Tag Archives: Class 313

The end of the line beckons. The Southern Class 313s.

05 Saturday Oct 2019

Posted by in Class 313, Railways

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This blog was originally written in 2019. I’ve revised it now in 2022 as the news has broken that the Southern Class 313s will be retired this year at the December timetable change, so catch them whilst you can.

Whilst the BR designed Class 313 EMUs have finally been withdrawn from service on the Great Northern routes out of Kings Cross and Moorgate and headed off to the scrapyard 19 of the Class still hold out on Southern metals, working ‘Coastaway’ services centered on Brighton. Numbered 313201-217 and 313219-20, the units were converted and renumbered from former Silverlink Class 313/1’s that had been used on the North London and Watford DC lines before being displaced by the new Bombardier Class 378s. The 313s were refurbished at Wabtec, Doncaster where they received alterations to the seating and a Passenger Information System, but no toilets, which has proved controversial as they replaced Class 377 units which did have them fitted.

The units began operating on Southern from the May 2010 timetable change, working Eastwards from Brighton to Lewes and Seaford and West to Littlehampton. They even operated as far afield as Portsmouth in the West and Ore in the East.

The Covid era saw various services cut which have never been reinstated so the need for the fleet decreased. Nowadays the only Easterly diagrams are to Seaford and Newhaven Harbour. All other diagrams are westwards from Brighton to Hove, Littlehampton, Barnham, Bognor and Portsmouth.

The very useful ‘Part-Time spotter’ WordPress blog publishes a list of the diagrams here and also supplies daily unit allocations. Why not give them a follow? There’s currently 13 diagrams for the 19 strong fleet.

Here’s a selection of images showing their area of operations.

The first of the class, 313201, stands at Shoreham-by-Sea whilst working a service to Brighton on the 8th June 2018. This unit has been repainted by its owners (Beacon rail) in the old BR blue-grey livery, albeit with doors that are DDA compliant.
On the 13th November 2015 313202 (left) and 313217 (right) pass at Lewes whilst working Coastaway services to the East of Brighton.
It’s the 1st July 2014 and 313203 pulls away from a stop at Emsworth (East of Havant) with a Brighton bound service.
313204 arrives in Brighton from Seaford on the 11th November 2015.
It’s the 7th June 2018 and 313204 is reversing in the turnback siding at West Worthing ready to return to Brighton. A number of services from Brighton terminate at this location.
313205 at rest in Brighton Lover’s Walk sidings on the 10th November 2015.
On the 1st July 2014, 313206 comes off the Bognor Regis branch at Barnham with a service to Brighton.
With 313201 in the background, 313207 accelerates away from Worthing with a service to Brighton on the 8th June 2018.
On the same day as the previous shot, 313208 sits in platform 1 at Littlehampton before working a service back to Brighton.
On the 30th June 2014, 313209 is between trips at the single platform terminus of the Seaford branch before heading back to Brighton.
A look at the interior of 313209, showing how the original seats have been replaced with typical Southern-style seats as used in their Electostar fleet.
On the 10th November 2015 313210 sits at Brighton’s wooden platform 8 before working along the coast to Seaford with an early evening service.
313212 leaves Hove with a service to Brighton. The lines off to the left are the Cliftonville spur which carry traffic North towards London, avoiding Brighton station. 10th November 2015.
On the same day and looking in the opposite direction to the previous picture, 313213 pulls out of Hove station with a Brighton service.
It’s the 30th June 2014 and 313214 (left) and 313208 sit in platforms 2 and 1 which are used exclusively by trains heading to Hove and the West.
Another view of platforms 1 and 2 taken on the same day as the previous picture, only this time the units are 313203 (left) and 313215 (right).
A shot of the promotional branding applied to 313215.
On the 24th July 2019 313216 calls at Angmering (West of Brighton) with the service back to the South coast town.
313217 leaves Hastings and prepares to enter the tunnel towards St Leonards Warrior Square whilst working a Brighton service on the 12th November 2015.
Before Covid the 313s used to get as far East as the end of the 3rd rail at Ore on the line from Hastings to Ashford. Here’s 313217 after reversal at Ore with a service back to Brighton on the 12th November 2015.
313219 rounds the curve past the old goods yard which in now a housing estate as it approaches Goring-by-Sea station from the West on the 8th June 2018.
On the 30th June 2014 313220 arrives at Newhaven Town whilst working a service to Seaford.

