New Train Stock Unused Due to Lack of Trained Drivers
South Western Railway's Arterio fleet sits idle in Clapham Junction
One of the new Arterio trains. Picture: SWR
March 19, 2025
Most of a fleet of trains costing £1billion is still unused by South Western Railway (SWR) as the rollout is being delayed by a shortage of trained drivers.
90 of the new Arterio stock was purchased in 2019 but it is understood that only 5 are so far in service.
The introduction of the new trains was expected to revolutionise the service on busy commuter lines into Waterloo replacing the existing 40-year-old 8-carriage stock with 10-carriage walk through trains.
The fleet has been plagued with a range of problems such as manufacturing delays, software issues and ASLEF train drivers saying that the large windscreen wipers were unsafe as they obstructed their view. According to the Daily Telegraph this objection was dropped as part of a pay deal agreed with the government.
Commuters in local stations can occasionally spot the new trains with a service between Shepperton calling at Putney station at 6:30am outbound from Waterloo and 8:15am on the way back. There are no morning rush hour arrivals on the Hounslow Loop although a train to Weybridge calls at station on this section of the line arriving at Chiswick at 10:10am and returning at 11:40am.
Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Wandsworth Liberal Democrats, Joshua Hughes, said, “It’s astonishing that these brand-new trains are sitting in a depot while commuters are left crammed onto outdated, overcrowded carriages. After years of delays, passengers deserve answers – not more excuses. And to add insult to injury, they’ve just been hit with another rail fare increase while being denied the service improvements they were promised.”
The delays come as fares on the network rose by 4.6% this month bring the cost of an annual season ticket for London Zones 1-6 to £3,264.
SWR says that it is implementing a phased roll out of the new fleet that will continue until 2026 but is not giving specific details of when the new trains will be brought into service.
A spokesperson for the company said, “We are sorry that the Arterio rollout is taking longer than previously expected. We are continuing to work with all our stakeholders as we seek to speed up the training programme and to deliver the customer benefits of the new Arterio trains as quickly as possible.”
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