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Latest News
Page last updated: 11th December 2008
Latest News: "Brighton Timetables (Mon 8th and 15th), and An Unrefurbed Unit In Service!"
I cleared this page out when I re-structured the site on
7th April. Anything related to the
withdrawal can be found on the new "Withdrawal" page, and older
news can be found
on the "Archive" page. If something seems to be missing from this
page, check those
pages, or alternatively, take a look at the forum!
An Unrefurbed Unit In Service! (added 11-Dec-08)
Just a heads-up that there is still an unrefurbished set
running around at the moment.
If you're lucky, you can catch it!
Brighton Timetables - Week Commencing Monday 8th Dec 2008 (added 11-Dec-08)
Thanks to John Atkinson for the information, and to jfs0996
for
reporting it to the Class442 forum.
Running Monday 8th - Friday 12th Dec 08, 10WES units will be working the following:
5X40 09+10 Lovers Walk - Gatwick |
The displaced 460 units will sit spare in Gatwick Sidings in the meantime.
5wesman on the forum reported that on Monday 8th, 2412 and
2414 arrived at Gatwick
at 10:02 but suffered from PA failure. emmtee reported that the 0950 was "displaced
due to broken rail at Streatham Common".
Brighton Timetables - Week Commencing Monday 15th Dec (added 11-Dec-08)
Thanks to jhclausen of UKmodernEMU for publishing this,
and to d.river for
reporting it to the Class442 forum.
Please note that due to Wolverton running late on the refurbs,
not all
diagrams will have 442s on them from the start.
1A31 6.32 Brighton-Victoria 7.35 1A33 6.40 Brighton-Victoria 7.50 1A37 6.56 Brighton-Victoria 8.05 1A39 7.15 Brighton-Victoria 8.20 1A41 7.30 Brighton-Victoria 8.35 ECS from Stewarts Lane |
From Feb/March there will be a morning peak service from
Eastborne - London Bridge,
returning in the evening service.
442s in service again! (added 12th June)
This news just in! From December this year, 442s will be
working services from Brighton.
The stopping pattern will be fast from Victoria to Gatwick, then some intermediate
stops
between Gatwick and Brighton. They will NOT be in Southern livery!
Thanks to d.river for the info!
From Brighton: 06.33 From Victoria: 17.30 |
First Trip to Brighton (added 12th June)
2405+2406 visited Brighton on 9th June for driver training.
More trips are planned from
the 9th to the 13th on an "as required" basis. Thanks to SulzerSupremo
for the info.
5Z70 10+23 LW - Three Bridges - Brighton: P.Park 10:28 5Z71 12+24 Brighton - Three Bridges - LW: P.Park 12:28 5Z72 14+23 LW - Three Bridges - Brighton - LW: P.Park 14:29 5Z73 16+23 LW - Three Bridges - LW: P.Park 16:28, |
Goodbye Slammers (added 11th April)
This is not yet confirmed, and isn't really related to this
website, but I thought you'd find
it interesting nonetheless. There is a good possibility that the slammers
that work the
Lymington Branch will be withdrawn and replaced by a Class 450 Desiro instead.
Timescale is somewhat unknown yet, but my source states
that this is on the cards due
to the running costs of these older trains, expensive and harder to obtain
parts, and
a poor return on investment for SWT.
While this isn't an area this website is focussed on, I
may well post further updates
here as and when they become available. These are the last slam door trains
to be used
in mainline passenger service.
Wheelslip Protection Testing (added 11th April)
Originally scheduled for 12th April, this working took place
a day earlier, on the 11th.
It was apparently a 10WES working, 2407 and 2410, out to test the Wheelslip
Protection.
Saturday 12th April 2008 5Z41 ELEIGHRNC 00:36 EASTLEIGH 01:52 (Fareham 01:25-31) |
Moves (added 11th April)
73204, 442404 and 442411 went to ECS from Eastleigh to Chart
Leacon on 1st April. There
are also two Cl442s at Wolverton (see post below, "Wolverton Move").
This is interesting
because Chart Leacon is owned by Bombardier, and Wolverton by Alstom.
Perhaps Angel Trains have sent these units off to be returned
as prototypes, to see which
company they'll go with for the refitting for Southern/GatEx?
