EMU
CLASS 317
THE entry to service of Class 710 units on services out of Liverpool Street
(see separate story) has enabled TfL Rail to remove some of its non-PRM compliant Class 317s from traffic.
Nos. 317887/889 were taken away for storage on March 17 by No. 66783, which formed the 5Q17/01.20 Ilford-Ely Papworth. They join Nos. 317663/669 (ex-Greater Anglia) and 317722 (which was used by Angel Trains for an experimental refurbishment) at the site.
Also no longer in traffic are
Nos. 317891/892, which ran to Northampton Kings Heath (where Nos. 315833/859 are in warm store) under their own power on March 3. The pair have since gone off lease.
The latest unit to be released following PRM work at Brodie, Kilmarnock, is No. 317344, which was collected by No. 37800 on March 23. Running initially to Wolverton, it continued to Ilford the next morning. The ‘37’ then headed back to Kilmarnock with No. 317885 in tow.
CLASS 323
MARCH 12 saw No. 323227 arrive at Wolverton for refurbishment, the eighth unit to be so treated. Released from Wolverton and sent back to Allerton the same day was No. 323228.
CLASS 333
THE last unrefurbished Class 333,
No. 333016, was sent fromNeville Hill to Holbeck for attention on March 14, the penultimate set, No. 333005 having been released earlier that day.
CLASS 345 ‘AVENTRA’
AFTER a spell in store in HNRC’s yard, No. 345060 was collected by No. 37800 on March 5, forming the 5Q58/11.02 Worksop-Old Oak Common. Arriving at Worksop behind the same loco on March 19, was nine-car No. 345002 from Derby.
Regular use of nine-car units on the Paddington to Hayes & Harlington shuttles began on March 10. Full length sets observed in service have been
Nos. 345027/028/037/053/054.
CLASS 442 ‘5-WES’
WITH many services having been reduced in length due to lack of demand, South Western Railway temporarily withdrew its ‘442s’ from service on March 19, in advance of timetable reductions on March 23.
No. 442421, one of the ‘442s’ still at the Potter Group storage site, departed for Eastleigh Works behind No. 57301 Goliath on March 12. It is expected to be used for spares prior to being disposed of. It was followed a week later by No. 442412, which was hauled to Eastleigh by No. 47813, with another set, No. 442401, being taken from Ely to Eastleigh by Nos. 20311/314 on March 24. A driving car from this set is designated for the National Collection. One set, No. 442407, remained at Ely and is also planned to move to Eastleigh in due course.
CLASS 466
ON February 28, Nos. 466023/034 were hauled from Wabtec, Doncaster to Tonbridge West Yard by No. 66750 Bristol Panel Signal Box, continuing to Slade Green the next day. The ‘66’ then returned north to Doncaster with
No. 466003 in tow.
CLASS 720 ‘AVENTRA’
TESTING on Network Rail tracks began on March 16, when No. 720509, one of two sets at Ilford, undertook a late evening run to Southend Victoria, returning to Ilford at 00.10 the next morning. Further outings later in the month on March 24/25 saw the ‘Aventra’ run to Norwich.
More units have emerged from Bombardier, Derby and been taken to Worksop for storage. Moved in recent weeks have been Nos. 720530 (February 28), 720507 (March 4), 720510 (March 6), 720505 (March 11), 720532 (March 18), 720524
(March 20) and 720528 (March 25). All the transfers were handled by
Nos. 47727 Edinburgh Castle/Caisteal Dhun Eideann and 47749 City of
Truro, with the exception of the
March 18 move which used Nos. 47727 and 47739.
CLASS 745 ‘FLIRT’
MORE units entered service on the Norwich to Liverpool Street route during March, allowing the Class
90s and Mk.3 stock to be gradually withdrawn. Put into traffic were Nos. 745002 (March 3), 745006 (March 4), 745009 (March 10) and 745005 (March 19). Still yet to enter service were Nos. 745001/003/004/008.
CLASS 769 ‘FLEX’
EMERGING from Brush on March 2 was No. 769424 (ex-319424), which departed for Allerton sandwiched between Nos. 57305 and 47813.
Another set was released from Brush onMarch 16, No. 769003 (ex-319003) being collected by
No. 47813 which then formed the 5Q78/09.57 Brush LoughboroughCardiff Canton. One of the others in the Transport for Wales fleet, No. 769007 (ex-319007) was taken from Castle Donington to Wabtec, Doncaster by Nos. 47813 and 57312.
The first appearance of one of TfW’s units under power took place on March 16, when No. 769008 ran from Cardiff Canton to Heath High Level and back, plans to run to Rhymney having had to be aborted due to issues with the unit. An outing the next day was more successful.
CLASS 801 ‘AZUMA’
PUT into service during Marchwere
Nos. 801215/216/223-226, bringing the number of nine-car ‘801s’ in revenue earning traffic to 18 (Nos. 801203/205/ 207/209/211/213/215-217/219-226). No. 801224 had returned from Eastleigh to Doncaster behind No. 66759 Chippy on February 28.
Released from Newton Aycliffe on March 5, and moved to Eastleigh for post production work by No. 66738 Huddersfield Town, No. 801214 departed back north behind No. 66772 Maria on March 13, as the 5X98/05.13 Eastleigh-Acton Main Line, continuing to Doncaster Carr.
CLASS 802 ‘NOVA 1/PARAGON’
MARCH 10 sawNo. 802203 run from Heaton to Eastleigh Works for application of TransPennine Express colours. It returned north to Heaton on March 18. The next day, No. 802218 was despatched to Eastleigh for the same treatment, leaving just one set, No. 802211, remaining in traffic in plain grey.
Hull Trains’ final set, No. 802305, arrived in the UK from Pistoia in Italy on March 18. Unlike the other four units, which were initially sent to Eastleigh, it was taken straight to Hitachi’s Newton Aycliffe plant. No. 66783 The Flying Dustman was used to move it from Dollands Moor to Merchant Park Sidings.
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