A Retrospective: Class 458/5 on the South Western

Another class with an uncertain future following a franchise fleet renewal is the 458/5s which will be replaced on routes out of Waterloo by Aventras on South Western Railway. In this video we look at them in service between 2017 and 2019. Mainly clips from previously published material plus some previously unseen material.

[@deauvilledad07]

Another superb film fr the camera of Mr Boogie. Well done 🤓 stay safe 💙

[@theimperialist2686]

Excellent video as always Boogies Trains.

[@cadetkidkilla]

Don’t know why but there’s something I just love about these units, loved them even more before refit

[@edrisgabo915]

Excellent. Loved it.

[@williamwebb6178]

South Western Railway will be retaining 28 Class 458s for the Portsmouth line until 2027 once they have been replaced by Class 701 Aventras on the Reading and Windsor Services and will be replacing the Class 442s which have now left South Western Railway in March 2021

[@BoogiesTrains]

Yes, the 458s have performed another Lazarene feat to defeat the 442s which were previously champions.

[@williamwebb6178]

@@BoogiesTrains The Class 458s are also going be returned back to 4 coaches and be increased to 100 MPH

[@owenchuarbx]

One of the most underrated trains, still liked them nonetheless.

[@bIuebitten4675]

Disagree, they had character and style but most people liked them!

[@nathansrailwayphotography8125]

Great

[@rubyait]

Great video! Is 30 years extra long on passenger service? Is this all at Clapham Jct?

[@BoogiesTrains]

Video is mainly at Clapham Junction and Vauxhall. Most rolling stock will need a major refurbishment after about 15 years but the design life of the basic components is much longer than that. The real problem these days is that more and more technology is built into rolling stock and that becomes obsolete much quicker with spare parts becoming very hard to source. In the old days you could make spares if you had the plans but it isn't possible to make a silicon chip that has gone out of production.

[@rubyait]

@@BoogiesTrains Thanks for replying. I have only been through these stations in cab rides on the main line. Why would trains be different than other things in our lives? I didn’t know about all the trees and curves. That must have been Vauxhall. Very enjoyable. Thank you so much.

[@Anonymoususer_8823]

Why can’t South Western Railway use them on other services such as Alton, Aldershot, Basingstoke and to be used on outer-suburban including Weybridge, Reading, Guildford and Dorking. Weren’t they going to be used on the Portsmouth Harbour service and downgrade to Class 458/4 with a top speed of 100mph.

[@Andrewjg_89]

Not sure what is happening to the Class 458/5 (formerly Class 458/0). As South Western Railway are replacing them with the Class 701 Aventras as well replacing the Class 455, Class 456 and Class 707 that the Class 707s are to be cascaded to Southeastern. Which is likely to see the Class 458 getting scrapped as well the Class 455 and Class 456.
Unless SWR could retain the Class 458s and to operate them on the Woking, Guildford and Basingstoke stopper services and possibly use them on the Alton service and to work alongside with the Class 450s. Or perhaps they could be cascaded to Southern and to replace the Class 455 on the suburban routes & Class 313 on the West Coastway and East Coastway services.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_458

[@Andrewjg_89]

And it’s nice to see the former Eurostar platforms 20-24 being used again for SWR trains operating the Windsor & Eton Riverside, Reading and other services.

[@trevorturnbull8784]

Shame the 458/5 can't last a few years longer somewhere, as the 455s came out around 82/85ish and 456s late 80s

[@Andrewjg_89]

@@trevorturnbull8784 I totally agree.

[@mrracer29271]

Completely agree, they would be a solid replacement to the ageing 313's on Coastway or 455's at Southern. I travel on the Alton line alot, and I think they would perform well alongside the 450's for peak commuter services, as they have extra seats. However, they lack first class, and that may cause some issues with ticketing if running alongside the desiros.

[@joes-trainproductions5987]

I have heard 458 are going to be replacing Wessex 442 to run on Portsmouth - Waterloo via Guildford line in 2023! To be refurbished, downgrade to 4 coach train instead of 5, and to have new motor fitted in to have capacity to run 100 miles per hour!

[@HMPeterHearty7818]

458s arent going

[@BoogiesTrains]

Yes. Change of plans again. More comebacks than..........