Alstom Refurbishes South Western Railway’s Class 458 Fleet
Alstom has successfully completed a 25 million GBP upgrade of South Western Railway’s (SWR) Class 458 electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet.
Alstom has successfully completed a 25 million GBP upgrade of South Western Railway’s (SWR) Class 458 electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet.
The extensive refurbishment, financed by rolling stock asset manager Porterbrook, was carried out at Alstom’s Technology Centre in Widnes and its historic Crewe Works.
The programme saw the overhaul of 28 four-car Class 458 units with 234 seats in a two-by-two layout, seat-back tables, charging points, and space for two wheelchair users in each train. Additionally, select tables feature wireless charging capabilities. The trains also sport new carpets and the latest SWR livery.
“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.
“Thank you to our partners at SWR and Alstom, and to all the companies who supported the successful delivery of this complex project.”
Significantly, the refurbishment has also improved performance, with faster acceleration and an increased top speed of 100mph (up from 75mph). At Crewe, powered wheelsets were overhauled to support these upgrades.
“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.
“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.”
