British Rail Class 450

Not to be confused with NIR Class 450.

British Rail Class 450 Desiro
South West Trains High Capacity Class 450/5 No. 450555 at Addlestone
The interior aboard a High Capacity Class 450/5
In service	5 October 2003 – present
Manufacturer	Siemens Mobility
Built at	Krefeld, Germany
Family name	Desiro
Replaced	Class 411 Class 412 Class 421 Class 423 Class 458
Constructed	2002–2006
Entered service	2003–2006
Number built	127 trainsets
Formation	4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	450001 – 450042 450071 – 450127 450543 – 450570
Capacity	24 first class, 240 standard class per trainset
Operators	South Western Railway
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	20.4 m (66 ft 11 in)
Width	2.796 m (9 ft 2.1 in)
Doors	Plug sliding 1/4 and 3/4 position
Articulated sections	Inter-unit and inter-vehicle flexible diaphragm
Maximum speed	100 mph (161 km/h)
Weight	Total: 170 tonnes (167 long tons; 187 short tons)
Electric system(s)	750 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)	Contact shoe
Braking system(s)	Air, regenerative
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 450 third-rail DC EMU began service during 2003. They are a part of the Siemens Desiro modular train family. Used for outer suburban services, the Class 450 was built with standard and first class accommodation. The unit has a maximum speed of 100 mph (161 km/h).

The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 360, 380 and 444. These trains are the most numerous trains in South Western Railway's fleet, and also the most numerous units in the Desiro UK family.

In August 2017, the units transferred to South Western Railway, owned by FirstGroup and MTR Corporation.

Introduction

South West Trains Siemens Class 450/0 Desiro EMUs No. 450075 and 450109 at Clapham Junction stabling sidings.

In April 2001, 785 vehicles were ordered by South West Trains in order to complete the replacement of its slam-door rolling stock (the slam-door trains were coming to the end of their useful lives and did not meet modern health and safety requirements). Introduction to service was delayed by the required power supply upgrades capable of powering the new trains, which feature air conditioning, a feature not present in the slam-door trains they replaced. In the December 2004 timetable change, the Class 450 Desiro began serving most intended routes, although introduction was delayed until June 2005 in some areas. The units are leased by Angel Trains to South West Trains.

Sixty-eight new vehicles were ordered by South West Trains as a replacement to the growth order which was diverted to form the similar Class 350 range of electric multiple units.

Formation

The entire Class 450 series consists of four car multiple units, semi permanently formed as DMSO(A)+TCO+TSO+DMSO(B). Units are numbered in the range 450001-110.

• 63201-63300 and 63751-63760 – DMSO(A)
• 64201-64300 and 66851-66860 – TCO
• 68101-68200 and 66801-66810 – TSO
• 63601-63700 and 63701-63710 – DMSO(B)

Units are numbered in the range 450111-127.

• 63901-63917 – DMSO(A)
• 63921-63937 – TCO
• 66901-66917 – TSO
• 66921-66937 – DMSO(B)

Operations

South West Trains Class 450 No. 450112 at London Waterloo

The interior of First Class cabin from a Class 450/0

The Class 450 Desiro trains operate on certain London commuter rail routes, as well as outer suburban and regional services from London Waterloo, and local services outside of the London area. Most commuter rail services are run by Class 450/5 units while 450/0 units are mainly used for outer suburban/regional services. They are used on all SWR lines except the West of England line and the Eastleigh to Romsey Line. These include:

• • Waterloo to Alton
  • Waterloo to Basingstoke (all stations from Woking)
  • Waterloo to Guildford (Most services operated by Class 455)
  • Waterloo to Reading
  • Waterloo to Windsor and Eton Riverside (shared with Class 458/5)
  • Waterloo to Weybridge (shared with Class 458/5)
  • Waterloo to Poole (a duty shared between 444/450 units)
  • Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour (shared with Class 444)
  • Waterloo to Weymouth (Peak Services)
  • Ascot to Guildford (shared with Class 456 on weekdays)
  • Portsmouth & Southsea/Portsmouth Harbour to Southampton Central (all stations)
  • Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier (Weekend services only, with a Class 158 providing weekday services)

They can also be found on London commuter rail services usually operated by Class 455 units (to Woking, Guildford, Dorking, Chessington South, Hampton Court, Shepperton and the Kingston Loop Line), particularly in the peaks and on Sundays during periods of engineering work. These trains used to be seen in service between Wareham and Brockenhurst rail stations but now there are two trains an hour to London Waterloo from Weymouth, which are operated by SWT 444 units and an hourly slow train service from London Waterloo to Poole which is shared between Class 450s and Class 444s.

Class 450 Desiro trains are now being used on the Portsmouth Direct Line for London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour services in place of Class 444 Desiro units on some services. The decision to use Class 450 Desiros has been a cause for complaint from passengers specifically because of the 3+2 seating arrangement.

The Class 450/2 and more orders

The interior of Standard Class accommodation aboard a Class 450

Originally, SWT’s order with Siemens was for 100 four-car sets (the current 450/0) and for 32 five-car sets, intended as Class 450/2, which would be for inner-suburban use. The Strategic Rail Authority, however, did not agree to the terms required, such as the lengthening of platforms and changes to railway infrastructure. As a result, the 32 five-car sets were cancelled, with the 160 vehicles redistributed; an extra 10 four-car sets were added to the SWT order, while the remaining 120 vehicles were then ordered as 30 four-car sets of the dual-voltage Class 350 for Silverlink and Central Trains.

Subsequently, SWT received further 17 four-car sets, bringing the total number of Class 450 units up to 127. These units were delivered in 2006, not long after the last of the first order was delivered. 450101 was damaged in Belgium and returned to Test- and Validationcenter Wegberg-Wildenrath to have repairs conducted by Siemens, therefore delaying its entry into the UK.

Class 450/5 modifications

In January 2008, 28 Class 450/0 sets were modified and re-numbered in the Class 450/5 series, for use on services between Waterloo and Windsor, the Hounslow Loop Line, as well as between Waterloo and Weybridge. They had their first class seating removed and replaced with 2+3 formation standard class seating and some other seats were removed to provide more standing capacity; extra handrails were also provided. The numbers modified are 450043 to 450070, which have become 450543 to 450570 respectively and displayed the letters HC (denoting 'High Capacity') above the unit number on the front of the sets. The modifications were carried out at the Bournemouth Traincare Depot.

In anticipation of the Class 458/5 modifications for use on the Windsor Lines, the 450/5 sub class had the First Class reinstated, and they are now used generally across the SWR routes, however, these trains retain their 4505xx number as the seating configuration remains different.

Accidents and incidents

• On 6 November 2017, unit 450 025 was derailed near Wimbledon. Four people were injured; over 300 passengers were evacuated from the train.

Fleet details

Class	Operator	No. in service	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.	Notes
Class 450/0	South Western Railway	99	2002–2006	4	450001 – 450042 450071 – 450127
Class 450/5		28	2008		450543–450570	28 units modified from Class 450/0 for high density services. Now returned to normal density, with first class being re-installed.

Diagrams