Flower Power. Coming soon to South West Trains. (8/3/16)

Flower Power!

South West Trains have recently began to fit their Class 455 units with new traction packages, to replace the worn out EE507's currently in use under these units.

These new traction packages will improve pull off speed, often a factor criticised regarding the fact that these are suburban units, yet the acceleration is very poor. It is also projected to save a large amount energy, and money too. Regenerative braking is also fitted, further improving the efficiency of these units. Fitting new traction packages will also free up space in maintenance, allowing Wimbledon Park to receive 30 new Class 707 Desiro City trains, without this space an new depot would have needed to have been built.

This isn't just the only piece of new kit on these units. New WSP equipment, with European standard computer algorithms has replaced the outdated technology currently fitted to the fleet. This will help curtail the frequency of wheel flats, and extend the maintenance period from 10,000 miles between exam, to 15,000 miles between each exam.

With the current test units, 5732 and 5870 performing better than expected, only time will tell till we bid farewell to the EE507.