ATTENTION: SouthWestTrains DEVELOPMENT
2015: Andy: "Class 458's were built between 1998 and 2002; they are numbered 458 001-030. The Class 458 units have been used by SWT since they were built and from around 2013 they are being merged with the similar Class 460 to be reconfigured in to 36 5 car units, also known as 458/5s. The 458/5's will be numbered 458 501 - 458 536. The first 458/5 unit was delivered late in 2013 and entered passenger service around Easter time last year."
Andy: "The blog has previously focused on Class 456's but once again here are the brief details; In May 2012, the Department for Transport announced the entire fleet of Class 456's would transfer to South West Trains in 2014 to be used in conjunction with South West Trains Class 455 fleet (strengthen Metro services through Wimbledon from 8 to 10 car trains in peak hours.) The Class 456's have been painted in to SWT's Red Metro livery and will continue to be, with the process hopefully completed by 2016."
Lucas: "45 Class 444's were ordered in April 2001, along with Class 450/0's and Class 450/2's, to replace the expired slam door trains (Class 411, 412, 421 and 423) which did not meet the safety standards.
"The Desiro's were built at Siemens' Vienna factory. Before being shipped to the UK via the Channel Tunnel, they were tested on Wildenrath test track to reduce the amount of time for the trains to enter service on the South West Trains network. The first Class 444's entered service in early April, 2004, on Portsmouth Direct Line services. In 2007, Class 444 replaced Class 442's (Wessex Electrics) on the London Waterloo - Weymouth services", Andy states.
May 2015: SWT began to apply a new livery onto refurbished Class 159 units. 159103 is one of them. As you can see, the orange texture is altered, and the Fleet TOC name is now below the window in the middle of the saloon rather than to the above side of the doors. Also, the doors are yellow rather than orange.
Class 707s enter public service from 2017 between Waterloo and Windsor. Here's a look of them in action. They arrived at the depots from early 2017 for preparation tests and training.
Feb 2017: 707005 joins sister units 001-004 at SWT for testing trials and training.
Summer 2017: MTR take over the South West Trains franchise.
