Rhydgaled
Platform Problem
Two South West Trains class 444 units, including 444043 (platformed, in the foreground, and is coupled to a second 444 to make a 10-car train) are visible in this shot of the end of a platform at Waterloo. The class 444 Desiro is an express design, unlike SWT's more-common class 450 Desiros. Unfortunately, some routes which should be worked by class 444s (eg. the Portsmouth-Waterloo fast services) are run using 450s partly for capacity reasons as the 444s have 23m coaches. Thus the 10-car set (230m) leaves some space at the end of the platform (but not enough for an 11th coach, and the front of the train can't be off the platform because the driver wouldn't be able to see the platform-end signal). The class 450 units, only really appropriate for stoppers or short-distance services, have shorter coaches (20m each) meaning a 12-car class 450 formation (240m) makes more use of the available platform length.
Platform Problem
Two South West Trains class 444 units, including 444043 (platformed, in the foreground, and is coupled to a second 444 to make a 10-car train) are visible in this shot of the end of a platform at Waterloo. The class 444 Desiro is an express design, unlike SWT's more-common class 450 Desiros. Unfortunately, some routes which should be worked by class 444s (eg. the Portsmouth-Waterloo fast services) are run using 450s partly for capacity reasons as the 444s have 23m coaches. Thus the 10-car set (230m) leaves some space at the end of the platform (but not enough for an 11th coach, and the front of the train can't be off the platform because the driver wouldn't be able to see the platform-end signal). The class 450 units, only really appropriate for stoppers or short-distance services, have shorter coaches (20m each) meaning a 12-car class 450 formation (240m) makes more use of the available platform length.