SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) today announced a major milestone in the Arterio fleet rollout programme, with the 30th Arterio diagram entering service.
The 30 Arterios are now operating over 390 daily services, transforming journeys for tens of thousands of customers. The new fleet is now serving all 96 stations on SWR’s suburban network including Ascot, Barnes, Earlsfield, Feltham, Guilford, Hampton Court, Hounslow, Kingston, Putney, Reading, Richmond, Surbiton, Twickenham, Wimbledon and Woking.
Each 10-car Arterio can carry over 50% more customers than the eight-car Class 455 trains they replace, significantly increasing capacity and comfort for customers. The £1 billion investment into the new fleet also improves customer experience, with features including Wi-Fi, charging points at every seat, real time information, accessible toilets and air conditioning.
SWR has more than quadrupled the number of Arterios in service since its transfer into public ownership in May 2025, delivering a 12% increase in weekday suburban capacity into London Waterloo between 7am and 10am. Capacity has increased even further on some suburban routes, including Chessington (21%), Kingston (20%), Aldershot via Staines (24%), Reading (17%) and Shepperton (23%).
This uplift in capacity is making commuting better for the 135,000 customers who come through Waterloo each weekday, with recent industry customer surveys* showing that customer satisfaction with space on board Arterios is significantly higher (86%) than for the Class 455s they are replacing (77%).
SWR plans to introduce two more Arterios into service before Christmas and, as part of the Great British Railways brand launch on 9 December, revealed it is aiming to have three quarters of its planned Arterio schedules introduced by the end of Summer 2026.
While customers love the new blue Arterio trains, the enthusiasm for the red trains they are replacing was demonstrated recently by a special charity Class 455 Farewell tour selling out in 15 seconds. With demand so high, a second farewell train has also sold out, as more than 900 rail enthusiasts will come together on 21 December to mark the retirement of the fleet that has carried millions of customers across South West London, Berkshire and Surrey for the last 42 years.
Lawrence Bowman, Managing Director, South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex said:
"This is a major milestone for customers on our suburban railway, who are now more and more likely to catch an Arterio for their morning commute. The new trains provide a step-change in capacity, reliability and comfort for the tens of thousands of customers who travel through Waterloo every day, and their positive feedback is fantastic to see.
“Our publicly owned railway is on track to bring even more Arterios into service over the coming months, taking us ever closer to our goal of transforming every journey across our suburban network.”
Lord Hendy, Rail Minister, said:
“The introduction of the 30th Arterio train is a clear example of the kind of improvement publicly owned rail operators can deliver to put passengers first.
"The increased capacity and better on-board facilities will make journeys more comfortable, encouraging more people to choose rail.
"Through nationalisation and the establishment of Great British Railways, we're putting railways back into the service of passengers. Our reforms will drive up standards and improve accountability to make journeys easier and better value for money, so we can deliver economic growth, jobs and homes."
