British Rail Class 455 | |
---|---|
In service | 1983–present [1] |
Manufacturer | British Rail Engineering Limited [1] |
Built at | Holgate Road Works, York |
Family name | BR Second Generation (Mark 3) |
Replaced | |
Constructed | 1982–1985 |
Scrapped | 2022–present |
Number built |
|
Number in service | 82 |
Number scrapped | 55 |
Successor | |
Formation | 4 cars per unit: DTSO-MSO-TSO-DTSO [1] |
Diagram |
|
Fleet numbers |
|
Capacity |
|
Owners | Porterbrook |
Operators | |
Depots |
|
Specifications | |
Car body construction | |
Train length | 81.16 m (266 ft 3 in) [1] |
Car length |
|
Width | 2.82 m (9 ft 3 in) [2] |
Height |
|
Floor height | 1.14 m (3 ft 9 in) |
Doors | Double-leaf pocket sliding (2 per side per car) [note 1] |
Wheelbase | Over bogie centres: 14.17 m (46 ft 6 in) |
Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) [1] |
Weight |
|
Traction system |
|
Traction motors |
|
Power output |
|
Acceleration | 0.58 m/s2 (1.9 ft/s2) [1] |
Electric system(s) | 750 V DC third rail [1] |
Current collector(s) | Contact shoe |
UIC classification | 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′ |
Bogies |
|
Minimum turning radius | 70 m (231 ft) [2] |
Braking system(s) |
|
Safety system(s) | |
Coupling system | Tightlock [2] |
Multiple working | Within class, and with Class 456 |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 455 is an electric multiple unit passenger train built by BREL [1] between 1982 and 1985. It is operated on suburban services in Greater London and Surrey by South Western Railway, as well as formerly by Southern.
The Class 455 was originally to be classified as the Class 510, which were planned as a 750 V DC version of the Class 317. However, as the chopper control system at the time was not considered robust enough for the electrically rougher third rail Southern Region, they were fitted with GEC Traction camshaft-control systems instead. The Class 510 designation was changed to Class 455.
The class has the same bodyshell as the Class 317 and Class 318, but as they were designed for inner suburban services they do not feature first class seating, air conditioning or toilet facilities and are restricted to 75 mph (121 km/h). [8] Like the Class 317/318, as well as the diesel Class 150, they are based on the British Rail Mark 3, with a steel construction, unlike the earlier PEP based Class 313, Class 314, Class 315, Class 507 and Class 508, which have an aluminium alloy body. [8]
A total of 505 carriages were built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works and together with 43 existing trailers from Class 508s, formed 137 four-car sets. The Class 455 allowed the Class 405 and Class 415 to be withdrawn, as well as allowing the Class 508 units to be transferred to the Merseyside network for which they were originally intended. They also allowed other stock to be cascaded to the North London and Oxted lines. [3]
There were three batches of Class 455 units, all consisting of four cars: driving trailer vehicles at each end, an intermediate trailer vehicle and an intermediate motorised vehicle (powered by four EE507-20J of 185 kW carried on the bogies of the MSO vehicle, some recovered from Class 405s), all originally built to the standard class 3+2 seating arrangement with 316 seats. Technically, they are formed DTSO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. [1]
The Class 455/8 units were built between 1982 and 1984. These include all 46 units formerly operated by Southern (allocated to Stewarts Lane depot) and 28 allocated to South Western Railway (at Wimbledon depot). [8] [9]
The last day of service of the Southern Class 455/8 was 14 May 2022. [10]
The Class 455/7 units were built in 1984–1985. There are 43 four-car units, all allocated to South Western Railway at Wimbledon depot. They differ from the Class 455/8 in having a revised front end (air horns relocated next to the coupler and revised headlamp clusters) that was later used on Class 317/2 and Class 318 units. [11]
No new intermediate trailer (TSO) vehicles were produced for this subclass; instead, they use redundant TSO vehicles that had been removed from Class 508 units prior to those units being transferred to Merseyrail in Liverpool. The reused vehicles can be recognised by their shorter and wider profile compared to 'normal' Class 455 vehicles. [12]
The Class 455/9 units were built in 1985, and all 20 units are allocated to South Western Railway at Wimbledon depot. [13] These are similar to the 455/7s, except that they had new-build TSOs. [13]
In connection with the Crossrail project, which was rejected in 1994, [14] two trailer cars (71731 from unit 5918; 71732 from unit 5919) were modified to take plug doors. [15] Both were coupled and ran in service in this condition. After an extended period in service, it was found that the modifications had slightly weakened the overall structure. 71732 was re-fitted with sliding doors but 71731 was removed from service, remaining at Eastleigh Works to be cannibalised for spare parts. The latter car served as a demonstrator for the South West Trains refurbished full red livery until it was scrapped in 2005.