Refurbishment Specification (added 20th Jan 2008)
Some information regarding the refurbishment of the 442s for use with Southern/GatEx:
- Standard class will be in the trailers. (DTC, TS, TSW,
DTS)
- First class will be in the MBLS - will be open, no compartments.
- Buffet and snug removed.
- Seating will be 2+2, airline style.
- There will be two tables with facing seats, possibly in the center
of the saloon for symmetrical reasons.
- Door vestibules will be larger and will have tip-up seats>
- The doorways into the saloons will be larger.
- Luggage racks will be fitted to the bulkhead to the vestibule.
They will be run as 10 car units, providing around 600 seats,
compared with
around 350 in an 8 car class 460, so a big increase in capacity.
This information is not 100% confirmed.
Thanks for Colin Duff for posting this to the southwesttrains Yahoo! Group.
Wolverton Move (added 2nd December 2007)
Two 442 units will be going to Wolverton on Monday, Dec
3rd for GatEx work. This
will probably include removing the buffet and snug area, luggage areas, new
upholstery and new livery. Hopefully they won't replace the seats with the
thinner
ones that seem to be more commonplace on our trains!
Credit to Hentis and Roger Smith (WRGEN) - thanks!
0Z80 07.50 Southampton MT - Eastleigh Works, Eastleigh Sta 08.15-20. |
Test Run (added 16th November)
Posting this one late, real life got in the way!
2424 ran on the 15th November as follows:
5Z73 runs THO 15/11/07 |
2424 ran with a blue 73 on the front and a GBRF 73 on the
rear.
It was approximately 15 minutes late at East Croydon.
Return of the 442s! (added 7th November)
An undisclosed number of 442s are to return to Weymouth/Waterloo
services!
A possible start date is December with the units being withdrawn again around
April or May 2008.
This is due to a shortage of Desiros (both of the 444 and
450 variety), and the
collapse of Hunslet Barclay, the company where they were being repaired. The
company may well continue under administration, but it remains to be seen.
There's not very much been confirmed about this so far,
but I'll put the
latest news up as I receive it! Please also see THIS
THREAD on the
forum as it may be more up-to-date than information here!
Brighton Line Test Run #2 (added 19th October)
There will be a training run on Friday 19th October:
Friday 19th October 2007 5Z01 10.10 Eastleigh Works - Basingstoke |
As before; I won't be around to take photos, but if
anyone does, I'd be happy to host them - just ask!
Brighton Line Test Run (added 31st August)
I've been sitting on this one for a while - apologies for not updating the site!
2424 + ED will be on a test run on the Brighton Main Line
on Friday 31st August.
Thanks to Lawe on the southwesttrains Yahoo! Group.
I won't be around to take photos, but if anyone does, I'd
be
happy to host them - just ask!
FRIDAY 31st August 2007 SLNT&RSMD 11:35 |
More Driver Training (added 13th August)
More driving training has been scheduled, again between
Eastleigh and Basingstoke.
Thanks to 777fred for posting this to Tom's forum, and YK before him.
Train 5Z03 runs TO from 14/08/07 to 21/08/07 Location Booked Train 5Z04 runs TO from 14/08/07 to 21/08/07 Location Booked |
Gatwick Express Confirmed
Looks like some of the piggies (an unknown number at this
time) will be heading over to
Southern to help out the Gatwick Express services. Here's a press release
- click!
A couple of questions do spring to mind - firstly, will
they be using the same traction
packages? There's been rumours that an alternative traction package has been
looked
at, presumably as the current package has been unreliable lately... (unreliable
due to
lack of good maintenance, in my opinion!).
Secondly, they will presumably have new or modified interiors
to allow more room for
luggage - so what will they change? First thing to go will probably be the
first class
booths (or cubibles, call them what you will!). Then there'll likely be a
reduction in
seats overall to make room for luggage racks. Perhaps a removal of the tables
in
standard class, so they can put more seats in to make up for those lost to
the racks.
Speculation. :-)
Driver Training (added 16th May)
On the 17th May, there will be driver training between Eastleigh
and Basingstoke.
Thanks to Hentis on Tom's Forum, and 73140/37251 and RS before him!
Booked as follows:
Train 5Z42 runs THO 17/05/07 Multiple-Unit Location Booked C Pw Miles Train 5Z43 runs THO 17/05/07 Multiple-Unit Location Booked C Pw Miles |