Southern Class 313s to be withdrawn from traffic in May

As was widely predicted, Southern has confirmed that the remaining Class 313 electric multiple units will be removed from traffic on Coastway services out of Brighton from the May timetable change. A growing number of the 1976 vintage units – which form the oldest-surviving operational EMU fleet – have been taken out of traffic in recent weeks as the operator phases them out.

A charity commemorative tour using a pair of Class 313s was due to take place on April 29, organised by Southern and the Branch Line Society, although it is expected that some of the units will remain in service beyond that date, up until the timetable change. A designation by the Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board that could have seen retro blue and grey liveried 313201 survive after withdrawal has been switched, with Network Rail’s 313121 now designated for possible preservation, although the designation does not necessarily mean the unit will be preserved. A spokesperson for the National Railway Museum said: “As the first production class of electrical multiple unit to come out of British Rail’s prototype ‘PEP’ commuter units, the Railway Heritage Designation Advisory Board (RHDAB) originally designated the first unit to be produced (313201).

“However, interiors had been altered on this and subsequent units and lacked many original features which were a key part of British Rail’s leading design programme.

“The board became aware of a unit (313121) that retained its original 1970s seating and other internal features, and which is equipped with both overhead power and third rail current collection equipment.

“Consequently, the decision was made to change the designated unit as it best represented the Class 313 to its original condition.”