Official - 444s most reliable trains in UK

[Goldfish62]

From SWT website:

"South West Trains wins coveted industry top awards for outstanding fleet reliability

· Most reliable electric and diesel fleets in the country
· Awarded three top prizes for reliability
· Most improved award for Class 158 trains

South West Trains passengers are officially benefitting from the most reliable train fleets in the UK, after the rail company today (Friday 26 November) picked up three top awards at the prestigious ‘Golden Spanner’ awards.
For the first time, South West Trains picked up the top awards for the best reliability of both its Class 444 and Class 455 trains. In addition, once again, the team at South West Trains won the award for the most reliable former BR diesel multiple unit.
South West Trains’ Salisbury depot also won a Silver Spanner award for the largest performance improvement in the last year in the category of former BR Diesel Multiple Unit, for the Class 158 fleet.
The ceremony, organised by industry magazine Modern Railways, awarded the highest distinction to South West Trains’ fleets in the three categories in which it has a fleet type.
A Golden Spanner went to the Class 444 train, built and maintained by Siemens under contract to South West Trains, taking first place in the ‘Modern EMU’ (Electric Multiple Unit) category as the most reliable fleet of its type, thanks to reliability being improved by an impressive 30% since last year. This fleet is now the most reliable fleet of trains, of any type, anywhere in the UK.
The former BR EMU Golden Spanner award was bestowed on the Class 455 train which is maintained at Wimbledon depot. Last but by no means least, the Class 159 train maintained at Salisbury depot also picked up the Golden Spanner award in the former BR Diesel Multiple Unit fleet category for the fifth year running.
South West Trains’ programme of improvements to its fleet means the average distance operated by any train between any technical defects (causing 5 minutes or more delays) occurring is over 40,000 miles, compared with the industry average of 13,000 miles. This represents the equivalent of more than a complete round the world journey without any technical faults.
Christian Roth, South West Trains’ Engineering Director said: “We are extremely proud to win all three of these nationally recognised awards. It is a real tribute to the hard work of our engineering team, day in and day out, and to the close working relationship with Siemens. Our focus now is to build on this significant progress and improve our performance even further.
“Train reliability is vital for our customers and therefore is a top priority for South West Trains. This is really good news for our passengers; more reliable trains mean more reliable journeys.”
Steve White, Service Director for Siemens Rolling Stock said: “We are delighted that the Siemens Class 444 train has been officially acknowledged as the most reliable train in the UK. This is a fantastic achievement for the partnership between the Siemens maintenance team and the South West Trains operations team."
South West Trains operates the fleets of Class 444, Class 159 and Class 455 trains from London Waterloo across a large part of the South West of England. In addition, South West Trains operates fleet of Class 450s, Class 458s and Class 158s which are also towards the top of the national performance league in their categories.
The annual ‘Golden Spanner Awards’ recognise improvements in train reliability across the UK rail industry. The awards are based on statistical data and are regarded across the industry as being an accurate assessment of fleet reliability. Different classes of trains operating throughout the network are ranked on the distance they cover between technical faults by the Association of Train Operating Companies’ National Fleet Reliability Improvement Programme."

 

[asylumxl]

So C2C 357s are no longer the most reliable?

 

[jopsuk]

Nope- though from what I've picked up, c2c haven't really got worse, it is SWT that have improved. 357 fleet were second, and the 458s were (perhaps astonishingly?) third in the modern EMU category.

Not sure how the fleets are divided- according to Roger Ford's twitter stream (and he is after all the man who does the awards) the 159s took both 1st and 2nd in the ex-BR DMU Golden Spanner, with the SWT 158s third and taking the Silver Spanner in that category. Other awards he mentions:
IC225 took Intercity Golden
Cross Country 220 fleet took Modern DMU Golden
Southern 171 Modern DMU Silver
Southern 442 BR EMU Silver
Connect 360 Modern EMU Silver

Golden Spanner is top reliability, Silver is Most Improved- hence why 2nd in the most reliable category isn't silver.

 

[TGV]

It says "most reliable fleet of it's type". According to Modern Railways the most reliable train of any kind in the uk in terms of mpc is swt class 158/159.

 

[ajdunlop]

Now could they teach FGW how to look after their 158s. Starting with a lesson on how to clean them would be good.

 

[87015]

Nope- though from what I've picked up, c2c haven't really got worse, it is SWT that have improved. 357 fleet were second, and the 458s were (perhaps astonishingly?) third in the modern EMU category.

Thats my understanding aswell, 357 reliability is basically stable although with two units out at a time for corrosion repairs currently the fleet is being worked harder.

 

[Aictos]

It says "most reliable fleet of it's type". According to Modern Railways the most reliable train of any kind in the uk in terms of mpc is swt class 158/159.

That is slightly correct as it is the most reliable fleet of it's type, a EMU!

