British Rail Class 458

Infobox train
name = British Rail Class 458 "Juniper"


imagesize = 300px
caption = 458030 at London Waterloo on 19 July 2003. This unit is painted in South West Trains mainline livery.
background = #891B1C
Family = Juniper
Manufacturer = Alstom
factory = Washwood Heath
Formation = 4 cars per trainset
numberbuilt = 30 trainsets
yearconstruction = 1998–2000
yearservice = 1999–
Weight = 164.3t
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = convert|100|mph|abbr=on
Gauge =
Brakes = Air, regenerative
Engine =
Operator = South West Trains
Designation = 458001–458030
Power-supply = Third rail
Voltage = 750V DC

The South West Trains Class 458 (or 4JOP) electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath between 1998 and 2000. These units are part of Alstom's "Juniper" family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 460.

Description

Thirty of these 4-car trains were ordered by South West Trains (SWT) in 1998, to create extra capacity and to replace some of the aging Class 411 (4CEP) units, which at the time were on short-term lease. Deliveries of these units commenced in 1998. Units were delivered in SWT's mainline livery of mainly white, with a blue band, and red/orange 'swish' at cab ends.

The class suffered from major technical problems, so none of the older Class 411 units were withdrawn from service. It was six more years, in 2004, before the full fleet was in service. In 2004, reliability was so poor that despite the units being only six years old, it was planned to return them to the leasing company and replace them with new Class 450 "Desiro" trains.cite news
title = Train firm to replace new fleet
work = BBC News
publisher = bbc.co.uk
date = 2004-01-12
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3388679.stm
accessdate = 2008-07-02
quote = A commuter rail company is to replace 30 of its newest fleet of trains because they keep breaking down. The Juniper trains, costing £90 million, were introduced four years ago by South West Trains. In that time they have have suffered from leaky roofs and failing electronics. The Juniper rolling stock will be replaced with new German-built Desiro trains, when the lease on them runs out next year. ] At that time, the Class 458 "Juniper" trains only managed an average of convert|4300|mi|abbr=on between failures, compared with an average of convert|21000|mi|abbr=on for a Class 450 "Desiro" and convert|50000|mi|abbr=on for the previous slam-door trains.

Since then reliability has improved sufficiently to allow them to be retained. As of the 11 December 2005 timetable change, the trains were significantly lowered in diagrams and were only found on 3 diagrams on weekdays out of London Waterloo. In September 2005; two units (458001 and 458002) were transferred to Gatwick Express. The units recommenced service in 2007 on outer suburban lines, complementing the Class 450 "Desiro" fleet. The two trains previously allocated to Gatwick Express have now been transferred back to South West Trains.

30 units were built, numbered 458001-030. Each unit was formed from two outer driving motors, an intermediate trailer, and an intermediate motor. The trailer has the capacity to be fitted with a pantograph, thus allowing the units to be rebuilt in the future for overhead power collection at 25kV AC, should the need arise. The technical description of the formation is DMCO+PTSO+MSO+DMCO. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows:
*67601-67630 - DMCO
*74001-74030 - PTSO
*74101-74130 - MSO
*67701-67730 - DMCO

Operations

When first built, the units were used on the half-hourly London Waterloo to Alton trains. They were then used on the half-hourly London Waterloo to Reading services. The trains now also sometimes operate the services between Ascot to Guildford (during peak hours), and occasionally Weybridge to London Waterloo via Hounslow services with Class 450 "Desiro" trains.

Refresh Refurbishment

Bournemouth Train Care Depot is currently 'refreshing' these units. The 'refresh' will include adding CCTV, new seats and tables in first class, an internal repaint, and Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (RVAR) compliant lavatory and door lights. Some units already have RVAR compliant lavatory and door lights.

At present,when only one unit (458006) has been refreshed. Currently,when units 458010 and 458030 are at Bournemouth Train Care Depot undergoing the 'refresh'. [citeweb|url=http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/tocnews/swtn458a.html|title=Class 458s being "refreshed" at Bournemouth T&RSMD|date=May 4 2008]

References