South Western Railway Retires Last Class 455s Amid Disruption

South Western Railway (SWR) has announced the retirement of its last two Class 455 trains, which were taken out of service on March 20, 2026. The trains, numbered 5712 and 5732, have been laid up and will soon be sent for scrap, marking the end of an era for this class of rolling stock.

On the same day, significant disruptions were reported across the network due to a fallen tree that blocked railway lines. The incident first came to light at 2:44 PM, causing delays and affecting passenger services. By 8:15 PM, SWR had confirmed the disruption, which continued until the lines were reopened at 11:20 PM.

In total, 60 Class 701/0 trains are now operational with South Western Railway, with the exception of one unit, 701003. The last of the Class 701/0s departed from Long Marston on March 5, 2026, completing the transition to newer rolling stock.

During the disruption, SWR allowed affected passengers to book their own taxis and claim refunds for their journeys. Passengers experiencing delays of over 15 minutes were eligible for compensation, as the hold-ups continued for up to 90 minutes after the lines were reopened.

A spokesperson for SWR expressed regret over the inconvenience caused, stating, “We are very sorry for any disruption to your journey.” They also confirmed that response teams were dispatched to address the fallen tree and restore services promptly.

This incident follows the recent Class 455 Farewell railtours, which attracted notable figures, including Rail Minister Lord Hendy, celebrating the legacy of the retired trains. As South Western Railway moves forward, the focus remains on enhancing service reliability and passenger experience amidst ongoing challenges.