Description
The British Rail Class 319 is an electric multiple unit passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works for use on north–south cross-London services. These dual-voltage trains are capable of operating on 25 kV 50 Hz from AC overhead wires or 750 V DC from a third rail.
Built in two batches in 1987–88 and 1990, the units were primarily used on the then-new Thameslink service from Bedford to Brighton and various other destinations south of London. The majority of the fleet remained in use on the Thameslink route after its reshaping and privatisation in 1997. Some of the fleet was also used by Connex South Central and latterly Southern on various services operating out of London Victoria, including flagship expresses to Brighton.
Since delivery of new Class 700 rolling stock for Thameslink services began in 2015, the Class 319 units have been redeployed for use on electrified lines in North West England but by 2024 will be replaced by Class 323 units cascaded from West Midlands Trains.
Of the 86 Class 319s built, 22 remain in active service, 12 with Northern Trains and 10 with West Midlands Trains. A total of 44 sets will be converted to Class 769s which is a mixture of Bi-mode multiple units (BMU) and Tri-mode multiple units. Two Class 319s have been converted to a tri-mode Class 799 which runs on hydrogen and electricity with the 25 kV AC and 750 V DC equipment retained.
