Southern: July 2016: Fleet Summary

Harry here, I'm on the Saturday shift as Matthew's away. Just a quick report today....

Between 2002 and 2004, Southern acquired nine 2-car (171721-730) and six 4-car (172801-171806) 171 Turbostars for the non-electrified routes. In 2006, one further 171 transferred from South West Trains. 

Now, all of these units are used for the Marshlink Line, between Ashford and Hastings, for Ashford-Brighton, London Bridge to Oxted, Ashford to Rye/Hastings (Peak-Time, using 171/7s) and also the Oxted to Uckfield Branch (6 or 8 car units, so 2x 4-car or 1x 4-car coupled to a 2-car).

To increase capacity on the Uckfield branch though, Southern now also lease some ex-ScotRail 170/4s which are now 171s: 171201/202 and 171401/402. 

ElectroStars are common across the entire fleet, due to the of the fleet being this type: 64 377/1s (4-car, 101 to 164), dual-voltage 6 377/2s (4-car, 201-206), 28 3-car 377/3s (301-328), 75 377/4s (401-475, 4-car). 

Then, in 2007, Southern ordered 12 4-car 377/5s in order to cascade their 319s (to what is now GTR Govia Thameslink) and in 2008 a further 11 377/5s were added to the fleet. These 23 units are now all in FCC livery, as they're subleased to Thameslink. 

However, as these won't be back in time to increase capacity on routes via Balham, Southern have acquired 26 5-car Class 377/6 units and 8 377/7s (701-708, for the Croydon to M Keynes corridor) from new. This meant that 456 DMUs could be displaced, so they transferred to South West Trains. Initially they remained in Southern livery, to go into service on the Ascot line, but gradually have all been overhauled. 

OVERHAUL: By 2017, all of the Class 377 Electrostar units will have been fully overhauled, receiving an internal refurbishment. Class 455 Metro units (more about those, with photos, at the end of the post) are also being overhauled, as well as the entire fleet of Class 171 Turbostar DMUs (including the ex-ScotRail 170/4s which are now overhauled as 171s!)

I take this opportunity to remind you that photos are taking by, and therefore belong to, Mr Peter Skuce.

From 2010, Southern have leased 19 Class 313s: 313201-217 and 219-220.

These are used for the West Coastway routes (Brighton to Hove, West Worthing + Portsmouth Harbour and Littlehampton to Barnham, Bognor and Portsmouth + Southsea) and East Coastway (Brighton - Lewes/Seaford and peaktime journeys between Brighton, Littlehampton, Eastbourne and Ore).  

The pantograph has been removed from these units (collect electric from OHLE overhead wires) as they collect energy from DC-only lines (undertrain shoe, via third rail).

The 313 trains are all in Southern livery, repainted at Wolverton, and overhauled at Wabtec in Doncaster from June 2010 so they have new flooring/carpets, seat covers, improved disabled/cycle areas and also a new visual + audio PIS system, new lighting covers + handrails, litter bins and LED marker/tail lighting.

Overhauls are ongoing.

And Southern also acquired a fleet of 27 387/2s for the Gatwick Express (displacing all but 4 of the 442s, with others into storage until a home is sourced) and continue to operate 46 Class 455 units (with 2+3 seating for additional capacity) are used between London Victoria and London Bridge on Metro services

The end gangway at the front/rear of the 455 train was removed so an air-con unit could be fitted, along with modifying a few aspects of the operational equipment. By 2014, the refurbishment programme was complete. 

And Southern also acquired a fleet of 27 387/2s for the Gatwick Express (displacing all but 4 of the 442s, with others into storage until a home is sourced) and continue to operate 46 Class 455 units (with 2+3 seating for additional capacity) are used between London Victoria and London Bridge on Metro services.

Past Changes are Highlighted here.....

 Just a short post today from me, as I'm covering. I'm back tomorrow, Monday and Tuesday! Harry.