SWR Class 458 to be retained

[Goldfish62]

Apart from one pair of 450s Reading appears to be exclusively 458/4s today. Just like the old days!

 

[43096]

Apart from one pair of 450s Reading appears to be exclusively 458/4s today. Just like the old days!

I am guessing that that is to reduce mileage on the 450s to minimise as far as possible maintenance costs with Siemens.

 

[swr444]

I am guessing that that is to reduce mileage on the 450s to minimise as far as possible maintenance costs with Siemens.

Surplus 458/4 stock due to the Barnes bridge closure and the 1S services being hourly On a Sunday

 

[Goldfish62]

Surplus 458/4 stock due to the Barnes bridge closure and the 1S services being hourly On a Sunday

Thanks.

 

[Boalbads]

529/530 are apparently on the Kingston Loop today

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

I presume due to the barnes - kew bridge closure the /5s are not needed on the windsor side, and instead are presumably swapping in for a 455 on the mainline side?

 

[swr444]

529/530 are apparently on the Kingston Loop today

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Aug 2025 ==

I presume due to the barnes - kew bridge closure the /5s are not needed on the windsor side, and instead are presumably swapping in for a 455 on the mainline side?

It was booked in the short term planning diagrams. the /5s are currently scheduled on a Shepperton diagram during the week and on Sundays the Shepperton diagram interworks with the kingston rounder services.

 

[swtrains]

It was booked in the short term planning diagrams. the /5s are currently scheduled on a Shepperton diagram during the week and on Sundays the Shepperton diagram interworks with the kingston rounder services.

How come it did Woking yesterday then?

 

[Boalbads]

It was booked in the short term planning diagrams. the /5s are currently scheduled on a Shepperton diagram during the week and on Sundays the Shepperton diagram interworks with the kingston rounder services.

Do you know which /5s (529/530 or 533/535) and which Shepperton services? (there's one that I believe starts as 5H01/2H01 that sits in Waterloo for a long time, which is irritating if I want to ride the /5 as its sitting in Waterloo the whole time I am available)

 

[RealTrains07]

There is a double 458/5 set about to work the 18:15 Guildford to Waterloo.

Didn’t realise the 458s are cleared to work via epsom?

 

[Stephen42]

Do you know which /5s (529/530 or 533/535) and which Shepperton services? (there's one that I believe starts as 5H01/2H01 that sits in Waterloo for a long time, which is irritating if I want to ride the /5 as its sitting in Waterloo the whole time I am available)

Typically it's been that 5H01/2H01 diagram most weekdays with only one pair of 458/5s out:

L53164 5H01 0515 WIMBLEDON PARK DEPOT SDGS - WIMBLEDON 0527
L50041 2H01 0529 WIMBLEDON - SHEPPERTON 0605
L50058 2H10 0611 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 0707
L50054 2H09 0712 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 0806
L50092 2H18 0811 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 0907
L50088 2H17 0912 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 1006
L50130 2H26 1011 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 1104
L50126 2H25 1112 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 1205
L50168 2H34 1211 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 1304
L50165 2H33 1312 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 1405
L50206 2H42 1411 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 1505
L50242 2H49 1712 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 1805
L50286 2H58 1811 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 1904
L50282 2H57 1912 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 2005
L50325 2H66 2011 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 2104
L50321 2H65 2112 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 2205
L50364 2H74 2211 SHEPPERTON - LONDON WATERLOO 2306
L50360 2H73 2313 LONDON WATERLOO - SHEPPERTON 0006
L01914 5Y78 0012 SHEPPERTON - WIMBLEDON PARK DEPOT SDGS 0057

When the summer timetable ends this week the 3pm to 5pm gap is filled by another Shepperton round trip. (Assuming the 458/5 pair doesn't get moved to another diagram).

There is a double 458/5 set about to work the 18:15 Guildford to Waterloo.

Didn’t realise the 458s are cleared to work via epsom?

The 458/5s are cleared for most metro routes including via epsom. The 458/4s have a lot more restrictions and are confined to a small set of routes, Epsom is one of the routes a 458/5 can do but a 458/4 can't.

 

[swr444]

There is a double 458/5 set about to work the 18:15 Guildford to Waterloo.

Didn’t realise the 458s are cleared to work via epsom?

There were 2 2x458/5s diagrammed for quite a while when there were more /5s about.

 

[Boalbads]

It seems they've shuffled it around, 535+529 instead of 529+530. Makes me wonder if 533 is broken? 535 was sounding unhealthy last time it was out, but considering that it's back out it's probably back in order, sounds fine to me but I'm not an engineering any way.

 

[43096]

It seems they've shuffled it around, 535+529 instead of 529+530. Makes me wonder if 533 is broken? 535 was sounding unhealthy last time it was out, but considering that it's back out it's probably back in order, sounds fine to me but I'm not an engineering any way.

In what way was it “sounding unhealthy”?

