British Rail Class 460
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 460 (or 8Gat
) electrical multiple units were built by Alstom
at Washwood Heath
from 2000-01. These units are part of Alstom's "Juniper
" family of units, which also includes Classes 334
and 458
. All units were in store by the end of May 2011, however as of October 2011 two units (01 and 02) are back in service with Gatwick Express.
won the Gatwick Express
franchise, part of the agreement was to replace the ageing Class 73/2
locomotives, British Rail Class 488
coaching stock, and Class 489
motor luggage vans. Therefore, an order was placed with Alstom
for the construction of eight 8-car Class 460 units.
Deliveries of the new units commenced in 2000. The units featured controversial sloping cab-ends, which quickly earned them the nickname "Darth Vaders"
amongst rail enthusiasts. A Juniper Coupler is located under the removable nose cone.
Each eight carriage unit is formed of a driving motor luggage van, two intermediate 1st-class/composite trailers, two intermediate 2nd-class motor carriages, an intermediate 2nd-class trailer, another 2nd-class motor carriage, and a 2nd-class driving motor (DMLFO+TFO+TCO+MSO+MSO+TSO+MSO+DMSO).
The units are numbered 460001-008, although only the last two digits are carried on the cab ends. The full six digit unit number is carried on the side of the luggage vans.
On 22 June 2008, the fleet was transferred to Southern
, as the Gatwick Express service was incorporated into the Southern franchise.
From December 2010, the 460s were gradually phased out from Gatwick Express service in favour of Class 442
units, with the final two 460 units going off lease in May 2011. While on lease to Southern the 460s were allocated to Stewarts Lane TMD in South London.
are due to receive up to 140 additional vehicles. Porterbrook
, the owner of the Class 458
fleet, has proposed that part of this could be met through lengthening the 4-car Junipers to 5-cars using the mechanically similar Class 460s. 24 Class 458s would be lengthened using vehicles from the Class 460s, while the remaining Class 460 vehicles would be reformed into six new 5-car sets, leaving additional vehicles for use as spare parts.
Under the "Sussex Route Utilisation Strategy" document published on 28 January 2010, Network Rail
the class 460 fleet was to be removed from Gatwick Express operations by Dec 2010 to strengthen operations elsewhere, possibly augmenting the similar Class 458
units working for South West Trains
on routes out of London Waterloo.
In October 2011 two units (01 and 02) were reinstated from store and were operating Gatwick Express services, although with all Gatwick Express branding removed.
The formation of the 8Gat unit is shown below. While in use on the Gatwick Express franchise, under normal circumstances, the luggage van (DMLFO) would be at the 'London' end of the train (i.e. closest to the station concourse at London Victoria).
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
Class 460 (or 8Gat
SR multiple unit numbering and classification
The Southern Railway created classification and numbering systems for its large fleet of electric multiple units that were perpetuated by the Southern Region of British Rail until the early 1980s, when the impact of TOPS was felt...
) electrical multiple units were built by Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
at Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath
Washwood Heath is a ward in Birmingham, within the formal district of Hodge Hill, roughly two miles north-east of Birmingham city centre, England...
from 2000-01. These units are part of Alstom's "Juniper
Juniper (train)
The Coradia Juniper series is a family of electric multiple unit trains built by Alstom Transport Birmingham, subcontractor: Ganz Hunslet, Hungary for use on the railway network in Great Britain. The family is related to the Coradia 1000 series of diesel multiple unit...
" family of units, which also includes Classes 334
British Rail Class 334
The British Rail Class 334 is a suburban electric multiple unit built by Alstom in Birmingham. They are part of the Juniper family of trains along with Classes 458 and 460. They were built for SPT/ScotRail outer suburban services in Glasgow, UK. They later became part of First ScotRail/SPT fleet...
and 458
British Rail Class 458
The South West Trains Class 458 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath between 1998 and 2002. These units are part of Alstom's Juniper family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 460.-Description:...
. All units were in store by the end of May 2011, however as of October 2011 two units (01 and 02) are back in service with Gatwick Express.
