313 Railtour?

[that1pepfan]

Hi . Will there be a 313 tour for when they go

 

[Graham H]

Hi . Will there be a 313 tour for when they go

Based on likely reliability by then may I suggest Brighton to Hove and possibly back again

 

[that1pepfan]

Based on likely reliability by then may I suggest Brighton to Hove and possibly back again

Good point

I hope it's similar to the 455 tour

 

[DanNCL]

It’s a shame they no longer have AC equipment - I would have suggested a trip on the North London Line as part of a farewell tour.

 

[that1pepfan]

Maybe that's why 313217s been out so long??

It’s a shame they no longer have AC equipment - I would have suggested a trip on the North London Line as part of a farewell tour.

I'm joking BTW

If there is one it's pretty much guaranteed that 201 will be on it

 

[A0wen]

It’s a shame they no longer have AC equipment - I would have suggested a trip on the North London Line as part of a farewell tour.

Well, they could do Dalston - Highbury & Islington and Richmond - Acton Central.......

How is the line through Primrose Hill from the Watford DC services to the NLL electrified now - used to be 3rd rail, is it now OHL ?

 

[WizCastro197]

Maybe that's why 313217s been out so long??


I'm joking BTW

If there is one it's pretty much guaranteed that 201 will be on it

How come? Is it in better condition than the rest of them? Or is is the one with the British Rail (BR) livery?

I am sure they'll use whichever unit has better reliability/mileage left and if they are willing to spend the extra bit, they'll vinyl/paint it into BR livery.

 

[that1pepfan]

How come? Is it in better condition than the rest of them? Or is is the one with the British Rail (BR) livery?

I am sure they'll use whichever unit has better reliability/mileage left and if they are willing to spend the extra bit, they'll vinyl/paint it into BR livery.

One with the BR livery because its the first one to be numbered (hence 201 - 101 - 001)

 

[TheHSRailFan]

have been told after the 455 tour that BLS and Southern/GTR are on very terms and a 313 railtour with BLS doing the tickets again is highly likely. At the moment though BLS are waiting for GTR to give them a call and date.

 

[Kite159]

Hopefully it will be a bit more adventurous than the 315 farewell event in November (like the 455 tour in taking the unit to different places in the South, maybe with the odd 'unusual' track thrown in for the track bashers)

 

[that1pepfan]

If it was similar to the 315 it would probably be brighton to Seaford and back 10 times lol

 

[HamworthyGoods]

have been told after the 455 tour that BLS and Southern/GTR are on very terms and a 313 railtour with BLS doing the tickets again is highly likely. At the moment though BLS are waiting for GTR to give them a call and date.

However at the moment with the current industrial relations climate, March fares rises and general railway finances doing a railtour for charity like the 455 one is likely to raise a number of eyebrows.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Despite their foibles and many people's dislike of them, I believe the 313's should be given a good sendoff and I'm sure a nice run from Brighton to Pompy (via the Bognor Regis and Littlehampton branches) would be a fitting end.

I know the 313's will only have worked on Southern for 13 years by next May but don't forget that 313.201 will be a grand old age of 47 years. How many EMUs have ever lasted that long, and in original formation?

Of course, not everyone will agree but I would wager that if there is a tour, it would be a sellout.

 

[62484GlenLyon]

Of course, not everyone will agree but I would wager that if there is a tour, it would be a sellout.

If UKRT's GN 313 farewell tour of October 2019 is any guide it will sell quicker than hot cakes. IIRC it was fully booked in just over 24 hours.

 

[TheHSRailFan]

However at the moment with the current industrial relations climate, March fares rises and general railway finances doing a railtour for charity like the 455 one is likely to raise a number of eyebrows.

could of say the same thing about the 455 and the 315 event... but they still went ahead. I doubt it's going to raise a few eyebrows and GTR are not in a dispute with the Unions at the moment if i recall.

 

[WizCastro197]

could of say the same thing about the 455 and the 315 event... but they still went ahead. I doubt it's going to raise a few eyebrows and GTR are not in a dispute with the Unions at the moment if i recall.

GTR are very much in a dispute with unions, first just RMT but now ASLEF as well...
See this:

Southern - Industrial action

www.southernrailway.com

RMT union members at Network Rail will also be on strike 24 and 27 December, which will severely impact our services:

During the 455 event, there was no immediate threat of industrial action, I recall they may have began balloting around the same time, but nothing was truly in the way of that trip despite how expansive it was...

 

[TheHSRailFan]

GTR are very much in a dispute with unions, first just RMT but now ASLEF as well...
See this:

Southern - Industrial action

www.southernrailway.com

During the 455 event, there was no immediate threat of industrial action, I recall they may have began balloting around the same time, but nothing was truly in the way of that trip despite how expansive it was...

I didn't know that. (I haven't kept track of strike action recently due to other commitments) It was very strange when the only ASLEF strike was placed on the same day as the 315 event, however there were still many people going to it(either taking alternative transport, staying overnight or the few services where aslef weren't striking). Inconvenient but I'm pretty sure on the topic of unions with railtours... They have nothing against them.

However at the moment with the current industrial relations climate, March fares rises and general railway finances doing a railtour for charity like the 455 one is likely to raise a number of eyebrows.

I should also mention about the "Finance" part, that to me is what I was aiming mostly at in my reply to this.
The railways have never really made a "profit", If there were eyebrows raised on that aspect then it would have been all the way back with the 455 tour and 315 event. Both ran by operators who currently don't make a profit (though Crossrail/Elizabeth Line is fastly coming close to it). The point of them is to make money for charity (and what will be of the 313 tour), GTR aren't looking for profit in them. They are a large network, so a train with BLS volunteer staff and a few southern staff on board wouldn't really hurt their finance at all.

