SWR Class 458 to be retained

[Ian Hardy]

Interesting formation for the 2V77 0022 London Waterloo to Hounslow 458425 + 458428 + 458405 + 458406
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L52674/2025-06-14/detailed#allox_id=0
According to RTT, it consists of 16 coaches
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...06-13/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual
WTT 0059 0059 London Waterloo 2 2V77 SW Terminates here 16

 

[NSEWonderer]

A guard has just confirmed to me that all 458/4s will be barred "until further notice" from using dynamic braking, of course I'm sure there is a reason but it does seem odd that there never seemed to be any issues with this when these units were /0s (and therefore the same as now with a different front end)
I know that it makes absolutely no difference to most people but from an enthusiast outsider's point of view, it does feel like another example of the railway taking a backwards step (again I'll make it clear this isn't a complaint as the service isn't affected, just a shame for enthusiasts who enjoy motor sound )

Better them isolated than units continuing to burning up TCUs, unit 403 already has shown what occurs when a 458 gets too hot.

 

[43096]

Interesting formation for the 2V77 0022 London Waterloo to Hounslow 458425 + 458428 + 458405 + 458406
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L52674/2025-06-14/detailed#allox_id=0
According to RTT, it consists of 16 coaches
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...06-13/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual
WTT 0059 0059 London Waterloo 2 2V77 SW Terminates here 16

It won't be. It is more than likely a set swap and the original sets have not been de-allocated, so the data feed shows all four.

Think we could do with a sticky about that on here/on RTT as it regularly catches people out.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Interesting formation for the 2V77 0022 London Waterloo to Hounslow 458425 + 458428 + 458405 + 458406
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L52674/2025-06-14/detailed#allox_id=0
According to RTT, it consists of 16 coaches
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...06-13/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual
WTT 0059 0059 London Waterloo 2 2V77 SW Terminates here 16

That'll be a reallocation between the two pairs but the system not updating to reflect that, so it shows both.

 

[ls2270]

Interesting formation for the 2V77 0022 London Waterloo to Hounslow 458425 + 458428 + 458405 + 458406
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:L52674/2025-06-14/detailed#allox_id=0
According to RTT, it consists of 16 coaches
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/se...06-13/0200-0159?stp=WVS&show=all&order=actual
WTT 0059 0059 London Waterloo 2 2V77 SW Terminates here 16

The correct units allocated are 458425 and 405.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

it does feel like another example of the railway taking a backwards step

How ridiculous

 

[hwl]

A guard has just confirmed to me that all 458/4s will be barred "until further notice" from using dynamic braking, of course I'm sure there is a reason but it does seem odd that there never seemed to be any issues with this when these units were /0s (and therefore the same as now with a different front end)
I know that it makes absolutely no difference to most people but from an enthusiast outsider's point of view, it does feel like another example of the railway taking a backwards step (again I'll make it clear this isn't a complaint as the service isn't affected, just a shame for enthusiasts who enjoy motor sound )

You might want to do some research on the 458 early days with SWT and why they were regeared from 100mph max to 75mph max very early in their lives.

(Hint the traction motors were getting a bit warm for some reason on Windsor line services )

 

[NSEWonderer]

You might want to do some research on the 458 early days with SWT and why they were regeared from 100mph max to 75mph max very early in their lives.

(Hint the traction motors were getting a bit warm for some reason on Windsor line services )

Still remember that incident there and how it was handled "not so well"

 

[43096]

You might want to do some research on the 458 early days with SWT and why they were regeared from 100mph max to 75mph max very early in their lives.

(Hint the traction motors were getting a bit warm for some reason on Windsor line services )

The re-gearing was part of the 458/5 project and change to suburban duty cycle.

Hint: read Ian Walmsley’s piece in Modern Railways at the time that explains exactly why it was done.

 

[nctd2306]

Fair enough, to be fair I was quite young when I last rode a 458/0 so my memory of them is probably a bit skewed. From what I gather, it's not so much the Reading services but the Windsor, Weybridge via Chertsey and Hounslow rounders that they struggle on with the 100mph gearing as these services have much shorter gaps between stops and I don't remember ever riding them on these services until the /5 conversion, which probably explains why I don't remember the issues!

You might want to do some research on the 458 early days with SWT and why they were regeared from 100mph max to 75mph max very early in their lives.

(Hint the traction motors were getting a bit warm for some reason on Windsor line services )

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Windsor, Weybridge via Chertsey and Hounslow rounders that they struggle on with the 100mph gearing as these services have much shorter gaps between stops and I don't remember ever riding them on these services until the /5 conversion

They weren't on those inner services in original 458/0 format, only on the Reading's and peak Aldershot's via Ascot. Part of the 458/0 to /5 conversion plan involved a rolling cascade off the Reading's prior to the rebuild, and on to the inner services, when they returned from Doncaster as 5 car's (two at a time - 10 car format) in to service after usual fault free running and commissioning.

The re-gearing was part of the 458/5 project and change to suburban duty cycle.

Quite so.

 

[wokspotter]

I was travelling on a 458/4 towards Reading today and the PA system still imagines that the train is a 10 car rather than an 8 car.Announcements kept saying that you must be in the front 8 coaches to alight at Winnersh,Winnersh Triangle and Earley.
Not sure if this was specific to this unit or whether all are like it.

 

[Invincible]

I was travelling on a 458/4 towards Reading today and the PA system still imagines that the train is a 10 car rather than an 8 car.Announcements kept saying that you must be in the front 8 coaches to alight at Winnersh,Winnersh Triangle and Earley.
Not sure if this was specific to this unit or whether all are like it.

The ones on the Weybridge line are the same

 

[Ian Hardy]

The ones on the Weybridge line are the same

All the 458/4 units are the same.

