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{{short description|Class of British electric multiple-unit trains built in 1999-2001}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox train
| background = darkred
| name = British Rail Class 460<br />''Juniper''
| image = Hugh Llewelyn (460 0) 06 (6390145959) adjusted.jpg
| imagealt =
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = Class 460 at {{stnlnk|Clapham Junction}} in June 2008, showing the {{abbr|DMLFO|Driver's cab, Motor car, Luggage compartment, First class, Open saloon}} vehicle's luggage compartment
| interiorimage = 460002 Standard Class Interior.jpg
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption = Standard-class interior of a Class 460 unit
| service = 2000–2012
| manufacturer = [[Alstom]]
| designer =
| assembly =
| ordernumber =
| factory = [[Washwood Heath]], [[Birmingham]]
| family = [[Alstom Coradia Juniper|''Coradia Juniper'']]
| replaced = {{ubl|{{brc|73}} locomotives,|{{brc|488}} trailers & {{brc|489|n}} {{abbr|GLVs|Gatwick Luggage Vans}}}}
| yearconstruction = 1999–2001
| yearservice =
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 8
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved = {{ubl|0|(all converted to {{brc|458||5}})}}
| numberscrapped =
| predecessor =
| successor = {{brc|442}}
| formation = {{ubli|indent=1em|8 cars per unit:|{{abbr|DMLFO|Driver's cab, Motor car, Luggage compartment, First class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|TFO|Trailer car, First class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|TCO|Trailer car, Composite (first- and standard-class sections), Open saloon}}-{{abbr|MSO|Motor car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-MSO-{{abbr|TSO|Trailer car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-MSO-{{abbr|DMSO|Driver's cab, Motor car, Standard class, Open saloon}}}}
| diagram =
| code = [[Southern Railway multiple unit numbering and classification#DC EMUs|8-GAT]]<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Alstom 'Juniper' Platform|magazine=[[Modern Locomotives Illustrated]]|issue=223|date=February 2016|pages=49–59}}</ref>
| fleetnumbers = 460001–460008
| capacity = 366 seats<ref name="railtech">{{cite news |title=Project > Gatwick Express |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/gatwick-express/ |access-date=6 February 2022 |work=Railway Technology |date=21 November 2001}}</ref>
| owner = [[Porterbrook]]
| operator = [[Gatwick Express]]
| depots = [[Stewarts Lane]] ([[London]])
| lines =
| carbody = [[Steel]]<ref name="tr">{{cite book |last1=Marsden |first1=C. J. |title=Traction Recognition |date=2007 |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |location=Hersham |isbn=978-0-7110-3277-4 |oclc=230804946 |ol=16902750M |url=https://archive.org/details/tractionrecognit0000mars/page/236/mode/2up |pages=236–237 |url-access=registration}}</ref>
| trainlength =
| carlength = {{ubl|DMxO: {{convert|21.05|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{notetag|Excluding nose cone.<ref name="tr" />}}|Others: {{convert|19.94|m|ftin|abbr=on}}}}
| width = {{convert|2.80|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|3.77|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| lowfloor =
| floorheight =
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| doors = Dual-leaf sliding plug
| wheeldiameter =
| wheelbase =
| maxspeed = {{convert|100|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
| weight =
| axleload =
| steep gradient =
| traction =
| traction motors = 10 × Alstom T3517 {{avoid wrap|[[three-phase electric power|three-phase AC]]}}<ref name="tr" /><br />(2 per motor car)
| poweroutput = {{convert|3626|hp|kW|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name="tr" />
| tractiveeffort =
| acceleration =
| deceleration =
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac =
| electricsystem = {{750 V DC|conductor=y}}
| collectionmethod = [[Contact shoe]]
| uicclass =
| bogies = Alstom ACR<ref name="tr" />
| minimum curve =
| brakes =
| safety = {{ubl|[[Automatic Warning System|AWS]]|[[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]]}}
| coupling = {{ubl|As built: [[Tightlock coupling|Tightlock]]|Later: [[Scharfenberg coupler|Scharfenberg]] Type 330<ref name="sd001">{{cite book |title=System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 |date=22 June 2011 |id=SD001 |publisher=Rail Safety and Standards Board |publication-place =London |page=4 |url=http://www.rssb.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/rv_coupling_system_data/SD001.pdf |access-date=22 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401203135/http://www.rssb.co.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/rv_coupling_system_data/SD001.pdf |archive-date=1 April 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>|(for rescue only)}}
| multipleworking = Not fitted
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| notes =
}}

