The Class 317 was the first British Rail multiple unit designed for driver only operation though this did result in a delay in their introduction into service because of a dispute with the unions [1][2]. Most of the Class 317's service life to date has been on suburban services to London from the likes of Bedford and Luton though for a time in the late 1980s they did venture as far afield as Birmingham New Street.
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| Greater Anglia 317 510 at London Liverpool Street |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Number built: | 288 (72 4-car sets) |
| Built: | 1981-82, 1985-86 |
| Builder: | BREL York |
| Engine: | 4 GEC G315BZ traction motors (25kV AC OLHE) |
| Power: | 1, 328 hp (990 kW) |
| Formation: | Driving Trailer Standard Open (DTSO)+Motor Standard Open (MSO)+Trailer Composite Open (TCO)+DTSO |
The Class 317 was built in two batches, the first batch 317/1 was built for London St Pancras to Bedford services. A second batch 317/2 was built a little later for services out of London Kings Cross. In the late 1990s some units were refurbished and upgraded, including fitting a new pantograph, as the 317/6. In the mid-2000s some 317s were refurbished as 317/7 for the Stansted Express, 317/5 for Greater Anglia services while others were refurbished and updated as 317/8.
They now operated only by Greater Anglia. There was a plan to re-traction the Class 317 which could have given them another twenty years of service however these plans have now been cancelled. The Class 317 is now being replaced by new Class 720 Aventras.
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| 317 341 at Finsbury Park |
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| Greater Anglia 317 652 passes through Cambridge Heath |
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| The other end of 652! |
[1] Alec Swain, Overhead Line Electric Multiple-Units (Ian Allan, 1990) p. 71
[2] John Glover, BR Diary 1978-1985 (Ian Allan, 1985) p. 81