imported>JN1905-1955 at 23:05, 28 May 2025

2025-05-28T23:05:45Z

New page

{{Short description|British electric multiple-unit passenger train}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox train
| background =
| name = British Rail Class 456
| image = File:SWR 456 014 at Guildford.jpg
| imagealt =
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = [[South West Trains]] Class 456 approaching {{Stnlnk|Guildford}}
| interiorimage = South West Trains 456003 Interior.jpg
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption = Interior of a South West Trains Class 456 after refurbishment
| service = September 1991{{avoid wrap|{{snd}}17 January 2022}}
| manufacturer = [[British Rail Engineering Limited]]
| designer =
| assembly =
| ordernumber =
| factory = [[York Carriage Works]], [[York]]
| family = BR Second Generation ([[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]])
| replaced =
| yearconstruction = 1990–1991
| refurbishment = {{ubl|2005–2007 by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]|2014–2015 by [[South West Trains]]}}
| yearscrapped = 2022
| numberbuilt = 24
| numberscrapped = 24
| successor = [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377]] (Southern)<ref name="Southern">{{Cite web |url=http://extra.southernelectric.org.uk/news/southern/2013-farewell-456.html |title=Southern Farewell to Class 456 |website=extra.southernelectric.org.uk |access-date=8 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141614/http://extra.southernelectric.org.uk/news/southern/2013-farewell-456.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| formation = {{ubl|2 cars per unit:|{{abbr|DMSO|Driver's cab, Motor car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|DTSO|Driver's cab, Trailer car, Standard class, Open saloon}}}}
| diagram =
| code =
| fleetnumbers = 456001–456024
| capacity = 152 seats
| owner = [[Porterbrook]]
| operator = {{ubl|[[Connex South Central]]|[[Network SouthEast]]|[[South West Trains]]|[[South Western Railway (2017–2025)|South Western Railway]]|[[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]}}
| depots = {{ubl|[[Selhurst Train and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Selhurst]] ([[Croydon]])|[[Wimbledon TMD|Wimbledon]] ([[London]])}}
| lines =
| carbody = [[Steel]]<ref name=BRB210 />
| trainlength =
| carlength = {{convert|19.95|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=BRB210>{{cite web|url=http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf|title=Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)|at=182–183|work=Barrowmore MRG|publisher=BRB Residuary Ltd.|access-date=21 January 2015|archive-date=21 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121172506/http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| width = {{convert|2.82|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=BRB210 />
| height = {{convert|3.78|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=BRB210 />
| lowfloor =
| floorheight =
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| doors = {{ubl|Double-leaf pocket sliding|(2 per side per car)}}
| art-sections =
| wheeldiameter =
| wheelbase = {{ubl|{{convert|14.17|m|ftin|abbr=on}}|(over bogie centres)}}
| maxspeed = {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{ubli|indent=1em|{{convert|72.5|t|lk=on}}}}
| axleload =
| steep gradient =
| traction =
| traction motors =
| poweroutput = {{convert|500|hp|kW|0|abbr=on|lk=on}}
| tractiveeffort =
| acceleration =
| deceleration =
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac =
| electricsystem = 750 [[Volt|V]] [[Direct current|DC]] [[third rail]]
| collectionmethod = [[Contact shoe]]
| uicclass =
| bogies =
| minimum curve = {{convert|71|m|ftin|abbr=on}}<ref name=BRB210 />
| brakes = [[Railway airbrake|Air]] ([[Westcode]])
| safety = {{ubl|[[Automatic Warning System|AWS]]|[[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]]}}
| coupling = [[Tightlock coupling|Tightlock]]<ref name=BRB210 />
| multipleworking = Within class, and with {{nowrap|{{brc|455}}}}
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| notes =
}}

The '''British Rail Class 456''' was an [[electric multiple unit]] passenger train introduced by [[Network SouthEast]] on inner-suburban services in South London to replace the elderly [[British Rail Class 416|Class 416 2EPB]] units.<ref>{{Cite book|title=EMUs A History |last=Llewelyn |first=Hugh |publisher=Amberley Publishing |location=Stroud |year=2016 |isbn=9781445649832}}</ref> Twenty-four two-car units were built by [[British Rail Engineering Limited]]'s [[York Carriage Works]] in 1990 and 1991.<ref name= Southern />

