All Change on the Rails as New Arterios Replace Old Class 455s

Published on: 18 Dec, 2025
Updated on: 21 Dec, 2025

South Western Railway (SWR) says 30 of its new Class 701 Arterio electric multiple unit trains are now operating more than 390 daily services.

Class 701 Arterio electric multiple unit trains at London Waterloo station. Picture: South Western Railway.

The new fleet is now serving all 96 stations on SWR’s suburban network including Guildford and Woking.

Each 10-car Arterio train can carry more than 50% more passengers than the eight-car Class 455 trains they replace.

SWT adds the £1 billion investment into the new fleet includes wi-fi charging points at every seat, real time information, toilets and air conditioning.

The train operator has more than quadrupled the number of Arterios in service since its transfer into public ownership in May 2025.

An Arterio arriving at London Waterloo station. Picture: South Western Railway.

This is delivering a 12% increase in weekday suburban capacity into London Waterloo station between 7am and 10am.

Capacity has increased further on some suburban routes, including Chessington (21%), Kingston upon Thames (20%), Aldershot via Staines (24%), Reading (17%) and Shepperton (23%).

According to SWT, the increase in capacity improves commuting for the 135,000 customers who pass through London Waterloo station each weekday, significantly higher than for the old Class 455 trains.

One of the new Arterio electric trains arriving at Guildford on Wednesday evening, June 18, 2025. Picture: David Rose.

SWR plans to introduce two more Arterios into service before Christmas and three quarters of its planned Arterio schedules introduced by the end of summer 2026.

Moreover, enthusiasm and nostalgia for the 42-year-old Class 455 units the Arterios are replacing has resulted in a Class 455 farewell tour scheduled for Sunday, December 21, for which tickets sold out in 15 seconds!

A Class 455 train arrives at Guildford station in 1996 when operated by the South West Trains franchise, but still in its British Rail Network SouthEast livery. Picture: Martin Loader.

With demand so high, a second farewell train has also sold out, thereby more than 900 rail enthusiasts will mark the retirement of the fleet that has carried millions of customers across South West London, Berkshire and Surrey.

The Class 455 units were built by British Rail Engineering Ltd at York between 1982 and 1985, entering service on what is now SWR’s suburban network on March 28, 1983.

The farewell tours have been organised by The Branch Line Society.

Class 455 at Guildford. Picture: Gordon Edgar.

Starting and finishing at London Waterloo station, the first train is scheduled to depart at 9.32am, and the second at 10.35am.

This is charity event raising funds for The Alex Wardle Foundation, Macmillan, and The Railway Children.

The provisional routes and times of the two trains are listed on The Branch Line Society’s website.

It is expected that many railway enthusiasts will gather to watch the trains pass by, taking photos and filming them.

Both trains will be passing through Guildford twice, with a short stop in a siding during each of the trains’ outward journey.

It currently states (as of December 17):

Train A:
London Waterloo (PU 09.32) – Clapham Jn – East Putney – Wimbledon – Teddington – Strawberry Hill (RM) – Teddington – Kingston P1 (RM) – Strawberry Hill – Twickenham – Barnes – Clapham Jn – London Waterloo (RM) (Break 11.04 – 11.34) – Clapham Jn – Raynes Park – Epsom – Epsom Up Sidings (RM) – Epsom (RM) – Dorking P3 (RM) – Leatherhead (RM) – Effingham Jn Neck Down Siding (RM) – Effingham Jn (RM) – Guildford (RM) (Break 14.00 – 15.15) – Guildford North Box Sidings (RM) – Guildford – Haslemere (RM) – Guildford – Woking – Staines Up Loop – Feltham Loop – Twickenham RM – Strawberry Hill – Fulwell (RM) – New Malden – Clapham Jn – London Waterloo (RM) (Break 18.01 – 18.12) – Waterloo Carriage South Sidings (RM) – London Waterloo (SD 18.26)

Train B:
London Waterloo (PU 10.35) – Clapham Jn – East Putney – Wimbledon – Teddington – Strawberry Hill (RM) – Teddington – Kingston P1 (RM) – Strawberry Hill – Twickenham – Barnes – Clapham Jn – London Waterloo (RM) (Break 12.04 – 12.34) – Clapham Jn – Raynes Park – Epsom – Epsom Up Sidings (RM) – Epsom (RM) – Dorking P3 (RM) – Leatherhead (RM) – Effingham Jn Neck Down Siding (RM) – Effingham Jn (RM) – Guildford (RM) (Break 15.18 – 16.15) – Guildford North Box Sidings (RM) – Guildford – Haslemere (RM) – Guildford – Woking – Staines Up Loop – Feltham Loop – Twickenham RM – Strawberry Hill – Fulwell (RM) – New Malden – Clapham Jn – London Waterloo (RM) (Break 19.03 – 19.12) – Waterloo Carriage South Sidings (RM) – London Waterloo (SD 19.26)