SWR Class 458 to be retained

[Siemens Staines]

Is this a second attempt at sending 458526 towards Widnes tomorrow? There is no onward movement shown from Eastleigh at this time, but that is a characteristic of these transfers to Widnes.

5Z66 1645 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard

Realtime Trains | 5Z66 1645 Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard | 06/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Z66 1645 departure from Bournemouth T&R.S.M.D to Eastleigh East Yard on 06/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

After a couple of days of only 12 458/5 diagrams, they have reverted to 14 this morning although one pair appear to be deputising for a pair of 455 on 2C07 0550 Waterloo - Reading etc. A single 455 has been coming off Wimbledon Park to work an afternoon round trip to Windsor (1333/1453) and then a return trip to Weybridge (1622/1810) before returning to Wimbledon Park unless it has to cover for a failure elsewhere. Maybe this short 4-car 455 extra diagram had been pencilled in to be the first 2*458/4 workings?

 

[swr444]

I also noticed 458533 has been moved from its almost permanent position at the park, so maybe a sign that the parts it needed have finally arrived.

 

[WarrenTManager]

I also noticed 458533 has been moved from its almost permanent position at the park, so maybe a sign that the parts it needed have finally arrived.

Some haven’t but another unit has been altruistic and loaned the last bits. A test run is in the offing once the RTS exam is done.

 

[Chriso]

Another SWR fiasco

 

[pompeyfan]

Another SWR fiasco

Surely it’s DfT at fault? Or Covid killing passenger demand on the Portsmouth direct line?

 

[Goldfish62]

Surely it’s DfT at fault? Or Covid killing passenger demand on the Portsmouth direct line?

Those, plus the reverse Midas touch of SWR management.

 

[pompeyfan]

Those, plus the reverse Midas touch of SWR management.

Okay so in regards to the 458s (rather than 701s), and the fact we’ve been told repeatedly it was not possible to cancel the 458s contract, what would you have done differently if you were MD of SWR?

 

[Bikeman78]

Okay so in regards to the 458s (rather than 701s), and the fact we’ve been told repeatedly it was not possible to cancel the 458s contract, what would you have done differently if you were MD of SWR?

Who was the driving force behind the 458s conversion? TOC or ROSCO? SWR could have been more proactive about using the four car 458s.

 

[SWT_USER]

Okay so in regards to the 458s (rather than 701s), and the fact we’ve been told repeatedly it was not possible to cancel the 458s contract, what would you have done differently if you were MD of SWR?

Make the best of a bad situation and get them in service ASAP. There are four coach diagrams running on Weybridge services now and this could have been avoided had SWR been more proactive.

It's difficult to separate it completely from the 701 fiasco because the two are linked in that they are both contributing to the chronic stock shortage.

 

[Benno]

458508 is the next unit to go to Widnes next week.

 

[43096]

Who was the driving force behind the 458s conversion? TOC or ROSCO? SWR could have been more proactive about using the four car 458s.

SWR (with DfT’s backing) signed the contract with Porterbrook. Porterbrook then contracted Alstom for the refurbishment. So, much as they might like to point the finger anywhere else, it’s all down to SWR and DfT.

 

[Goldfish62]

Make the best of a bad situation and get them in service ASAP. There are four coach diagrams running on Weybridge services now and this could have been avoided had SWR been more proactive.

It's difficult to separate it completely from the 701 fiasco because the two are linked in that they are both contributing to the chronic stock shortage.

I don't know how on earth SWR are going to cope with Royal Ascot the week after next. Waterloo - Reading services are due to be 4tph for much of the day Tues-Fri.

 

[Invincible]

No, it's passenger service that is not happening on the the 10th. AFAIK driver training started a few weeks ago. That's not the issue

So one 458/4 is at Wimbledon for training. Will other 448/4 trains be tested or used for retraining on the Hounslow Weybridge route before passenger service?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2024 ==

I don't know how on earth SWR are going to cope with Royal Ascot the week after next. Waterloo - Reading services are due to be 4tph for much of the day Tues-Fri.

Previously Hounslow Weybridge trains have been replaced by buses so the trains can be used to boost the Ascot service, even when stikes have been planned to disrupt the Ascot service, SWR resources have ensured Ascot services have not been too much affected.

 

[SWT_USER]

So one 458/4 is at Wimbledon for training. Will other 448/4 trains be tested or used for retraining on the Hounslow Weybridge route before passenger service?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Jun 2024 ==


Previously Hounslow Weybridge trains have been replaced by buses so the trains can be used to boost the Ascot service, even when stikes have been planned to disrupt the Ascot service, SWR resources have ensured Ascot services have not been too much affected.

That was the case when the Hounslow loop was 4tph, I think Virginia Water - Weybridge was bus replacement and the peak Aldershot/ Farnham services were diverted to Reading.

There isn't much left to cut to provide the extras now unless they are just going to run 4 or 5 coach trains on some routes.

 

[swr444]

That was the case when the Hounslow loop was 4tph, I think Virginia Water - Weybridge was bus replacement and the peak Aldershot/ Farnham services were diverted to Reading.

There isn't much left to cut to provide the extras now unless they are just going to run 4 or 5 coach trains on some routes.