Following the [[privatisation of British Rail]], the fleet was sold to [[Porterbrook]] and operated by Southern up until late 2013, when they were transferred to [[South West Trains]] and heavily refurbished.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/brochure/456/issue1/html5/index.html?page=1&noflash|title=Class 456 Electric Multiple Unit Fleet Technical Information|publisher=[[Porterbrook]]|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143835/https://www.porterbrook.co.uk/brochure/456/issue1/html5/index.html?page=1&noflash|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |url= http://www.knorr-bremse.co.uk/en/press/pressreleases/press_detail_27264.jsp |publisher= Knorr-Bremse United Kingdom |title= RailServices Increase Capacity and Comfort for South West Trains |date= 14 January 2016 |access-date= 8 June 2018 |archive-date= 12 June 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140721/http://www.knorr-bremse.co.uk/en/press/pressreleases/press_detail_27264.jsp |url-status= live }}</ref> Routes that were operated by Class 456 units will be operated by new [[British Rail Class 701|Class 701]] [[Aventra|Bombardier Aventra]] units in the future.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/bombardier-wins-895-million-south-western-aventra-contract |title=Bombardier wins South Western Aventra contract |date=20 June 2017 |magazine=Rail magazine|location=Peterborough |access-date=8 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143407/https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/bombardier-wins-895-million-south-western-aventra-contract |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Entry into service ==
[[File:Southern456015-WandsworthRoad-20040927 XAM-E1.jpg|thumb|left|Class 456 in Network SouthEast livery at [[Wandsworth Road railway station|Wandsworth Road]] in 2004]]
While originally approved for use by [[Network SouthEast]] (NSE) on services out of Waterloo,<ref name=sherlock>{{cite magazine | last = Sherlock | first = Greg | title = The Class 320s and their successors | magazine = Today's Railways UK | location = Sheffield | publisher = Platform 5 Publishing Ltd | publication-date = July 2015 | issue = 163 | pages = 57–59}}</ref> the 24 two-car units were first accepted into traffic as direct replacements for the {{brc|416}} [[British Rail unit designations|2EPB]] units on the Central Division of the [[Southern Region of British Railways|Southern Region of British Rail]].<ref name=So>{{Cite web|title=SREmG|url=https://sremg.org.uk/emu/class456.shtml|access-date=2022-03-23|website=sremg.org.uk}}</ref> Units were delivered into traffic painted in NSE blue, red and white livery with cabs based on the [[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]] units, and were initially based at [[Selhurst Train and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot|Selhurst depot]].<ref name=sherlock /> Although Network SouthEast had shifted to units painted with pale grey, the Class 456s were introduced painted with a darker grey shade to match the livery of the Class 455 units they would be working with. Units were numbered in the range 456001–456024, each unit consisting of a driving motor (DMSO) and a driving trailer (DTSO).<ref name=So />

Entry into service for the Class 456 was originally planned for 18 March 1991, with trains to be [[One-person operation|driver-only operated]] (without the presence of a guard). This meant that the driver had to have a clear view of the platform with a bank of CCTV cameras mounted at the platform end for this purpose, however it was discovered that the position of the CCTV cameras on the platforms were not visible from the driver's position. To resolve this Selhurst depot designed a replacement fixing for the driver's seat so that it could slide sideways, allowing a good view of the CCTV units.<ref>{{Cite Hansard|title=Written Answers to Questions|house=House of Commons|date=7 November 1991|speaker=[[Roger Freeman, Baron Freeman|Roger Freeman]]|position=[[Secretary of State for Transport]]}}</ref> The modified drivers' seats were installed at [[Fratton Traincare Depot|Fratton Depot]] with the work completed by the end of July 1991,<ref name=sherlock /> and services with the new units commenced in September 1991.<ref name="rex311">{{cite magazine |title=Looking back on the Class 456 |magazine=Rail Express |date=March 2022 |issue=311 |page=72}}</ref>

==Operations==
===Connex South Central and SouthCentral/Southern===
[[File:TfLISOUTHERN Special liveried 456006.JPG|thumb|right|Southern Metro Class 456 at London Bridge]]
[[File:Southern 456008 Interior.jpg|thumb|right|The interior of a Southern refreshed Class 456]]
When Britain's railways were privatised, the entire Class 456 fleet passed into the South Central franchise (later known as the Southern franchise), which was originally won by [[Connex South Central]]. Only one unit, No. 456024, was repainted in white and yellow Connex livery, when it was named [[Henry Cosmo Orme Bonsor|''Sir Cosmo Bonsor'']] after a chairman of the [[South Eastern Railway (UK)|South Eastern Railway]].<ref name="So" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to the Southern E-mail Group Web Site|url=https://sremg.org.uk/|access-date=2022-03-23|website=sremg.org.uk}}</ref> The rest of the fleet had remained in [[Network SouthEast|Network South East]] livery until summer 2006, when the fleet started to be repainted into Southern livery.