Two units later gained replacement carriages that had originally been part of the prototype Class 210 DEMU, which had the same bodyshell. 455912's TSO was replaced by 67400. 455913's MSO 62838, which had been crushed by a cement mixer lorry falling off a bridge, was replaced with 67301, which had originally been a Class 210 DTSO and was later a DMSO in the experimental Class 457. The undamaged end of 62838 was used to replace the former cab end of 67301; the remainder of 62838 was scrapped. [16] [17]
In February 1996, all South Western division 455s were transferred to South West Trains (SWT). From September 1996, SWT began to modify the Network SouthEast livery with a Stagecoach orange brand added. In November 2004, SWT took delivery of the first unit refurbished by Bombardier, Ashford. [18] The work involved replacing the original seats with high-back Grammar seats (similar to those fitted to Class 450 units) in 2+2 configuration, modifying the doorways so that the sliding doors can open further, and the repainting of the units in a new predominantly-red livery. [19] The last was completed in March 2008. [20]
In April 2013, it was announced that the SWT units would be fitted with a new alternating current traction system provided by Vossloh Kiepe. The project works commenced in June 2014 and involved replacing the original pneumatically-actuated camshaft control system with a solid-state insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) inverter and variable-voltage/variable-frequency (VVVF) drive, and exchanging the as-built English Electric DC traction motors with new AC units. [5] [6] [21] [22] [23] The upgraded units also received new Knorr-Bremse brake controllers, which allows regenerative braking in addition to the existing rheostatic function. [5] [6]
The new traction motors are each 500 kg (1,100 lb) lighter than the DC originals, [5] and the traction system upgrade as a whole improves reliability and reduces overall operating and maintenance costs. [6] Additionally, as the upgrade reduced the amount of time Class 455 units spent being inspected and serviced in depots, South West Trains were able to proceed with the introduction of new Class 707 units without needing to acquire more depot space. [6]
All units passed to South Western Railway with the South Western franchise change in August 2017. They are used on most London commuter rail routes from London Waterloo to South West London and neighbouring areas. [24]
In early 2024, to mark the upcoming withdrawal of the Class 455s, unit 455868 was repainted into a BR Blue and Grey livery. [25] It will be used in a farewell tour for the Class 455 which is planned for early 2025. [25]
Deliveries commenced in 1982 to Strawberry Hill. [26] On 16 November 1982, 455805 was unveiled at Waterloo station. The first entered service on 28 March 1983. All were initially allocated to Wimbledon Depot working services on the Central and South Western divisions. The Central Division 455/8s were transferred to Selhurst in 1986 after modifications to the depot were completed. All were delivered in British Rail blue and grey livery; it had been anticipated that some or all 455/9s would be painted in a green variant of the 'Jaffa Cake' London & SouthEast livery, but this was overruled by the BR Design Panel. [27] [28] From 1986 all 455s were progressively repainted in Network SouthEast white, blue and red livery. In May 1991, 455743 was renumbered 455750 and renamed Wimbledon Traincare Depot in recognition of the depot obtaining BS5750 quality services accreditation. [3]
During April 1994, amid the lead up to the privatisation of British Rail, 455801-455846 were allocated to the Network SouthCentral shadow franchise and sold to Eversholt. [1] The remainder were allocated to the South West Trains shadow franchise and sold to Porterbrook. [3] [29]
On 13 October 1996, the Network SouthCentral shadow franchise was taken over by Connex South Central with 455801-455846. In the late 1990s, 16 were repainted in Connex's white and yellow livery. In August 2001, the franchise passed to Southern with all 46 transferred. Some were repainted in Southern's white and green livery. Between February 2004 and February 2006, all were refurbished by Alstom at Eastleigh Works. New 3+2 high back seating as fitted to the Class 377 and the removal of cab end gangways to facilitate the installation of driver's air-conditioning were notable features. [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]
A second refurbishment programme started for the Southern units in June 2012. This included a repaint and interior changes, such as changes to the grab rails on the top between each door. 455808 was the first completed, followed by 455812 in August 2012. The project was completed in December 2013, 455801 being the last unit. [36] [37] [ page needed ]
