Great Northern 317s

[Skimble19]

Not seen anything posted about this yet but just spotted a 317 in a revised GN livery... Wasn't even aware they were getting done!

Apologies for the poor quality of the image but it was done in a rush - wasn't expecting to see this!

Edit: no idea why but the forum seems to have decided to rotate the image..

 

[XCTurbostar]

I wasn't aware of this either. I'm sure someone knows why this is happening!
Here is a rotated image for you

http://c1.staticflickr.com/1/288/18331997508_9d029cd18d_k.jpg

Not my image but a good reference.

Thanks,
Ross

 

[jopsuk]

that's rather attractive- looks like the "full" AGA livery but with blue doors

 

[prod_pep]

Looks quite nice and an improvement on the FCC livery IMO.

Are there any plans to do the 313s any time soon? These are looking very scruffy these days. I know they won't be around on the GN for too much longer but even so, they can't be proud of the 313 exteriors at present.

 

[Manchester77]

Has anything been done to them internally?

 

[physics34]

very nice!!!

 

[A-driver]

Looks nice and new but is very impractical and likely to cause more backlash from the drivers. There have been numerous complaints about 365s painted white as they make the monitors impossible to see in sunlight due to the white reflection. It was requested that cabs on future units are painted black to stop this being an issue. Isn't a problem with FCC liveried units.

 

[MrPIC]

I reckon they'll be going to GA at some point, as pointed out its essentially the GA new livery but with blue doors!

 

[TheNewNo2]

Looks quite nice and an improvement on the FCC livery IMO.

Are there any plans to do the 313s any time soon? These are looking very scruffy these days. I know they won't be around on the GN for too much longer but even so, they can't be proud of the 313 exteriors at present.

I always liked the FCC livery, the only problem is that, yes, they are horribly scruffy now.

 

[prod_pep]

I always liked the FCC livery, the only problem is that, yes, they are horribly scruffy now.

I do agree with you - FCC livery looked good when it was first introduced, and it was well ahead of the WAGN purple. The vinyls on the 313s just haven't endured well unfortunately, not surprising given the amount of graffiti these units seem to suffer. Hopefully the 313s can be tarted up one last time before they leave the GN.

 

[causton]

Looks a bit retro to me with the stripe at the bottom and the window surrounds! Contrasts weirdly with the new logo... looks quite good actually!

 

[SPADTrap]

Has anything been done to them internally?

Sadly not.

 

[whoosh]

Looks nice and new but is very impractical and likely to cause more backlash from the drivers. There have been numerous complaints about 365s painted white as they make the monitors impossible to see in sunlight due to the white reflection. It was requested that cabs on future units are painted black to stop this being an issue. Isn't a problem with FCC liveried units.

I notice they have painted around all the windows except the Driver's window - where it's actually needed for a practical purpose!

 

[jopsuk]

having seen this today at Cambridge, with an AGA example to compare against, the bottom stripe and window surrounds are indeed exactly the same (in colour and in position) as on the AGA livery. Curious

 

[Skimble19]

having seen this today at Cambridge, with an AGA example to compare against, the bottom stripe and window surrounds are indeed exactly the same (in colour and in position) as on the AGA livery. Curious

Without wishing to read into that too much it would suggest a very easy potential transfer to AGA in a couple of years when they're no longer needed on GN... Change the doors to red and you're done.

 

[physics34]

I do agree with you - FCC livery looked good when it was first introduced, and it was well ahead of the WAGN purple. The vinyls on the 313s just haven't endured well unfortunately, not surprising given the amount of graffiti these units seem to suffer. Hopefully the 313s can be tarted up one last time before they leave the GN.

Yeh the vinyls lost their 'sheen' reasonably quickly and it made them look scruffy.

 

[A-driver]

having seen this today at Cambridge, with an AGA example to compare against, the bottom stripe and window surrounds are indeed exactly the same (in colour and in position) as on the AGA livery. Curious

Pretty sure it was liveried in ilford so probably the same design. I saw it pulling a 365 into Hornsey the other day. They often tow refurbished 365s to Ilford and back with a 317

 

[TheNewNo2]

Without wishing to read into that too much it would suggest a very easy potential transfer to AGA in a couple of years when they're no longer needed on GN... Change the doors to red and you're done.

AGA already have 317s they don't use, why would they want more?