In 2000, Connex lost the South Central franchise to the [[Go-Ahead Group]], who rebranded the company as [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] in 2004.

On 8 May 2012 it was announced by the [[Department for Transport]] that the entire fleet of 24 2-car Class 456s would transfer to [[South West Trains]] (SWT) in 2014, to be used in conjunction with South West Trains’s {{brc|455}} fleet on London inner-suburban lines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extra-capacity-on-south-west-trains.aspx|title=Further boost for passengers as South West Trains secures additional carriages|publisher=South West Trains|date=8 May 2012|access-date=21 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511144621/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extra-capacity-on-south-west-trains.aspx|archive-date=11 May 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

The [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] services on the [[South London Line]] were withdrawn in 2012 and replaced by a new [[London Overground]] service, the [[East London Line]], operated using new air-conditioned 5-car {{brc|378}} units.<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/15401.aspx Clapham Junction to Surrey Quays] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516134652/http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/15401.aspx |date=16 May 2010 }} – Transport for London. Retrieved 19 July 2012.</ref> Southern also received 26 new 5 car [[British Rail Class 377|Class 377/6]] units and these entered service at the end of 2013, in place of 92 cascaded carriages promised for extra capacity.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Media centre | Southern Railway|url=https://www.southernrailway.com/about-us/media-centre|access-date=2022-03-23|website=www.southernrailway.com|language=en-GB}}</ref> This gives a total of 50 replacement carriages in addition to the 92 carriages for extra capacity, leaving the 48 Class 456 carriages surplus to requirements at Southern.

===South West Trains and South Western Railway===
[[File:456020 Hampton Court.jpg|left|thumb|[[South Western Railway (2017–2025)|South Western Railway]] Class 456 at [[Hampton Court railway station|Hampton Court]]]]
The units transferred to [[South West Trains]] following their career with Southern, as their operations on its Metro routes were replaced by the class 455s, later to be replaced by the class 377/6 units. South West Trains used the 456s to enhance peak-hour Metro services through Wimbledon from 8 to 10 coaches and to provide two additional morning peak services from Raynes Park to Waterloo. These changes took place from December 2014.

Class 456s were repainted in the red "Metro" version of South West Trains livery to match the {{brc|455}} and were refurbished to have a similar interior to the Class 455 before entering service between March 2014 and December 2014. On their transfer, their standard traction equipment was retained, leaving them as the only fleet on South West Trains to be powered by conventional DC traction gear.

The first units entered service with South West Trains on 23 March 2014 between Ascot and Guildford,<ref>[http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/swt/2014-456-enter-service.html Class 456 Enters Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417035455/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/swt/2014-456-enter-service.html |date=17 April 2014 }} – Southern Electric Group. Retrieved 16 April 2014.</ref> replacing Class 458 trains with toilets and air conditioning. They initially ran in pairs (i.e. 2 x 2 car) still in Southern's green livery, but without fleet names. 10 units were required to provide the half-hourly service. The one train per day from Clapham Junction (07:45) to Guildford via Ascot was also operated by two 456s, but the trains that ran through to Waterloo during the peak periods continued to be operated by Class 458 trains. The Class 456 trains were the main units on the line for a short time, but {{brc|450}} sets now operate alone on the line.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.stagecoach.com/~/media/Files/S/Stagecoach-Group/Attachments/pdf/swt-supplement-mr-edition.pdf|title=SWT Supplement: Modern Railways|publisher=Key Publishing|year=2017|pages=10|quote=}}{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

All units were refurbished by South West Trains.<ref>{{cite web|title=Changes to Ascot - Guildford trains|url=http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/ascot-guildfordposter.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325160522/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/uploads/ascot-guildfordposter.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2014|access-date=25 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Let the train take the strain -unless it's sunny or you have a full bladder!|date=21 March 2014 |url=http://thecamberleyeye.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/let-the-train-take-the-strain-unless-its-sunny-or-you-have-a-full-bladder/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325135108/http://thecamberleyeye.wordpress.com/2014/03/21/let-the-train-take-the-strain-unless-its-sunny-or-you-have-a-full-bladder/|archive-date=25 March 2014|access-date=25 March 2014}}</ref>

