South West Trains News: Class 450
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Desiro derailment at Waterloo
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In circumstances yet to be confirmed, this website will not repeat unsubstantiated rumours, on Sunday 13th July high capacity Desiro 450545 impacted with the buffer stops on platform 16 at Waterloo. The jolt back through the train appears to have caused the second car to displace the track and derail. No injuries were reported and it is not clear if the train was in service at the time. The unit is pictured here the next day. How close it is to the buffer stops can be judged from the railing and red markings on the platform. Note also how the second car is out of alignment with the remainder of the train.
photographs by Colin Price
High Capacity Desiros introduced
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(above right) Interior of what was formerly the first class section but following conversion is now a standard saloon in what has become a trailer open standard lavatory brake vehicle. photograph courtesy of Colin J. Marsden
The first three high capacity conversions to Class 450 stock were introduced to service on 21st January 2008. The first two in traffic were 450548 & 450555 working:
Off Waterloo :
07:28, 09:58, 12:28, 14:58, 17:28, 19:58 & 22:28
Off Windsor :
06:23, 08:53, 11:23, 13:53, 16:23, 18:53 & 21:23
Unfortunately the third unit, 450554, was failed before entering service.
These conversions are part of South West Trains' strategy to meet their new franchise's requirement for additional passenger capacity on the ‘Windsor Lines’ from Waterloo to Windsor, Weybridge via Chertsey and on the Hounslow Loop.
Conversion of 28 Class 450/0 Desiro sets is being done by Siemens at Bournemouth depot. The specific sets to be converted to high capacity are 450043 to 450070, to be renumbered into the new 450/5 sub-class by adding 500 to their original number. The modification work takes around 15 days per set to complete and four sets will be modified at the same time. The modifications involve the following:-
- In the former TOCLB vehicle: removal of first class seating and replaced with standard class seating in 2+2 and 2+3 style, removal of two standard class seats from the standard class saloon, installation of extra handrails and removal of sliding doors previously separating the first class area thus providing room for 40 extra standing passengers. In the former first class saloon under luggage-rack lighting and lap top/telephone power points have been retained but the curtains have been removed
- In the Trailer Open Standard Disabled Toilet (TOSLW) vehicle: removal of two seats from the toilet end; provision of extra handrails and new litter bins between seat backs
- In the two Driving (DMOS1/2) cars: removal of six seats by the door openings; provision of extra handrails and three new litterbins.
- Throughout the train all of the vertical litterbins originally installed by the doorways have been removed
- Replacement of the scratch resistant surface on the windows; application of a graffiti resistant finish to the walls of the toilet compartment and gangways areas.
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The modifications give a net loss of 16 seats, but an increase in standing capacity. If confined to the Windsor lines, it is claimed this should result in better conditions for standing passengers in the peaks. The recent DfT announcement regarding new rolling stock has indicated that additional Desiro vehicles may be provided. This could potentially be to lengthen the 450/5 units by 1 extra vehicle, creating in effect the five car inner suburban 450/2 units that were originally destined for SWT before being redirected to Silverlink County (now London Midland) as 4 car units. 450554 again, this time at Vauxhall on 8th February 2008 whilst working a Hounslow loop service.
photograph by Ian Docwra |
