On 24 June, South Western Railway (SWR) introduced the first of its refurbished Class 458 trains into passenger service.
These newly designated Class 458/4 trains will service routes between London Waterloo, Hounslow, Weybridge, and Twickenham.
SWR plans to refurbish a total of 28 trains, with 17 already completed and the remaining 11 set to follow.
Each four-car unit features 234 seats arranged in a two-by-two formation. Passengers will benefit from seat-back tables, charging points, and spaces accommodating two wheelchair users per train. Additionally, select tables are equipped with wireless charging points.
The refurbished trains also include two first-class compartments, each with two tables and 12 seats. However, these have been declassified for use by all passengers holding standard class tickets.
The refreshed interiors and updated SWR livery align these trains visually with SWR’s 444 and 450 Desiro fleets.
Initially intended for the route between London Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford, these trains are being deployed on suburban services due to changes in travel patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic.
This deployment is temporary while SWR works towards the full rollout of its new fleet of 90 Arterio trains.