Slight difference between the most reliable train of any kind in the UK and the most reliable fleet of it's type,

 

[RobShipway]

Now could they teach FGW how to look after their 158s. Starting with a lesson on how to clean them would be good.

Maybe FGW should ask SWT to service their Class 158's at their Salisbury Depot??

 

[swt_passenger]

Maybe FGW should ask SWT to service their Class 158's at their Salisbury Depot??

Maybe the Portsmouth - Cardiff service should be run by SWT?

It might not be widely known in amongst all the discussions about FGW and DMU loans/hires etc, that the SWT 158 is hired in daily, and runs from and back to Salisbury, where SWT maintain it. Possibly to make sure it doesn't bring the stats down...

 

[387star]

That actually makes sense for Portsmouth-Cardiff to be run by SWT!

 

[MCR247]

Does it?

 

[thefab444]

Possibly to make sure it doesn't bring the stats down...

Also interesting to note that since they stopped loaning units to EMT and Northern, the stats have gone up.

Agree about the PMH - CDF service being run by SWT, would make sense.

 

[RobShipway]

Also interesting to note that since they stopped loaning units to EMT and Northern, the stats have gone up.

Agree about the PMH - CDF service being run by SWT, would make sense.

Isn't the majority of the terrotory so to speak that the Cardiff - Portsmouth goes through actually FGW Terrotory anyway?

To me it would actually make more sense for it to be a joint service between Arriva Trains Wales\FGW\SWT.

 

[SprinterMan]

Are the 444s significantly more reliable than other Desiros (350s, 360s etc.)

 

[Failed Unit]

Are the 444s significantly more reliable than other Desiros (350s, 360s etc.)

From other years not much to choose really it has been a desiro -v- electrostar battle. I guess the 444s probably have a bit easier life because the tend to get longer runs and are not so stop start.

Interesting the 91s are still to IC sets. East coast seems to be having more set failures recently.

Look forward to the issue and see how other dogs are getting on like the 180s and the EMT 158s post refurb!

 

[Juniper Driver]

Im happy with the desiros 450/444 as they have given me very little trouble over the almost 7 years I have been driving them.
458's minimal problems although I don't get on them a lot.
In 20+ years of driving 455's I have had one failure.(most over stuff like door faults have managed to fix or isolate)
Slammers.Never had a failure in 15 years of driving them.
158 and 159's probably not as good as other fleets had a few problems.(10 years on them now)
442's had numerous breakdowns even had one at Branksome in January 2007 before they departed to pastures new.(15 years of driving them)

 

[ChampsRacing]

I also havent had any problems with 444/450, 458s have been trouble free for me also. 455s however ive had 4 in 3 years that have failed on me. Dont sign 158/159s

 

[Juniper Driver]

I don't know what happened there but im sure I didn't tempt fate.

I had a train failure (last night) on 444015+450041 resulting in me having to isolate the brakes on the TOSL on 450041 due to a BCU failure.Did actually manage to get it moving with the help of the fault line.

I also forgot I did have one sort of failure on an 8 car slammer greyhound coming back from Pompey one day in the leaf fall.I refused to take it past Guildford as smoke was coming from the motors.I think it turned out the motors had burned out.Still managed to get it to Guildford though where they put a class 73 on it.

 

[devon_metro]

Isn't the majority of the terrotory so to speak that the Cardiff - Portsmouth goes through actually FGW Terrotory anyway?

To me it would actually make more sense for it to be a joint service between Arriva Trains Wales\FGW\SWT.

The only 'south west trains' territory is Redbridge - Portsmouth. All other stations in England that the route stops at/passes through are operated by FGW (with the exception of Salisbury)

 

[387star]

How about Romsey Dunbridge and Dean being managed by SWT as an alternative

Romsey station needs an urgent facelift

 

[ajdunlop]

How about Romsey Dunbridge and Dean being managed by SWT as an alternative

Romsey station needs an urgent facelift

Would make a lot of sense for Dunbridge and Dean to be SWT as FGW don't even call at them and then you might as well make Romsey SWT.

I believe Romsey is due a ramp to platform 1, a new car park, drop off/pick up, new CCTV and a new passenger info system. Does anyone know when this might actually happen, there have been various public meetings about it. Hopefully the new passenger info system will be better than the fuzzy CRT which sometimes works and that has info much less accurate than NRE on my phone.

 

[jon0844]

There's at least one FCC 321 that has a golden spanner sticker/vinyl on it - where did that come in the table, and what year?

 

[jopsuk]

I think LM won it it a few years in a row recently with the 321s- it'll be from that I think.

 

[jon0844]

I think LM won it it a few years in a row recently with the 321s- it'll be from that I think.

That's what I assumed, and FCC obviously opted to keep the sticker (given they'd put it over their new livery).

 

[Pumbaa]

I think LM won it it a few years in a row recently with the 321s- it'll be from that I think.

LM never won it with 321s I don't think. All Silverlinks work. LM closed Bletchley and steamrollered the skill base, and it showed considerably!