The Class 365, Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers remembered. These trains represented a new generation of rolling stock to replace the ageing slam door trains from the British Rail era.
Class 365
The Class 365s are a duel voltage electric multiple unit capable of running on the AC overhead wires and the third rail DC network.
They were built by ABB at the Holgate Road carriage works in York between 1994 and 1995.
Know as the Networker Express they form part of the Networker family of trains which includes the third rail Class 465 and 466s and the diesel Network Turbos Classes 165 and 166.
Although specified as a dual-voltage unit the Class 365s have never operated in this capability only working via the DC third rail or via the AC overhead lines.
The first 16 units numbered 365501 to 365516 were originally supplied with only DC shoe gear for operating on the 750 V third-rail system. They worked briefly for Network SouthEast before the start of privatisation when the South Eastern franchise was awarded to Connex.
These units were eventually transferred to West Anglia Great Northern and the third rail shoes and associated equipment were removed. A high speed pantograph was then installed so they could operate under the wires.
The next batch of twenty-five Class 365s numbers 365517 to 365541 were delivered to Hornsey TMD to operate services on the East Coast Main Line from London King's Cross to Peterborough and King's Lynn.
The first unit of this batch entered service with Network SouthEast on 9 December 1996. All were included in the transfer of the franchise to West Anglia Great Northern in January 1997. The last was delivered in July 1998.
All of the remaining units were transferred to the new franchise operator First Capital Connect in April 2006.
A refurbishment program at Ilford EMU Depot commenced in January 2014 which included a new front end which gave the refurbished units a distinctive new look.
Later in 2014 the Class 365s began to receive Great Northern branding after they became part of the Govia Thameslink Railway franchise in September 2014.
All passed with the Thameslink, Southern & Great Northern franchise to Govia Thameslink Railway in September 2014.
In March 2021 it was announced that Great Northern would be withdrawing all of the remaining Class 365 from service with the final day of operation happening on the 15th May 2021.
Class 465 Class 466
The Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers are electric multiple units operating over the third rail DC network in southern England.
The Class 465s were built by Metro-Cammell, British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) and ABB Rail between 1991 and 1994 and replaced the the Class 415 4EPB slam door units on the southern.
The first was delivered in December 1991 and carried Network SouthEast livery and was branded as a “Kent Link Networker".These units are primarily used on suburban routes out of London Victoria, Charing Cross, Blackfriars and Cannon Street to destinations in South London and Kent.
The Class 466s were built between 1993 and 1994 by Metro-Cammell in Washwood Heath, for the Network SouthEast sector of British Rail. They were built as two car formations and were historically run as individual units on rural routes, primarily the Sheerness Line between Sittingbourne and Sheerness and on the Bromley North branch between Grove Park and Bromley North.
However, owing to their non-compliance with accessibility standards, since 1 January 2021 they may only run coupled to a Class 465.
The Networkers were operated by Network SouthEast until privatisation 1997, and then by Connex South Eastern until 2003, South Eastern Trains until 2006 and Southeastern to the present day.
The Networkers are now approaching 30 years old and withdrawals of members of the class have already begun. It is unclear for how much longer they will remain is passenger service with southeastern.