Recent history of the Portsmouth to Waterloo Line.

When Stagecoach had its franchise renewed by the DfT in autumn 2006, it was an expensive deal, one that effectively placed South West Trains in the position of stealth tax collector for the government. To fulfil its guarantee to the Treasury, while providing a handsome return for Stagecoach shareholders, economies were an essential part of the deal. Passengers travelling between Portsmouth and London (Waterloo) suffered the consequences of these economies immediately, the deployment of the blue-painted Class 450 units on ‘fast’ services imposing a severe loss of amenity.

This inappropriate use of Class 450 units on the Portsmouth Main Line is the direct result of a rolling stock cascade, one that has seen the withdrawal from service of Bournemouth’s 24 iconic Class 442 units (these elegant units worked some Portsmouth services for about a decade). The reason promulgated at the time by South West Trains for the rolling stock changes was entirely spurious, undisclosed leasing charges being the determining factor. Originally, it had been intended to dispose of the 30 troublesome Class 458 units, these having been acquired about 7 years ago, principally for services between Reading and London (Waterloo).

By 2004, virtually all Class 458 units had been withdrawn from service and put into store, as a consequence of their unreliability. Prior to the franchise renewal, a further batch of 17 Class 450 units had been ordered, effectively as replacements for Class 458 on Reading services. These units were coming on line at about the time Stagecoach won its renewed franchise, after which there followed a quite remarkable volte face in the pursuit of economies.

Class 458 was reprieved for further use on Reading services, allegedly at a more favourable leasing charge, despite its record of unreliability. It was this move that resulted in the stock cascade, from which we have since been suffering. Class 450 units displaced from Reading services were transferred to the Portsmouth Main Line, releasing, in turn, most of Portsmouth’s own dedicated squadron of white-painted Class 444 Main Line units for use on the Bournemouth line. This completed the cascade, allowing South West Trains to withdraw all 24 units of Class 442, an act of unimaginable ineptitude and one entirely in defiance of public acclaim.

To see a schedule of Class 444 and Class 450 trains on this service, click here.

Please email us with any comments or suggestions.

Click Here to return to home page.