Save the date: Class 455 train farewell tour in December

"South Western Railway (SWR) is bidding farewell to its red-liveried Class 455 trains, and there will be a special farewell tour in December. The Class 455 trains were built by British Rail Engineering between 1982-85 and have been in service on the SWR routes since March 1983, making them among the oldest trains still in use on the UK railway."

"The 'Class 455 Farewell' tour will include some familiar places on the suburban network, such as Epsom, Kingston and Haslemere on the Portsmouth Line, along with a few special routes and locations*. With luck, one of the special routes will see the SWR train run along the District line between East Putney and Wimbledon, so even if you're not on the train, it will be quite something to watch from the sidelines."

South Western Railway is retiring its red-liveried Class 455 trains, first introduced in March 1983 and built between 1982 and 1985 by British Rail Engineering. The Class 455 units are being phased out in favour of new Class 701 Arterio trains. SWR and the Branch Line Society will operate a 'Class 455 Farewell' charter on Sunday 21 December 2025, calling at suburban stops including Epsom, Kingston and Haslemere and potentially running on a District line section between East Putney and Wimbledon. Four hundred tickets priced at £45.50 go on sale on 10 November at 11am, with profits to three charities; the final route is subject to confirmation.

Read at ianVisits