British Rail Class 450

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Not to be confused with NIR Class 450.

British Rail Class 450 Desiro
450111 in SWR livery.jpg
A South Western Railway Class 450 at Ascot in March 2018
SWR Class 450 Standard Class Interior.jpg
The standard class interior of a refurbished Class 450
In service5 October 2003 – present
ManufacturerSiemens Transportation Systems
Built atKrefeld, Germany
Family nameDesiro
Replaced
Constructed2002–2006
Entered service2003–2006
Number built127 trainsets
Number in service127 trainsets
Formation4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers
  • 450001 – 450127
Capacity16 first class, 269 standard class per trainset
Operator(s)South Western Railway
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length20.4 m (66 ft 11+1⁄8 in)
Width2.796 m (9 ft 2+1⁄8 in)
DoorsPlug sliding 1/4 and 3/4 position
Articulated sectionsInter-unit and inter-vehicle flexible diaphragm
Maximum speed100 mph (161 km/h)
WeightTotal: 170 tonnes (167 long tons; 187 short tons)
Electric system(s)750 V DC third rail
Current collection methodContact shoe
Braking system(s)Air, regenerative
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 450 Desiro are third-rail DC electric multiple-unit (EMU) passenger trains that began service during 2003. The class 450 is used for outer-suburban services, the Class 450s were built with standard and first-class accommodation. The trains have a maximum speed of 100 mph (161 km/h).

The "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 360, 380 and 444. These trains are the most numerous trains in South Western Railway's fleet, and also the most numerous units in the Desiro UK family.

In August 2017, the units transferred to South Western Railway, owned by FirstGroup and MTR Corporation.

Introduction[]

South West Trains Siemens Class 450/0 Desiro EMUs No. 450075 and 450109 at Clapham Junction stabling sidings.

In April 2001, 785 vehicles were ordered by South West Trains in order to complete the replacement of its slam-door rolling stock, in accordance with its franchise commitment to do so by 2005, as the slam-door trains were coming to the end of their useful lives, and did not meet modern health and safety requirements. Introduction to service was delayed by the required power supply upgrades capable of powering the new trains, which feature air conditioning, a feature not present in the slam-door trains they replaced. In the December 2004 timetable change, the Class 450 Desiro began serving most intended routes, although introduction was delayed until June 2005 in some areas. The units are leased by Angel Trains to South West Trains.

Sixty-eight new vehicles were ordered by South West Trains as a replacement to the growth order which was diverted to form the similar Class 350 range of electric multiple units.

Formation[]

The entire Class 450 series consists of four car multiple units, semi permanently formed as DMSO(A)+TCO+TSO+DMSO(B).

Units numbered in the range 450001-110 consist of:

  • 63201-63300 and 63751-63760 – DMSO(A)
  • 64201-64300 and 66851-66860 – TCO
  • 68101-68200 and 66801-66810 – TSO
  • 63601-63700 and 63701-63710 – DMSO(B)

Units numbered in the range 450111-127 consist of:

  • 63901-63917 – DMSO(A)
  • 63921-63937 – TCO
  • 66901-66917 – TSO
  • 66921-66937 – DMSO(B)

Operations[]

South West Trains Class 450 No. 450112 at London Waterloo
The interior of Standard Class accommodation aboard a South West Trains Class 450
The interior of the First Class section aboard an SWT Class 450/0

Class 450 Desiro trains operate on certain London commuter rail routes, as well as outer suburban and regional services from London Waterloo, and local services outside the London area. They are used on all SWR lines except the West of England line and the Eastleigh to Romsey Line. These include:

They can also be found on London commuter rail services usually operated by Class 455 units (to Woking, Guildford, Dorking, Chessington South, Hampton Court, Shepperton and the Kingston Loop Line), particularly in peak periods and on Sundays during periods of engineering work. These trains used to be seen in service between Wareham and Brockenhurst rail stations but now there are two trains an hour to London Waterloo from Weymouth, which are operated by SWR 444 units and an hourly slow train service from London Waterloo to Poole which is shared between Class 450s and Class 444s.