The '''British Rail Class 460 ''Juniper''''' ([[Southern Railway multiple unit numbering and classification#DC EMUs|8-GAT]]) was a class of [[electric multiple-unit]] passenger trains built by [[Alstom]] at [[Washwood Heath]] between 1999 and 2001. They were part of Alstom's [[Alstom Coradia Juniper|Coradia Juniper]] family, which also includes Classes {{brc|334|n}} and {{brc|458|n}}.

For the entirety of their service life they operated [[Gatwick Express]] services between [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]] and [[Gatwick Airport railway station|Gatwick Airport]]. Following their withdrawal by Gatwick Express in 2012, the fleet was merged with the mechanically similar Class 458 fleet and extensively rebuilt to form a fleet of 36 units—designated [[British Rail Class 458|Class 458/5]]—that are now used by [[South Western Railway (train operating company)|South Western Railway]].

==History==
[[File:Hugh llewelyn (460 0) 04 (6390134977) adjusted.jpg|thumb|left|A Class 460 in 2008]]
[[File:460 First Class Interior (adjusted).jpg|thumb|left|The first-class interior of a Class 460 unit]]
[[National Express]] (NX) began operating the Gatwick Express franchise in April 1996, having been awarded a 15-year contract to do so by the [[Director of Passenger Rail Franchising]] as part of the [[privatisation of British Rail]]. The company was required as part of the award to replace the existing Gatwick Express rolling stock, which had already been in service for more than 12 years when National Express had inherited it from British Rail.<ref name="railtech" /> Accordingly, NX and [[Rail transport in Great Britain#Train leasing services|rolling stock lessor]] [[Porterbrook]] placed an order with [[Alstom]] for the construction and delivery of eight eight-car units, enough to run services at 15-minute intervals at peak times.<ref name="railtech" /><ref name="gt">{{Cite web|title=Class 460 "Gatwick Express|url=https://sremg.org.uk/emu/class460-mob.shtml|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-28|website=sremg.org.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428210514/https://sremg.org.uk/emu/class460-mob.shtml |archive-date=28 April 2021 }}</ref>

All eight units, numbered 460001–460008, were manufactured at the former [[Metro-Cammell]] works at [[Washwood Heath]] in [[Birmingham]], which Alstom had acquired in 1989. Each unit was formed of two motor cars with driver's cabs, three intermediate motor cars, and three intermediate trailer cars. One driving car, coded {{abbr|DMLFO|Driver's cab, Motor car, Luggage compartment, First class, Open saloon}} and usually kept at the London end of the train, consisted of a large luggage compartment and a small section of first-class seating, while the other driving car was fitted with standard-class seating throughout.<ref name=gt/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/features/rolling-stock/458-fall-and-rise/otherjun.html |title=Other Juniper EMUs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414105007/http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/features/rolling-stock/458-fall-and-rise/otherjun.html |archive-date=14 April 2016 |website=Southern Electric Group |access-date=26 December 2010 }}</ref> The fibreglass nosecones—which earned the class the [[nickname]] ''[[Darth Vader]]s'' among some rail enthusiasts—concealed the [[Pilot (locomotive attachment)#Anti-climbers|anti-climbers]] and an emergency coupler.<ref name="unwanted">{{cite news |title=Unwanted, unreliable – but these trains are the answer |url=https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/04/20-unwanted-unreliable--but-these.html |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=Railnews |date=20 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330222450/https://www.railnews.co.uk/news/2013/04/20-unwanted-unreliable--but-these.html |archive-date=30 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> One bogie on each motor car was fitted with traction motors.

