Source: Alex Noble - en.wikipedia.org
Class 458
Vehicle type: Electric multiple unit - EMU
Registration country: United Kingdom
Railway companies: SWR - South Western Railway
2024
December 12
Alstom successfully completes a £25 million
modernization of South Western Railway's (SWR) Class 458 electric
multiple unit (EMU) fleet. This extensive upgrade is funded by
Porterbrook, a prominent UK-based rolling stock financier and asset
management firm that owns the Class 458 units.
A total of 28 four-car units went refurbishment at Alstom's Transport Technology Centre in Widnes1, with each unit taking approximately two weeks to complete. The updated trains feature 234 seats arranged in a two-by-two layout, all equipped with seat-back tables and charging stations. Each unit has designated space for two wheelchair users. Additionally, each carriage is fitted with two tables offering wireless charging capabilities, while the exterior is refreshed with South Western Railway’s new livery.
Alstom's work at its Widnes1 facility also includes reconfiguring the trains to enhance acceleration and installing new carpeting throughout. In collaboration with Alstom’s historic Crewe2 Works, the Class 458’s powered wheelsets are fully overhauled, increasing the trains’ top speed from 75 mph to 100 mph.
“This refurbishment demonstrates Alstom’s commitment to delivering smarter, more sustainable, and passenger-focused mobility solutions. The work completed at Widnes1 and Crewe2 enhances the passenger experience on the Class 458 fleet and showcases the value of British engineering and investment in local expertise,” states Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Alstom.
He adds, “We are proud to support South Western Railway and Porterbrook in this significant program, ensuring these trains are ready to provide better journeys for customers across London and the South East of England.”
The last unit, 458414, departs the Widnes1 facility following a celebration event on Thursday, December 12th, marking the successful completion of the refurbishment project. The updated EMU is set to begin service in the spring, operating eight-car services across South Western Railway’s suburban network.
“We’re excited to welcome our newly refurbished Class 458 fleet back to the network. These upgraded trains provide a significantly enhanced customer experience, with improved seating, tables, new charging points, and space for two wheelchair users,” states Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at South Western Railway.
He adds, “We are grateful to Alstom and Porterbrook for partnering with us on this successful project, and to SWR colleagues for their hard work in getting the trains back into service, which will strengthen capacity on our busy suburban network.”
The 28 refurbished four-car units will be reclassified as Class 458/4, while the remaining eight five-car units will carry the designation Class 458/5.
“Our Class 458s have proudly served South Western Railway’s routes for the last 25 years. We know that the needs of passengers evolve over time, so it is important that our trains do the same. That is why we continually invest in our fleets to ensure they continue to meet expectations,” states Andy Bagguley, Fleet Services Director at Porterbrook.
Initially, the Class 458 units are planned for use on the London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour route via Guildford. However, due to changes in travel patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic, the fleet is now deployed on South Western Railway’s suburban network. This shift supports SWR’s ongoing efforts to integrate its new Class 701 Aventra fleet—designed by Alstom in Derby and branded as Arterio by the operator.
The first batch of refurbished Class 458 units—458415, 458420, and 458422—entered service in June, coinciding with the completion of the UK’s largest fleet upgrade, as Avanti West Coast’s final Class 390 Pendolino also departs Widnes1.
1 Alstom’s Widnes facility, opened in 2017, is the UK’s largest and most advanced center for train modernization.
2 Alstom’s Crewe site serves as the UK Centre of Excellence for Bogie and Traction Motor Overhaul. Over the past decade, the Crewe facility has completed the overhaul of more than 20,000 bogies, which contain the train’s wheelsets, for the UK rail industry. Looking ahead, Crewe will also be the hub for assembling and maintaining the bogies for the 225 mph trains planned for High Speed Two (HS2).
A total of 28 four-car units went refurbishment at Alstom's Transport Technology Centre in Widnes1, with each unit taking approximately two weeks to complete. The updated trains feature 234 seats arranged in a two-by-two layout, all equipped with seat-back tables and charging stations. Each unit has designated space for two wheelchair users. Additionally, each carriage is fitted with two tables offering wireless charging capabilities, while the exterior is refreshed with South Western Railway’s new livery.
Alstom's work at its Widnes1 facility also includes reconfiguring the trains to enhance acceleration and installing new carpeting throughout. In collaboration with Alstom’s historic Crewe2 Works, the Class 458’s powered wheelsets are fully overhauled, increasing the trains’ top speed from 75 mph to 100 mph.
“This refurbishment demonstrates Alstom’s commitment to delivering smarter, more sustainable, and passenger-focused mobility solutions. The work completed at Widnes1 and Crewe2 enhances the passenger experience on the Class 458 fleet and showcases the value of British engineering and investment in local expertise,” states Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Alstom.
He adds, “We are proud to support South Western Railway and Porterbrook in this significant program, ensuring these trains are ready to provide better journeys for customers across London and the South East of England.”
The last unit, 458414, departs the Widnes1 facility following a celebration event on Thursday, December 12th, marking the successful completion of the refurbishment project. The updated EMU is set to begin service in the spring, operating eight-car services across South Western Railway’s suburban network.
“We’re excited to welcome our newly refurbished Class 458 fleet back to the network. These upgraded trains provide a significantly enhanced customer experience, with improved seating, tables, new charging points, and space for two wheelchair users,” states Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at South Western Railway.
He adds, “We are grateful to Alstom and Porterbrook for partnering with us on this successful project, and to SWR colleagues for their hard work in getting the trains back into service, which will strengthen capacity on our busy suburban network.”
The 28 refurbished four-car units will be reclassified as Class 458/4, while the remaining eight five-car units will carry the designation Class 458/5.
“Our Class 458s have proudly served South Western Railway’s routes for the last 25 years. We know that the needs of passengers evolve over time, so it is important that our trains do the same. That is why we continually invest in our fleets to ensure they continue to meet expectations,” states Andy Bagguley, Fleet Services Director at Porterbrook.
Initially, the Class 458 units are planned for use on the London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour route via Guildford. However, due to changes in travel patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic, the fleet is now deployed on South Western Railway’s suburban network. This shift supports SWR’s ongoing efforts to integrate its new Class 701 Aventra fleet—designed by Alstom in Derby and branded as Arterio by the operator.
The first batch of refurbished Class 458 units—458415, 458420, and 458422—entered service in June, coinciding with the completion of the UK’s largest fleet upgrade, as Avanti West Coast’s final Class 390 Pendolino also departs Widnes1.
1 Alstom’s Widnes facility, opened in 2017, is the UK’s largest and most advanced center for train modernization.
2 Alstom’s Crewe site serves as the UK Centre of Excellence for Bogie and Traction Motor Overhaul. Over the past decade, the Crewe facility has completed the overhaul of more than 20,000 bogies, which contain the train’s wheelsets, for the UK rail industry. Looking ahead, Crewe will also be the hub for assembling and maintaining the bogies for the 225 mph trains planned for High Speed Two (HS2).
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Latest update on the 16th of February 2025 at 12:25
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