British Rail Class 458
Encyclopedia
The South West Trains
Class 458 (or 4JOP
) electrical multiple units were built by Alstom
at Washwood Heath
between 1998 and 2002. These units are part of Alstom's Juniper
family of units, which also includes Classes 334
and 460
.
(SWT) in 1998, to create extra capacity and to replace some of the aging Class 411 (4CEP)
units, which at the time were on short-term lease. Deliveries of these units commenced in 1998. Units were delivered in SWT's mainline livery of mainly white, with a blue band, and red/orange 'swish' at cab ends.
The class suffered from major technical problems, so none of the older Class 411 units were withdrawn from service. It was six more years, in 2004, before the full fleet was in service. In 2004, reliability was so poor that despite the units being only six years old, it was planned to return them to the leasing company and replace them with new Class 450 Desiro
trains. At that time, the Class 458 Juniper trains only managed an average of 4300 miles (6,920.2 km) between failures, compared with an average of 21000 miles (33,796.1 km) for a Class 450 Desiro and 50000 miles (80,467 km) for the previous slam-door trains.
Since then reliability has improved sufficiently to allow them to be retained. As of 11 December 2005, timetable change, the trains were significantly lowered in diagrams and were only found on three diagrams on weekdays out of London Waterloo. In September 2005, two units (458001 and 458002) were transferred to Gatwick Express
. The units recommenced service in 2007 on outer suburban lines, complementing the Class 450 Desiro fleet. The two trains previously allocated to Gatwick Express have now been transferred back to South West Trains.
30 units were built, numbered 458001-030. Each unit was formed from two outer driving motors, an intermediate trailer, and an intermediate motor. The trailer has the capacity to be fitted with a pantograph, thus allowing the units to be rebuilt in the future for overhead power collection at 25 kV AC, should the need arise.
The technical description of the formation is DMCO+PTSO+MSO+DMCO. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows:
trains. Occasionally, they were found operating the Basingstoke semi-fast service and other general outer-suburban duties. The units were then transferred to the half-hourly London Waterloo to Reading
service, mainly so that they were confined to one area of the network. The trains also operate services between Ascot
and Guildford
on weekdays, along with the Class 450 Desiro
.
Occasionally the units have been noted to operate the Weybridge
to London Waterloo via Hounslow
services along with the more prominent Class 450 Desiro
trains on the line. This operation has been less frequent recently due to fewer available 'spare' class 458 units during daytime periods with the refreshment scheme and the (now finished) 'regen' brake testing programme.
compliant lavatory, information display panels and door lights.
All Class 458 trains have been refreshed. In 18 months time, a refresh of Standard Class accommodation will take place alongside an exterior relivery.
Unit 458027 has been modified for testing of the regenerative brake
facility and this has been carried out in the Weymouth area overnight recently. At least one other 458 was present each night to act both, as a standby and as a load unit. The testing programme was due to be completed in the first week of December (08) after which it is anticipated that application will be made to make the regenerative brake functional on at least two units for a trial period.
Two of the Class 458 fleet are now starting to test the technology in passenger service on the London Waterloo-Guildford and London Waterloo-Reading routes. The whole fleet of 30 Class 458 trains is expected to be fitted with the new regenerative braking software by the end of May 2010.
, the owner of the Class 458 fleet, has proposed that part of this could be met through lengthening the 4-car Junipers to 5-cars using the mechanically similar Class 460
units currently employed on the Gatwick Express
. 24 Class 458s would be lengthened using vehicles from the Class 460s, while the remaining Class 460 vehicles would be reformed into six new 5-car sets, leaving additional vehicles for use as spare parts.
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
Class 458 (or 4JOP
SR multiple unit numbering and classification
The Southern Railway created classification and numbering systems for its large fleet of electric multiple units that were perpetuated by the Southern Region of British Rail until the early 1980s, when the impact of TOPS was felt...
) electrical multiple units were built by Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
at Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England...
between 1998 and 2002. These units are part of Alstom's Juniper
Juniper (train)
The Coradia Juniper series is a family of electric multiple unit trains built by Alstom Transport Birmingham, subcontractor: Ganz Hunslet, Hungary for use on the railway network in Great Britain. The family is related to the Coradia 1000 series of diesel multiple unit...
family of units, which also includes Classes 334
British Rail Class 334
The British Rail Class 334 is a suburban electric multiple unit built by Alstom in Birmingham. They are part of the Juniper family of trains along with Classes 458 and 460. They were built for SPT/ScotRail outer suburban services in Glasgow, UK. They later became part of First ScotRail/SPT fleet...
and 460
British Rail Class 460
The British Rail Class 460 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath from 2000-01. These units are part of Alstom's "Juniper" family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 458...
.
Description
Thirty of these 4-car trains were ordered by South West TrainsSouth West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
(SWT) in 1998, to create extra capacity and to replace some of the aging Class 411 (4CEP)
British Rail Class 411
The British Rail Class 411 electrical multiple units were built at Eastleigh works from 1956-63 for the newly electrified main lines in Kent. These units were based on the earlier Southern Railway 4Cor design, built in 1937. They were replaced by Juniper units.-Description:A total of 133 units...
units, which at the time were on short-term lease. Deliveries of these units commenced in 1998. Units were delivered in SWT's mainline livery of mainly white, with a blue band, and red/orange 'swish' at cab ends.
