Alstom’s £25 Million Overhaul Propels South Western Railway’s Class 458 Fleet into a New Era of Performance and Sustainability

Published on December 17, 2024

Alstom, a global pioneer in intelligent and eco-friendly transportation solutions, has successfully finalized a £25 million modernization of South Western Railway’s (SWR) Class 458 electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet.

This extensive upgrade was funded by Porterbrook, a prominent UK-based rolling stock financier and asset management firm, which holds ownership of the Class 458 units.

A total of 28 four-car units have undergone refurbishment at Alstom’s Transport Technology Centre in Widnes, with each unit taking approximately two weeks to complete. The updated trains now feature 234 seats arranged in a two-by-two layout, all equipped with seat-back tables and charging stations. There is also designated space for two wheelchair users per unit. Additionally, each carriage is fitted with two tables offering wireless charging capabilities, while the exterior has been refreshed with South Western Railway’s new livery.

Alstom’s work at its Widnes facility also included reconfiguring the trains to enhance acceleration, alongside the installation of new carpeting throughout. Furthermore, in collaboration with Alstom’s historic Crewe Works, the Class 458’s powered wheelsets have been fully overhauled, boosting the trains’ top speed from 75mph to 100mph.

“This refurbishment demonstrates Alstom’s commitment to delivering smarter, more sustainable and passenger-focused mobility solutions. The work completed at Widnes and Crewe not only enhances the passenger experience on the Class 458 fleet, but also showcases the value of British engineering and our investment in local expertise,” said Peter Broadley, Services Managing Director UK and Ireland at Alstom.

He added: “We are proud to have supported South Western Railway and Porterbrook in this significant programme, ensuring that these trains are ready to provide better journeys for customers across London and the South East of England.”

The last unit, 458414, left the Widnes facility following a celebration event on Thursday, December 12, marking the successful completion of the refurbishment project. This milestone also served as inspiration for Hannah Temple, an Industrial Engineer at Widnes, who unveiled a drawing of the refurbished train during the event. The updated EMU is set to begin service in the spring, running 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 and tables, new charging points, as well as space for two wheelchair users,” said Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at South Western Railway.

He added: “We are grateful to Alstom and Porterbrook for partnering with us on this successful project, and to SWR colleagues for their hard work 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’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,” said Andy Bagguley, Fleet Services Director at Porterbrook.

“Thank you to our partners at SWR and Alstom, and to all the companies who supported the successful delivery of this complex project.”

Alstom’s Widnes facility, opened in 2017, stands as the UK’s largest and most advanced centre for train modernisation. Meanwhile, 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 225mph trains planned for High Speed Two (HS2).

The £25 million investment in the Class 458 trains has supported nearly 70 jobs across Alstom’s Widnes and Crewe facilities, with more than 80% of the funds benefiting UK suppliers.

Initially, the Class 458 units were 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 will now be 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 Class 458 Juniper (5-JUP) EMUs were originally manufactured by Alstom at its Washwood Heath site in Birmingham between 1998 and 2002 for South West Trains.

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 departed Widnes.