Last year they ran some Alton services via ascot too

 

[Class450/4DES]

Last year they ran some Alton services via ascot too

Till recently they have been going to Alton via Woking on the last service of the day. But as of now its currently a 12 coach 450. It keeps reverting from 450 to 458 every few weeks it seems.
Before lockdown they were even used often between Alton and Woking on engineering work days.

 

[43096]

Till recently they have been going to Alton via Woking on the last service of the day. But as of now its currently a 12 coach 450. It keeps reverting from 450 to 458 every few weeks it seems.
Before lockdown they were even used often between Alton and Woking on engineering work days.

This was a specific reference to services during Royal Ascot week, where some Alton trains ran via Ascot last year.

 

[swr444]

Till recently they have been going to Alton via Woking on the last service of the day. But as of now its currently a 12 coach 450. It keeps reverting from 450 to 458 every few weeks it seems.
Before lockdown they were even used often between Alton and Woking on engineering work days.

oh, I was on about during the ascot races the 1A services being diverted to add capacity

 

[Class450/4DES]

oh, I was on about during the ascot races the 1A services being diverted to add capacity

Oh okay.

 

[WombleGuard]

There were 5 458/4 at Wimbledon Park yesterday

 

[Invincible]

That was the case when the Hounslow loop was 4tph, I think Virginia Water - Weybridge was bus replacement and the peak Aldershot/ Farnham services were diverted to Reading.

There isn't much left to cut to provide the extras now unless they are just going to run 4 or 5 coach trains on some routes.

This year no strikes during Ascot races 18 to 22 June.
Does not seem to be any timetable changes (but not looked to much)
A bit tight however for 458/4s, now at Wimbledon, to start on the Hounslow Weybridge lines on the 18th June, so that 450s are released to work Ascot (and Reading) as 8 car trains.

 

[Goldfish62]

This year no strikes during Ascot races 18 to 22 June.
Does not seem to be any timetable changes (but not looked to much)

There's the usual 4tph for a few hours before and after the racing. There has to be because the numbers travelling by train are enormous, starting from around 0900 onwards.

This year the lucky racegoers will have the delights of toilet-less 455s for the first time. Could be a problem for the many who seem to start drinking at 0800...

Strangely, nothing is showing for the Saturday, when up to 6tph is needed.

 

[swr444]

There's the usual 4tph for a few hours before and after the racing. There has to be because the numbers travelling by train are enormous, starting from around 0900 onwards.

This year the lucky racegoers will have the delights of toilet-less 455s for the first time. Could be a problem for the many who seem to start drinking at 0800...

Strangely, nothing is showing for the Saturday, when up to 6tph is needed.

there is on RTT, 1A's diverted via Ascot shown as 1N services and extra 2C's to reading

 

[MasterPhillips]

there is on RTT, 1A's diverted via Ascot shown as 1N services and extra 2C's to reading

RTT also showed 4tph between Reading and Waterloo for the days when Paddington was shut. of course the extra services never happened and the normal timetable ran.

Ill believe it when I see it when it comes to SWR.

 

[Goldfish62]

RTT also showed 4tph between Reading and Waterloo for the days when Paddington was shut. of course the extra services never happened and the normal timetable ran.

Ill believe it when I see it when it comes to SWR.

It has to.

On Royal Ascot Saturday even with 5-6tph post-race queuing for up to an hour is normal. Without an enhanced service public safety will be put at risk.

 

[adc82140]

Maybe this will be the event that brings the situation to the attention of the mainstream press. "Ascot Racegoers forced to wait hours for trains, as carriages sit unused in sidings"

 

[SWT_USER]

It has to.

On Royal Ascot Saturday even with 5-6tph post-race queuing for up to an hour is normal. Without an enhanced service public safety will be put at risk.

SWR could just take the TFL approach and close the station for safety reasons, leaving people to their own devices.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Without an enhanced service public safety will be put at risk.

Hence the snakes and ladders queuing system that (in my day) we instituted in the car park, and only allowed a limited number on to the station at intervals.

SWR could just take the TFL approach and close the station for safety reasons, leaving people to their own devices.

Pre SWR this was a scenario that was given serious consideration (at Twickenham post match), but the passage of time, I can not now remember if this was ever put in place in anger. Even if not, the very fact it was under very real consideration is evidence of the problems the country's public transport services are all subject to these days, and I am talking here of well over a decade ago!

 

[Goldfish62]

Hence the snakes and ladders queuing system that (in my day) we instituted in the car park, and only allowed a limited number on to the station at intervals.

Yes, it's a pretty impressive system. SWT/SWR have always done a good job with managing the crowds at Ascot.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2024 ==

Pre SWR this was a scenario that was given serious consideration (at Twickenham post match), but the passage of time, I can not now remember if this was ever put in place in anger. Even if not, the very fact it was under very real consideration is evidence of the problems the country's public transport services are all subject to these days, and I am talking here of well over a decade ago!

Even the comprehensive bus network in the Twickenham area wouldn't have coped with that. At Ascot, apart from an hourly bus service to Bracknell in one direction and Heathrow in the other there's no public transport alternatives, and the local road network can barely cope on race days anyway.

I wonder if SWR will move 458/5s off their normal diagrams on to Reading services for Royal Ascot, because they're the real crowd movers.

 

[lewisf]

SWR could just take the TFL approach and close the station for safety reasons, leaving people to their own devices.

It’s what Southern have done with the Lewes fireworks so it’s not completely out of the question