 

[Boalbads]

In what way was it “sounding unhealthy”?

seemed to make an entierly different noise compared to the other 458s i've heard, not sure how to describe it but the motors just didn't sound like a 458. I am also not an engineer so maybe that's perfectly normal

 

[Cowley]

Just a reminder that the thread for speculation is here:

Class 458 Future

Are we any closer to actual facts (or credible rumours) regarding what’ll happen to the 458/4s post 701 replacement? I’ve seen and heard various opinions (some quite sensible, others (imo) pure wibble). I would imagine the DfT/leasing companies would prefer to find a new home for the 350/2s...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Siemens Staines]

I am certain that it is not genuine and a quirk of allocation changes, but nevertheless it is still interesting to see a 12-car 458/4 allocation come up for the 2320 Waterloo - Reading tonight. The configuration they were originally intended to run in, when the 458/4 programme was initiated.

2C77 2320 London Waterloo to Reading
Operated with 458406 + 458402 + 458411

Realtime Trains | 2C77 2320 London Waterloo to Reading | 29/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C77 2320 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 29/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[nctd2306]

I am certain that it is not genuine and a quirk of allocation changes, but nevertheless it is still interesting to see a 12-car 458/4 allocation come up for the 2320 Waterloo - Reading tonight. The configuration they were originally intended to run in, when the 458/4 programme was initiated.

2C77 2320 London Waterloo to Reading
Operated with 458406 + 458402 + 458411

Realtime Trains | 2C77 2320 London Waterloo to Reading | 29/08/2025

Real-time train running information for 2C77 2320 departure from London Waterloo to Reading on 29/08/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Now only showing as 402 and 406, which seems more accurate.

 

[Siemens Staines]

Now only showing as 402 and 406, which seems more accurate.

I would have been shocked had it been otherwise, especially as there seem to have been a lot of allocation changes this afternoon / evening. At one point this train had been showing as a pair of 455s, but that allocation did not last either.

 

[Boalbads]

530 is out single today, wonder if 533 is broken or just has some maintenance?

 

[45115xeTO]

529/535 on Hampton Courts all day today - is that now quite unusual?

 

[TrainLifeGB]

529/535 on Hampton Courts all day today - is that now quite unusual?

Usually it's Shepperton all day for 529/535.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

530 is out single today, wonder if 533 is broken or just has some maintenance?

The diagram that 530 worked (and I have no idea btw) may have only been required to have 1 x 458/5 work by the planners, and so that is what would have happened possibly?

 

[Boalbads]

529/535 on Hampton Courts all day today - is that now quite unusual?

Pretty unusual... Took some photos!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Aug 2025 ==

The diagram that 530 worked (and I have no idea btw) may have only been required to have 1 x 458/5 work by the planners, and so that is what would have happened possibly?

Maybe it's possible but presumably they wouldn't want overcrowding, every single 458/5 I've been on has been rammed, even off peak. Didn't go on 530 but when 535 was single for a while it was quite busy.

 

[swr444]

529/535 on Hampton Courts all day today - is that now quite unusual?

Booked diagram today.

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Maybe it's possible but presumably they wouldn't want overcrowding, every single 458/5 I've been on has been rammed, even off peak. Didn't go on 530 but when 535 was single for a while it was quite busy

The planners will have a 'plan' to work to for each weekend, and will utilise the stock that they have available to them on paper. On occasions this may be dictated to them by special events, such as rugby at Twickenham, or Hampton Court flower show etc. Once the notices are issued, ideally a week in advance, the Fleet Dept and Control will endeavour to provide the units as required by that plan on the day, but will sometime need to change things around depending on real time unit availability, but they will not want to change diagrams unless absolutely necessary as this can impact on crew diagrams (knowledge of traction type) and hence crew availability on the day, not to mention disruption to unit maintenance schedules.

 

[GW43125]

The diagram that 530 worked (and I have no idea btw) may have only been required to have 1 x 458/5 work by the planners, and so that is what would have happened possibly?

Was published as 5 vice 8 in the early hours of the morning so definitely covering something.

 

[adc82140]

How are the remaining /5s doing for mileage? Weeks or months (or years!) left?

 

[Big Jumby 74]

Was published as 5 vice 8 in the early hours of the morning so definitely covering something.

That points to a unit defect, hardly surprising with so few left in the pot to use. Looking on the positive, once all the 701's are up and running, all this will be quickly forgotten!

 

[Bikeman78]

Was published as 5 vice 8 in the early hours of the morning so definitely covering something.

The 1020 Waterloo to Reading was a single 450. It appears to have come in from Weybridge as booked, with the 1003 arrival from Reading (a pair of 458/4) working the 1022 to Weybridge. They stepped up a pair of 450s coming in from Portsmouth for the 1350 to Reading.

 

[Boalbads]

Booked diagram today.

Do you know / can you say what they're booked for Monday?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Aug 2025 ==

The planners will have a 'plan' to work to for each weekend, and will utilise the stock that they have available to them on paper. On occasions this may be dictated to them by special events, such as rugby at Twickenham, or Hampton Court flower show etc. Once the notices are issued, ideally a week in advance, the Fleet Dept and Control will endeavour to provide the units as required by that plan on the day, but will sometime need to change things around depending on real time unit availability, but they will not want to change diagrams unless absolutely necessary as this can impact on crew diagrams (knowledge of traction type) and hence crew availability on the day, not to mention disruption to unit maintenance schedules.

Makes sense, maybe it was meant to run with 533 but it's out of service for whatever reason.