 

[Bessie]

I was travelling on a 458/4 towards Reading today and the PA system still imagines that the train is a 10 car rather than an 8 car.Announcements kept saying that you must be in the front 8 coaches to alight at Winnersh,Winnersh Triangle and Earley.
Not sure if this was specific to this unit or whether all are like it.

It's factually accurate - the reality is the 2 rear coaches have disappeared . PIS also has says front 7 coaches for Longcross which is also correct.
Does anyone think Waterloo-Reading will be this fleet's dedicated route in due course? There's no sign of any 701 diagrams anytime soon and don't mention the Class 455 sweat boxes in this heat!

 

[Bigfoot]

There are two codes for the pis, the crew are just using the wrong one.

 

[NSEWonderer]

It's factually accurate - the reality is the 2 rear coaches have disappeared . PIS also has says front 7 coaches for Longcross which is also correct.
Does anyone think Waterloo-Reading will be this fleet's dedicated route in due course? There's no sign of any 701 diagrams anytime soon and don't mention the Class 455 sweat boxes in this heat!

Tbf the 458s have had a few with AC issues which makes them somewhat worse than the 455s even with the hopper windows open.

458s tho do seem to have the frostiest ACs especially one unit where one of the coach has a thermostat issue and feels like a freezer . Must be the number one unit this week for passengers outside of the 701s.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

There's no sign of any 701 diagrams anytime soon and don't mention the Class 455 sweat boxes in this heat!

701s began working on the Reading line from this week.

Realtime Trains | 1909 Reading to London Waterloo | 19/06/2025

Real-time train running information for 1909 departure from Reading to London Waterloo on 19/06/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

The 19:09 from Reading to Waterloo, as linked above has been a 701 consistently.

 

[NSEWonderer]

701s began working on the Reading line from this week.

Just for Ascot as of the moment. Haven't an actual diagram moved yet.

 

[TEW]

The 13th diagram should be Reading though, so we're probably only a few weeks away.

 

[Goldfish62]

A guard has just confirmed to me that all 458/4s will be barred "until further notice" from using dynamic braking, of course I'm sure there is a reason but it does seem odd that there never seemed to be any issues with this when these units were /0s (and therefore the same as now with a different front end)
I know that it makes absolutely no difference to most people but from an enthusiast outsider's point of view, it does feel like another example of the railway taking a backwards step (again I'll make it clear this isn't a complaint as the service isn't affected, just a shame for enthusiasts who enjoy motor sound )

The dynamic braking was most definitely working on 458407 and 458409 this morning.

 

[nctd2306]

The dynamic braking was most definitely working on 458407 and 458409 this morning.

I'd imagine if there is a program to de-activate them then they will be done one by one as they go for exam/maintenance at Wimbledon. I agree there are still a large number running round still with dynamics active, that's largely why I was surprised when the three separate ones I used all had them isolated (maybe one of them was just a general motor isolation for that bogie, which also isn't uncommon)

 

[Goldfish62]

I'd imagine if there is a program to de-activate them then they will be done one by one as they go for exam/maintenance at Wimbledon. I agree there are still a large number running round still with dynamics active, that's largely why I was surprised when the three separate ones I used all had them isolated (maybe one of them was just a general motor isolation for that bogie, which also isn't uncommon)

Oh, so it's not simply a button or switch to turn it off as on the Networkers?

 

[dodger]

458426 is back in service (2U16) today after returning from Bournemouth TMD yesterday on 5Y51. Unfortunately I was unable to identify the diesel unit returning to Salisbury on 5Y15. Can anyone help.

 

[Siemens Staines]

458426 is back in service (2U16) today after returning from Bournemouth TMD yesterday on 5Y51. Unfortunately

Do you happen know what went to Bournemouth on 5X95 on Monday, which I am guessing was a 458/4 by the "X" headcode. Maybe 458418 which has been inactive for a couple of weeks now.

 

[WimFit]

Do you happen know what went to Bournemouth on 5X95 on Monday, which I am guessing was a 458/4 by the "X" headcode. Maybe 458418 which has been inactive for a couple of weeks now.

It was 458401.

 

[Siemens Staines]

It was 458401.

Thank you. Maybe some sign of progress with one of the two that have been out of use for over two months.

 

[444045]

458426 is back in service (2U16) today after returning from Bournemouth TMD yesterday on 5Y51. Unfortunately I was unable to identify the diesel unit returning to Salisbury on 5Y15. Can anyone help.

I am told it was U.159021.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2025 ==

Thank you. Maybe some sign of progress with one of the two that have been out of use for over two months.

Interesting to note :

458/4 going Wimbledon Park to Bournemouth Depot run as 5X95 BUT

458/4 going Bournemouth Depot to Wimbledon Park run with the normal headcode 5Y51, whats the difference ????

 

[dodger]

I am told it was U.159021.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2025 ==



Interesting to note :

458/4 going Wimbledon Park to Bournemouth Depot run as 5X95 BUT

458/4 going Bournemouth Depot to Wimbledon Park run with the normal headcode 5Y51, whats the difference ????

Thank you for your reply

Dodger

 

[WimFit]

I am told it was U.159021.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jun 2025 ==



Interesting to note :

458/4 going Wimbledon Park to Bournemouth Depot run as 5X95 BUT

458/4 going Bournemouth Depot to Wimbledon Park run with the normal headcode 5Y51, whats the difference ????

There’s a gauging restriction between the down fast and down slow lines at Pirbright, which necessitates all 458/4 Wimbledon to Bournemouth moves running as an ‘X’ headcode (exceptional load). This doesn’t apply to the up lines, so the return moves can use the usual pathway.