Farewell AGA, Hello TFL ~ The Metro Route

Class 315 Refurb by AbellioGreaterAnglia.
Picture is sourced and copyrighted to NXEA321446

As most of you are probably aware of, TFL took over the Shenfield to London Metro and some West Anglia services yesterday, from previous operator Abellio.

Abellio originate in Holland, and operated under the Greater Anglia brand. We feel it's appropriate to celebrate the life of the Class 315/317 EMUs, state what this change of operators will mean, and also show the variety of liveries that these stock have been over their lifetime. 

METRO 315s - Liverpool Street to Shenfield and Gidea Park: 

315s were built in York in the 1980s to replace Class 306 units. Just like the Glasgow Class 314 EMUs, the 315s are also only able to operate from 25 KV Overhead electrics and are owned by the HSBC group (also known as Evelsholt) to be leased to the TOC.

After the privatisation of British Rail, these Class 315 units were divided between WAGN (West Anglia Great Northern) and First Great Eastern, both franchises have since departed... excuse the pun.

315820 approaches (what looks like Stratford?) in ONE Livery
(C) SuburbanJogger; Matt - Copyrighted to the owner.
Many thanks for photo permission. 

Between 2004 and 2008, all 61 of these 4-Car DMUs were refurbished by their operator at the time, National Express East Anglia, to bring them up-to-date. NXEA combined both WAGM and FirstGreatEastern franchises, therefore, the fleet was operated by one TOC from the Ilford depot.

When AbellioGreaterAnglia took over the franchise, they also refurbished the stock to meet DDA standards, with wheelchair space and also a call point throughout the 4-car formation. 

Class 315s have always operated on the Metro route from Liverpool Street to Gidea Park and Ilford, but they also saw use on the Upminster, Braintree and Chingford branch. The metro route has trains up to every 10 minutes, on the slow lines out of Liverpool Street. The line has been extended though, so when CrossRail takes over trains will operate to Heathrow, but this won't be until at least 2017 when the CrossRail stock has entered service as well as the lines being fully built. 

An AbellioGreaterAnglia 8-Car Class 315 Formation
Copyrighted to Crewcastrian

WEST ANGLIA - Liverpool Street to Chingford, Seven Sisters, Hertford East - Class 317s used.

Until Spring 2004, these units were operated under the WAGN (West Anglia Great Northern) which then divided into One Railway and First Capital Connect. One Railway was iconic for the blue livery with candy stripes, which adorned the Class 317s until National Express took over the franchise and painted most of the fleet white and grey. 

Class 317s saw occasional use on the GEML.
Here, whilst in WAGN livery at Ipswich, it's en-route to Norwich,
On the 12:00 ex-Liv Street (29/July/1999).
(C) to Keith Partlow, AKA Tibshelf

9 of the Class 317 fleet were refurbished in the early 2000s for the Stansted Express route, but came off lease when the Class 379s entered service. These exact units, except for demonstrator 317729, are to transfer to TFL. However, TFL have got a contract with Bombardier to build approximateley 30 4-Car Claaa 345 EMUs, which will enter service in 2017. Until then, the Class 317s will get more use.

Overall, the Class 315 and 317 units have been a big part of getting tourists and commuters alike from A to B for the past 30 or so years. 

Harry