A third refurbishment programme began in January 2018 for the 455s to become compliant with the PRM 2020 specifications with 455816 being the first one completed. [38]
Southern Class 455 units were used on inner and outer suburban services out of London to destinations in South London and Surrey, before being withdrawn in May 2022. [39] They will not be directly replaced, as the new timetable will be operated by Southern's Class 377 EMUs. [40] A farewell tour for the Southern Class 455 units took place on 14 May 2022. [41]
The first pair of Southern class 455s (455838 and 455839) were sent for scrap on 4 May 2022. [42]
South Western Railway had intended to replace its fleet with Class 701 Aventra units from 2019; [52] however this was initially deferred to mid-2020 [53] and was deferred again to 2021. [54] The first Class 701 Aventra EMUs began to enter service starting on 9 January 2024. [55]
To commemorate the class, unit 455868 was repainted into a blue and grey BR-inspired livery and re-entered service on 7 March 2024. [56]
Class | Operator | Qty. | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit numbers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
455/7 | South Western Railway | 38 | 1984–1985 | 4 | 455701–455703, 455705–455721, 455723-455725, 455727–455735, 455737–455739, 455741–455742, 455750 |
Scrapped | 5 | 455704, 455722, 455726, 455736, 455740 [57] [58] [59] [60] | |||
455/8 | Scrapped | 48 | 1982–1984 | 455801–455847, 455855 [57] | |
South Western Railway | 27 | 455848–455854, 455856–455874 | |||
455/9 | 17 | 1985 | 455901–455906, 455908–455916, 455919–455920 | ||
Stored | 1 | 455917 [61] | |||
Scrapped | 2 | 455907, 455918 [62] |
Stagecoach South Western Trains Limited, trading as South West Trains (SWT), was an English train operating company owned by Stagecoach, which operated the South Western franchise between February 1996 and August 2017.
The British RailClass 411 (4CEP) electric multiple units were built at Eastleigh works from 1956–63 for the newly electrified main lines in Kent. These units, which used the British Railways Mark 1 bodyshell, were based on the earlier Southern Railway 4 COR design, built in 1937. Variants of the class 411 design included the class 410 and class 412 4 BEP units, which contained a buffet car in place of a standard trailer. They were later used on services in Sussex and Hampshire; following the privatisation of British Rail in 1995, the units were used by the Connex South Central, Connex South Eastern and South West Trains franchises. They were replaced by Juniper, Desiro, and Electrostar units. The fleet's lifespan was 49 years. These units are the longest-lived BR Mark 1 EMUs.
The British Rail Class 73 is a British electro-diesel locomotive. This type is unusual in that it can operate on the Southern Region's 650 / 750 V DC third rail power supply, or an onboard diesel engine to allow it to be used on non-electrified routes. This makes it very versatile, although the diesel engine produces less power than is available from the third-rail power supply, so the locomotives are rarely used outside of the former Southern Region of British Rail. It is one of the first bi-mode locomotives ever built. Following the withdrawal and scrapping of the more powerful Class 74 bi-mode locomotives in 1977, the Class 73 was unique on the British railway network until the introduction of the Class 88 bi-mode locomotives in 2017. Ten locomotives have been scrapped.
The British Rail Class 421 (4CIG) electric multiple units were built at BR's Holgate Road carriage works between 1964 and 1972. Units were built in two batches, and were initially introduced on services on the Brighton Main Line. Later units were introduced on services to Portsmouth. These units replaced older Southern Railway-designed units, such as the 5Bel "Brighton Belle" units, and 4Cor units. The fleet's lifespan was 46 years.
The British Rail Class 423, electric multiple unit passenger trains were mostly built by British Rail (BR) at York Works from 1967 to 1974, although the MBSOs and TSOs of the first 20, 7701-7720, were built at Derby Works. They have manually opening doors next to every seating row and were the last coaching stock built in this pattern for BR. They were mostly found working outer-suburban services in South London and rural services in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, up to 2005 when they were finally replaced by Electrostar and Desiro units. The fleet had a working life of 38 years.
The British Rail Class 159 is a class of British diesel multiple unit passenger trains of the Sprinter family, built in 1989–1992 by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL)'s Derby Litchurch Lane Works as Class 158. Before entering traffic, the original 22 units were modified at Rosyth Dockyard to Class 159 to operate services from London Waterloo to Salisbury and Exeter St Davids, replacing various locomotive-hauled passenger trains.