 

[387star]

This is the perfect neutral livery... I can only guess Ilford saved costs by painting the same basic livery as aga it looks great and easier to keep clean

Regarding 317s Out of interest what were the 317/8s known as before transfer to Stansted express duties and what were their duties prior to conversion... have 379s replaced 317/7 and 317/8s?

Finally is the upholstery in the /8s AstroTurf like southern?

 

[317666]

This is the perfect neutral livery... I can only guess Ilford saved costs by painting the same basic livery as aga it looks great and easier to keep clean

Regarding 317s Out of interest what were the 317/8s known as before transfer to Stansted express duties and what were their duties prior to conversion... have 379s replaced 317/7 and 317/8s?

Finally is the upholstery in the /8s AstroTurf like southern?

The 317/8s, along with the /5s, were known as /1s (like the GN ones still are) and were used on Cambridge/Hertford trains, as well as 12 which were hired to Thameslink for a while when there was a route blockade. ONE refurbished 15 units to become /5s to remain on Cambridge/Hertford trains, and 12 to become /8s to join the /7s on Stansted Express. The upholstery is quite soft, not AstroTurf like Southern.

The 379s replaced the /7s and /8s on Stansted Express duties and under National Express they joined the /5 and /6 pool, but after Abellio took over the /7s went off-lease.

 

[387star]

Thanks so what happened to free 317s to become /8s? Guess a few were originally replaced by 365s in WAGN days or before

 

[SPADTrap]

The 317/8s, along with the /5s, were known as /1s (like the GN ones still are) and were used on Cambridge/Hertford trains, as well as 12 which were hired to Thameslink for a while when there was a route blockade. ONE refurbished 15 units to become /5s to remain on Cambridge/Hertford trains, and 12 to become /8s to join the /7s on Stansted Express. The upholstery is quite soft, not AstroTurf like Southern.

The 379s replaced the /7s and /8s on Stansted Express duties and under National Express they joined the /5 and /6 pool, but after Abellio took over the /7s went off-lease.

GNS are the mk1 317 but numbered /3s do you mean? Or have I misinterpreted that?

 

[hairyhandedfool]

Thanks so what happened to free 317s to become /8s? Guess a few were originally replaced by 365s in WAGN days or before

WAGN sub-leased some 317/1s to Thameslink during the nine month St Pancras Blockade (they had previously been sub-leased to LTS). They returned in 2006, just in time to allow some 317s to become 317/8.

 

[317666]

GNS are the mk1 317 but numbered /3s do you mean? Or have I misinterpreted that?

They are numbered 3xx, but as-built 301-348 were classified /1 and 349-372 were classified /2. As the GN units are the only ones not to have been re-numbered, I'm guessing they're still classified as /1!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

GNS are the mk1 317 but numbered /3s do you mean? Or have I misinterpreted that?

The 317/1 units were 317301-317348, the 317/2s were 317349-317372. the 317/2 units have all since been renumbered in the 3176xx series

 

[SPADTrap]

Thanks for that

 

[bramling]

Thanks so what happened to free 317s to become /8s? Guess a few were originally replaced by 365s in WAGN days or before

The first batch of 25 365s (517-541) replaced what was intended to be an equivalent number of 317/1s to LTS. In the event, I think only 17 were ever transferred.

If my memory is right, these 17 317s returned to the WAGN in time for the WAGN/'One' split. They were then transferred to 'One' when the second batch of 365s (501-516) arrived from South Eastern Trains, spending some time on Thameslink in the interim during the St Pancras blockade.

 

[muddythefish]

Yeh the vinyls lost their 'sheen' reasonably quickly and it made them look scruffy.

With the 319s heading north the 317s have taken over the mantle of the worst EMU stock in the southe east. These truly dreadful units ought to be scrapped but will no doubt be foisted on poor northern commuters at some point over the next 10 years.

 

[Bletchleyite]

With the 319s heading north the 317s have taken over the mantle of the worst EMU stock in the southe east. These truly dreadful units ought to be scrapped but will no doubt be foisted on poor northern commuters at some point over the next 10 years.

They are no more or less dreadful than any Mk3 EMU. How nice they are for the user depends on what seating layout is installed (window alignment aside, but they are by no means the only unit with that issue).

 

[jon0844]

They're fine. Sure, there are some places you might not want to sit (noise wise) but you learn that very quickly. They're comfortable enough and pretty fast.

Edit: Guess what I saw this evening?