Class 465/466
Class 465/9
In September 2004, ''Wabtec Rail Ltd'' of Doncaster was awarded a contract by leasing company ''Angel Trains'' to refurbish thirty-four Class 465/2 units, this project having been instigated by operating company ''South Eastern Trains''. The selected units were cascaded from the North Kent Line, where Class 376 ''Electrostar'' suburban units had arrived to take over on a number of intensive commuter workings. The contract was signed in October 2004 and Class 67s arrived at Slade Green depot with pairs of barrier wagons (converted BR Mk 1 vehicles) to take the units north, one by one. The first pair of units, now renumbered in the 465/9 series, arrived at Gillingham Depot on 9th March 2005 and presented a remarkable overhauled appearance. New First Class areas were incorporated in-between the cabs and door sets, providing the unit with a total of twenty-four First Class seats. Destined mainly for use on the ''Chatham'' line, brighter lighting, new seat covers and anti-graffiti treated surfaces make for a much more pleasing environment overall – vandalism was a particular enemy of the units on their North Kent Line stomping ground. The last refurbished sets were delivered to Gillingham Depot on 9th August 2005.
A two unit formation, lead by No. 465905, is seen at Newington on 30th August 2005: next stop
Rainham. The typical white, black and yellow livery first premiered in 2001 is retained, but
''First Class'' text has now appeared underneath the windows behind the cab. David Glasspool
No. 465910 is seen entering Swanley on 13th February 2006 with a Victoria to Faversham
stopping service. David Glasspool
No. 465926 trundled into Swanley a short time after No. 465910 on 13th February 2006,
but this time was forming a service just by itself. Swanley station is a good example of
Southern Railway architecture during the 1930s, with its distinctive ''W'' shaped canopies
and brick-built offices. David Glasspool
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