The British Rail Class 317 was an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train constructed by British Rail Engineering Limited in two batches: 48 sets were produced in 1981–82 and 24 sets in 1985–87. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-steel Mark 3 bodyshell, departing from the PEP-aluminium design which had spawned the earlier Class 313 to Class 315, Class 507 and Class 508. The Mark 3 bodyshell was also the basis of Class 318, Class 455 and the diesel Class 150. The Class 317 uses overhead alternating current electrification. All units were withdrawn in July 2022.
The British Rail Class 487 electric multiple units were built by English Electric in 1940, for use on the Waterloo & City line.
The British Rail Class 456 was an electric multiple unit passenger train introduced by Network SouthEast on inner-suburban services in South London to replace the elderly Class 416 2EPB units. Twenty-four two-car units were built by British Rail Engineering Limited's York Carriage Works in 1990 and 1991.
The British Rail Class 460 Juniper (8-GAT) was a class of electric multiple-unit passenger trains built by Alstom at Washwood Heath between 1999 and 2001. They were part of Alstom's Coradia Juniper family, which also includes Classes 334 and 458.
The British Rail Class 458 Juniper (5-JUP) is a class of electric multiple-unit passenger trains of the Alstom Coradia Juniper family, built at Washwood Heath between 1998 and 2002 for South West Trains. The order for the original fleet of 30 four-car trains was placed in 1997, and delivery of the first unit followed in October 1998. The fleet entered passenger service between 2000 and 2003 and is maintained at Bournemouth depot.
The British Rail TC multiple units were unpowered fixed formations of 3 or 4 carriages with a driving position at each end of the set, converted by BR's Holgate Road carriage works from locomotive-hauled Mark 1 carriages in 1966–1967 and 1974. The units built on experience gained from the prototype 6TC unit. In time the 3 car units were reformed into four car units to match the rest of the fleet and later classified as Class 442. This was later changed to Class 491, under which they spent the majority of their working lives. Shortly before withdrawal they were reclassified Class 438 and the units were renumbered to 8001-8034.
The British Rail Mark 3 is a type of passenger carriage developed in response to growing competition from airlines and the car in the 1970s. A variant of the Mark 3 became the rolling stock for the High Speed Train (HST).
The British Rail Class 450 Desiro are third-rail DC electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains that entered service during 2003. Used for outer-suburban services, they were built with both first- and standard-class accommodation. They have a maximum speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).
The British Rail Class 442 (5-WES) Wessex Electrics were electric multiple unit passenger trains introduced in 1988 by Network SouthEast on the South West Main Line from London Waterloo to Weymouth to coincide with the electrification of the line from Bournemouth. Twenty-four five-car units were built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Derby Litchurch Lane Works.
The British Rail Class 444 Desiro is an electric multiple-unit passenger train built by Siemens Transportation Systems in Austria between 2002 and 2004. The Class 444 currently operate on express passenger services for South Western Railway.
The British Rail Class 508 (4PER) was a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited, at Holgate Road carriage works, York, in 1979 and 1980. They were a variant of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes (313/314/315/507/508). They mostly worked on the Merseyrail network from 1982 until withdrawal on 16 January 2024.
The British Rail Class 318 is an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train which operates in west central Scotland. The units were introduced on 29 September 1986 as part of the electrification of the Ayrshire Coast Line between Glasgow Central and Ayr/Ardrossan with alternating current (AC) overhead lines. Their use was extended to Largs in January 1987. They were also used on the Inverclyde Line in small numbers. The trains currently operate Argyle Line, Cathcart Circle Line, North Clyde Line, Whifflet Line, Paisley Canal Line and Inverclyde Line services. Following the withdrawal of the Class 314 fleet in 2019, these units are the oldest working EMUs in Scotland, having been in revenue-earning service for more than 38 years.
The British Rail Class 210 was a type of diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) passenger train designed and constructed by British Rail Engineering Limited's Derby Litchurch Lane Works.
Network SouthEast (NSE), the sector of British Rail which ran passenger services in London and southeast England between 1986 and 1994, operated a wide variety of rolling stock during its existence. The majority of the network was electrified, and further electrification schemes took place during the 1986–1994 period; and the 7,000 vehicles owned by NSE in 1986 consisted of a mixture of electric, diesel-electric and diesel multiple units, diesel locomotives and the coaches they hauled.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: location (link)