Train operator Southern is running a special charter train, “The Metro Marauder”, to celebrate the end of using their Class 455 EMUs in operational service.
The charity charter will operate on Saturday 14th May, which is the last day of operation of the class. All profits from the tour will be donated to good causes nominated by Southern and Govia Thameslink Railway.
Two Class 455/8s will be used for the tour, which will take in a number of unusual routes for the class. A one-hour comfort and refreshment break will be made in Brighton, and there will be a number of other comfort breaks and photo stops throughout the journey.
On the train, there will be a sales stand provided by the Network SouthEast Railway Society and an onboard charity raffle with some fantastic prizes.
The indicative route and provisional timings are outlined below.
London Victoria P14 (PU 09.02) – Clapham Junction – Streatham Reversible Fast Spur – Mitcham Junction – Epsom – Dorking – Horsham P4 – Billingshurt Signal T1430 (RM) – Horsham P4 – Three Bridges P2 (RM) – Haywards Heath P4 – Preston Park P1 – Dn Cliftonville Spur – Hove P1 (RM) – Brighton P2 (RM / 60-minute break) – Hove P2 (RM) – Up Cliftonville Spur – Preston Park P1 (RM) – Brighton P6 (RM) – Lewes Signal TLW58 (RM) – Haywards Heath P3 – Gatwick Airport P4 – Quarry Line – East Croydon P2 – Norwood Junction – London Bridge P5 – London Charing Cross P6 (RM) – London Bridge P7 – Dn Sussex Reversible – Tulse Hill P4 – Leigham Spur – Balham – Clapham Junction P14 – Factory Jn – Dn Brixton Spur – Elephant & Castle – London Blackfriars P4 (RM) – Elephant & Castle – Denmark Hill – Bellingham – Bromley South – Swanley – Sevenoaks P3 (RM) – Orpington – Bromley South – Bellingham – Denmark Hill – Voltaire Road Jn – Up Chatham Reversible – Battersea Pier Jn – London Victoria P14 (SD 18.49).
For this tour, participants do not need to be a Branch Line Society member. Tickets cost £45.58 for adults and £22.79 for under 18s and should be booked online by clicking here.
last day of southerns 455
The link provided above to book on this trip is incorrect and not one we supplied. The correct link is: https://www.branchline.uk and then click on Fixtures.
The Branch Line Society (booking agent for this event)
Hi
We have updated the link to the tour page.
The issue occurred as your website does not keep the individual links for the tours once clicked on them so when we bookmarked the page for reference, it does not save a valid link.
Regards
Michael
Good riddance to these decrepit horrors, Southern have abused the use of these on the Caterham and Tat Corner Metro lines. In 2019 peak service had Class 377’s both to Victoria and London Bridge every 15 minutes, which has since evolved to be every 30 mins replaced by these ancient beasts in between. Thus they should run with capacity on these metro lines with Class 377’s at peak, they have down before; however, that then battles with Southerns inability to connect trains in their obscure obsession with joining services that they so often manage to mess up.
Surely one of the ugliest trains ever to operate on Southern, and a warning why proper industrial designers should be used to draw up the plans even for humble commuter workhorses.
If the Southern Class 455s are to end their lifetime and to be scrapped. What is replacing them. Or is Southern to use the Class 377 Electrostars to operate on the Tattenham Corner, Epsom Downs, Caterham and London Victoria-London Bridge routes.
What about the Class 313 that is currently used on the East Coastway and West Coastway lines (as well used on Seaford, Bognor Regis and Littlehampton branch lines). Will Southern also be replacing them in the near future. And to inherit the Class 387s from Great Northern to operate on those lines on the South Coast.
I agree about the class 313 and apparently the 701 will replace the 455 but I am not completely sure
I’ve checked the websites and the class 313 is being retired May 2023 and the class 377 will replace all the trains. I wish the 450 or the 700/707/717 will being included in the services. Maybe include the 444 on the Brighton main line/ Portsmouth
Goodbye Class 455. Such lovely trains used on not just on Southern but also used on South Western Railway as well.