Southern & SWT Class 455s

[Uzair]

During the time that both TOCs refurbished these trains, SWT modified theirs so that the doors would open wider and there would be more room for boarding and alighting, whereas Southern did not do this.

The other day I was on a SN 455 (which I have not been on for many years) and noticed how ridiculous the restricted door opening looks. Why on earth did Southern not modify their doors too to allow for faster boarding? Surely it only comes as an advantages and I appreciate it costs money, but the money used to put up the poles inside the trains where the doors are (picture anyone) could have been used to modify the doors? Although it would have cost a lot more to modify the doors, I still think it was a waste of money to put up those grab poles and to keep the doors as they were pre refurb.

What are your thoughts? I'd like to know!

 

[1018509]

During the time that both TOCs refurbished these trains, SWT modified theirs so that the doors would open wider and there would be more room for boarding and alighting, whereas Southern did not do this.

The other day I was on a SN 455 (which I have not been on for many years) and noticed how ridiculous the restricted door opening looks. Why on earth did Southern not modify their doors too to allow for faster boarding? Surely it only comes as an advantages and I appreciate it costs money, but the money used to put up the poles inside the trains where the doors are (picture anyone) could have been used to modify the doors? Although it would have cost a lot more to modify the doors, I still think it was a waste of money to put up those grab poles and to keep the doors as they were pre refurb.

What are your thoughts? I'd like to know!

Don't really know the trains but 455's always remind me of the front of the 2BIL (I think they were) units. Nothing like it really, I know, if you look at the pictures, but the mind plays tricks; a bit like I can still see the old Mini in the BMW Min,i although it is a four door car, and much bigger.

 

[Skimble19]

I also went on a Southern 455 for the first time in a few years a couple of weeks back and thought exactly the same thing.. These poles in front of the doors are ridiculous - the doors on FCC 317s open roughly the same width but there's no poles there!

 

[fgwrich]

During the time that both TOCs refurbished these trains, SWT modified theirs so that the doors would open wider and there would be more room for boarding and alighting, whereas Southern did not do this.

The other day I was on a SN 455 (which I have not been on for many years) and noticed how ridiculous the restricted door opening looks. Why on earth did Southern not modify their doors too to allow for faster boarding? Surely it only comes as an advantages and I appreciate it costs money, but the money used to put up the poles inside the trains where the doors are (picture anyone) could have been used to modify the doors? Although it would have cost a lot more to modify the doors, I still think it was a waste of money to put up those grab poles and to keep the doors as they were pre refurb.

What are your thoughts? I'd like to know!

I still find that rather annoying, especially that they remain even after their refurbishments in Eastleigh Works - Where, they seem to be adding another set of grab poles - this time in a oval shape in the vestuble, which in turn seems to be almost abit of a height hazzard. So trying to solve one problem by creating another.

 

[MCR247]

Tbf though, those grap poles at the doors are useful for some as I have seen people using them to haul themselves onto the train when trying to board at Clapham Junction!

 

[bronzeonion]

Why did 455's have doors that dont open fully anyway?

 

[pendolino]

Tbf though, those grap poles at the doors are useful for some as I have seen people using them to haul themselves onto the train when trying to board at Clapham Junction!

And they give you somewhere to clip onto when getting off the train at Clapham by abseiling down to the platform.

I can't see the problem with the doors to be honest.

 

[MCR247]

That too