British Rail Class 466
The British Rail Class 466 Networker is a class of 43 electric multiple units were built by Metro Cammell in 1993 and 1994. They were operated by Network SouthEast until 1997, and then by Connex South Eastern until 2003, South Eastern Trains until 2006 and Southeastern to the present day.
| British Rail Class 466 Networker | |
|---|---|
 Southeastern 466003 at Ashford International in 2011 | |
| In service | 1993 – present |
| Manufacturer | Metro-Cammell |
| Built at | Washwood Heath |
| Family name | Networker |
| Replaced | |
| Constructed | 1993–1994[1] |
| Refurbished |
|
| Number built | 43 sets |
| Formation | 2 cars per set[1] |
| Fleet numbers | 466001 - 466043 |
| Capacity | 168 Standard seats[1] |
| Operator(s) | Southeastern |
| Specifications | |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.81 m (9 ft 2 5⁄8 in)[1] |
| Height | 3.77 m (12 ft 4 3⁄8 in) |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h)[1] |
| Weight | Total - 72.4 t (71.3 long tons; 79.8 short tons) |
| Power output | 804 hp (600 kW) |
| Electric system(s) | 750 V DC third rail |
| Current collection method | Contact shoe |
| Coupling system | Tightlock |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Description
The Class 466 EMUs were built between 1993 and 1994 by Metro Cammell in Washwood Heath, for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail.[2] As part of the privatisation of British Rail, all were sold to Angel Trains.[1]They were operated by Network SouthEast until 1997, and then by Connex South Eastern until 2003, South Eastern Trains until 2006 and Southeastern to the present day.
Each of these units is formed of two coaches that have dimensions of 20.89 m × 2.81 m (68 ft 6 in × 9 ft 3 in) and a top speed of 75 mph (121 km/h).[2]
Class 466 units operate in multiple with Class 465s. They are also used as individual units on rural routes, mainly the Sheerness Line between Sittingbourne and Sheerness, displacing the Class 508/2s which operated on this branch line and on the Bromley North branch between Grove Park and Bromley North.
The Class 466s were also used on the Medway Valley line between Strood, Maidstone West and Tonbridge, and in the leaf fall and winter season of 2011, the Class 466s were doubled up to make 4 car units on the Medway Valley line to help stop the poor adhesion along the line when only a single unit runs. They also ran doubled up or coupled with a Class 465 on the Sheerness Line during the winters of 2009/10 and 2010/11. From the May 2012 timetable changes, Class 375s replaced the Class 466s on the Medway Valley line and Sheerness Branch Line.
These two-car EMUs are formed of a driving motor carriage (DMOS: Driving Motor Open Standard) and a driving trailer carriage (DTOSL: Driving Trailer Open Standard Lavatory); all on board seating is standard accommodation.[2] A Solid State Traction Converter package controls 3-phase AC Traction motors, which allows for Rheostatic or Regenerative Dynamic braking. Primary braking system is electro-pneumatically actuated disc brakes, which is blended with the Dynamic brakes. Speed Probes on every axle of the unit provide for Wheel Slip/Slide Protection. A solid-state Auxiliary Converter provides 110 V DC and 240 V AC supplies; this is the source of the loud buzzing noise which can be heard when the train is stationary. The Aux Converter is located on the driving trailer, along with the toilet. The units use air-operated sliding plug doors.
Refurbishment
The 466s were repainted by Wabtec Rail at Doncaster Works into a variation of Southeastern livery with lilac doors and midnight blue lower band.
Fleet details
Production and numbering
| Class | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 466 | Southeastern | 43 | 1993-1994 | 2 | 466001-043 |
Detailed specifications
| Specification | Sub-class | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 465/0 | 465/1 | 465/2 | 465/9 | 466 | |||
| Currently owned by | Eversholt Rail Group | Eversholt Rail Group | Angel Trains | Angel Trains | Angel Trains[1] | ||
| Operated by | Southeastern | ||||||
| Routes used on | Metro & Outer Suburban | Metro & Outer Suburban | Metro & Outer Suburban | Outer Suburban | Metro, Outer Suburban & Branch Lines | ||
| Built | 1991–1993 by BREL/ABB York | 1993–1994 by ABB York | 1991–1993 by Metro Cammell, Washwood Heath | 1991-1993 by Metro Cammell, Washwood Heath Refurbished 2005 by Wabtec, Doncaster Works |
1993–1994 by Metro Cammell, Washwood Heath | ||
| Formation | DMOS(A)-TOS-TOSL-DMOS(B) | DMOC(A)-TOS-TOSL-DMOC(B) | DMOS-DTOSL | ||||
| Construction | Welded aluminium alloy | ||||||
| Doors | Air powered sliding plug | ||||||
| Gangways | Within 4-coach unit only | Within 2-coach unit only | |||||
| Electrical Equipment | Hitachi IGBT inverter technology | GTO inverters | |||||
| Traction motors | Four Brush TIM970 three-phase induction motors of 280 kW | GEC-Alsthom G352AY three-phase induction motors of 280 kW | |||||
| Couplers | Tightlock (with underslung electrical/air connector box) | ||||||
| Suspension | Primary: spring Secondary: airbag | ||||||
| Bogies | BREL P3/T3 | SRP BP62/BT52 | BREL P3/T3 | ||||
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) | ||||||
| Dimensions | 20.89 or 20.06 m (68 ft 6 in or 65 ft 10 in) × 2.81 m (9 ft 3 in) | ||||||
| Train brakes | Primary: Disc, Secondary: Rheostatic (and Regenerative capable but currently not used) | ||||||
| Mass | 28.6–38.9 tonnes (28.1–38.3 long tons; 31.5–42.9 short tons) | ||||||
| Multiple working | Within Class 365, Class 465 and Class 466. Additionally Class 319 by use of Coupling Changeover Switch for Assistance/Rescue purposes in the Thameslink corridor only. | ||||||
As highlighted, there are many specifications that are common to both Class 465 (including sub-classes) and Class 466.
Liveries
Accidents and incidents
February 2007 collision
From the Rail Accident Investigation Branch report:[3]
On 5 February 2007 a bridge inspection unit working on the M20 motorway was deployed over a railway bridge between Maidstone Barracks and Aylesford stations. The gantry on the bridge inspection unit was struck by a scheduled passenger train, causing significant damage to the leading carriage and wrecking the gantry. The train driver and the sole passenger were slightly injured. Nobody was on the gantry at the time.
At 22:25 on 5 February 2007 Southeastern train 2T83, the 21:57 Paddock Wood to Gillingham struck the "Moog" gantry which was foul of the up line. The train was a 2 car electric unit of class 466 (466041) and was carrying a driver and one passenger.
The collision speed was 65 mph (105 km/h). The leading carriage suffered substantial damage to the cab and forward saloon areas. The driving cab roof was ripped open at the right hand side.
References
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 466. |
- - GEC-ALSTOM - Angel Trains. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- Classes 465 and 466 - Welcome to the Southern E-Group Web Site. Retrieved 17 December 2010
- "Collision between a train and a road vehicle, M20 overline bridge, Aylesford" (PDF). RAIB. September 2007. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- "Self-detrainment of passengers onto lines that were still electrically live at Lewisham, London 2 March 2018" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 25 March 2019.