British Rail Class 444
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The British Rail Class 444 (or 5Des) "Desiro" electrical multiple units were built by Siemens AG from 2003-04. Forty-five of these units were built for express services for South West Trains. The "Desiro" family also includes units of Classes 350, 360 and 450.
[edit] Description
At the dawn of the 21st century, as part of its franchise agreement, South West Trains (SWT) was required to order new trains to replace the old slam-door stock of Classes 411, 412, 421 and 423. Therefore, in April 2001 an order was placed with Siemens AG for 785 vehicles. This order was originally to be split as 100 four-car Class 450/0 outer-suburban units, 32 five-car Class 450/2 inner-suburban units and 45 five-car Class 444 express units.
The Class 444 fleet was built by Siemens at its Wien plant in Austria. Before shipping to Britain via the Channel Tunnel, units were extensively tested at the test-track at Wildenrath. This extensive testing procedure was performed as in attempt to increase the speed at which trains could enter service, by ironing out any problems beforehand. Many other designs of new train, such as the Bombardier Class 375 and Alstom Class 458 units, had been plagued by problems and poor reliability. The "Desiro" fleet did enter service faster than its competitors, but units still suffered from teething problems.
Units are formed of five-cars, and are numbered in the range 444001-045. Each unit is formed of two outer driving motors, two intermediate trailers, and an intermediate buffet coach. The description of this formation is DMCO+TSO+TSO+TSRMB+DMSO. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows.
- 63801-63845 - DMCO
- 67101-67145 - TSO
- 67151-67195 - TSO
- 67201-67245 - TSRMB - fitted with Pantograph Well
- 63851-63895 - DMSO
Units have end-gangways, which allows passengers to move between units when they are used in multiple on services. Trains are limited to a 10-coach length (i.e. 2 units) as longer trains cannot be accommodated in stations. The fleet is painted in SWT's express livery of white, with a blue window band, and red/orange swishes at the cab ends.
Like all new build third rail stock in the UK, one coach in each unit is fitted with a recess for a pantograph. This allows for a future conversion to AC Overhead power.
[edit] Operations
The first Class 444 units entered service with SWT in early 2004. As part of their launch into traffic, unit no. 444018 was named "The Fab 444" at a ceremony at London Waterloo.
The units were introduced on services from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour via the Portsmouth Direct Line. Units were also used on some services on the South Western Main Line to Southampton, Bournemouth and Weymouth. This allowed the withdrawal of the final 4Cep units by mid-2004, and inroads were made to the 4Bep, 4Cig and 4Vep fleets.
It was originally hoped that the final slam-door units would be withdrawn by 31 December 2004. However, some were allowed to remain operational until May 2005 as the last replacement Desiros came into service. The Class 444 units are now primarily used on the Portsmouth direct services, allowing the Wessex Electric units to be used on the Weymouth line. The Class 444 units are also used regularly on Sunday-only Bournemouth stopping services, Waterloo to Southampton services and the Brockenhurst to Wareham shuttle service. Previous power limitations on the line east of Poole meant that units weren't permitted to run east of the town, the power limitations have since been lifted.
During 2007 the Class 444 units will replace the Wessex Electrics on the Weymouth line. Some 442 diagrams were taken over by 444's in November 2006. Class 444's transferred to the Weymouth line will be replaced on Portsmouth services by Class 450 Desiros which will become available after the reintroduction of the class 458 units on the Waterloo to Reading line .