Delivery of the new units began in 2000, but their entry into service was delayed by a number of defects{{snd}}particularly concerning the braking systems, air-conditioning, and Train Management System (TMS) software. Only after an extensive program of repairs and modifications by Alstom did the fleet's reliability reach a level sufficient to allow full withdrawal of the ex-BR stock in 2005.<ref name="railtech" />

On 22 June 2008 the lease for the Class 460 fleet was transferred to [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] when the standalone Gatwick Express franchise was merged into the Southern-operated South Central franchise, as part of a plan to use Gatwick Express services to provide extra capacity on the [[Brighton Main Line]] south of Gatwick Airport.<ref name="bbc-remain">{{cite news |title=Gatwick Express service to remain |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6524763.stm |access-date=31 December 2009 |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=4 April 2007}}</ref><ref name="goahead">{{cite news |title=Agreement to Amend the Gatwick Express and Southern Franchises |url=https://go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |access-date=7 February 2022 |publisher=Go-Ahead Group |date=19 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123151534/http://go-ahead.com/media/news/2007news/2007-06-19.aspx |archive-date=23 November 2012}}</ref> Because the Class 460 fleet was too small to support both the extension to Brighton and the existing 15-minute frequency, Southern leased and refurbished a number of {{brc|442}} units to work alongside the Junipers when the extended timetable took effect in December 2008.<ref name="bbc-benefit">{{cite news |title=Gatwick service benefits Brighton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7782606.stm |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=14 December 2008}}</ref>

Following the June 2009 renewal of their contract to operate the South Central franchise, Southern leased and refurbished the remainder of the Class 442 fleet for use on Gatwick Express services.<ref name="goahead-ret">{{cite news |title=Retention of South Central Franchise |url=https://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |access-date=7 February 2022 |publisher=Go-Ahead Group |date=9 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111024002128/http://www.go-ahead.com/media/news/2009news/2009-06-09.aspx |archive-date=24 October 2011}}</ref> This enabled the gradual withdrawal of the Class 460 fleet, which began in 2010 and was completed by September 2012.<ref name="unwanted" /><ref name="catch">{{cite magazine |last1=Foster |first1=Stefanie |title='Catch the train and you've caught the plane' |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/trains/new-trains/catch-the-train-and-you-ve-caught-the-plane |access-date=7 February 2022 |magazine=[[Rail Magazine]] |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media Ltd |date=18 November 2014}}</ref>

==Conversion to Class 458/5==
{{See also|British Rail Class 458#Conversion to Class 458/5}}
[[South West Trains]], operator of the [[South Western franchise]] from 1996 to 2017, had been experiencing a considerable shortage of passenger capacity on many of its suburban routes in the years immediately prior to 2012, which it attributed primarily to the fact that passenger numbers had increased dramatically without a corresponding increase in the size of their fleet.<ref name="unwanted" /> The company had suggested to the [[Department for Transport]] on at least three occasions that their fleet of {{brc|450}} units should be enlarged, but had been turned down each time.<ref name="rtm-ashley">{{cite news |last1=Ashley |first1=Kate |title=Making the best use of rolling stock |url=https://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-Industry-Focus-/making-the-best-use-of-rolling-stock |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=Rail Technology Magazine |publisher=Cognitive Publishing Ltd |date=1 July 2013}}</ref>