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The twilight of the Class 313s (part 2). NLL and DC lines services in London.

31 Wednesday Oct 2018

Posted by in Class 313, London, Rail Investment, Railways

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Whilst the Class 313s that still operate Great Northern services are being withdrawn and replaced by Siemens built Class 717s, there was an earlier extinction in London, but this time the units didn’t head to the scrapyard, only the South Coast!

In 1985 17 Class 313s (313001-017) were transferred from Great Northern services and sent to work the DC lines from Euston to Watford Junction. To do this, they were fitted with extra shoegear. Later, other units followed to take over North London Line services from the Class 416s. All the units were were renumbered to 313101- 313117, 313119-123 and 313134. At the advent of privatisation they were operated by Silverlink and continued to work both routes until 2010, when they were replaced by the Bombardier built Class 378 ‘Capitalstars’. Here’s a selection of pictures from their Silverlink and Lorol days.

10721. 313101. Stratford Low Level. 10.6.02

313101 pulls away from a weed chocked Stratford Low Level station on the 10th June 2002. This section of line was later converted to become part of the Docklands Light Railway.

12111. 313102. Watford - Euston local. North Wembley. 04.04.03.

On the 4th April 2003, 313102 stops at North Wembley on the Watford DC lines with a service to Euston.

RG08147.

On the 13th September 2006 a trio of Class 313s sit inside Willesden depot. From L-R are 313104, 313115 and 313106

DG03337. 313105. 450056. Clapham Junction. 2.5.05

313105 arrives at Clapham Junction and passes a South-West Trains Class 450 on the 2nd May 2005.

 

DG29846. 313106. Gospel Oak. 31.7.09.

313106 calls at Gospel Oak on the North London Line on the 31st July 2009.

DG08583. 313107. North Woolwich. 4.12.06.

313107 sits at North Woolwich with a service for Richmond on the 4th December 2006. This station and the line as far as Stratford closed 5 days later.

DG08572. 313108. Albert Rd. Silvertown. E London. 4.12.06.

313108 trundles towards North Woolwich past Albert Rd in Silvertown on the 4th December 2006, just five days before the line closed. After being abandoned for several years, this track-bed is now part of Crossrail – although at this point Crossrail’s disappeared underground!

DG05131. 313109. Willesden Jn. 15.12.05.

On the 15th December 313109 rounds the sharp curves at Willesden Junction on the North London line as it works a service from Stratford to Richmond.

10901. 313110. Watford Jn. 28.7.02.

313110 arrives at Watford junction through weed-chocked tracks on the 28th July 2002.

DG01530. 313111. West Hampsted. 28.7.04.

313111 arrives at West Hampstead on the North London line with a service to Richmond on the 28th July 2004.

DG29836. 313112. Caledonian Rd and Barnsbury. 31.7.09.

313112 pulls away from Caledonian Rd and Barnsbury on the North London line and heads for Highbury and Islington (seen in the distance) on the 31st July 2009. At this time the NLL was being expanded and the tracks to the left of the train doubled.

DG08564. 313113. Silvertown. E London. 4.12.06.

Back on the old North Woolwich line on the 4th December 2006 and 313113 is about to enter the 600 yard long Silvertown tunnel on its way to Stratford. The air of neglect is easy to see from this photo. The tunnel is now part of Crossrail.

DG22797. 313114. Euston. 15.5.09.

On the 15th May 2009, 313114 arrives at Euston from Watford Junction. Notice the Silverlink branding has been replaced by white London Overground panels.

DG54401. 313115. South Hampstead. 11.6.10.

