Which services did the class 319's run when under Southern?

[lumitumey12345]

Currently I can only find evidence of them doing Beckenham Junction and Sutton stoppers.

 

[JonathanH]

Currently I can only find evidence of them doing Beckenham Junction and Sutton stoppers.

They ran over a large part of the South Central / Southern metro network. Pretty much anywhere a 455 could go.

This might be of interest as a snapshot of what the first 20 319s were doing one day in 2006.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/southern-319s-18-05-06.7288/

Epsom, Epsom Downs, Horsham, Tattenham Corner, West Croydon, Guildford, Crystal Palace, Streatham Hill all listed. In pre-377 days they worked to Brighton and the WCML as well.

 

[busestrains]

Currently I can only find evidence of them doing Beckenham Junction and Sutton stoppers.

I remember that the 319s with Southern regularly worked the Guildford services.

 

[lumitumey12345]

Did they ever do London Victoria - London Bridge stoppers?

 

[JonathanH]

Did they ever do London Victoria - London Bridge stoppers?

Yes, as shown by the workings for 319012 in the link I gave.

They were effectively just extra 455s from the metro perspective.

 

[lumitumey12345]

Thanks

 

[AM9]

I suppose that they were the fastest trains on Southern metals in the mid '90s.

 

[norbitonflyer]

It seems most were used interchangeeably with 455s. Seven were modified with a lounge area in one car for the Brighton fast services (classified 319/2)

 

[Islineclear3_1]

One always used to stable at London Bridge over the weekend (low level platforms)

 

[RichJF]

Horsham via Three Bridges fairly regularly. Used to get on one at Redhill in my school commuting days.

 

[Galvanize]

There was a period in 2004/5 when the Class 455s were being refurbished, 319s were drafted in from Thameslink to cover their duties which saw them go to places like Caterham or Epsom Downs etc!

An interesting period as the TL network was cut in two with works going on in connection with building the St Pancras International station…and some of the Southern 319s were hired to TL!

 

[stuu]

It seems most were used interchangeeably with 455s. Seven were modified with a lounge area in one car for the Brighton fast services (classified 319/2)

Did they have their own livery as well? Brighton Express or something

 

[JonathanH]

Did they have their own livery as well? Brighton Express or something

Some of them were painted in a livery to advertise a creche.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/1st-november-2006-all-saints-day.10217/ lists colours of the units and shows one in Southern livery.

There is a picture of one at Gatwick in the creche livery in this link.
https://www.kentrail.org.uk/class_319_3.htm

 

[Rescars]

Did they have their own livery as well? Brighton Express or something

IIRC at least three of these were named London, Croydon and Brighton. The lounge areas had some v unusual bucket-type seats which made a change and were quite comfy. There was provision for a refreshment trolley, but I never found one in use. Obviously I was travelling at the wrong time.

 

[Galvanize]

Some of them were painted in a livery to advertise a creche.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/1st-november-2006-all-saints-day.10217/ lists colours of the units and shows one in Southern livery.

There is a picture of one at Gatwick in the creche livery in this link.
https://www.kentrail.org.uk/class_319_3.htm

The Connex Crèche incidentally I remember being mentioned on the then BBC Regional News programme “Newsroom South East” back in 2001. The idea behind it was for Commuters who were stuck for childcare options, could take their children to London Victoria…presumably as it was a Connex thing…perhaps Passengers (maybe Season ticket holders?) got some discount on it.

I don’t think it lasted very long as the same year, Connex lost the South Central operation to Govia…and I don’t know how well used or successful the actual Crèche was! The livery certainly outlasted it that was for sure!

 

[urpert]

IIRC at least three of these were named London, Croydon and Brighton. The lounge areas had some v unusual bucket-type seats which made a change and were quite comfy. There was provision for a refreshment trolley, but I never found one in use. Obviously I was travelling at the wrong time.

It was a fixed trolley (i.e. it didn't move along the train) operated by Puccino's (do they still exist?)

 

[hexagon789]

It was a fixed trolley (i.e. it didn't move along the train) operated by Puccino's (do they still exist?)

Same idea as loco-hauled TSOT, a catering trolley locked into slot in a counter providing a fixed-location catering service.

A quick Google suggests that Puccino's seems to still exist.

 

[Bikeman78]

They ran over a large part of the South Central / Southern metro network. Pretty much anywhere a 455 could go.

This might be of interest as a snapshot of what the first 20 319s were doing one day in 2006.
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/southern-319s-18-05-06.7288/

Epsom, Epsom Downs, Horsham, Tattenham Corner, West Croydon, Guildford, Crystal Palace, Streatham Hill all listed. In pre-377 days they worked to Brighton and the WCML as well.

