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Oldest complete set of multiple units still in service

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LiftFan

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I've been wondering - What would be the oldest complete set of trains still in service? That means none scrapped, none stored and all working in active service (or being refurbished). I know the Class 158 family is still a full one but would any other sets of multiple units still as built?
 
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jazza374

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I'd love to say the 314's from 1979 are your answer, but sadly one carriage of 314 203 which was involved in the Newton accident in on 21st July 1991, was scrapped, and replaced with a redundant carriage from 507 022
 

D365

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Surely, none of the Class 313s have been disbanded yet?
 

sd0733

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Surely, none of the Class 313s have been disbanded yet?
313121 is no longer a passenger unit though, being an NR ETCS test unit so depends if counting passenger service or not.
 
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Ash Bridge

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I've been wondering - What would be the oldest complete set of trains still in service? That means none scrapped, none stored and all working in active service (or being refurbished). I know the Class 158 family is still a full one but would any other sets of multiple units still as built?

I stand to be corrected here but I don't think the Class 158 quite fits the criteria, as from memory 158861 had one of its two vehicles replaced/rebuilt using a spare bodyshell after being severely damaged by a runway Class 47 (47343?) at Hazel Grove back around 1992.
 

sprinterguy

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Class 156 is still intact.
Class 144s predate them by a couple of years and are all still in service - The only Pacer class not to have lost numbers from their ranks.

Overall, I would expect it to be the class 313s, as suggested above.
I stand to be corrected here but I don't think the Class 158 quite fits the criteria, as from memory 158861 had one of its two vehicles replaced after being severely damaged by a runway Class 47 (47343?) at Hazel Grove back around 1992.
That's just what I was thinking of, and the next thing I was going to suggest.
 
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Silver Cobra

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Thinking about the south, would the class 456 count? It's quite a small fleet of only 24 sets, but are all still in use with SWR currently?
 

RichJF

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Thinking about the south, would the class 456 count? It's quite a small fleet of only 24 sets, but are all still in use with SWR currently?

GTR 455/8s?

Got a feeling it's going to be the 313's.
 
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DanNCL

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Possibly the Tyne & Wear Metro units? They were built in 1980, and all 90 of them are still around.
 

bramling

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GTR 455/8s?

Got a feeling it's going to be the 313's.

It’s definitely the 313s, as long as one counts the ETCS test unit which although not available for passenger use is still intact.

If we’re wanting fleets still in service, the next oldest EMU fleet where all vehicles are still in service would be 318s. 317s don’t count as a vehicle was scrapped in their early days following a shunting accident.
 

nat67

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I thought that two of those were built originally, I think the other was scrapped many years ago.
Oh I thought there was only one. Could that battery one that is based at Royal Deeside that was the only one of its class I think.
 

zn1

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as a complete fleet 313 (inc the test unit) are probably the lead fleet at the moment, apart from a few rough shunts, they are still a complete and operational squadron, and may i say Good on these Ladies, they work hard, and I hope a few of the girls surivive in to retirement/preservation !
 

Ash Bridge

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Oh I thought there was only one. Could that battery one that is based at Royal Deeside that was the only one of its class I think.

I think that was a BR Research Dept. conversion from one of the original 2 car DMMU versons if I'm not mistaken.
 

Roast Veg

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The oldest passenger DMU class with no vehicles stored, scrapped, or off lease appears to be the class 144s from 1986, followed by the class 156s from 1988.
The oldest passenger EMU class with no vehicles stored, scrapped, or off lease appears to be the class 322s from 1990, followed by the class 323s from 1992.
 

43096

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The oldest passenger DMU class with no vehicles stored, scrapped, or off lease appears to be the class 144s from 1986, followed by the class 156s from 1988.
The oldest passenger EMU class with no vehicles stored, scrapped, or off lease appears to be the class 322s from 1990, followed by the class 323s from 1992.
Class 318? Class 320?
 
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