Class 450 Desiro

The Class 450 is part of the Desiro family of EMU and DC electric third rail units that otherwise are very similar to the AC overhead electric Class 350. One hundred and twenty seven sets were built for South West Trains replacing life expired "slam door" VEP and CIG stock [1]. Although they can only be used on third-rail routes they do have space for the retro-fitting of a pantograph if needed in the future. 

SWR 450 111 at Aldershot

Information
Number built:	508 (127 4-car sets)
Built:	2002-7
Builder:	Siemens Transportation
Motor:	4 1TB2016 0GB02 three-phase traction motors (750V DC third rail)
Power:	2, 682 hp (2, 000 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+Trailer Composite Open (TCO)+Trailer Standard Open (TSO)+Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)

The original fleet is known as the Class 450/0 and can carry 242 standard class and twenty four first class passengers, first and some standard class seating is 2+2 with other standard class seating being 2+3.

Twenty eight sets were modified for higher capacity (facilitated by removing first class seats and altering the internal layout) for the London Waterloo-Windsor route [2] in 2008-9 as Class 450/5. First class seating was restored to these units as they were replaced by Class 458/5s on the route from 2013 and the 450/5s rejoined the main fleet.



Originally SWT were to receive a mixed fleet of 450/0s and 450/2s, which were to be five car sets for inner suburban routes, however the idea was dropped due to problems with platform lengths and therefore all Class 450s are four car sets. All sets remain in service with South West Trains' successor South Western Railway who took over operations in the late Summer of 2017 [3]. 

450 015 at Worplesdon

450 055 at Bentley

450 003 at Bagshot

450 003 again, this time at Camberley

450 040 at Martins Heron

[1] John Balmforth, South West Trains (Ian Allan, 2011) p. 62
[2] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 349
[3] Modern Railways (May 2017) p. 24