British Rail Class 319
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The British Rail Class 319 electric multiple units were built by BREL York in two batches from 1987-1988 and 1990. The trains were introduced for new north-south cross-London services from Bedford to Brighton, and since privatisation the aforementioned services have been operated by Thameslink and First Capital Connect, the former TOC having been merged with 'wagn' to form the latter TOC at 0200 BST on 1st April 2006 as a result of refranchising. These units have dual power pickup, from either 25 kv AC overhead for services north of London, or 750 V DC third rail to the south. However, some units were used only on outer suburban services in South London.
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[edit] Description
In the 1980s, there were plans for a rail service that would link Bedford and Brighton. These services would cross London in a north-south direction, and thus became the first cross-London service. These services were branded as Thameslink by Network SouthEast, which operated the services.
Before the Thameslink service became operational in 1988, stations along the Midland Main Line north of London were served by Class 317 electric multiple units, which were introduced in 1981. This had necessitated the electrification (using 25 kV AC overhead) of the line between Bedford and London St. Pancras, and also of the branch to Moorgate. This service was therefore commonly known as the "Bed-Pan" service. Key destinations included Bedford, Luton, St Albans, Moorgate, and of course London St. Pancras itself.
Two sub-classes of Class 319 units were originally built. Over the years, units have been refurbished, creating five sub-classes, of which four still exist.
Due to the fact that the Thameslink service was to utilise a route that had 25kV AC OHLE north of Farringdon (and along the branch to Moorgate) and 750V DC third-rail electrification (south of Farringdon), the Class 319 fleet were built with dual-voltage capabilities, making them very versatile.
[edit] Class 319/0
The first batch of 60 units, built in 1987-1988, were classified as Class 319/0. Units were numbered in the range 319001-060 and had a maximum speed of 100 mph. Each unit consisted of four carriages; two outer driving trailer, an intermediate motor with a pantograph, and an intermediate trailer. Seating was second-class only in a mixture of 2+2 and 2+3 layouts. The technical description of the unit formation is DTSO+MSO+TSOL+DTSO. Individual vehicles were numbered as follows:
- 77291-77381 (odd) and 77431-77457 (odd) - DTSO
- 62891-62936 and 62961-62974 - MSO
- 71772-71817 and 71866-71879 - TSOL
- 77290-77380 (even) and 77430-77456 (even) - DTSO
Vehicles were numbered in two range, corresponding to units 319001-046 and 319047-060. The gaps in the numbers (e.g. 77382-77429) were filled by the Class 442 units, which were being built around the same period.
These units were built for long-distance cross-London services between Bedford and Brighton. Services used the Midland Main Line between Bedford and London, and the Brighton Main Line between London and Brighton. Trains crossed London by means of the reopened Snow Hill Tunnel between Farringdon and London Blackfriars. Units were painted in Network SouthEast livery from new.
When privatisation came, however, the first 13 (319001-319013) were used for outer suburban services on Connex South Central (now Southern), some losing their 25kv AC overhead equipment, although since then the equipment has been refitted. 319014-319020 were rebuilt into 319214-319220; see Class 319/2 below for details.
[edit] Class 319/1
The second batch of 26 units, built in 1990, were classified as Class 319/1. Units were numbered in the range 319161-186. The formation of the second batch sets was similar to that of the earlier units, except there was a provision of first class seating in one of the driving vehicles. Like the first batch, seating was also a mixture to 2+2 and 2+3 layouts in second class, with 2+2 seating in first class. Thus, each unit was formed DTCO+MSO+TSOL+DTSO. Individual vehicles were numbered as follows:
- 77459-77497 (odd) and 77973-77983 (odd) - DTCO
- 63043-63062 and 63093-63098 - MSO
- 71929-71948 and 71979-71984 - TSOL
- 77458-77496 (even) and 77972-77984 (even) - DTSO
Vehicles were numbered in two range, corresponding to units 319161-180 and 319181-186.
These units were built for "Metro" services linking Luton (north of London) to several destinations in South London, including West Croydon and Sutton.
[edit] Current operations
Following privatisation of British Rail, the Class 319 fleet was divided between two operators. Thameslink inherited the majority of the fleet, with units 319021-060 and 319161-186. Connex South Central inherited a small fleet of twenty units, nos. 319001-020. Since then, Connex had been stripped of their TOC, which was then re-franchised to Govia and subsequently renamed South Central and thereafter Southern, whereas Thameslink (which was itself a Govia franchise until April 2006) has become part of First Capital Connect.
[edit] Southern
Seven of the Class 319/0 sets (319014-319020) were rebuilt into Class 319/2s (319214-319220) and dedicated to Brighton Express services from London Victoria to Brighton. (Class 377 units now operate all of these services). These units were rebuilt with low-density interiors by Railcare Wolverton.
When Class 377/3 "Electrostar" units replaced them on Brighton Express services, the seven Class 319/2 units were cascaded on to peak only London-Guildford via West Croydon and London-Horsham via Three Bridges services, although since then these units were displaced by the 319/0 sub-class.
As part of a long term loan agreement, Southern is currently hiring 8 of its Class 319/0 units to First Capital Connect.
[edit] Thameslink (now First Capital Connect)
Under privatisation, Thameslink went about refurbishing its units. The Class 319/1s were rebuilt by Railcare Wolverton into the Class 319/3s, which included removing First Class accommodation. These units are used on Thameslink CityMetro services from Luton to Wimbledon around the Sutton loop. These units are numbered 319361-319386.
The Class 319/0s it owned were rebuilt into Class 319/4s (with First Class accommodation added) for dedicated use on Thameslink Cityflier services from Bedford to Brighton, and were subsequently renamed 319421-319460. Since then the fleet had undergone a minor refurbishment and Thameslink also initiated a programme of technical improvements. First Capital Connect has continued the refurbishment initiated by Thameslink, although it has altered the comestic features to its specifications.
As mentioned above, First Capital Connect is sub-leasing 8 Class 319/0 units from Southern.
[edit] Trivia
A pair of Class 319s (008 and 009) are famous for 2 reasons:
- They were used to operate the first passenger service in the Channel Tunnel as an enthusiast charter, although they only ran a short distance into the tunnel before returning.
- Before the Speed Run of 2005 by Southern trains 377472 and 377474, they had set a (then current) London-Brighton speed record of around 37 minutes 54 seconds in 199. The new record is 36 minutes 56 seconds.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- TheRailwayCentre - Class 319.
- Technical descriptions of trains used by First Capital Connect
- thejunction.org.uk - list of Class 319 trains in operation
- thejunction.org.uk - fleet changes in April
