Class 317 withdrawals.

[bramling]

No USBs, Wifi or air-conditioning. The majority won't lament that.

I never get why these things are supposedly such a big thing for people. USB is only an issue if you’ve forgotten to charge your phone beforehand, and wi-fi is only a thing for those who can’t be bothered to pay for a decent data allowance. As for air conditioning, how many days this year has that actually been valuable?

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

No USBs, Wifi or air-conditioning. The majority won't lament that.

Do people really need WiFi? I understand the importance of internet access but most people are covered with their mobile data these days...

No charging sockets or air conditioning is a problem though, and while I find the 317s perfectly comfortable, they look, feel and sound absolutely exhausted. Their time has definitely come.

 

[387star]

Weren't some made compliant? New loo etc? Wasn't there a demonstrator as well ?

 

[DustyBin]

I never get why these things are supposedly such a big thing for people. USB is only an issue if you’ve forgotten to charge your phone beforehand, and wi-fi is only a thing for those who can’t be bothered to pay for a decent data allowance. As for air conditioning, how many days this year has that actually been valuable?

I travel a fair bit on business and rarely use free wi-fi, I find it better to use hot-spot. The problem with wi-fi is that every time the connection drops I have to go through security again which is a right pain. A charging point is handy on longer joinery I’ll accept that. I can live without air conditioning, to be honest I’d rather open a window!

 

[Ewan M]

Looks like another pair of GA 317s may be off to Eastleigh for scrapping today

 

[sharpinf]

Looks like another pair of GA 317s may be off to Eastleigh for scrapping today

Believe it was 317666 and 317503 hauled by 57303

 

[Ewan M]

Believe it was 317666 and 317503 hauled by 57303

You are spot on! 57303 taking the two units to Eastleigh for disposal (or Hell in the case of 317666). 317503 first of the original batch to go for scrap too I believe

 

[Phil Scott]

Can anyone confirm the individual vehicles from 317503. Did it swap any vehicles with 317512 at its recent visit to Kilmarnock?

 

[adc82140]

Are all the 317/7s now back in service with GA (bar the experimental one) or is it just the two?

 

[D365]

Weren't some made compliant? New loo etc? Wasn't there a demonstrator as well ?

The demonstrator unit, 722, was withdrawn from service some years ago.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

You are spot on! 57303 taking the two units to Eastleigh for disposal (or Hell in the case of 317666). 317503 first of the original batch to go for scrap too I believe

Ah no really? 503 was the only one I hadn’t been on! I heard it was being fixed at Kilmarnock not stored for scrapping!

 

[Bikeman78]

Are all the 317/7s now back in service with GA (bar the experimental one) or is it just the two?

Just 709 and 710 so far. 317709 is paired up with 317650 on Stratford to Bishop's Stortford. 317710 is out solo on the Hertford East line.

 

[43096]

Can anyone confirm the individual vehicles from 317503. Did it swap any vehicles with 317512 at its recent visit to Kilmarnock?

The system shows these two sets formed as follows:
317503 - 77002 62663 71579 77063
317512 - 77015 62676 71592 77050

 

[superalbs]

Believe it was 317666 and 317503 hauled by 57303

@317666 won't be happy.

 

[Phil Scott]

The system shows these two sets formed as follows:
317503 - 77002 62663 71579 77063
317512 - 77015 62676 71592 77050

Thanks. Looks like 77050 and 77063 were swapped

 

[southern442]

Just 709 and 710 so far. 317709 is paired up with 317650 on Stratford to Bishop's Stortford. 317710 is out solo on the Hertford East line.

How long are these due to last in service?

 

[317666]

@317666 won't be happy.

Indeed! The 317s were very much the trains of my childhood so I'll be sad to see them go, but they are definitely in need of replacement.

Just by chance I did actually see 666 on what must have been its last run under its own power, running empty from the sidings at Cambridge down to Ilford.

 

[Bikeman78]

How long are these due to last in service?

Several months I think, if the 720s aren't running on the WA routes until summer next year. I expect that 317345/346/509/649/650/652/658 will go in the bin once the eight Stansted units have settled in.

 

[Taylorgb19]

What about the 379s when they go?

 

[OTRail]

What about the 379s when they go?

No future has been decided for them yet I’m afraid - but they’ll be one of the last to go off lease being the most modern of GA’s NXEA inherited fleet and no pressing need for them elsewhere. They’re also helping in releasing the 317s for storage given PRM regulations.

 

[MatthewRead]

No future has been decided for them yet I’m afraid - but they’ll be one of the last to go off lease being the most modern of GA’s NXEA inherited fleet and no pressing need for them elsewhere. They’re also helping in releasing the 317s for storage given PRM regulations.

Gautrain in South Africa or Great Northern see https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...he-379s-to-transfer-to-great-northern.211809/

 

[camerar1]

Illustrated report of the arrival of 317666 and reformed 317503 at Eastleigh now available.

 

[OTRail]

Gautrain in South Africa or Great Northern see https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...he-379s-to-transfer-to-great-northern.211809/

Speculation, not confirmed...

 

[D365]

Gautrain in South Africa or Great Northern see https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...he-379s-to-transfer-to-great-northern.211809/

No future has been decided.

(And if there is a future, it's not in the public domain yet)

 

[Ewan M]

Photos of the 317s being scrapped at Eastleigh Works are now starting to emerge online. Doesn’t show the actual scrapping process but still makes for a sad sight! http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galleries 2020/G202011/20201123ArlingtonEastleighWorks/index.html

 

[365 Networker]

Photos of the 317s being scrapped at Eastleigh Works are now starting to emerge online. Doesn’t show the actual scrapping process but still makes for a sad sight! http://www.carlswatson.com/Trains/Galleries 2020/G202011/20201123ArlingtonEastleighWorks/index.html

Very sad to see that! I do hope they don't all end up scrapped - it would be nice to see at least one preserved. I'm not sure how likely that is though, as there doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for preserving EMUs.

 

[4-SUB 4732]

317656 and 666 (think that was them) spotted at Eastleigh being broken up. Luckily got a sight leaving from Arlingtons.

50008 also in the Works (unrelated!).

 

[Taylorgb19]

Hopefully when the last one gets withdrawn they will do a farewell

 

[bramling]

Very sad to see that! I do hope they don't all end up scrapped - it would be nice to see at least one preserved. I'm not sure how likely that is though, as there doesn't seem to be much enthusiasm for preserving EMUs.

It is sad to see. These trains still feel pretty new, and (especially the 6xx units) still offer a quality travelling experience. Personally I feel these trains are being binned prematurely.

 

[D365]

It is sad to see. These trains still feel pretty new, and (especially the 6xx units) still offer a quality travelling experience. Personally I feel these trains are being binned prematurely.

Really? They've always felt dated in comparison to the Class 365s. Mechanically/structurally, it sounds like the 317s are life expired in any case. Why pay for them to be stored when the entire 321 fleet will be on the market soon.