CLASS 458/5 Early Days

We would like to be able to report that the South West Trains 458/5 project is continuing apace but at the time of writing (15th December 2013) the opposite appears to be true. Only two units have been delivered to Wimbledon, 458534 on 20th September and 458531 on 22nd October. Both of these are entirely converted from former Gatwick Express Class 460 units. Furthermore neither has been out prolifically for commissioning and testing since delivery, so photographs of them running are scarce. The webmaster would there appreciate more contributions of pictures of Class 458/5 units out running.

The formation of these units will vary depending upon whether they are based on Class 458/0 units augmented with a car from a former Class 460 unit or rebuilt entirely from former Class 460 units:
Class 458/5 from augmented 458/0 = DMOS - TOS- TOSL(W) - MOSL - DMOS (30 units 458501 - 458530)
Class 458/5 from rebuilt 460 = DMOS - TOSL - TOSL(W) - MOS - DMOS (6 units 458531 - 458536)

In terms of car numbers:
458531's formation is 67913 - 74418 - 74446 - 74458 - 67912
458534's formation is 67914 - 74414 - 74444 - 74454 - 67918
For Class 460 rebuilds the last numeral of the car number indicates from which former Class 460 unit the vehicle was taken. Note 458531 is made up from four different units!

458534 soon after passing Southampton Central on 5th October 2013 running as 5Z39 07+18 Wimbledon Depot to Bournemouth T&RSMD. This unit underwent three day's worth of overnight test trips between Bournemouth T&RSMD and Weymouth before returning to Wimbledon. photograph by Mark V Pike

On the last three weekdays of the first week of December 458531 and 458534 underwent test trips between Staines and Reading. The pair are seen here at the buffer stops at Reading on 4th December 2013. photograph by Paul M Scott

This shot provides an interesting comparison of the cab fronts. In this instance the change to the front of 458534 is more radical as it was converted from a Class 460 unit which did not have cab end corridor connections. For comparison purposes, to see a Class 460 unit without the entirely cosmetic "Vader" fairing please click here. Key new front end features are a Dellner coupler, revised light clusters and a Desiro compatible corridor connection. Class 458/5s will be able to couple to Desiro Classes 444 and 450 , but only for emergency recovery purposes, not in service. The day before this picture was taken 458534 was coupled to 450114 at Wimbledon Depot for testing.

During the second week of December tests were undertaken between Staines and Windsor and Eton Riverside, and Staines-Twickenham and Reading. The trip to and from Staines from and to Wimbledon depot was on the main line to Weybridge and then via Addlestone. 458534 and 458531 are seen here at Sunningdale on 6th December 2013 on the 5Z12 Reading-Staines. This was the third day of testing on the Reading line. The units did stop at the platform, but the doors did not open. Inside could be viewed technicians with testing equipment. photograph by Ian Parish

458002 was the first 458/0 to be taken to Doncaster on 5th December 2013, being hauled there by Colas 47727.

The 458/5s entered service on Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside services on Monday 10th March 2014, for pictures of them in service please click here.