British Rail Class 466

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

British Rail Class 466 Networker
466003 at Ashford International.jpg
Southeastern 466003 at Ashford International in November 2011
In service1993 – present
ManufacturerMetro-Cammell
Built atWashwood Heath, Birmingham
Family nameNetworker
Replaced
Constructed1993–1994[1]
Refurbished
Number built43
SuccessorClass 707[2]
Formation
  • 2 cars per unit:
  • DMSO-DTSO[1]
Fleet numbers466001–466043
Capacity168 seats[1]
Operator(s)
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length20.8 m (68 ft 3 in)[1]
Width2.80 m (9 ft 2 in)[1]
Height3.77 m (12 ft 4 in)
Doors
  • Double-leaf sliding plug
  • (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)[1]
Weight72.4 tonnes (71.3 long tons; 79.8 short tons)
Traction systemGEC Alsthom GTO-VVVF
Traction motors
  • 4 × 3-phase AC[3]
  • GEC Alsthom G352AY
Power output1,120 kW (1,500 hp)
Electric system(s)750 V DC third rail
Current collection methodContact shoe
Bogies
  • Powered: SRP BP62
  • Unpowered: SRP BT52
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (disc) and rheostatic/regenerative
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemTightlock
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Class 465[4]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 466 Networker is a class of 43 electric multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell in 1993 and 1994. The units are operated by Southeastern.

Description[]

The Class 466 EMUs were built between 1993 and 1994 by Metro-Cammell in Washwood Heath, for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail.[5] As part of the privatisation of British Rail, all were sold to Angel Trains.[1] They were operated by Network SouthEast until 1997, and then by Connex South Eastern until 2003, South Eastern Trains until 2006 and Southeastern to the present day.

Each of these units is formed of two coaches that have dimensions of 20.89 m × 2.81 m (68 ft 6 in × 9 ft 3 in) and a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h).[5]

466022 in trial Southeastern livery at Sheerness-on-Sea in 2011

Class 466 units operate in multiple with Class 465s. They were historically used as individual units on rural routes, mainly the Sheerness Line between Sittingbourne and Sheerness, displacing the Class 508/2s which operated on this branch line and on the Bromley North branch between Grove Park and Bromley North. However, owing to their non-compliance with accessibility standards, since 1 January 2021 they may only run coupled to a Class 465.[6]

The Class 466s were also used on the Medway Valley line between Strood, Maidstone West and Tonbridge, and in the leaf fall and winter season of 2011, the Class 466s were doubled up to make 4 car units on the Medway Valley line to help stop the poor adhesion along the line when only a single unit runs. They also ran doubled up or coupled with a Class 465 on the Sheerness Line during the winters of 2009/10 and 2010/11. From the May 2012 timetable changes, Class 375s replaced the Class 466s on the Medway Valley line and from December 2019 on the Sheerness Branch Line.

These two-car EMUs are formed of a driving motor carriage (DMOS: Driving Motor Open Standard) and a driving trailer carriage (DTOSL: Driving Trailer Open Standard Lavatory); all on board seating is standard accommodation.[5] A Solid State Traction Converter package controls 3-phase AC Traction motors, which allows for Rheostatic or Regenerative Dynamic braking. Primary braking system is electro-pneumatically actuated disc brakes, which is blended with the Dynamic brakes. Speed Probes on every axle of the unit provide for Wheel Slip/Slide Protection. A solid-state Auxiliary Converter provides 110 V DC and 240 V AC supplies; this is the source of the loud buzzing noise which can be heard when the train is stationary. The Aux Converter is located on the driving trailer, along with the toilet. The units use air-operated sliding plug doors.

Some are scheduled to be replaced by Class 707s,[7] with two hauled to Worksop for store by Harry Needle Railroad Company in June 2021.[8]

Refurbishment[]

The 466s were repainted by Wabtec Rail at Doncaster Works into a variation of Southeastern livery with lilac doors and midnight blue lower band.

Fleet details[]

Class Operator No. Built Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos.
Class 466 Southeastern 43 1993–1994 2 466001–466043

Accidents and incidents[]

On 5 February 2007 a bridge inspection unit working on the M20 motorway was working over a railway bridge between Maidstone Barracks and Aylesford stations. The gantry on the bridge inspection unit was struck by 466041 working a Paddock Wood to Gillingham service, causing significant damage to the leading carriage and wrecking the gantry. The train driver and the sole passenger were slightly injured. Nobody was on the gantry at the time.[9]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Class 466 - South Eastern". Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Southeastern to bring Class 707s to London from Autumn 2021". RailAdvent. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  3. ^ Connex South Eastern: Train Operating Manual Classes 365,465,466. (Unit information) January 1998.
  4. ^ Connex South Eastern: Train Operating Manual Classes 365,465,466. p.A.6 (Unit information) January 1998.
  5. ^ a b c "Classes 465 and 466". Southern E-Group. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  6. ^ "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 – Class 466 2020 accessibility deadline" (PDF). Gov.UK. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  7. ^ "Southeastern to take Class 707s". Rail Express. No. 289. June 2020. p. 9.
  8. ^ "Class 465 & 466 Networker units put into store". Rail Express. No. 303. August 2021. p. 30.
  9. ^ Collision between a train and a road vehicle, M20 overline bridge, Aylesford 5 February 2007 (PDF) (Report), Rail Accident Investigation Branch, 26 September 2007, Wikidata Q106036026{{citation}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

Media related to British Rail Class 466 at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from ""