UK Railtours will be running a special Gerrys 313 Farewell train this October, as the Class 313s are prepared for withdrawal.
The Class 313s are now the oldest EMUs still in service on the British mainland. Those that have remained on the Great Northern are being replaced by new Class 717 units.
A six-car Class 313 train is being retained specially for a celebratory run on the lines for which the class was designed.
This tour is also a farewell to Govia Thameslink’s Engineering Director, Gerry McFadden, who is leaving the company, having been in charge of the fleet through a hectic period of intense change, of which the retirement of the 313s represents the conclusion.
The exact route is still being developed, but expect a journey from King’s Cross to Royston and back, taking in the main line via Welwyn and the Hertford branch.
All seats are now sold for this trip, but perhaps you can see it on your journeys.
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Remember a cab ride with a Hitchin driver on the 313’s just after they entered service. They were a bid step forward (then) on the LT Drayton Pk-Moorgate & GN Cravens dmu. Sad to see the few remaining sets still in service looking very tatty indeed.
Anyone want a nostalgic trip, these run an hourly shuttle between Littlehampton & Portsmouth Harbour stopping at all stations.
Having now ridden few times on the new class 717 trains that are replacing the 313s I shall miss the old trains. The 717s seem to have taken a step backwards in some ways – the seats are far less comfortable and the ride has a nasty sideways movement. I would hate to have to commute on these trains.
I think Southern should also think about whether to start getting rid of the Class 313s used on the East Coastway, West Coastway, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Seaford and Hastings services. And to import the Class 458/5 from South Western Railway and to be downgraded to 3-Car Class 458 to operate on those routes. At least the farewell tour should happen in October as Great Northern are replacing the Class 313s with the Class 717s which are in service.