Moving forward to the 11th June 2010 and the 313s are gradually being displaced by the Bombardier built Class 378s. Here’s 313115 approaching South Hampstead on the DC lines with a service for Euston.

DG12405. 313116. Kensington Olympia. 14.9.07.

A driver takes a swig of his cuppa whilst 313116 stops at Kensington Olympia on a Williseden Jn – Clapham Junction service on the 14th September 2007.

DG41334. 313117. Kentish Town West. 4.12.09.

On the 4th December 2009, 313117 arrives at Kentish Town West on the North London Line.

 

09959. 313119. Clapham Jn. 10.12.01.

313119 is captured at Clapham Junction and framed by a superb winters sunset on the 10th December 2001.

DG03169. 313120. 2012 livery. Euston. 16.4.05.

On the 16th April 2005, 313120 was presented to the press at Euston in a special ‘back the bid’ livery, supporting London’s bid to host the 2012 Olympic games.

DG54376. 313121. South Hampstead. 11.6.10.

313121 passes under the bridge carrying Chiltern lines services to/from Marylebone at South Hampstead on the 11th June 2010 whilst working a DC lines service to Watford Junction. This unit stayed in the London area as it was converted to a ERTMS signalling test bed for use on the Hertford loop.

DG08596. 313122. Custom House. 4.12.06.

The area doesn’t look like this anymore! 313122 pulls into Custom House station on the North Woolwich branch on the 4th December 2006. Crossrail tracks now cover the site whilst 122 went back to old haunts, helping strengthen Moorgate services on the Great Northern.

DG35564. 313123. 378013. Caledonian Rd and Barnsbury. 28.9.09.

Old and new. 313123 passes one of its replacements in the shape of ‘Capitalstar’ 378013 (built as a 3-car) outside Caledonian Rd & Barnsbury on the 28th September 2009. 123 has also stayed in London as it was transferred back to Great Northern service.

DG54443. Tube and 313134. Kensal Green. 11.6.10.

– and finally…On the 11th June 2006, 313134 emerges from the 320yd long, single bore tunnels at Kensal Green on the DC lines, passing a Bakerloo line train working in the opposite direction. The two very different types of train shared the same tracks between Queens Park and Harrow and Wealdstone.

 

 

 

The twilight of the Class 313s (part 1)

15 Monday Oct 2018

Posted by in Class 313, Railways

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(updated with new pictures and information on the 9th April 2019)

In the next few years several familiar types of train will disappear from the UK network. One such fleet is the BR built Class 313 EMU which is currently the oldest surviving electric multiple unit on the UK mainland. The class were a development of the experimental PEP EMUs tested on the Southern region. Built at York, the 313s were introduced to the newly electrified East Coast Main Line in 1976 to work inner suburban services from Kings Cross and Moorgate to Hertford North, Welwyn Garden City and Letchworth Garden City.

Now, 42 years later, they’re about to be replaced by the new Siemens built Class 717s, which will offer a step-change in comfort. This blog will look back on the 313s lives and times and some of the services they’ve operated across London (and elsewhere) over the years…

DG298137. 313201. Shoreham-by-Sea. 8.6.18crop

The first of the 64 strong fleet was 313001. Now numbered 201 and owned by Beacon Rail who’ve repainted it into a version of the original BR livery, the unit works Southern services along the South coast, along with 18 of its brethren.  It’s seen at Shoreham-by-Sea on the 8th June 2018.

Let’s take a look at the units working the services they were originally built for, the Great Northern services.

DG00043. 313061. Harringay. 12.2.04crop

NSE liveried 313061 calls at Harringay station on the 12th February 2004

DG00523. Catching the 16.20. Moorgate. 19.4.04.crop

Catching the 16:20 to Stevenage from Moorgate on the 19th April 2004. Note the new high back seats fitted in place of the originals.

DG00817. 313053. Stevenage. 6.5.04.crop

313053 stands at Stevenage after working in from Moorgate on the 6th May 2004. The unit’s still in NSE livery although most of the GN units were in white undercoat by this stage.

