SOUTH - Last Day of Class 458/0 Operations


©Liam Jenkins
Good Evening, Liam here, offering you a post regarding the last day of South West Trains Class 458/0 service. Enjoy!

On Sunday 8th November 2015, South West Trains operated the last day of Class 458/0s on the units' final day of operations. These units are to be sent to Doncaster Works, where they will be refurbished with the Gatwick Express Class 460s into a new Class 458/5 class.


Courtesy of Oliver Beauchamp, we have received some photographs of the Class 458/0s operating on their last day of service, including interior photographs and photographs of the cab! 

©Oliver Beauchamp - Cab view of class 458/0

©Oliver Beauchamp - Cab view of class 458/0
These Class 458/0s were ordered by South West Trains in 1998 as an order of 30 high density suburban units for use on lines replacing the Class 411 units. The units, built by Alstom and nicknamed 'Juniper 4JOP' were introduced in 2002, but suffered many failures such as a leaky roof and electric failures.

©Oliver Beauchamp - 
Class 458021 standing proud at Waterloo on its last day of service
The units were so inefficient by 2005 that South West Trains planned to lease the units back to the leaser, and replace them with Class 450 Desiro units. Subsequently, unreliability lead to South West Trains only requiring 3 units per day in 2005. However, reliability improved, and the units were subsequently reintroduced on the Reading to London line, and the Ascot to Guildford line, alongside more reliable cousins, the Class 450 Desiro units.

©Oliver Beauchamp - interior

©Oliver Beauchamp - interior saloon

A relatively short post unfortunately tonight, due to GCSE commitments. However, I do plan to bring our viewers a more detailed post in the coming weeks. A big thanks to Oliver Beauchamp for providing photographs for this post. I hope you have enjoyed the post.

Regards:

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