07.08.15
South West Trains one step closer to 108-train fleet extension
The £65m South West Trains roll-out of 108 new carriages is now three-quarters complete, with 81 extra carriages already running on the network.
The refurbished carriages already in place have provided space for more than 17,000 additional passengers during the peak.
By early next year the company expects to introduce the remaining carriages funded via the government’s High Level Output Specification Programme (HLOS).
The refurbished Class 458/5s and 456s are equipped with full CCTV, new flooring, wider doors and improved seating, according to the company.
Class 458/5 services are running on the Windsor line and Class 456 services run to Guildford, Woking, Dorking and Hampton Court.
Class 458-5 train in London Waterloo, before and after refurbishment
Christian Roth, engineering director for South West Trains, said: “It is excellent news that the vitally important roll out of 108 additional carriages to our network is now 75% complete. These new carriages are not only providing much more space for passengers on many of our busiest services, they also include significantly improved facilities too.
“On average, we are introducing one new carriage every week and by early next year all 108 carriages will be in service for passengers.”
The carriages were refurbished at Wabtec’s depots in Doncaster and Loughborough and tested at the Wimbledon traincare depot.
RTM visited Wabtec’s Doncaster depot in April 2013 to see the refurbishment and conversion of the first 60 trains in the 108-train deal.
Class 458-5 undergoing refurbishment at Wabtec's Doncaster depot
The company’s planned upgrades are part of the biggest investment made to the network since the 1930s.
A total of 250 new carriages will be introduced by 2018, providing 30% more space for passengers.
Part of this deal comprises a £210m order for 150 new Class 707 Desiro carriages manufactured by Siemens and leased from Angel Trains.
The 30 new five-carriage trains, to begin arriving in 2017 and be fully introduced by early 2018, will provide for more than 18,000 extra peak-time passengers travelling into London Waterloo by 2018.
The expansion investment also includes works to lengthen platforms 1-4 at London Waterloo during 2017 to allow longer, 10-car trains to operate on the suburban network. Other platforms at more than 60 stations have already been lengthened.
Top banner image c. Aubrey Morandarte