Alstom has completed a GBP 25 million (EUR 30 million) upgrade of the Class 458 EMU fleet for South Western Railway (SWR), under a contract signed in 2021.
28 four-car units have been refurbished at the Alstom Transport Technology Centre in Widnes, taking two weeks to complete each set. Each unit has 234 seats in a two-by-two formation, all with seat back tables and charging points, as well as space for two wheelchair users. All carriages also have two tables fitted with wireless charging points, while their exteriors carry the updated SWR livery.
Work by Alstom at its train modernisation facility in Widnes has also seen the reconfiguration of the vehicles to enable faster acceleration and new carpets laid throughout. Meanwhile, additional work at Alstom’s historic Crewe Works has seen the Class 458’s powered wheelsets overhauled. This has enabled the trains to operate at a top speed of 100mph – up from 75mph.
Alstom sent from Widnes facility the final unit on December 12, 2024, when an event took place to mark the successful completion of the project. The milestone also inspired Widnes Industrial Engineer, Hannah Temple, who created a drawing of the refurbishment that was revealed at the celebration event. The EMU will enter service in the spring, operating eight-car services across SWR’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 and tables, new charging points, as well as space for two wheelchair users,” Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at South Western Railway, said.
The 28, four-car Class 458 trains will be designated as Class 458/4. The eight remaining five-car units will be designated as Class 458/5.
The refurbishment of Class 458 EMU fleet has been financed by Porterbrook which owns the rolling stock.
“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’s important that our trains do the same, and that’s why we continually invest in our fleets to ensure they continue to meet expectations,” Andy Bagguley, Fleet Services Director at Porterbrook, said.
The trains were originally intended for use on the route between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford. However, following the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent changes in customer travel patterns, the fleet will operate services on SWR’s suburban network, as the company works towards the full introduction of its fleet of 90 new Class 701 Aventra trains, built by Alstom in Derby and branded Arterio.
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