Southeastern Networkers to see £20 million to keep going
A £20 million deal has been made to keep Southeastern’s venerable Networker fleet running.
Wheels will be replaced on trains which date from the early 1990s and the move raises some questions.
Firstly, this shows no replacement fleet is imminent. No great surprise as the original deadline in 2022 for full replacement fleet introduction by October 2027 is now never going to be met. In fact no order for new trains is even confirmed as yet, as this order makes very clear. It requires government approval and there’s no sign of that.
Another issue raised by this announcement is that 97 trains are covered, yet the full Networker fleet is a fair bit higher than that. When ordered 35 years ago the fleet order was split into two between manufacturers. This announcement only covers originally trains built by BREL.
That raises the question of what’s happening with stock made by ABB 30 years ago. Many of those trains have been scrapped in the recent past but trains which remain are essential for maintaining train services and lengths. If they go for scrap that’s a big drop in capacity.
Tired
Much of the fleet is in poor condition internally. If it’s not bubbling floors it’s broken internal doors and rust. In fact after hearing of this news I was on an ABB Networkers within hours and it wasn’t in great shape. Rust around windows was clearly evident.
Wheely good
Alstom will undertake work which will replace both wheels and traction motors while overhauling the gearboxes.
They offer the oft-seen figleaf of a future order for new stock but like so much about Southeastern Metro we’ve heard all that before many a time. Believe it when you see it.
All in all it’s a move which raises more questions than answers for the neglected Southeastern Metro network.
Is this merely a sticking plaster on the advice of government – who control Southeastern – to avoid ordering a new fleet as long expected?
The same government that is still retaining service cuts they opposed in opposition and now retain in power.
The BREL units still have their original traction motors. Only the traction inverters were changed many years ago. This did require some modifications to the traction motors.
I wonder if Metro services are going to be handed over to TFL…then it would fall to them to replace them.
I still think that Southeastern should consider replacing the Class 465 and to order new trains (ie CAF, Hitachi, Alstom, Stadler etc). As the Class 465 Networkers are getting quite old now and I think it’s about time to see them along with the Class 466 to get replaced by the new trains.
If you wait till the start of next year Southeastern will be announcing the replacement of the networkers in Q1 of 2026!
The Southeastern fleet is planned to now be ordered in 2026 or 2027 and enter service in mid 2030s, the overhauls are most likely part of the C4 overhauls which are required roughly every 8 or so years.
I have heard that Alstom could manufacture the Adessia trains for Southeastern to replace the Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers. Not sure when it will happen.
The 350s off lease now only need a shoebeam and cable to the inverters. They could act as a stopgap to remove remaining ABB units.
Sadly the Class 350/2s aren’t dual voltage and London Northwestern Railway aren’t going to get rid of the Class 350/1 that are dual voltage. But Southeastern could inherit the Class 458/4 and /5 as a stopgap.
Southeastern will NOT be using the Class 458s for a temporary measure, the managing director has said that himself when I met him earlier this month!
Ok so I guess that Southeastern would not want to inherit the Class 458 and to see the Class 458 to be stored or to be sent for scrap.
I personally do think that the Class 465 could last for few years or even 10 years before Southeastern decides on replacing them with new trains (who wins the contract to manufacture new trains for Southeastern).
And to inherit the Class 458s from South Western Railway that would be suitable for Southeastern. As SWR may not want to keep them any more. Since the Class 701 Arterio trains have entered service few years ago.
And the Class 455 are to be scrapped and some to be preserved. And the Class 466 that are destined for scrap and some to be preserved.
Southeastern won’t be using the 458s from SWR, the managing director of Southeastern has said so himself. It’s also worth noting Southeastern will be making an official announcement for the networker replacement in Q1 of 2026 and it’s upto how fast they can enter service, once they enter service then the rest of the networkers will leave Southeastern. But for the meantime Southeastern will keep all the remaining networkers as they going to be adding lots of services throughout 2026 so it wouldn’t make sence to send of the 465s or 466s.
Perhaps you’re right. Couldn’t agree more. I can see the Class 465 have an extra lifespan with the Class 466 to be sent for scrap.
Government approval for new rolling stock is only part of the story. Southeastern has been running its operations on a shoestring for years. I don’t think we are going to see NEW trains anytime soon.