South Western Railway to retain ageing Class 455s for up to five more years

Faced by continued delays in getting Class 701 electric multiple units into traffic, newly nationalised South Western Railway looks set to sign a £55.4 million contract with Porterbrook to retain 79 of its four-car Class 455s for at least three more years - and possibly up to five more years until May 2030.

The Department for Transport has issued a tender document for 79 four-car third-rail EMUs, any individual unit of which could be handed back with just one month’s notice. SWR would continue to maintain the units at its Wimbledon depot.

As soon as the units fall out of time since their last C6 overhaul, or their mileage exceeds 500,000 since their last C4 overhaul (whichever happens first), they will be stood down.

However, many of the surviving units don’t have the miles to make it to 2028.

The last C4 overhaul is being carried out at Bournemouth. After that, overhauls cease on the type.

Currently in the fleet are 455701-703/705-721/723-725/727-735/737-742/750, 455848-854/856-874 and 455901-906/908-916/919/920.

The lease contains a right to transfer or sub-let the contract to certain third parties, as well as an obligation for the supplier to enter into a direct agreement with the Secretary of State in parallel to the lease.

The direct agreement permits the Secretary of State to call for a new contract in the event of the termination or expiry of the contracting authority’s services agreement. The duration of the new contract would typically be up to three years.

SWR is also awarding a £94.7m five-year contract to Porterbrook for the continued leasing of the ten Class 158 and 29 Class 159s it has in use on the London Waterloo-Exeter St David's route.