In August 2017, all 456 units transferred to the new South Western franchisee, [[South Western Railway (2017–2025)|South Western Railway]]. South Western Railway subsequently withdrew the Class 456 fleet from service on 17 January 2022.<ref name="Rail949">{{cite magazine |title=SWR withdraws '456s' following service cuts |magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]] |issue=949 |date=26 January 2022 |pages=10–11}}</ref>

==Refurbishment==
In March 2005, No. 456006 was hauled to Wolverton where it was studied for corrosion assessment. This caused some doubt as to whether they would be refurbished.<ref name="Refreshing">[http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/southern/2006-456-overhaul-refresh.html Southern's 456 Overhauls and Refreshing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930085540/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/news/southern/2006-456-overhaul-refresh.html |date=30 September 2013 }} – Southern Electric Group. Retrieved 21 May 2011.</ref> However, in a statement in April 2006 Southern said the class would receive a 'refresh', which meant they would not receive a refurbishment as major as the 455s, since the 456s are 10 years newer and already have high-backed seats (although of a different design). Also, new CCTV cameras and flooring were installed; this was not mentioned on the original refurbishment plan.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

All units were instead 'refreshed' and were painted into Southern green colours.<ref name="Refreshing" /> No. 456006 was completed in a one-off promotional livery for rail safety on the Southern network. 456013 had an experimental cab-cooling system installed and 456022 had some experimental air-conditioning fitted, in an effort to make drivers' jobs more comfortable.

Southern removed the [[passenger train toilet|toilets]] from the trains, to provide more capacity. Despite this the Class 456 EMU trains lost two seats from each pair, due to a space being cleared for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

After the units transferred to [[South West Trains]], a full refurbishment commenced in Wolverton where Class 456s received a new exterior livery and also a refurbished interior with new seating.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/swt-completes-class-456-refurbishment-with-last-of-48-carriages|title=SWT completes Class 456 refurbishment with last of 48 carriages|website=www.railtechnologymagazine.com|access-date=8 June 2018|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140158/http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/swt-completes-class-456-refurbishment-with-last-of-48-carriages|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 15 August 2017, unit 456015 was damaged in a collision with an engineers train at [[Waterloo station]], [[London]].<ref name=Metro6852739>{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/15/train-derails-after-colliding-with-freight-train-at-london-waterloo-station-6852739/ |title=Train derails after colliding with freight train at London Waterloo station |first=Richard |last=Hartley-Parkinson |publisher=Associated Newspapers |work=Metro |date=15 August 2017 |access-date=15 August 2017 |archive-date=15 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815073123/http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/15/train-derails-after-colliding-with-freight-train-at-london-waterloo-station-6852739/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RAIB">{{cite book |title=Rail Accident Investigation Interim Report - Collision near London Waterloo station, 15 August 2017 |date=19 December 2017 |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport |location=Derby |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/670297/IR022017_171220_Waterloo.pdf |access-date=20 December 2017 }}</ref> The cause was a wiring error in the signalling which meant that a set of points not correctly set was not detected. This was introduced as part of the testing of the temporary changes to the signalling during a major works programme at Waterloo. This allowed the signalling logic to detect that a set of points was correctly set when in reality, the points were mid-way between either of the correct positions. A false proceed signal was shown to the driver when it should not have been possible.<ref name=RAIB />

== Fleet details ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Status
!No. Built
!Year built
!Cars per unit
!Unit nos.
|-
|'''Class 456'''
|Scrapped
| align="center" |24
| align="center" |1990–1991
| align="center" |2
|456001–456024<ref>{{cite magazine |title=BREL classes go extinct|magazine= Railways Illustrated |issue= 237| date= November 2022 |page=20}}</ref>
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|British Rail Class 456}}
{{Mark 3-derived}}
{{British Rail EMU}}

[[Category:British Rail electric multiple units|456]]
[[Category:BREL products|456]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1991]]
[[Category:750 V DC multiple units]]

British Rail Class 456 - Revision history

imported>JN1905-1955 at 23:05, 28 May 2025