Class 455 Profile and Models
455917 at Basingstoke in July 2009. ©Foulger Rail Photos
The British Rail Class 455 is an electric multiple unit passenger train built by BREL between 1982 and 1985. It is operated on suburban services in Greater London and Surrey by South Western Railway, as well as formerly by Southern. The Class 455 was originally to be classified as the Class 510, which were planned as a 750 V DC version of the Class 317. However, as the chopper control system at the time was not considered robust enough for the electrically rougher third rail Southern Region, they were fitted with GEC Traction camshaft-control systems instead. The Class 510 designation was changed to Class 455. South Western Railway had intended to replace their fleet with Class 701 Aventra units from 2019; however this was initially deferred to mid-2020 and has been deferred again to 2021. The Class 701 Aventra EMUs are planned to enter service in December 2023. |
|
Type of Unit |
750V DC 3rd-Rail Electric Multiple Unit |
Builder |
BR Holgate Road Works |
Build Dates |
1982 to 1985 |
Total Built |
137 units |
Coaches Per Unit |
4 |
Power Output |
1,300hp |
Top Speed |
75 mph |
Operated By |
British Rail Connext South West Trains South Western Railway |
Main Duties |
Suburban Passenger |
In Service Until |
Present |
Surviving Examples |
83 in service |