The 456 cascade and 377/3s in Metro service.

[Chz]

I've noticed that some of the Class 456 units on the Southern have disappeared from service in recent weeks. I assume that's part of the plan to send them over to SWT? Never to return?

It's all very nice to have a ratty old 456 replaced by an Electrostar, but what on earth are they thinking replacing 3x456 with 2x377/3? I reckon there's a good 130-some-odd less seats in there and the exact same amount of standing room. Are Southern going to eventually convert these units from low density to high? It's converted a fairly cozy commute into a rammed one.

And please don't recite the nonsense about no-one using the centre seats, because it's just that - nonsense. They only empty seats on the 456 service were the ones with fresh coffee stains on them.

 

[zn1]

i have heard that 456 will go to the south western - they were supposed be there when the squadron was built anyway but as said in other posts the EPB's had to be eradicated and SU's 416's were killed off and the 456's took over their work.

they will i assume augment 8 car sets and be thrown at ends to make the ten car formations for the rush hour, makes perfect sense to me...it will also make sense to do the traction repackage when the 455 fleet eventually starts..

all i can say about the central planners is there will be a plan...god knows what it will be

 

[swt_passenger]

...they will i assume augment 8 car sets and be thrown at ends to make the ten car formations for the rush hour, makes perfect sense to me...

They are definitely off to SWT, there have been clear enough announcements about it.

However, until Waterloo platform lengthening goes ahead on the main suburban side a majority of them are probably NOT being used to augment 8 car services. There will be a few 10 car services that will use P5 or P6 at Waterloo, but the majority of the current services into P1-4 are expected to remain 8 car, although that might be in 4+2+2 formation...

Another probability, and this has been discussed in previous threads, is that there is a strong likelihood that a few of the 456s will be used on Guildford - Ascot shuttles, either singly or in pairs depending on time of day.

 

[455driver]

They are all off to SWT and 5 of them will be used on the guildford to Ascot services, this was confirmed Months ago.

 

[387star]

we should have the 377/3s back on the southamptons lovely seating they had

Why use low capacity seating on a metro service?

 

[455driver]

Why use low capacity seating on a metro service?

Because it leaves more standing room.

 

[Chz]

Because it leaves more standing room.

No, it doesn't. If it was 2x2 metro-style seats there would be more standing room, but it's 2x2 first-class seats which take up just as much room as 2x3 metro. That's why my train is immensely more packed than it was previously. Well over 100 less seats and not any extra standing room.

 

[Monty]

When refurbished the 456s will have the same 'metro' 2+2 seating layout as SWT's 455 fleet. This does mean more standing space, especially in the vestibules by the doors.

 

[swt_passenger]

When refurbished the 456s will have the same 'metro' 2+2 seating layout as SWT's 455 fleet. This does mean more standing space, especially in the vestibules by the doors.

I think ml was referring specifically to SN 377/3s at that point...