Class 450 Desiro trains are used on the Portsmouth Direct Line for London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour services in place of Class 444 Desiro units on some services. The decision to use Class 450 Desiros has been a cause for complaint from passengers, specifically because of the 3+2 seating arrangement.[1]

The Class 450/2 and more orders[]

Originally, SWT's order with Siemens was for 100 four-car sets (the current 450/0) and 32 five-car sets, intended as Class 450/2 for inner-suburban use. The Strategic Rail Authority, however, did not agree to the terms required, such as the lengthening of platforms and changes to railway infrastructure. As a result, the 32 five-car sets were cancelled and the 160 vehicles redistributed; an extra 10 four-car sets were added to the SWT order, while the remaining 120 vehicles were then ordered as 30 four-car sets of the dual-voltage Class 350 for Silverlink and Central Trains.

Subsequently, SWT received further 17 four-car sets, bringing the total number of Class 450 units up to 127. These trains were delivered in 2006, not long after the last of the first order was delivered. 450101 was damaged in Belgium and returned to Wildenrath to have repairs conducted by Siemens, delaying its entry into the UK.

Class 450/5 modifications[]

In January 2008, 28 Class 450/0 sets were modified and re-numbered in the Class 450/5 series, for use on services between Waterloo and Windsor, the Hounslow Loop Line, as well as between Waterloo and Weybridge. They had their first-class seating removed and replaced with 2+3 formation standard-class seating, and some other seats were removed to provide more standing capacity; extra handrails were also provided. The numbers modified are 450043 to 450070, which have become 450543 to 450570 respectively and displayed the letters HC (denoting 'High Capacity') above the unit number on the front of the sets. The modifications were carried out at the Bournemouth Traincare Depot.[2]

In anticipation of the Class 458/5 modifications for use on the Windsor Lines, the 450/5 sub class had the First Class reinstated, and they are now used generally across the SWR routes. These trains retain their 4505xx number as the standard seating configuration remains different. As they complete their latest interior refurbishment, during late 2019, they are being returned to their original numbers.

SWR Refresh (2018-19)[]

South Western Railway (as part of its contract) has been carrying out a refurbishment programme on its Class 450 fleet. As part of this, every unit will be deep cleaned with carpets and seat covers replaced and every two seats in Standard Class will have a plug socket fitted. First Class will be reduced to 8 seats per set end (16 seats per set), and will feature new leather seats and tables with wireless charging facilities. As part of this work, Class 450/5s will also be similarly refurbished, and renumbered to their original numbers, so all Class 450s will once again share a common layout. [3]

The interior of the refurbished First Class cabin, showing the leather seats.

Accidents and incidents[]

  • On 6 November 2017, unit 450 025 was derailed near Wimbledon.[4] Four people were injured; over 300 passengers were evacuated from the train.[5] The accident was caused by track spread. Neither Network Rail nor London Underground had inspected the track for many years, due to a misunderstanding as to who was responsible for maintaining a 120-metre (130 yd) stretch of line.[6]

Fleet details[]

Class Operator No. Year Built Carriages Unit nos.
450 South Western Railway 127 2002–06 4 450001–450127

Diagrams[]

South West Trains Class 450.png
South Western Railway Class 450.png

References[]

  1. ^ "Commuter protest over rail seats". BBC News. 22 January 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  2. ^ "High capacity Class 450 Desiro sets enter traffic". TheRailwayCentre.com. 24 January 2008. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  3. ^ "SWR Refurbishment". South Western Railway. 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  4. ^ "South West Railways train derails near Wimbledon". BBC News. 6 November 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Hundreds evacuated and four people injured after train derails near to Wimbledon". Independent Television News. 6 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Derailment of a passenger train near Wimbledon, south-west London, 6 November 2017" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
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