I'm pretty sure I was on a 'Brighton Express' service formed with 319s that diverted via Horsham and Littlehampton due to an incident on the main line once.
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Which services did the class 319's run when under Southern?
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Interesting. I've never seen or heard of a 319 running south of Horsham. I've heard it said that the Christ's Hospital St Matthew's Day special turned out 319s once but, again, no one has ever confirmed that. Diversions via Lewes were quite common.
In the early 2010s 319s had a daily evening peak service from London Bridge to Eastbourne and I think it is almost certain that they would have been used on diverted London to Brighton services via Lewes and Hove.
As specials they got as far as Bournemouth Depot open day and Calais via the Channel Tunnel.
urpert
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Has anyone mentioned Rugby yet? Or was that only under Connex?
Calais? Would they thus be the only non-Eurostar UK passenger stock to reach France?
steamybrian
Established Member
The class 319 were introduced in conjunction with the opening of the Thameslink link in 1986 and operated Bedford to Brighton and the Sutton Loop service via Tooting- Wimbledon-Sutton- Herne Hill also Bedford- Sevenoaks via Catford, Bromley South and Swanley. I agree they subsquently worked over the number of other routes as well.
I agree they also worked the first passenger train through the Channel Tunnel on a VIP return trip to Calais on 10th December 1993. Subsquently worked into the tunnel as far as the first crossover on 7th May 1994
I agree they also worked the first passenger train through the Channel Tunnel on a VIP return trip to Calais on 10th December 1993. Subsquently worked into the tunnel as far as the first crossover on 7th May 1994
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Pedant alert: was actually 1988.
steamybrian
Established Member
Pardon- you are right 1988.
Jonathan mentions the WCML. IIRC when this started they worked over the West London Line via Clapham Junction as far north as Rugby. Does anyone know if they ever got any further north with a service originating south of the Thames?
No, Rugby was the furthest the Connex service ever got. It was cut back from Rugby to Brighton, to Gatwick Airport, then Milton Keynes, then South Croydon, and now all that remains is East Croydon to Watford Junction with a couple of peak time extensions to Hemel Hempstead. It's a shell of its former self and a significant loss to through connectivity IMHO.
Quite agree! It used to be a brilliant way to get to Milton Keynes and missing out on the crowds on the Tube.
The problem is that from East Croydon and south of, its easier and quicker to go to St Pancras and walk to Euston especially if youre already on a Thameslink train.
Which is fine if you're after the absolute fastest journey. But some people quite understandably prefer reducing the number of changes they make. Whilst those 'in the know' understand that it's just a quick walk between KGX/STP and EUS, the average person doesn't, and would probably think they need to use the Underground, which they would consider a hassle.
I'm not so much concerned about the termination at East Croydon (unfortunate though that is), as the cutting back from Milton Keynes to Watford Junction and shortening to 4 cars.
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