"Colin Rosenstiel" wrote in message
...

The SWT class 458s are only one of three batches of Junipers. The others
are the class 460 Gatwick Express units and the class 334s in Glasgow.
Both seem to be much more reliable than the 458s. The official line is
that Alstom are still working on fixing the 458 problems and them
remaining in service with SWT.

There has also been the suggestion that SWT have/had a vested interest in
not getting the 458s up to the same performance standard as the 334s and
460s because they wanted an excuse to get rid of them, so that they could
operate an all 442, 455 and Desiro (444/450) railway. The growth build of
Desiros has already been cancelled/redirected to Central Trains and
Silverlink for Birmingham - Liverpool, Northampton - Birmingham and Euston -
MKC/Northampton/Rugby services.