Lack of 319's ???

[ah-media]

Are the good people at FCC having an issue with available rolling stock at the moment ?

I ask this for two reasons.

1) If there was any other reason for putting just 1 four car unit on the 0620 Brighton - Bedford (via Tulse Hill) service then they deserve a slap ! It's normally 8 cars and even then is standing room only before it gets to Tulse Hill. Today was standing leaving Gatwick Airport. and was chaos at East Croydon!

2) Whilst admiring the stunning new platforms at St Pancras, one of the Moorgate - Bedford services was run, not with 2 319's but by 2 317's! Not seen these on the route before.

Hopefully they're short becuase they're finally getting around to fully refurbing these units as they still look crap some 18 months after taking over the franchise.

 

[O L Leigh]

A short formation could simply be down to a unit failure. Sometimes an 8 car may be split for one half to cover for a failed unit on another diagram so that a service is not cancelled or one of the two units could have failed on prep that morning.

Cl317's have been doing Bedford-Moorgates since the BedPan electrification in the early 1980's, so they are hardly new to the route. However, FCC have been using them for a while to strengthen their services in much the same way that Thameslink were hiring-in Cl317's from 'one' 2-3 years ago.

one TN

 

[Andrew Tiffin]

The 317s must have come there on Mondays to Fridays.

 

[class 313]

The two 317s are used from FCCGN to work during the week to free up 319s. Yes FCC are short with stock on the Thameslink side (Not sure about the Great Northern Side). The reason will probably be what One TN said about some kind of failure. Though not all is grim for FCC Thameslink. Soon they will get the rest of the Southern 319s or get the new order of 377s, not sure which. If anyone can confirm which that would be great.

317s Have not been used for years on this route though used to be the only EMU back in BR. The 317s were then cascaded when the Snow Hill tunnel opened up so needed a unit that could pick up from both a Pantograph and a 3rd rail shoe.

 

[Bonemaster]

317s finally left the Thameslink route in 1991 when the last Thameslink services were diverted away from St Pancres, but have been back a fair while since 2002 infact, with at various times between 2 and 12 units on loan at any one time

 

[richa2002]

First Capital Connect should be getting 377s

 

[class 313]

Services today are currently like they were before 1991. 319s today are going into St Pancras Domestic. A nice suprise when I sped through Kentish Town on the avoiding lines.

I've also heard that FCC will be getting some 375/6s from SET. Don't know when and I don't know how true that is.

 

[class 313]

317s finally left the Thameslink route in 1991 when the last Thameslink services were diverted away from St Pancres, but have been back a fair while since 2002 infact, with at various times between 2 and 12 units on loan at any one time

These 317s doing the Moorgate started on the Winter TT change. Before then the 317s were last on the line when the "box" was being built as services were being diverted into London St Pancras, forgot what year that was though.

319s back into St Pancras today

 

[Galvanize]

Before then the 317s were last on the line when the "box" was being built as services were being diverted into London St Pancras, forgot what year that was though.

2004-2005 i think.