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319's used for LNWR.

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Ladder23

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Hi all, I am curious to know why LNWR took on a few 319's, I believe ex thameslink. They don't seem to work routes like the 350's from what I see.. I don't really know much about why they're there so any information I am keen to hear.

thanks
 
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DarloRich

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any plans to livery them, I believe only one set at Bletchley is done

It is more than 1 set. Personally I am worried about the seat inside them rather than the paint outside them!

They work some services to tring and am peak from Northampton/mk/bletchley to euston and back in the evening peak. I think 4 x 12 car trains are in use daily
 

Ladder23

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It is more than 1 set. Personally I am worried about the seat inside them rather than the paint outside them!

They work some services to tring and am peak from Northampton/mk/bletchley to euston and back in the evening peak. I think 4 x 12 car trains are in use daily

are they in a bad way then? I have not been on a 319 since there thameslink days.
 

Silverlinky

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There are 15 units, 13 of which are required each day (4 x 12 cars and 1 x 4 for the Abbey)

Are they in a bad way?? Lets just say that LNW got what was left......some of them had been sitting around for a few years. I remember seeing pictures of one with toadstools and other plants growing on the seats!

Reliability wise they're so so, the main problem with them seems to be the two or three rogue units that suffer loss of interlock when passing trains fly by them.

Purely a short term measure to increase capacity ahead of new rolling stock.
 

apinnard

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Compared to the 350s they are bloody slow to get going and whilst rated for 100, really only manage 90mph if they're going downhill with a trailing wind and a bit of luck.
 

Bletchleyite

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They are perfectly fine.

The ex-Brighton Express 319/2s (I believe LNR now have all of this subclass, so it's quite likely that any 12-car set will contain at least one of them) are more than "fine", they have the nicest seating arrangement of any commuter EMU. Good 2+2 Chapman seating, excellent legroom at all seats and proper 2+1 First Class. Superb.
 

59CosG95

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any plans to livery them, I believe only one set at Bletchley is done
Well, from my own observations, the "one set" is none of the following:
  • 005 (Thameslink),
  • 214 (Thameslink),
  • 215 (Thameslink),
  • 216 (London Midland),
  • 219 (Thameslink),
  • 220 (Thameslink),
  • 429 (London Midland),
  • 433 (London Midland),
  • 460 (London Midland);
all of these were out this evening on the peak workings.
Further to that, an acquaintance of mine based at Kings Heath Depot (Northampton) informed me that 319217 was on an exam.
That leaves one of the following as a potential candidate for the "one set at Bletchley" - if there even are any plans to put them in LNWR livery.
  • 012 (Thameslink)
  • 013 (London Midland)
  • 218 (Thameslink)
  • 441 (London Midland)
  • 457 (London Midland).
Bear in mind that of those 5, one could have been on Abbey Flyer duties, and three could have been on the 4th evening 12-car peak time diagram.
 

MatthewRead

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From what I've heard they only have weekday diagrams on the WCML at weekends they are on standby diagrams only although with the 350/1's going in for refurbishment they should gain more regular diagrams in order to plug the gap.
 

Bletchleyite

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I wonder what this is then.

It, like the 350 behind it, is in London Midland livery with LNR stickers. (The 350 has a slightly darker grey because LM liveried them by putting stickers over the "BR blue" livery they had before and didn't repaint to the lighter grey they used on the 350/2s which had LM livery from delivery).
 

Ladder23

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I find it weird to see the untouched thameslink grey bodies still running, as much as I like it, I wonder if they're at all in the pipeline to be liveried.
 

LUYMun

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The ex-Brighton Express 319/2s (I believe LNR now have all of this subclass, so it's quite likely that any 12-car set will contain at least one of them) are more than "fine", they have the nicest seating arrangement of any commuter EMU. Good 2+2 Chapman seating, excellent legroom at all seats and proper 2+1 First Class. Superb.
I believe during their Connex days, these subclasses had lounge seating for the services between London and Brighton. I wonder if it'd be useful to have these lounge seating for the WCML services to Northampton?
3192_breakfast_bar.jpg
 

59CosG95

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I believe during their Connex days, these subclasses had lounge seating for the services between London and Brighton. I wonder if it'd be useful to have these lounge seating for the WCML services to Northampton?
View attachment 66006
No point. Connex had every intention on keeping the 319/2s on that corridor for the long term, while for WMT they're only a short term fix until the 730s arrive.
 

physics34

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Does it really matter?
It kinda does in some respects. You wonder what branding means to some companies and how important it is. Regardless of cost youd think that a private company would want their own branding/colour scheme on a unit as soon as possible..but it seems nowadays to be less and less important to companies. Therefore why dont we just go back to basic livery for all or sectorisation as in the 90s so that when trains are moved around from TOC to TOC, minimum livery alterations are needed.

I vote for the return of blue grey loool
 

Dallen

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Is anyone able to post what times they leave Euston in the evening? I think they used to be 1654/1705/1805 pre-May timetable changes but I haven’t seen them since. Trying to plan a trip down for them. Thanks
 

Starmill

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Peak capacity, basically.
You say this, but have there ever been enough 350s?

When the 319s arrived, they displaced 7 4 car class 321 units, which were cascaded to ScotRail. The fleet has only grown since, to provide increased cover.
 
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Plethora

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No point. Connex had every intention on keeping the 319/2s on that corridor for the long term, while for WMT they're only a short term fix until the 730s arrive.

Slightly OT, apologies, but I didn't want to start a new thread for a short question:

What is the plan for 350s once the 730s come in? Or will both fleets be fully used by the TOC? Would be very happy if anything could displace 319s in other parts of the country.
 
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