Northern and West Midlands Trains(LNWR) Class 319 units

[RobShipway]

Apologies if this has been discussed in another thread. But I was wondering when Northern and LNWR withdrawal their class 319 units, will they be scrapped, possibly move over to GWR or be converted into class 799 Hydrogen Units?

I know that there has been at least 11 class 319 units that have been scrapped and I am suspecting that the Rail Operations Group units (class 768) may follow as I don't believe that work has been found for these units.

 

[JonathanH]

But I was wondering when Northern and LNWR withdrawal their class 319 units, will they be scrapped, possibly move over to GWR or be converted into class 799 Hydrogen Units?

Most likely scrapped. The units that Northern and LNR have already released have been scrapped.

 

[jfollows]

Scrapping seems the right thing to do, the 319s I occasionally encounter all seem to be well into the twilight of their years, they're unreliable and broken in comparison to the 323s. Nothing wrong with them on our local services when they're working properly, but I've had units with door failures which need to be isolated and delay services even when the units don't fail completely. They've had their time and need to be scrapped now I think. The alternative of prolonging their life would either be done on the cheap and result in even more unreliable units (such as the 769s) or would be so expensive to fix as to make it more sensible to replace with new units anyway.

 

[RobShipway]

Most likely scrapped. The units that Northern and LNR have already released have been scrapped.

Scrapping seems the right thing to do, the 319s I occasionally encounter all seem to be well into the twilight of their years, they're unreliable and broken in comparison to the 323s. Nothing wrong with them on our local services when they're working properly, but I've had units with door failures which need to be isolated and delay services even when the units don't fail completely. They've had their time and need to be scrapped now I think. The alternative of prolonging their life would either be done on the cheap and result in even more unreliable units (such as the 769s) or would be so expensive to fix as to make it more sensible to replace with new units anyway.

I have to agree with both comments. It is a shame and I do hope that a unit will be saved to go to the National Railway Museum.

 

[JonathanH]

I have to agree with both comments. It is a shame and I do hope that a unit will be saved to go to the National Railway Museum.

A 319 is nowhere near unique enough for that. While I acknowledge that Thameslink was a clever use of old infrastructure it isn't clear where there would be room to keep a 319. The NRM got rid of its VEP driving car which represented the last of the slam door stock. I just don't see it wanting a 319 - even 319008 and 319009 which were the first trains through the Channel Tunnel.

 

[D365]

I have to agree with both comments. It is a shame and I do hope that a unit will be saved to go to the National Railway Museum.

What's a shame? The 319s have seen out their working lives. Porterbrook is just using spare units to develop hydrogen technology/expertise.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agree scrap. Some of them don't even have functional heating.