First Class 456 goes for scrap and Southern Class 455 cull confirmed
FOLLOWING the unexpected withdrawal of the entire Class 456 fleet in January (see March issue) the first member of the class was sent for scrap on February 28. No. 456005 was one of a trio of units stored at Wimbledon Park that was unfit to move by rail.
It was therefore collected by low-loader for transfer to Sims Metals, Newport.
As this issue of Rail Express went to press the other two units at Wimbledon – Nos. 456001 and 456017 – were being made ready for a similar journey. The other members of the fleet had already been moved out of London for storage at Long Marston and it is unclear whether any further use is planned.
The long-anticipated cull of
Class 455 EMUs will start in May, when Southern withdraws its 46
Class 455/8s. The TOC says existing fleet members will replace the 455s, although at least two Class 377s (Nos. 377163/164) are expected to transfer from Southeastern at that time.