2nd visit to Whitton on the Windsor Lines
Featuring South Western Railway services
Whitton first opened in 1848 by the Windsor, Staines & South Western Railway 2 years before it was merged into the LSWR (London & South Western Railway) when line was extended from Richmond to Datchet on today's Windsor Branch Line.
Todays station served by South Western Railway dates from rebuilding in 2015 in two stages with the being before the Rugby World Cup however due to delays getting the rebuild going meant that second stage had to be postponed until after the Rugby World Cup and it wasn't completed until late 2016.
Today majority of services that serve end are mostly half hourly services to and from Windsor & Eton Riverside and half hourly loop services to and from Hounslow via Richmond or Brentford
On the day of filming due to Engineering works between Hounslow and Barnes via Brentford meant all Weybridge services were diverted via Twickenham and Richmond. Also extra services to and from Reading and Hounslow via Richmond were operating due to a premiership rugby game involving Harlequins at Twickenham Stadium itself.
Majority of Reading services run non stop there although some do call at Whitton although only a few trains a day however passengers for those services have to change at Feltham next station to the West.
The Class 455s are sadly on borrowed time with new Class 701s due to replace them which are being built by Alstom in Derby which took over Bombardier in January 2021
However the exact date at this stage is still largely unknown which at the time of filming only 1 third of the 90 sets with 60 Ten Car and 30 Five cars been built.
The combination of the recent Coronavirus Pandemic which ran from March 2020 to May 2023 having been officially declared at an end 2 weeks after filming as well the ongoing testing being behind schedule, strike action with RMT and ASLEF Unions over Pay and Conditions and ongoing software problems with the TMCS (Train Management Control System) being deemed incompatible.
Eventually in January 2024 the first Class 701s although only running a few Windsor services Monday to Fridays only for now although it's likely until early 2025 when all 90 sets are completely in service.
The Class 458s were suppose to undergo a major overhaul by Alstom being carried at Longsight Depot near Widnes which will result the 5 car 458s reverting back to 4 car sets which having been 5 cars since 2013 and also their power systems will be updated to enable it to run up to 100mph which at present is limited to 75mph.
Although some of the converted Class 458s are being tested it was originally aimed to serve alongside the Class 444s and 450s Portsmouth and Bournemouth services however in 2024 it was changed with the future of the 458s now unknown.
Although the times changing are coming with the older rolling stock and whether the long term future of the newer 701 Aventras will succeed if they do eventually enter service well only time will tell.
Music used:
JJD - Adventure
Music provided by NCS
Video link:
NoCopyrightSounds
• JJD - Adventure | Glit...
Filmed on Saturday March 8th 2024 on iPhone 14 Pro and edited on iMovie
#whitton #whittonstation #southwesternrailway #class450 #class455 #class458 #london #southwestlondon
26 мар 2024
