Save the British Rail Class 455 trains (withdrawn from SWR) before its too late!
Save the British Rail Class 455 trains (withdrawn from SWR) before its too late!
The Issue
The British Rail Class 455 electric multiple units have been retired from regular passenger service duties by South Western Railway with the last official timetabled passenger services concluding on December 23rd 2025 (with a charity farewell rail tour two days earlier), following the introduction and gradual rollout of the brand new Class 701 "Arterio" rolling stock so their future is in jeopardy, hanging in the balance and under threat!!!!
As a rail enthusiast I would like to see at least a door, window, wheel, third-rail contact shoe, Westinghouse compressor, Vossloh Kiepe traction motor, speedometer, brake or as a bonus a complete driving cab from one of these units as I used to regularly commute on these trains which have been part of my childhood.
Absolutely NOBODY under the age of 40 living in Surrey or South West London will have known a time without these beloved trains!!!!
These trains have seen two millennia (transporting thousands into the capital on the night of 31st December 1999), two monarchs (transporting those to see the late Queen's lying in state), a coronation, three royal jubilees (with some units actually painted specially for the late queen's Golden Jubilee), ten British prime ministers, Greek Orthodox Easter falling on BOTH its earliest (April 4 2010) and latest (May 8 1983) possible dates within it's current date range AND a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic (with people forced to wear face coverings during travel) so as you can see, these trains are just as historically important as the STEAM ENGINES!!!!
These trains were also one of the first Mark-3 BREL units to be built with sliding doors, and must not be completely mothballed like the recently scrapped Class 456 and Class 442 trains (which held the world speed record for a DC third rail EMU).
I am calling all rail enthusiasts and commuters to speak out and sign this petition before its too late - time is running out and their demise is imminent!!!!
Likewise, you can also sign this petition below about this same issue:
https://www.change.org/p/preserve-a-class-455-train-for-future-generations
The Issue
The British Rail Class 455 electric multiple units have been retired from regular passenger service duties by South Western Railway with the last official timetabled passenger services concluding on December 23rd 2025 (with a charity farewell rail tour two days earlier), following the introduction and gradual rollout of the brand new Class 701 "Arterio" rolling stock so their future is in jeopardy, hanging in the balance and under threat!!!!
As a rail enthusiast I would like to see at least a door, window, wheel, third-rail contact shoe, Westinghouse compressor, Vossloh Kiepe traction motor, speedometer, brake or as a bonus a complete driving cab from one of these units as I used to regularly commute on these trains which have been part of my childhood.
Absolutely NOBODY under the age of 40 living in Surrey or South West London will have known a time without these beloved trains!!!!
These trains have seen two millennia (transporting thousands into the capital on the night of 31st December 1999), two monarchs (transporting those to see the late Queen's lying in state), a coronation, three royal jubilees (with some units actually painted specially for the late queen's Golden Jubilee), ten British prime ministers, Greek Orthodox Easter falling on BOTH its earliest (April 4 2010) and latest (May 8 1983) possible dates within it's current date range AND a once-in-a-lifetime global pandemic (with people forced to wear face coverings during travel) so as you can see, these trains are just as historically important as the STEAM ENGINES!!!!
These trains were also one of the first Mark-3 BREL units to be built with sliding doors, and must not be completely mothballed like the recently scrapped Class 456 and Class 442 trains (which held the world speed record for a DC third rail EMU).
I am calling all rail enthusiasts and commuters to speak out and sign this petition before its too late - time is running out and their demise is imminent!!!!
Likewise, you can also sign this petition below about this same issue:
https://www.change.org/p/preserve-a-class-455-train-for-future-generations
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Petition created on 9 November 2023