Description
When the National Express GroupNational Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
won the Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express is the name given to the frequent rail shuttle service between Victoria station in London and Gatwick Airport in South East England, operated by the Southern franchise...
franchise, part of the agreement was to replace the ageing Class 73/2
British Rail Class 73
The British Rail Class 73 is a United Kingdom model of electro-diesel locomotive. The type is unusual in that it can operate from a 750 V DC third-rail or an on-board diesel engine to allow it to operate on non-electrified routes...
locomotives, British Rail Class 488
British Rail Class 488
The British Rail Class 488 are unpowered trailer sets, converted from Mark 2F coaches for the Gatwick Express service from London Victoria railway station to Gatwick Airport....
coaching stock, and Class 489
British Rail Class 489
The British Rail Class 489 is a type of electrical multiple unit, specially converted for use on Gatwick Express trains, from London Victoria to Gatwick Airport....
motor luggage vans. Therefore, an order was placed with Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
for the construction of eight 8-car Class 460 units.
Deliveries of the new units commenced in 2000. The units featured controversial sloping cab-ends, which quickly earned them the nickname "Darth Vaders"
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
amongst rail enthusiasts. A Juniper Coupler is located under the removable nose cone.
Each eight carriage unit is formed of a driving motor luggage van, two intermediate 1st-class/composite trailers, two intermediate 2nd-class motor carriages, an intermediate 2nd-class trailer, another 2nd-class motor carriage, and a 2nd-class driving motor (DMLFO+TFO+TCO+MSO+MSO+TSO+MSO+DMSO).
The units are numbered 460001-008, although only the last two digits are carried on the cab ends. The full six digit unit number is carried on the side of the luggage vans.
On 22 June 2008, the fleet was transferred to Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
, as the Gatwick Express service was incorporated into the Southern franchise.
From December 2010, the 460s were gradually phased out from Gatwick Express service in favour of Class 442
British Rail Class 442
The British Rail Class 442 Wessex Electric electrical multiple units were introduced in 1988 on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo to Southampton Central, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. Twenty-four of these 5-car units were built in 1988/89 by BREL at its Derby works...
units, with the final two 460 units going off lease in May 2011. While on lease to Southern the 460s were allocated to Stewarts Lane TMD in South London.
Future
Under the government's Rolling Stock Plan, South West TrainsSouth West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
are due to receive up to 140 additional vehicles. Porterbrook
Porterbrook
Porterbrook is one of the three major ROSCOs in the United Kingdom...
, the owner of the Class 458
British Rail Class 458
The South West Trains Class 458 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath between 1998 and 2002. These units are part of Alstom's Juniper family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 460.-Description:...
fleet, has proposed that part of this could be met through lengthening the 4-car Junipers to 5-cars using the mechanically similar Class 460s. 24 Class 458s would be lengthened using vehicles from the Class 460s, while the remaining Class 460 vehicles would be reformed into six new 5-car sets, leaving additional vehicles for use as spare parts.
Under the "Sussex Route Utilisation Strategy" document published on 28 January 2010, Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
the class 460 fleet was to be removed from Gatwick Express operations by Dec 2010 to strengthen operations elsewhere, possibly augmenting the similar Class 458
British Rail Class 458
The South West Trains Class 458 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath between 1998 and 2002. These units are part of Alstom's Juniper family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 460.-Description:...
units working for South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
on routes out of London Waterloo.
In October 2011 two units (01 and 02) were reinstated from store and were operating Gatwick Express services, although with all Gatwick Express branding removed.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 460 | Gatwick Express | 2 | 2000-01 | 8 | 460001 - 460002 |
| Off Lease | 6 | 460003 - 460008 |
The formation of the 8Gat unit is shown below. While in use on the Gatwick Express franchise, under normal circumstances, the luggage van (DMLFO) would be at the 'London' end of the train (i.e. closest to the station concourse at London Victoria).
| Unit No. | DMLFO | TFO | TCO | MSO | MSO | TSO | MSO | DMSO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 460001 | 67901 | 74401 | 74411 | 74421 | 74431 | 74441 | 74451 | 67911 |
| 460002 | 67902 | 74402 | 74412 | 74422 | 74432 | 74442 | 74452 | 67912 |
| 460003 | 67903 | 74403 | 74413 | 74423 | 74433 | 74443 | 74453 | 67913 |
| 460004 | 67904 | 74404 | 74414 | 74424 | 74434 | 74444 | 74454 | 67914 |
| 460005 | 67905 | 74405 | 74415 | 74425 | 74435 | 74445 | 74455 | 67915 |
| 460006 | 67906 | 74406 | 74416 | 74426 | 74436 | 74446 | 74456 | 67916 |
| 460007 | 67907 | 74407 | 74417 | 74427 | 74437 | 74447 | 74457 | 67917 |
| 460008 | 67908 | 74408 | 74418 | 74428 | 74438 | 74448 | 74458 | 67918 |