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Unconfirmed reports state that the first six Class 319's to come off lease for transfer to Northern will be 319362/63/65/80/82/83.

The franchise to run the expanded Thameslink rail network has been awarded to Govia Thameslink.

The new Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) franchise will run for seven years from this September.

The government said the franchise would open new routes across London and improve commuter services into the capital.

It added that nearly 1,400 extra carriages would be supplied by the end of 2018 as part of the franchise

This will surely be good news for regular Thameslink passengers, for whom First's running of the franchise was a long way from acceptable.

The announcement confirms the replacement of the Class 313s on the Great Northern from 2018 onwards (although nothing mentioned as to the future of those allocated to Lovers Walk). Although they will be over 43 years old by the time the whole fleet is replaced, I hope they can find further use elsewhere, perhaps on the Cardiff Valley Lines for a period. Obviously there is the clear similarity with Merseyrail's 507/8s and the capacity problems on the Northern Line, but I very much doubt any of the 313s will ever return to Merseyside.

(23/05/2014 15:28)507009 Wrote: [ -> ]This will surely be good news for regular Thameslink passengers, for whom First's running of the franchise was a long way from acceptable.

The announcement confirms the replacement of the Class 313s on the Great Northern from 2018 onwards (although nothing mentioned as to the future of those allocated to Lovers Walk). Although they will be over 43 years old by the time the whole fleet is replaced, I hope they can find further use elsewhere, perhaps on the Cardiff Valley Lines for a period. Obviously there is the clear similarity with Merseyrail's 507/8s and the capacity problems on the Northern Line, but I very much doubt any of the 313s will ever return to Merseyside.

Cardiff Valleys lines are due to get the 315s.

(23/05/2014 17:40)childwallblues Wrote: [ -> ]Cardiff Valleys lines are due to get the 315s.

Indeed, but I remember it mentioned some months ago that certain workings would be better suited to three car operation. An ideal scenario would involve both 313s and 315s being reused in Cardiff.

This represents a return to Thameslink for Govia, as they ran the original franchise pre-Great Northern until 2006. I expect Govia to lose SouthEstern in 2018 as a result.

Class 387/1 units up to 378110 have now been delivered to Bletchley Depot for testing. Having finished AC testing 387105/06 have gone to Brighton.

I had learnt that the first few 387s would be in service by April. So at this rate some may be in service sooner!

From tomorrow the new enlarged Govia franchise starts combining Thameslink, Southern, Gatwick Express and Great Northern.

All 29 Class 387/1 are now in service with Thameslink.
The first 387/2 for the Gatwick Express has been built and is under static testing at Derby.