DG01565. 313039. Alexandra Palace. 10.8.04.crop

On the 10th August 2004 Undercoat liveried 313039 trails one of the handful of NSE liveried units through Alexandra Palace on their way to Moorgate.

DG01929. 313043. Harringay. 24.9.04.crop

313043 arrives at Harringay on the 24th September 2004. This was one of 5 units advertising the WAGN family travelcard.

DG02311. 313058. Moorgate. 6.1.05.crop

313058 sits at Moorgate before working a service to Hertford North on the 6th January 2005.

DG04134. 313026. Crews Hill. 12.8.05.crop

Sporting WAGN’s new deep purple livery, 313036 calls at Crews Hill on the line from Hertford East on the 12th August 2005.

DG06919. 313052. Hitchin. 24.7.06.crop

A year later on the 24th July 2006 313052 calls at Hitchin en-route to Moorgate. The units in WAGN liver but sporting First Capital Connect branding. FCC had taken over the franchise in the 1st April 2006.

DG16969. 313063. 313042. Alexandra Palace. 11.6.08.crop

Fast forward to the 11th June 2008 and all the 313s had FCCs ‘Urban lights’ vinyls applied. I’ve always thought this livery suited them very well. Here’s 313063 and 313042 passing at Alexandra Palace.

DG39627. 313027. Harringay. 11.11.09.crop

On November 11th 2009 313027 pulls away from Harringay with a service for Welwyn Garden City.

DG49622. 313018. Essex Rd. 22.4.10.crop

After 23 of the fleet were converted for duties on the North London line, 313018 became the lowest numbered 313/0. It’s seen here arriving at Old St on the 22nd April 2010 whilst working a service to Moorgate

DG174921. Interior. 313043. 1.4.14.crop

Here’s the interior of 313134 with the original low backed seating on the 1st April 2014. This is one of three ex NLL units that were transferred back to GN services after the units were displaced by Class 378s. The two others are 313122 and 313123.

DG186308. 313054. Welwyn Garden City. 14.7.14.crop

On the 14th July 313054 waits to work back to Moorgate from Welwyn Garden City

DG194581. 313030. 313029. Kings Cross. 21.9.14.crop

313030 and 313029 stand at London Kings Cross on the 21st September 2014. This shot shows of the flat front ends to good effect.

DG261483. TSGN pax. Highbury and Islington. Drayton Park. 12.12.16crop

How many passengers saw the 313s. An unidentified unit pulls into Highbury and Islington on the 12th December 2016.

DG261549. 313043. Drayton Park. 13.12.16crop

13th December 2016. 313043 stands at Drayton park on the Moorgate branch. It’s at this station the units switch over from the overheads to the 3rd rail (or vice versa).

DG290780. 313033. Alexandra Palace. 28.2.18crop

The 313s have carried commuters in all weathers for over 40 years. Here’s 313033 in a snowstorm at Alexandra Palace on the 28th February 2018.

If you want to know more about the new Siemens Class 717 trains that are replacing the 313s, have a look at this blog. I visited the German factory where they were build and also had a run on one on the Wildenrath test track.

UPDATE: 9th April 2019

Yesterday, the first member of the class to be withdrawn was towed away from Hornsey depot to Sims Metals, Newport, for scrapping. 313026 was hauled by 57312 as 5Q56, the 105:4 Hornsey E.M.U.D. to Newport Docks. It left slightly later than planned due to a few technical issues, but here’s pictures of it passing Finsbury Park in very gloomy weather.

DG320874crop

DG320879CROP

Withdrawals are expected to pick up pace now that three of the new Class 717’s are in service. This evening, another unit (possibly 313050) may be going to Booths scrapyard in Rotherham (link) whilst 313055 is expected to be the next to go, this time heading off to Kingsbury on Thursday. Needless to say, the usual caveats apply to these workings, which can’t be confirmed as certain to happen.

So, if you want to see or ride these trains, now’s the time because this is how Moorgate services are going to look in the future…

DG320840crop

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