Wabtec Rail Refurbishment
In 2004, the Class 376 ‘’Electrostar’’ units started arriving from Bombardier, Derby, for use on inner suburban workings to/from Charing Cross and Cannon Street. This freed up several Class 465 units, which could now be cascaded onto ‘’Weald of Kent’’ services hitherto formed of 4-VEP stock. In September 2004, ''Wabtec Rail Ltd'' of Doncaster was selected by leasing company ''Angel Trains’’ to refurbish thirty-four Class 465/2 units for this purpose. The contract was signed in the following month and Class 67s arrived at Slade Green depot with pairs of barrier wagons (converted BR Mk 1 vehicles) to take the units north, one by one. The timescale to refurbish every unit was one year, which included the initial design phase, right through to the last unit leaving the workshops. The work involved the following:
Each First Class compartment would seat twelve passengers and ‘’First Class’’ and a short yellow roof-line stripe would be applied to the outside of each unit. Modifications to the internal layout reduced total seating from 344 to 336, twenty-four of which were within the First Class areas. The first pair of units, now renumbered in the 465/9 series, arrived at Gillingham Depot on 9th March 2005. The last refurbished sets were delivered to the same location on 9th August of the same year. The affected units were GEC-Alsthom Nos. 465201 to 465234 – these were renumbered Nos. 465901 to 465934. As an aside, from 2004, all Class 465/466 units were retro-fitted with sloped buffer cowlings, to prevent ‘’train surfing’’ – i.e. people riding on the outside of the train!
Hitachi Traction Drive Replacement
The South Eastern Trains franchise was re-let in 2006, ‘’Govia’’ – the same company which ran the adjacent ‘’Southern Railway’’ operation – taking over on 1st April. From then on, the operating company became known simply as ‘’Southeastern’’. By May 2006, the modification of several ‘’Networkers’’ by Japanese firm ‘’Hitachi’’ was on the cards. 97 units drawn from the Class 465 batches built by BREL were selected to have their traction inverters replaced by Hitachi equipment. The original inverters had been supplied by Brush Traction, Loughborough, and the retro-fitting exercise was in a drive to improve unit reliability. A prototype of the new traction package was tested at Hitachi’s factory in Mito, Japan, and the finished article was expected to be ready by early 2008. The traction package was based on existing equipment used on the Metro trains of Japan and China, and is expected to provide an average of 600,000 fault-free miles of running. It was proposed that modification of one four-vehicle unit would take three days, from removing existing equipment, integrating the new systems, and commissioning the unit back into service. Work was scheduled for an April 2010 completion.
All units were modified at Hitachi’s new depot at Ashford, commissioned as part of the Class 395 ‘’Javelin’’ programme. Two units a week were modified: No. 465181 was the first to be dealt with, and it re-emerged with the new traction package on 23rd March 2009. The chassis side cowlings, which hitherto had protected the traction equipment, were removed from the driving trailers to improve airflow. It is worth noting here that the original traction motors, gearboxes and auxiliary power supplies were retained as part of this scheme. In addition to undertaking the work, Hitachi will also be responsible for maintaining the new traction packages for at least the next ten years.
Another Colour Scheme Change
Since the end of NSE, there never appears to have been a consistent livery worn by the entire fleet of ‘’Kent Link Networkers’’. The original NSE colours were applied in the form of two-pack paint and carried a ten-year warranty. The last Class 465 to carry this livery was No. 465193, which eventually received new ‘’Southeastern’’ colours on 15th September 2007 at Stewarts Lane. Since 1997, when 18 Class 465 units received yellow vinyl stripes, there has always been a variation of colours. Before a colour scheme can be applied to the entire fleet, it seems the franchise either changes hands, or the incumbent company changes its mind. The latter certainly appears to be the case in the latest wave of colour changes.
The most recent Class 465/466 liveries again have their origins set firmly in that scheme pioneered by Connex in 2002. Black and white are the main colours, but thereafter, any conformity goes out of the window. Rather than trying to explain this complex and relentless evolution of liveries, the photographs on these pages will be able to tell the tale.
First of the class, No. 465001, is seen at Dartford's platform 4, after terminating with a service via the Bexleyheath line. It is wearing the first ''Connex'' livery which appeared on Class 365 units and a handful of Class 465 units in 1996/1997. © David Glasspool
Now for a Class 466. No. 466017 is seen trailing on the rear of the ''54'' service from Charing Cross to Gravesend, at Stone Crossing. The NSE ''flashes'' have disappeared from the cab front, but the otherwise the livery remains original. The two Class 465 units ahead are wearing Connex's second generation white/yellow/black livery. © David Glasspool
Stone Crossing once again, but this time with Class 465 No. 465008 forming the rear of an eight-coach stopping service to Gravesend. The ''Connex'' wording had been removed from the coach sides by that time, but there was still just about evidence of NSE ''flashes'' on the cab front. © David Glasspool
Return to the Kent Rail Homepage or alternatively, check for Updates.
Website & Copyright information - Links - Contact the Webmaster