Rolling stock lessors Porterbrook, owners of the Class 460 fleet, also owned the {{brc|458||0}} fleet of Alstom Juniper units that had been in use with South West Trains since February 2000. As an alternative to ordering new trains for SWT, Porterbrook proposed to enlarge the Class 458 fleet and reconfigure it for suburban services by using vehicles from the now-redundant Class 460 fleet.<ref name="unwanted" /><ref name="Rail20120125p28">{{cite magazine |title=Class 460 driving vehicles made redundant |author=Clinnick, Richard |magazine=Rail Magazine|location =Peterborough |date=25 January 2012 |page=28}}</ref> The process, budgeted at £42 million, would use 30 of the 48 Class 460 intermediate cars to extend each of the original 30 Class 458 units to five cars each, leaving six Class 460 units that had been ''reduced'' to five cars each. These would be comprehensively rebuilt to match the extended Class 458 units, for a total fleet of 36 five-car units that would be designated Class 458/5.<ref name="rtm-first">{{cite news |title='A first of a kind engineering project' – SWT's new Class 458-5s |url=https://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/a-first-of-a-kind-engineering-project-swts-new-class-458-5s |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=Rail Technology Magazine |publisher=Cognitive Publishing Ltd |date=26 February 2014}}</ref><ref name="MR201202p40">{{cite magazine |title=Junipers United: Darth Vader goes suburban |author=Walmsley, Ian |magazine =Modern Railways |location =London |date=February 2012 |page=40}}</ref> The units of this "new" fleet would be used—either individually or in pairs of ten cars—to provide extra peak-time capacity on suburban services to and from {{stnlnk|London Waterloo}}.<ref name="Rail20120111p7">{{cite magazine |title=£42m for longer Waterloo trains |magazine=Rail Magazine|location =Peterborough |date=11 January 2012 |page=7}}</ref><ref name="SWT20111223">{{cite press release |url= http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extracapacity.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120117060738/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/extracapacity.aspx |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 17 January 2012 |title= London commuters to benefit from longer peak time trains |publisher= South West Trains |date= 23 December 2011 |access-date= 30 December 2011 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

The Department for Transport announced in December 2011 that it had accepted the proposal,<ref name="unwanted" /> and an agreement between Porterbrook and South West Trains was signed in January 2012.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.porterbrook.co.uk/pages/corp2012.html#january12 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120219223928/http://www.porterbrook.co.uk/pages/corp2012.html#january12 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 19 February 2012 |publisher= Porterbrook |title= Porterbrook signs agreement for the future of Class 458s |date= 3 January 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> SWT's fleet director noted that while the project was "much more complicated ... than buying new trains", it was also "significantly cheaper", and industry observers suggested that Porterbrook also benefited significantly in that it wasn't left with the burden of having to find a new user for, or scrapping, the Class 460 fleet.<ref name="unwanted" /><ref name="rtm-ashley" />

The primary contract for delivering the project was awarded to Alstom, who appointed [[Wabtec]] to perform the conversion work on their behalf.<ref name="unwanted" /> In the first phase of the project, all 48 Class 460 intermediate vehicles were sent to Wabtec's [[Doncaster Works]] to be rebuilt and refitted. Various items of electrical and mechanical equipment such as [[air compressor|compressors]] and [[traction motor]]s were rearranged as required depending on whether the vehicle was one of the 30 to be inserted into original Class 458 units, or one of the 18 that would remain in the six Class 460 formations.<ref name="transforming">{{cite news |last1=Wordsworth |first1=Nigel |title=Transforming 460s |url=https://www.railengineer.co.uk/transforming-460s/ |access-date=30 January 2022 |work=Rail Engineer |date=15 May 2013}}</ref>

At the same time, 12 of the 16 driving vehicles from the Class 460 fleet (all eight DMSOs and four of the eight DMLFOs) were rebuilt by Wabtec subsidiary [[Brush Traction]] at their workshops in [[Loughborough]], where their original driver's cabs were replaced with newly-fabricated versions that included gangways and Voith automatic couplers of the same types used on {{brc|444}} and 450 units.<ref name="unwanted" /><ref name="transforming" /><ref name="prepares" /> The four selected DMLFO vehicles had their luggage compartments converted to additional passenger saloon space, and their roller-shutter external doors were replaced with power-operated plug doors taken from the other four DMLFO vehicles.<ref name="RG-SWT">{{cite web |url= http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/longertrains.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131109222011/http://www.southwesttrains.co.uk/longertrains.aspx |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 9 November 2013 |title=Improving Your Railway – Longer Trains |publisher= South West Trains |access-date=11 March 2014}}</ref>

