Class 317s bid farewell to Great Northern operations

Thirty-one years after they were introduced on the route, the final Great Northern Class 317-operated trains ran on April 30.

Govia Thameslink Railway’s fleet of 12 four-car Class 317/3s are being cascaded to Greater Anglia, and have been replaced by Class 387/1s cascaded from GTR’s Thameslink operations.

The final pair in traffic were 317337 and 317341, with the final train the 1115 Peter boroughLondon King’s Cross.

GTR had already withdrawn some ‘317/3s’, with 317345/347/ 348 off-lease. Having been stored at Parkeston Quay for a period, they were undergoing planned maintenance and interior refurbishments at Ilford in readiness for entering traffic at the start of the May timetable.

Three more ex-GTR Class 317s (317339/343/344) moved to Ilford on May 2, leaving 317337/338/340-342/346 still to transfer. They will remain with GA until 2019.