On the Waterloo via Hounslow loop service.

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"Suburban" Class 455 unit on the Waterloo-Waterloo via Hounslow "loop" service. Most services on weekdays use a Class 450 Desiro but weekends sees these used as much as possible, especially as all services are usually 4 car all day. As platforms at Virginia Water and Chertsey are too short, 8 car 455s are not permitted to open doors there as there is no Selective Door Opening system fitted. The Class 450s have also required a derogation from the Rail Safety & Standards Board as SDO systems that are manually set are usually not permitted, and an auto system using track-side sensors (called a balise) provides the train with information on how many doors to open.

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Managed to find a freshly refurbished Class 455/7 unit on the 1752 Waterloo-Weybridge via Hounslow. Here is the interior of the MSO vehicle. Unfortunately I didn't manage to identify the unit number.

Apart from the external repaint the following appears to have also been done:
Some seat cushions replaced.
Handrails, window surrounds and heater covers repainted.
New chrome strip below the windows.
The old now-discontinued T12 fluorescent tubes replaced by T8 ones

However:
Flooring has not been touched.
No changes to door sounders at this stage.

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This was the special launch of the refurbished Class 458/5 units, with the press invited and members of the public allowed to look around the 10-coach train (2 units). After the display there was a special non-stop 1305 service to Windsor & Eton Riverside where again the press and members of the public were welcome on board, in fact it was advertised on the station concourse.

Here 458534 is the trailing unit of the two and is a former Class 460 unit from Gatwick Express. The ends of the units have been heavily modified in order to fit in with the existing Class 458 units.

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This was the special launch of the refurbished Class 458/5 units, with the press invited and members of the public allowed to look around the 10-coach train (2 units). After the display there was a special non-stop 1305 service to Windsor & Eton Riverside where again the press and members of the public were welcome on board, in fact it was advertised on the station concourse.

There are a few interior differences compared to the old Class 458 The same type of seats are used but are in a 2+2 configuration with single seats nearest to the doors. Extra handrails are added and First Class is removed.

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