The class suffered from major technical problems, so none of the older Class 411 units were withdrawn from service. It was six more years, in 2004, before the full fleet was in service. In 2004, reliability was so poor that despite the units being only six years old, it was planned to return them to the leasing company and replace them with new Class 450 Desiro
British Rail Class 450
The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC EMU began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens Desiro modular train family and are more commonly known as the 'Blue Desiro'...
trains. At that time, the Class 458 Juniper trains only managed an average of 4300 miles (6,920.2 km) between failures, compared with an average of 21000 miles (33,796.1 km) for a Class 450 Desiro and 50000 miles (80,467 km) for the previous slam-door trains.
Since then reliability has improved sufficiently to allow them to be retained. As of 11 December 2005, timetable change, the trains were significantly lowered in diagrams and were only found on three diagrams on weekdays out of London Waterloo. In September 2005, two units (458001 and 458002) were transferred to Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express is the name given to the frequent rail shuttle service between Victoria station in London and Gatwick Airport in South East England, operated by the Southern franchise...
. The units recommenced service in 2007 on outer suburban lines, complementing the Class 450 Desiro fleet. The two trains previously allocated to Gatwick Express have now been transferred back to South West Trains.
30 units were built, numbered 458001-030. Each unit was formed from two outer driving motors, an intermediate trailer, and an intermediate motor. The trailer has the capacity to be fitted with a pantograph, thus allowing the units to be rebuilt in the future for overhead power collection at 25 kV AC, should the need arise.
The technical description of the formation is DMCO+PTSO+MSO+DMCO. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows:
- 67601-67630 - DMCO
- 74001-74030 - PTSO
- 74101-74130 - MSO
- 67701-67730 - DMCO
Operations
When first built, the units were used on the half-hourly London Waterloo to AltonAlton railway station
Alton railway station is a railway station in the town of Alton, in the English county of Hampshire. The station is the terminus for two railway lines; the Alton Line which runs to Brookwood and onto London Waterloo and the Mid Hants Watercress Railway, which runs to Alresford. The latter once ran...
trains. Occasionally, they were found operating the Basingstoke semi-fast service and other general outer-suburban duties. The units were then transferred to the half-hourly London Waterloo to Reading
Reading railway station
Reading railway station is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames...
service, mainly so that they were confined to one area of the network. The trains also operate services between Ascot
Ascot railway station
Ascot railway station is a railway station in the town of Ascot in Berkshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains. It is at the junction of the Waterloo to Reading line with the Ascot to Guildford line....
and Guildford
Guildford (Surrey) railway station
Guildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo....
on weekdays, along with the Class 450 Desiro
British Rail Class 450
The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC EMU began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens Desiro modular train family and are more commonly known as the 'Blue Desiro'...
.
Occasionally the units have been noted to operate the Weybridge
Weybridge railway station
Weybridge railway station serves Weybridge in the Elmbridge district of Surrey, England. It is located on the South Western Main Line operated by South West Trains, 19 miles from London Waterloo....
to London Waterloo via Hounslow
Hounslow railway station
Hounslow railway station, on the Hounslow Loop Line, is in the London Borough of Hounslow, in west London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. It was opened by the London and South Western Railway on 1 February 1850 on completion of...
services along with the more prominent Class 450 Desiro
British Rail Class 450
The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC EMU began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens Desiro modular train family and are more commonly known as the 'Blue Desiro'...
trains on the line. This operation has been less frequent recently due to fewer available 'spare' class 458 units during daytime periods with the refreshment scheme and the (now finished) 'regen' brake testing programme.
Refresh and testing
Bournemouth Train Care Depot has recently 'refreshed' these EMUs. The 'refresh' includes adding CCTV, new seats and tables in first class, an internal repaint, and Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR)Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations
The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2010 is a Statutory Instrument in the United Kingdom. It aims to set standards designed to improve accessibility for disabled people on light rail passenger vehicles.It came into force on 6th April 2010...
compliant lavatory, information display panels and door lights.
All Class 458 trains have been refreshed. In 18 months time, a refresh of Standard Class accommodation will take place alongside an exterior relivery.
Unit 458027 has been modified for testing of the regenerative brake
Regenerative brake
A regenerative brake is an energy recovery mechanism which slows a vehicle or object down by converting its kinetic energy into another form, which can be either used immediately or stored until needed...
facility and this has been carried out in the Weymouth area overnight recently. At least one other 458 was present each night to act both, as a standby and as a load unit. The testing programme was due to be completed in the first week of December (08) after which it is anticipated that application will be made to make the regenerative brake functional on at least two units for a trial period.
Two of the Class 458 fleet are now starting to test the technology in passenger service on the London Waterloo-Guildford and London Waterloo-Reading routes. The whole fleet of 30 Class 458 trains is expected to be fitted with the new regenerative braking software by the end of May 2010.
Future lengthening
Under the government's Rolling Stock Plan, SWT are due to receive up to 140 additional vehicles. PorterbrookPorterbrook
Porterbrook is one of the three major ROSCOs in the United Kingdom...
, the owner of the Class 458 fleet, has proposed that part of this could be met through lengthening the 4-car Junipers to 5-cars using the mechanically similar Class 460
British Rail Class 460
The British Rail Class 460 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath from 2000-01. These units are part of Alstom's "Juniper" family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 458...
units currently employed on the Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express is the name given to the frequent rail shuttle service between Victoria station in London and Gatwick Airport in South East England, operated by the Southern franchise...
. 24 Class 458s would be lengthened using vehicles from the Class 460s, while the remaining Class 460 vehicles would be reformed into six new 5-car sets, leaving additional vehicles for use as spare parts.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 458 | South West Trains | 30 | 1998–2002 | 4 | 458001 - 458030 |