Fleet Focus - DC Desiros (Class 444 & 450)

©Liam Jenkins - A rare combination of each train

Hello all, Liam here, providing a Fleet Focus on the 750v DC Third Rail Desiro classes, 444 and 450.

Bit of a kickback to your GCSE (Or CSE) School Physics or Engineering classes here, both the Class 444s and 450s are only operable on a 750 volt DC (Direct electricity Current) third rail lines. A special piece of equipment on each side of each bogie (wheel set) draws the current from the third rail line, and when the current is able to be drawn, the electricity is provided to the train. This electricity powers the motors of the trains which makes the train move.


THE CLASS 450 FOCUS

South West Trains operate a fleet of 127 Class 450 'Desiros' on various lines on the electrified network. The standard formation set is 4 coaches, and South West Trains often couple sets together to make 8 or 12 car sets in order to increase capacity on busy lines.

©Liam Jenkins - Class 450s at Guildford

Each set is formed of 4 cars: DMSO (A) + TCO + TSO + DMSO (B)

The Class 450s entered service with South West Trains in 2003 as a part of a 785 vehicle order to replace the ageing and non-health and safety compliant 'Slam door' stock. The introduction of the trains was delayed due to a power supply problems in upgrading to handle the new Desiro stock. After a timetable change in December 2004, the Class 450s began service on most routes, serving all the intended routes by June 2005.

Later on, a new order of 68 Desiro vehicles was compiled. The Desiros would be numbered '450/2s', however the order was handed over to London Midland, upgrading the ordered stock to 25kV Pantograph Class 350s.

In 2008, South West Trains refurbished and modified 28 Class 450/0 sets (450043 - 450070, renumbered to 450543 - 450570) to work on Suburban routes where the need for high capacity was deeply desired. The first class was removed, and replaced with 2+3 seating, some seats were taken out to provide more standing space and more handrails were put in place. These modified trains were branded 'HC' trains (High Capacity trains).

In Summer 2013, these High Capacity Class 450/5s had their first class reinstated due to Class 456s and 458/5s being ordered for use on suburban routes. The 450/5 units are now in use across the broader South West Trains network along with other Class 450/0s. The units are generally found on the Portsmouth Direct Line (Portsmouth - Waterloo via Guildford) and the Alton line (Alton - Waterloo).

©Liam Jenkins - Class 450/5s are now generally used across the whole SWT network

In each trainset, there are 240 'standard class' seats and 27 'first class' seats. The first class area is situated in the middle of the 'TCO'. The sets feature openable, air tight gangways to ensure passengers may walk through to another section of the train safely and easily. The train features air conditioning, 2 by 2 and 3 by 3 seating, as well as an adequate luggage rack below the ceiling of the units. The seats feature fold up tables on the back, and adequate leg room, however passengers often complain of the practicality, lack of comfort and facilities such as open tables, charging points and WiFi facilities.

The Class 450s are used on a variety of services on the electrified South West Trains network:

• London Suburban Network - Class 450s are often used in peak times to supplement Class 455, 456s and 458/5s on services to Guildford via Epsom, Dorking, Windsor & Eton Riverside, Hounslow and Weybridge.
• Portsmouth Direct Line - The majority of weekday and Saturday services between London Waterloo, Woking, Halsemere, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour are operated by Class 450s, much to the disappointment of passengers.
• Alton & Basingstoke services - The majority of Semi-Fast services to Basingstoke, Farnham and Alton are operated by Class 450s. 
• Weymouth services - Selected Super Off Peak services to Weymouth are operated by Class 450s. However these are only usually used during a shortage of Class 444 units.
• Poole & Portsmouth Harbour via Basingstoke services - Some Semi-Fast services to Poole, Brockenhurst, Eastleigh and Portsmouth Harbour via Basingstoke are operated by Class 450s.
• Ascot to Guildford Line - Selected services between Ascot and Guildford via Aldershot are operated by Class 450 Desiros whilst the Class 456s are being refurbished. However, the certainty of a full time return of the Class 450s on this line is not quite clear.
• London to Reading Line - Whilst the Class 458/5s are being refurbished, the majority of services between London Waterloo and Reading are operated by Class 450 units.
• The Netley Line - The majority of stopping services between Portsmouth and Southampton via Fareham are operated by Class 450s.

THE CLASS 444 FOCUS

South West Trains operate a fleet of 45 Class 444 'Desiros' on various long distance lines on the electrified network. The standard formation of the Class 444s is 5 coaches, with South West Trains often coupling 2 sets together to make 10 coaches.

©Liam Jenkins - The standard formation is 5 coaches.

Each set is formed of 5 cars: DMCO + TSRMB + TSO + TSO + DMSO

The Class 444s entered service alongside the aforementioned Class 450 units as part of a 785 vehicle order to replace the ageing and non-health and safety compliant 'Slam door' stock. The Class 444s were built by Siemens at their Vienna plant, and were intensely tested at the test facility at Wildenrath before being transported to the United Kingdom by the Channel Tunnel.

In each trainset, taking up half of the DMCO, is a first class area, fitted with single seating on the left of the coach facing the cab, and 2 by 2 seating on the right of the coach facing the cab. The features of first class include larger, reclining seats with larger leg room and seats, as well as free WiFi usage and plug sockets, despite the latter 2 features being used in standard class too. 

The main features of standard class include more comfortable, slightly larger seats with retractable arms. In each coach lies 4 table seats with lots of leg space and plug sockets. In each 5 coach set, there are 299 seats in standard class and 35 in first. These Class 444s are ideal for commuter and long distance services.

South West Trains Class 444 trains have been awarded the "Golden Spanner 2010" as Britain's most reliable trains by Modern Railways. 

The Class 444s are used on a variety of long distance and outer suburban services on the South West Trains electrified network:

• London to Weymouth - The majority of services between London Waterloo and Weymouth are operated by Class 444s.
• Portsmouth Direct Line - Some services between London Waterloo, Woking and Haslemere, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour are operated by Class 444s.
• Alton & Basingstoke services - Selected services between London Waterloo, Woking and Basingstoke and Alton are operated by Class 444s.
• Poole & Portsmouth Harbour via Basingstoke services - Some services between Poole, Portsmouth Harbour, Brockenhurst, Eastleigh and London Waterloo are operated by Class 444s. 

 So that's it for today's post! I hope you have read, enjoyed and learnt something new from this post.

Look out tomorrow for a post from Harry!