At the start of this week, Monday 24th June, South Western Railway (SWR) introduced the first of its refurbished 458 EMUs.
Re-classed as the 458/4 class Nos. 458415, 458420 and 458422 which entered service on Monday, will start operating as part of 8-car trains between London Waterloo, Brentford and Weybridge and Waterloo to Twickenham.
The refurbishment of the 458 fleet includes 234 seats per four-car set.
There are two tables in each coach with wireless charging points, space for two wheelchair users, air conditioning, all of which are adorned with the SWR navy blue / grey colour scheme.
Initially intended to run on the Waterloo to Portsmouth via Guildford route, the refurbished units also have first-class compartments, each with 12 seats and two tables.
Though since then, with the delays to SWRs introduction of 90 new Arterio trains, the 458/4s will run on suburban services to begin with.
The first-class compartments will be downgraded and available to standard class ticket holders while these units are working on these services, but this will only be temporary.
Once the new trains are in service, the 458/4s will be introduced on the Portsmouth services at a top speed of 100mph.
The look and feel of the refurbished 458/4s are very similar to the 444 and 450 Desiro classes. With 17 of the 458/4 class having been, or in the process of being refurbished at Alstom in Widnes, a further 11 will soon follow, bringing the total number of 458/4 units to a class composed of 28 four-car sets.
“We are very pleased to introduce the first of our refurbished Class 458 units. Their interior refresh, including improved seating and newly installed tables and charging points, will make a noticeable difference to our customers' journeys.
“The Class 458/4 fleet will play an important role as we work towards the full introduction of our fleet of 90 new Arterio trains. The first unit to enter service today will operate services between London Waterloo and Weybridge via Hounslow, with subsequent units being deployed where customers need them most.”
Neil Drury, South Western Railway's Engineering and Infrastructure Director
These trains were supposed to go on the main line upto 90 mph. But during testing they found that above 75 mph the wind noise was too much in the driving cab. So they won’t be on the mainline, only suburban routes.
Shepperton-London Waterloo route via Richmond has been downgraded, instead of getting newer trains we got really old ones nearly a year ago very noisy and without any AC. I really hope Southwest Railway does something about this as the new trains should be up and running years ago..
As the Class 458/4 4-Car units are no longer going to operate on the Portsmouth Direct Line and Class 450 and Class 444 Desiro will be used on that route. Maybe South Western Railway should allow them to operate on London Waterloo-Reading, Windsor & Eton Riverside. Alton, Ascot, Aldershot, Basingstoke, Farnborough. Camberley, Virginia Waters, Staines, Strawberry Hill, Woking, Guildford, Twickenham and Hounslow.
With the Class 701 Arterios to enter service on the suburban lines in Southwest London (including Shepperton, Hampton Court, Chessington South, Epsom, Dorking, Guildford, Aldershot, Farnham, Woking, Reading, Windsor & Eton Riverside and Strawberry Hill).
5 coaches down to 4 so even more over crowded trains nice one SWR😂
Looks like less tables overall? Very sad
Where exactly on the Portsmouth direct will these reach 100mph???
I don’t think that the Class 458/4s would be used on the Portsmouth Direct line and instead they would use Class 450 and Class 444 Desiro on the London Waterloo-Portsmouth Harbour route via Guildford & Petersfield.
Are they also intended to operate to Reading and Windsor & Eton Riverside at peak times and perhaps use them on the Aldershot and Alton route. It would have been better if they were kept as 5-Car but upgraded to 100mph that would be used on the Portsmouth line via Guildford.
The option would be for is to operate the Class 458/4 to Reading, Windsor & Eton Riverside, Aldershot, Alton and Ascot. And to introduce extra capacity on those routes during rush hour as well as working alongside with the Class 450 and Class 701.