Interesting that SU701 went up from Horsham via Gatwick. I was oblivious to that. I know they ran most of the stoppers in the late 1990s but it was back to slam doors by 2000 with the 319s running Brighton to Victoria and to Rugby. It looks like an old VEP diagram so presumably went over to a 319 in summer 2005.

 

[Rescars]

Same idea as loco-hauled TSOT, a catering trolley locked into slot in a counter providing a fixed-location catering service.

A quick Google suggests that Puccino's seems to still exist.

Yes indeed. The best (only) catering available over the route previously frequented by the Brighton Belle. Alas how the mighty are fallen!

 

[JonathanH]

Puccino's (do they still exist?)

They (or at least their franchisees) still provide catering at some stations between Victoria and Brighton, in particular at Redhill.

 

[paul1609]

They (or at least their franchisees) still provide catering at some stations between Victoria and Brighton, in particular at Redhill.

and at locations throughout the southeast .... https://www.puccinosworldwide.com/locations/

I suppose that they were the fastest trains on Southern metals in the mid '90s.

My morning Bognor Buffet Express 4 CIG/4 BIG/4 CIG used to regularly have a race with one of the new fangled 319s on departure from Gatwick in the morning. 319 on the slow lines used to leave the traditional stock for dead until it was at Earlswood slowing for the inevitable 5 minute Red Signal wait to enter Redhill (nothing changes!)

 

[AM9]

My morning Bognor Buffet Express 4 CIG/4 BIG/4 CIG used to regularly have a race with one of the new fangled 319s on departure from Gatwick in the morning. 319 on the slow lines used to leave the traditional stock for dead until it was at Earlswood slowing for the inevitable 5 minute Red Signal wait to enter Redhill (nothing changes!)

Not surprising really, the 319s had about a 32% higher power to weight ratio from their motors, which in part accounted for their 100 mph maximum speed vs the 90mph of what was an EE507 4-SUB technology tarted up with MKI LHCS-style corridor bodies.

 

[paul1609]

Not surprising really, the 319s had about a 32% higher power to weight ratio from their motors, which in part accounted for their 100 mph maximum speed vs the 90mph of what was an EE507 4-SUB technology tarted up with MKI LHCS-style corridor bodies.

The Bacon sandwiches with the fresh tomatoes grown on the stewards allotment for breakfast and the Beer on the evening train home made the commute a real social occasion though. Do any commuters have a properly organised christmas party now?

 

[AM9]

The Bacon sandwiches with the fresh tomatoes grown on the stewards allotment for breakfast and the Beer on the evening train home made the commute a real social occasion though. Do any commuters have a properly organised christmas party now?

That was 'of an age'. Rail travel (especially commuter travel) is now more about getting passengers to work/home safely and efficiently. Socialising can take plce in establishments more suited to that.

 

[Rescars]

That was 'of an age'. Rail travel (especially commuter travel) is now more about getting passengers to work/home safely and efficiently. Socialising can take plce in establishments more suited to that.

Perhaps another reason why remote working retains its post-pandemic appeal?

 

[AM9]

Perhaps another reason why remote working retains its post-pandemic appeal?

I doubt it, buffets etc., have been in steep decline for 30 years, especially on short commuter journeys, (which easily includes London to Brighton). In the ten years leading up to 2020, many commuter services have been hard pushed to accommodate the volume of passengers travelling, and to waste precious space with a counter and clear space for drinking etc., is not companile with the obligations flowed down by the DfT as part of the service level conditions.

 

[busestrains]

Did the 319s ever operate coupled to the 455s and 456s when Southern had them?

 

[Surreytraveller]

Did the 319s ever operate coupled to the 455s and 456s when Southern had them?

No, they're not compatible

 

[Rescars]

I doubt it, buffets etc., have been in steep decline for 30 years, especially on short commuter journeys, (which easily includes London to Brighton). In the ten years leading up to 2020, many commuter services have been hard pushed to accommodate the volume of passengers travelling, and to waste precious space with a counter and clear space for drinking etc., is not companile with the obligations flowed down by the DfT as part of the service level conditions.

In all fairness, I doubt it too. Moving passengers efficiently and safely must be the prime task. Just sad that some of the incidental romance of train travel has to be lost.

 

[Thebaz]

I don't know whether they ever got south of Horsham or anywhere else east or west coastway from Brighton? And I'd venture the only outer suburban route they didn't do was the Oxted line.