British Rail Class 466

British Rail Class 466
*Networker*
British Rail Class 466; Networker
	Southeastern Class 466 at Ashford International
In service	1993–present
Manufacturer	Metro-Cammell
Built at	Washwood Heath, Birmingham
Family name	Networker
Replaced	Class 415; Class 416; Class 423; Class 508;
Constructed	1993–1994
Refurbished	2011–2013 at Wabtec Doncaster
Number built	43
Number in service	31
Successor	Class 707
Formation	2 cars per unit: DMSO-DTSO
Fleet numbers	466001–466043
Capacity	168 seats
Owners	Angel Trains
Operators	Current:; Southeastern; Former:; Network SouthEast; Connex South Eastern; South Eastern Trains; Southeastern (Govia);
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	20.80 m (68 ft 3 in)
Width	2.80 m (9 ft 2 in)
Height	3.77 m (12 ft 4 in)
Doors	Double-leaf sliding plug; (2 per side per car)
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	DM vehs.: 40.6 t (40.0 long tons; 44.8 short tons); DT vehs.: 31.4 t (30.9 long tons; 34.6 short tons);
Traction system	GEC Alsthom GTO-VVVF
Traction motors	4 × 3-phase AC; GEC Alsthom G352AY
Power output	1,120 kW (1,500 hp)
Electric system(s)	750 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)	Contact shoe
UIC classification	Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Bogies	Powered: SRP BP58; Unpowered: SRP BT49;
Braking system(s)	Electro-pneumatic (disc) and rheostatic/regenerative
Safety system(s)	AWS; TPWS;
Coupling system	Tightlock
Multiple working	Within class, and with Class 465
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 466 Networker is a fleet of 43 electric multiple units that were built by Metro-Cammell in 1993 and 1994. The units are currently operated by Southeastern.

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.^[5] As part of the privatisation of British Rail, all were sold to Angel Trains.^[1] They were operated by Network SouthEast until 1996, 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).^[5]

Class 466 units operate in multiple with Class 465s. They were historically 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. However, owing to their non-compliance with accessibility standards, since 1 January 2021 they may only run coupled to a Class 465 unit.^[6]

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 from December 2019 on the Sheerness Branch Line.

These two-car EMUs are formed of a driving motor carriage (DMSO: Driving Motor Standard Open) and a driving trailer carriage (DTSO, with lavatory); all on-board seating is standard accommodation.^[5] 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.

Some are scheduled to be replaced by Class 707s,^[7] with two hauled to Worksop for store by Harry Needle Railroad Company in June 2021.^[8]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Fleet details

Units:
Class	Operator	Qty.	Year built	Cars per unit	Unit numbers
466	Southeastern	31	1993–1994	2	466002–466004, 466006-466008, 466011–466012, 466014-466015, 466018–466023, 466025–466026, 466028–466029, 466031, 466034–466043^{[citation needed]}
466	Stored	12	1993–1994	2	466001, 466005, 466009-466010, 466013, 466016-466017, 466024, 466027, 466030, 466032-466033,^[9]

Vehicle number ranges:^[6]
DMSO	DTSO
64860–64902	78312–78354

Accidents and incidents

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 466041 working a Paddock Wood to Gillingham service, 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.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h "Class 466 - South Eastern". London: Angel Trains. Archived from the original on 18 April 2019.
^ "Southeastern to bring Class 707s to London from Autumn 2021". RailAdvent. 5 July 2021. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
^ ^a ^b Train Operating Manual: Classes 365, 465, 466. Harrogate: Connex South Eastern. January 1998. p.A.6.
^ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Classes 465 and 466". Southern E-Group. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
^ ^a ^b Hotchkiss, Jeremy (20 November 2019). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 – Class 466 2020 accessibility deadline" (PDF). Letter to Angel Trains Limited. London: Department for Transport. RFSPEC 16/23/2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
^ "Southeastern to take Class 707s". Rail Express. No. 289. June 2020. p. 9.
^ "Class 465 & 466 Networker units put into store". Rail Express. No. 303. August 2021. p. 30.
^ Russell, David (May 2024). "GTR to lease Class 379s from Porterbrook". Units. Rail Express. No. 336. p. 22.
^ Rail Accident Report 36/2007: Collision between a train and a road vehicle, M20 overline bridge, Aylesford, 5 February 2007 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. September 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2023.