[[File:South West Trains 458531 + 45853x, Clapham Junction (15464909774) crop.jpg|thumb|right|Two Class 458/5 units soon after being rebuilt. The continuous window band along the vehicle's side only appears on former Class 460 vehicles{{snd}}original Class 458 vehicles have windows separated by bodywork.]]
Additional modifications included re-gearing the traction motors to reduce the train's maximum speed from {{convert|100|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|75|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, both to reduce the likelihood of overheating when making frequent stops and starts, and because the higher speed was unnecessary on suburban services in any case.<ref name="rtm-ashley" /> New Train Management System (TMS) software was developed to be compatible across the entire Class 458/5 fleet, simplifying maintenance and improving reliability.<ref name="unwanted" /> An Automatic Selective Door Opening (ASDO) system was installed for use at a small number of stations where it was impractical to lengthen platforms.<ref name="MR201202p40"/> The vehicle interiors were refurbished and reconfigured as standard-class only, with 4-abreast seating and a wider aisle throughout.<ref name="unwanted" /><ref name="MR201202p40"/> The units were also repainted into SWT's blue livery, matching the Class 450 fleet.

SWT expected to receive the first two converted Class 460 units in May 2013—in time for them to enter service the following November—but due to delays in production the initial delivery didn't take place until October.<ref name="prepares">{{cite magazine |magazine= Railway Gazette International|location= London |title= South West Trains prepares to introduce longer trains |url= http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/south-west-trains-prepares-to-introduce-longer-trains.html |date= 23 October 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140201171928/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/south-west-trains-prepares-to-introduce-longer-trains.html |archive-date= 1 February 2014 }}</ref><ref name="RG-SWT" /> Following testing and staff training, entry into passenger service was achieved in March 2014.<ref name="Rail20120125p28"/><ref name="SWT20111223"/> Once the first four ex-460 units had been delivered and accepted for service, SWT were able to start sending original Class 458/0 units for rebuilding.<ref name="transforming" /> These units received the same modifications as the Class 460 conversions, leaving SWT and Porterbrook with a single mechanically-homogenous Class 458/5 fleet.

Following the conclusion of the conversion project the four Class 460 DMLFO vehicles that had not been rebuilt were stripped for spare parts and later scrapped.<ref name="booths">{{cite magazine |title=Redundant Class 460s moved to Booths for scrapping |magazine=Rail Magazine |issue=7 May 2016 |page=27 |url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/rail-uk/20160507/page/27 |access-date=30 January 2022}}</ref>

==Fleet details==
{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Operator
!No. Built
!Year built
!Cars per Set
!Unit nos.
|-
!460
|Converted to 458/5
|align=center|8
|align=center|1999–2001
|align=center|8
|460001–460008
|}

=== Illustration ===
{{Wide image|Gatwick Express Class 460 Flipped Corrected.png|x40px|Illustration of a Class 460 unit}}

==Notes==
{{notefoot}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|British Rail Class 460}}
*{{cite magazine|title='Darth Vader' look as Alstom's first Gatwick Juniper vehicle is unveiled|first=Lee|last=West|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|issue=345|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=2–15 December 1998|page=14|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

{{Coradia/Juniper}}
{{British Rail EMU}}

[[Category:British Rail electric multiple units|460]]
[[Category:Alstom Coradia Juniper]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 2000]]
[[Category:750 V DC multiple units]]

British Rail Class 460 - Revision history

imported>WikiOriginal-9: caps