British Rail Class 458 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 458 Juniper
458030 at London Waterloo on 19 July 2003. This unit is painted in South West Trains mainline livery.
Manufacturer	Alstom
Built at	Washwood Heath
Family name	Juniper
Constructed	1998–2000
Entered service	1999–
Number built	30 trainsets
Formation	4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	458001–458030
Operator(s)	South West Trains
Specifications
Maximum speed	100 mph (160 km/h)
Weight	164.3t
Power supply	Third rail
Electric system(s)	750V DC
Braking system(s)	Air, regenerative

The South West Trains Class 458 trains are special electric trains. They are also known as Juniper trains. These trains were built by a company called Alstom.

They were made in a factory in Washwood Heath, England. Building these trains took place between 1998 and 2000. They started running in 1999 and are still in service today.

What are Class 458 Trains?

The Class 458 is an electric multiple unit (EMU). This means it is a train made of several carriages that can run together. Each carriage has its own electric motors. This allows the train to be driven from either end.

These trains are part of a group called the Juniper family. Other trains in this family include the Class 334 and Class 460.

How They Work

Class 458 trains get their power from a "third rail." This is an extra rail on the track that carries electricity. The trains use 750 volts of direct current (DC) power.

Each Class 458 train is made up of four carriages. They are designed to travel quite fast. Their top speed is about 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).

The trains use two types of brakes. They have air brakes, which use compressed air to stop the train. They also have regenerative brakes. This type of brake helps to slow the train down and sends electricity back into the power system.

Where They Run

These trains are operated by South West Trains. They are mainly used for passenger services. You can often see them on routes around London Waterloo.

Rebuilding the Trains

Over time, some of these trains were changed. Some Class 458 trains were combined with parts from other trains. These other trains were from the Class 460 Juniper family.

This rebuilding helped to make the trains even better. It also made them more useful for the railway network.

Images for kids

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  A Class 458/0 unit in as-delivered condition, showing the original driver's cab and SWT livery

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  The original first-class interior of a Class 458/0 unit

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  Separated Class 460 vehicles at Doncaster Works prior to being rebuilt

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  Two Class 458/5 units soon after being rebuilt. The continuous window band along the vehicle's side only appears on former Class 460 vehicles – original Class 458 vehicles have windows separated by bodywork.