 

[that1pepfan]

I bet you any money there will be a strike the whole may so it makes it so they can't have one

 

[CEPG]

I didn't know that. (I haven't kept track of strike action recently due to other commitments) It was very strange when the only ASLEF strike was placed on the same day as the 315 event, however there were still many people going to it(either taking alternative transport, staying overnight or the few services where aslef weren't striking). Inconvenient but I'm pretty sure on the topic of unions with railtours... They have nothing against them.


I should also mention about the "Finance" part, that to me is what I was aiming mostly at in my reply to this.
The railways have never really made a "profit", If there were eyebrows raised on that aspect then it would have been all the way back with the 455 tour and 315 event. Both ran by operators who currently don't make a profit (though Crossrail/Elizabeth Line is fastly coming close to it). The point of them is to make money for charity (and what will be of the 313 tour), GTR aren't looking for profit in them. They are a large network, so a train with BLS volunteer staff and a few southern staff on board wouldn't really hurt their finance at all.

Very much so, having been involved in tour organisations myself it's mostly done on volunteer time and at nil to zero cost to the TOC. Drivers & fitters often volunteer on their overtime to do such things (especially for farewells, many of the older drivers want a chance to drive them one last time) and BLS among other tour operators often handle the ticketing and advertising, so often all the TOC has to do is give their blessings and say "go ahead" (plus provide the stock of course.) Potentially going as far as to lay on some extra staff which they have the contingent for anyway. Most TOC's also reap the benefits of positive PR from a "Charity Railtour" as most of these are.

I can assure you from things I've heard there is strong internal and external support for a 313 farewell and I'm sure in good time plans will be made and announced when ready.

 

[that1pepfan]

Very much so, having been involved in tour organisations myself it's mostly done on volunteer time and at nil to zero cost to the TOC. Drivers & fitters often volunteer on their overtime to do such things (especially for farewells, many of the older drivers want a chance to drive them one last time) and BLS among other tour operators often handle the ticketing and advertising, so often all the TOC has to do is give their blessings and say "go ahead" (plus provide the stock of course.) Potentially going as far as to lay on some extra staff which they have the contingent for anyway. Most TOC's also reap the benefits of positive PR from a "Charity Railtour" as most of these are.

I can assure you from things I've heard there is strong internal and external support for a 313 farewell and I'm sure in good time plans will be made and announced when ready.

The 455 tour was a good 3 / 4 months in advance so was the ore and more

Which were both BLS operated

 

[WizCastro197]

The 455 tour was a good 3 / 4 months in advance so was the ore and more

Although, May isn't until 5 months, I doubt any preparations have been solidly made and perhaps Southern and responsible groups have begun to think about it...

 

[that1pepfan]

Although, May isn't until 5 months, I doubt any preparations have been solidly made and perhaps Southern and responsible groups have begun to think about it...

The DFT in a FOI request said they will not be ran after may 2023

So it's confirmed

 

[CEPG]

The 455 tour was a good 3 / 4 months in advance so was the ore and more

Which were both BLS operated

i'm sure if something is finalised you will soon hear about it. Information spreads like wildfire these days...

 

[WizCastro197]

The DFT in a FOI request said they will not be ran after may 2023

So it's confirmed

I am slightly mystified by your post, did you mean: The 455 tour was announced 3/4 months before the actual date, because this is what I implied.

 

[CEPG]

The DFT in a FOI request said they will not be ran after may 2023

So it's confirmed

I would also take anything like that with a large grain of salt. The 315's were meant to go at the May 2021 timetable change and the last one went off lease yesterday...

 

[that1pepfan]

i'm sure if something is finalised you will soon hear about it. Information spreads like wildfire these days...

Yes, lol pretty much internet today (twitter)

I would also take anything like that with a large grain of salt. The 315's were meant to go at the May 2021 timetable change and the last one went off lease yesterday...

Yeah, got told on the Metro Mauruder that 313s were going in September 2022 (that didn't happen) nor did the 377/5s come lol

I am slightly mystified by your post, did you mean: The 455 tour was announced 3/4 months before the actual date, because this is what I implied.

Sorry, I was just making a point of the 455 your was realeased early, didn't mean to quote your post

 

[XCTurbostar]

As long as its £31.32 then I'm happy

 

[TheHSRailFan]

As long as its £31.32 then I'm happy

Oh it will be and its great when BLS do it!

I would also take anything like that with a large grain of salt. The 315's were meant to go at the May 2021 timetable change and the last one went off lease yesterday...

I mean with the current stock issue, I won't be surprised if they are allowed to keep them on after May 2023.

(Merry Christmas btw)

 

[Babybirdrobin]

I didn't know that. (I haven't kept track of strike action recently due to other commitments) It was very strange when the only ASLEF strike was placed on the same day as the 315 event, however there were still many people going to it(either taking alternative transport, staying overnight or the few services where aslef weren't striking). Inconvenient but I'm pretty sure on the topic of unions with railtours... They have nothing against them.

Talking of the few services running, due to living in fairly close proximity, I was driven to Shenfield before taking the Crossrail line in…

 

[TheHSRailFan]

Class 313 Farewell - Saturday 29th April 2023.
Like with the 455 Farewell, Operated by Southern (GTR), Ticketing is done by the Branch Line Society.
No further detail at the moment, Save the date!