't be surprised to see the entire 450 fleet undergo an internal refresh in the next franchise and a standardised layout emerge once more.

I am surprised the 450/5 fleet haven't been concentrated on the Reading services in the meantime though, as the additional standing room would be useful in the peaks between Feltham and Waterloo.

 

[spark001uk]

I saw 555 lastnight at Reading with its damaged end. I was looking for some info on it and came across this thread, can't believe they still haven't repaired it.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Also the /5s had the bins removed and fitted under the seats.

That always got me when walking out the cab disposing of someone else rubbish and no bin there.Doh it's a /5.

 

[43096]

I saw 555 lastnight at Reading with its damaged end. I was looking for some info on it and came across this thread, can't believe they still haven't repaired it.

There was a question about this on the SWT passenger web chat session with management this week. The response was:

"Since Winter of 2015/2016, we have had seven Class 450 units with servious damage as a result of tree strikes.

450555 has damage to the cab after a tree strike which has rendered that particular driving end unusable, the damage caused is extensive behind what you see from the exterior, we have had an assessment carried out on this unit and what will be required to repair this. This also confirmed the unit is fit to remain in service. The repairs will take approximately 4 weeks to complete which will mean taking this train out of our service provision for this period of time. We are currently looking at a repair during October, however these repairs sit in a list of priority mindful of keeping fleet availability as high as possible so this queue could shuffle."

 

[Siemens Staines]

I saw 555 lastnight at Reading with its damaged end. I was looking for some info on it and came across this thread, can't believe they still haven't repaired it.

It has been partnered with 450098 since at least the start of May. Its original partner was 450118 which was repaired around that time.

 

[43096]

It has been partnered with 450098 since at least the start of May. Its original partner was 450118 which was repaired around that time.

450098 appears to have some bruises as well on the "boxed in" end!

 

[spark001uk]

What's the cab damage looking from the internal gangway? Meant to have a look but didn't think.

 

[Matt Taylor]

It was with 108 when I last worked it in July, the damage is quite extensive along the back of the cab desk but you can't really tell unless you get right into the cab.

 

[Bigfoot]

I was fairly reliably told that the external aluminium replacement is straightforward. It is the cab interior damage that is slowing down the repairs.

 

[MatthewRead]

Are these units going to get a refurbishment they could do with it.