How can a 455 be a special.

[richard222]

Right, while standing on Wimbledon station at around 17:30 today, I was greeted to an odd sight. For those of you that know wimbledon you'll know what I mean if I say it has 4 platforms in the classic FAST inside SLOW outside line setup. Basically, Platforms 6 and 7 are the fast, nonstop platforms. Basically, what surprised me was to see two Class 455s run through at around 20mph on the ONLY Down Fast (OK Down towards Surbiton not Waterloo!) with the Displays saying 'Special'. Okay I know this is probably just an ECS move but I wondered why it was running 'Special' rather than 'Not in Service' as is the norm for ECS moves. The only other option I can guess is routine maintenance at a depot OR problems with the refurb. But why would they do this at Peak hours, not being dragged or not at speed (no speed limit as 444s/450s/159s regularly bomb through at at least 60-70mph.

Yet after that i was slightly hacked off when SWT announced they had had to cut the Woking stopper @ 17:36 to 4 cars. For those of you who know, Its a proper busy service, and there was no seating throughout the length of the journey.


Anyway rant over, any ideas about the top one.

[spartacus]

Since the Hampton Court Palace flower show has started I guess it's one of the specials for that.

[jennings]

I have seen several with Special in the destination screens over the past 9 months - I guess its just the driver having a bit of fun.

[nukem]

richard222 the 455's that you saw were running specials to the hampton court flower show what they were doing in the mornings were running non stop from waterloo to hampton court then running empy back to waterloo to do the same thing again and they were displaying special in one window and hampton ct. in the other and in the afternoons they were running from waterloo to hampton court empty and then special from hampton court to waterloo.

SWT still had the normal stoppers working between hampton court and waterloo in both directions but they were opperating the fasts to ease congestion on the trains because if they weren't opperating them then it would be impossible to get on that service any whee other than hampton court or waterloo i had to work one of the stoppers and i tell you it was impossible to walk through the train at hampton court it was just a sea of people as soon as i opened to doors.

Alan

[richard222]

Aaah. Many thanks for the clarification. Still find it odd they didn't open it to passengers between say Waterloo - Surbiton, but oh well!

[ajax103]

I have seen several with Special in the destination screens over the past 9 months - I guess its just the driver having a bit of fun.

Very true, although it may be the station staff having a bit of fun with the driver as well