Graffiti on SouthEastern trains

[britishrail375]

Recently, I've seen a significant increase in how many trains are running on the SouthEastern network with graffiti on them than normal. I can recall seeing multiple 375s and 465s with graffiti, though don't remember if any 376s, 377s or 707s were also graffitied. Has there recently been a large graffiti attack at one of the places where SouthEastern stable their trains, and if so I'd be grateful to know which one? Unfortunately I did not take any pictures of said graffitied trains, so you'll have to trust that I'm not hallucinating...

 

[GEC465]

Noticing cleaning has ramped up so it's probably to do with the graffiti attacks going on. Seems someone is especially targeting networkers aswell

 

[Phil R]

Noticing cleaning has ramped up so it's probably to do with the graffiti attacks going on. Seems someone is especially targeting networkers aswell

It's been a problem for a number of TOCs lately. If posters here can PM me re Southeastern cases I'll look to ensure they are correctly reported. Thanks.

 

[brad465]

I saw a pair of 707s at Dartford with graffiti yesterday so not just Networkers and 376s. My initial thought was it's Christmas so a combination of trains in depots longer and fewer staff working provided "artists" more time to decorate.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 30 Dec 2025 ==

Noticing cleaning has ramped up so it's probably to do with the graffiti attacks going on. Seems someone is especially targeting networkers aswell

I don't know for sure, but given Networkers are predominantly white, this will attract graffiti artists more as white is attractive to spray on. Dark Blue livery, while not immune, doesn't have the same appeal, given a fair few spray colours don't show up as well.

 

[London Trains]

I saw a pair of 707s at Dartford with graffiti yesterday so not just Networkers and 376s. My initial thought was it's Christmas so a combination of trains in depots longer and fewer staff working provided "artists" more time to decorate.

Somewhat off-topic for this thread, but in my opinion we should not be using the word "artists" to describe the criminals going around vandalising trains - vandals is a much more suitable term.

 

[brad465]

Somewhat off-topic for this thread, but in my opinion we should not be using the word "artists" to describe the criminals going around vandalising trains - vandals is a much more suitable term.

To be fair, I put that word in quotation marks to define irony.

 

[London Trains]

To be fair, I put that word in quotation marks to define irony.

Apologies if you took any offence, that wasn't directed at you specifically but was a more general comment as I have seen the term "artists" used many times on this forum and elsewhere before - people should really steer away from using that term as it somewhat validates their criminal behaviour.

 

[frankmoh]

Travelled on several South London lines today, every other Southern 377 seemed to have grafitti or cleaned up traces of it on there...

 

[yorksrob]

Yes, "vandals" would be a better description for the wider media to use.

Unfortunately, whatever his artistic merits, I fear that Banksy has made graffiti more accepted in general society.

 

[Sparks807Evo]

Definitely on the increase I am finding - had multiple 172s done in recent months including one instance of external vandalism being done when in service. Also got worse on a number of the local buses in terms of rear lower windows being done.

 

[slowroad]

Yes, "vandals" would be a better description for the wider media to use.

Unfortunately, whatever his artistic merits, I fear that Banksy has made graffiti more accepted in general society.

Off topic, but little artistic merit in my view. Trite, sentimental, complacent.

I wonder if it would be possible to bring a private prosecution against Banksy for criminal damage? I hereby pledge a £100 contribution.

 

[GEC465]

I don't know for sure, but given Networkers are predominantly white, this will attract graffiti artists more as white is attractive to spray on. Dark Blue livery, while not immune, doesn't have the same appeal, given a fair few spray colours don't show up as well.

Said person targeting networkers is doing the lower blue band with a certain other acronym for something veteran.

 

[LowLevel]

Noticed more issues throughout the network of late even in areas where it isn't usually prevalent and indeed on heritage railways. Broken windows effect coming home to roost, need to make examples of some of the scummers.

 

[britishrail375]

Thanks everyone for your helpful replies.

given Networkers are predominantly white, this will attract graffiti artists more as white is attractive to spray on

This makes me wonder if the 376s would have been targeted more had they remained in the Connex white and yellow livery for longer...

 

[Russel]

Noticed more issues throughout the network of late even in areas where it isn't usually prevalent and indeed on heritage railways. Broken windows effect coming home to roost, need to make examples of some of the scummers.

Indeed, we need a purge on this behaviour.

Problem is the powers that be seem content to let the situation develop, or that's how it looks from the outside anyway.

 

[yorksrob]

Off topic, but little artistic merit in my view. Trite, sentimental, complacent.

I wonder if it would be possible to bring a private prosecution against Banksy for criminal damage? I hereby pledge a £100 contribution.

Yes, not to my taste as art, personally.

I think they'd be on a hiding to nowhere trying to prosecute him for graffiti not done by himself.

But at least he's not done rolling stock, etched windows, markered moquette (as far as I'm aware).

 

[Ellwill]

Graffiti onboard in the toilets seems to be rather frequent of late, one look at a station departure board will often demonstrate up to half a dozen trains within the next few hours having reduced toilet notices. I also observed the managing director having a bit of a squabble with the Murky Depths twitter account about the issue.

 

[yorksrob]

Graffiti onboard in the toilets seems to be rather frequent of late, one look at a station departure board will often demonstrate up to half a dozen trains within the next few hours having reduced toilet notices. I also observed the managing director having a bit of a squabble with the Murky Depths twitter account about the issue.

Presumably a graffiti attack wouldn't put a toilet out of use though ?

 

[Ellwill]

Presumably a graffiti attack wouldn't put a toilet out of use though ?

Not on GTR, given the abundance of vandalised Class 700 toilet photos available on the net, however I'm led to believe this has been standard practice on SE for a number of years now.

 

[Chriso]

In the past I never saw much graffiti in the 377’s toilets but now there all covered like the 700’s.

Great work TLGN broken windows and all that

 

[physics34]

This 'disease' seems to come and go every few years. There seems to be a lack of discipline out there so its no surprise things like vandalism is rising. Thameslink are testing vinyl coverings for its toilets which are regularly heavily vandalised.