London - Times of Change - April 2019 - Brian Garrett Photography

London - Times of Change - April 2019

With huge quantities of rolling stock have been introduced on various routes into and out of London, the current railway scenes are changing incredibly quickly. During my visit in April 2019 the Class 313s operating with Great Northern had just days left in traffic before they were due to to be sent for scrap, GWR HST sets were down to just eight diagrams a day, with the last set due to operate on May 18th 2019. Introduction of the Class 700s on the Thameslink corridor had already displaced the previous Class 319 to new parts of the UK or conversion into tri-mode units for future use with GWR. Class 91's on the LNER route out of Kings Cross will soon start to be replaced by the Class 801 Hitachi 'Azuma' . The Azuma units were already in their delivery and testing phase. Greater Anglia were also testing their new Class 745 and 755 Bi-mode units built by Stadler, this will see huge changes in passenger trains operating out of London Liverpool Street to East Anglia and Stanstead Airport. Crossrail Class 345 units were also in operation, into and out of London Liverpool Street, although this will change when the new Crossrail Tunnels open for traffic as the units will dive under the city before reaching Liverpool Street mainline station and enter the Crossrail Tunnels to London Paddington, and onwards to Reading. Class 315s operating with TFL and London Overground will also be replaced by the new Class 710 units from Bombardier, which were also undergoing testing. Londons Railway scene is always colourful and interesting to observe, but even more so with so much change on the horizon. The gallery provides a selection of images taken in various locations in London during our visit.

Intercity liveried HST powercar No.43185 'Great Western' stands next to its future replacement at London Paddington on the 1st April 2019. With only eight HST diagrams left at this point the days of HSTs at London Paddington will soon end after 40 years of service in the Western Region.

Harringay, Alexandra Palace & Palmers Green

DVT Class 82 No.82231 trails on the rear of the 1S12 10:30 Kings Cross - Edinburgh service with No.91124 out of sight at the front of the train. Pictured passing Harringay on the 1st April 2019.

LNER Class 91 No.91131 passes Harringay on the 1st April 2019 operating the 1D33 10:33 Kings Cross - Leeds service.

Great Northern Class 387s No.387127 No.387109 and No.387125 pass Harringay operating the 1T17 08:44 Kings Lynn - Kings Cross service.

Siemens Desiro City Class 700 No.700110 rounds the Curve at Harringay operating 9J22 08:55 Horsham - Peterborough.

LNER HST powercar No.43319 races south with No.43367 (out of sight at the rear of the set) on the 1st April 2019 through Harringay operating 1E03 05:26 Stirling - Kings Cross.

Hull Trains Class 180 No.180111 passes Harringay on the 1st April 2019 operating 1A91 08:23 Hull - Kings Cross.

With less than a week left in traffic before class members begin to be scrapped, Greater Northern Class 313s No.310055 and No.313XXX pass Harringay on the 1st April 2019 operating 2V51 10:29 Moorgate - Welwyn Garden City.

Replacements for the Class 313s were already in traffic, Siemens Class 717 No.717007 arrives into Harringay Station on the 1st April 2019 operating the 2J57 10:30 Herford North - Moorgate service.

Siemens DesiroCity No.717008 approaches Harringay on the 1st April 2019 operating 2F52 10:41 Moorgate - Waton-at-Stone service.

Grand Central Class 180 No.180104 speeds north at Harringay on the 1st April 2019 operating 1D71 10:57 Kings Cross - Bradford Interchange.

Remembrance Class 91 No.91111 passes Harringay on the 1st April 2019 hauling the 1S13 11:00 Kings Cross - Edinburgh.

Thameslink Class 700 No.700121 passes through Harringay on the 1st April 2019 working the 9J23 09:54 Peterborough - Horsham service.

East Midlands Trains powercars on hire to LNER. No.43075 leads No.43061 north through Harringay on the 1st April 2019 operating the 1D21 Kings Cross - Leeds service.

DB Cargo Class 66 No.66135 passes Harringay on the 1st April 2019 hauling he 4E26 09:09 Dollands Moor - Scunthorpe steel empties.

EWS liveried Class 66 No.66004 smokes its way through Alexandra Palace on the 1st April 2019 hauling the 4E25 11:25 Bow - Heck block empties.

Royal Train locomotive No.67006 leads the 5Z76 10:41 Wembley Yard - Kings Cross stock move off the North London Line at Harringay to reverse and gain access to Kings Cross. No.67005 was on the rear of the Mk2 Blue/Grey set. Pictured at Harringay on the 1st April 2019.

Thameslink Class 700 No.700142 races north at Alexandra Palace on the 1st April 2019 operting the 9S20 10:08 Brighton - Cambridge service.

First Capital Connect liveried Class 313 No.313039 arrives into Alexandra Palace on the 1st April 2019 operating 2J55 10:07 Watton-at-Stone - Moorgate service.

Great Northern Class 313 No.313046 and No.313122 arrive into Plamers Green on the 1st April 2019 operating 2J67 11:28 Stevenage - Moorgate service.

Siemens built Class 717 No.717009 arrives into Palmers Green on the 1st April 2019 operating a testing diagram from Moorgate.

Great Northern Class 313 No.313123 and No.313060 arrive into Palmers Green on the 1st April 2019 operating 2B62 11:55 Moorgate - Hertford North.

Siemens Built Class 717 No.717008 arrives into Plamers Green with a Great Northern service on the 1st April 2019 operating the 2J71 12:11 Watton-at-Stone to Moorgate service.

LNER Class 801 No.801108 is pictured being towed through Finsbury Park on April 1st 2019 by classmate No.802202 as the 5X40 08:00 Merchant Park - Acton Mainline.

Kings Cross:

Kings Cross is the spiritual home of the Class 91, which has operated the same route since it was first built. The end of the Class domination of the route is about end with the introduction of the Class 800 and 801 Hitachi built 'Azuma' (essentially the same design as the GWR Class 800 and 802s, but with a much better interior fit out and specification). At the time of my visit the Class 800 was on testing / mileage accumulation runs between Leeds and Kings Cross.

LNER Class 91 No.91125 is pictured at Kings Corss on the 1st April 2019 having arrived from the North.

LNER Azuma No.800105 stands at Kings Cross having arrvied with the 5Q31 11:45 Leeds - Kings Cross testing diagram.

Bethnal Green:

C2C Class 357 passes Bethnal Green on the 6th April 2019 operating a diverted 9B14 12:13 Liverpool Street - Shoeburyness service with classmate No.357026.

C2C Class 357s No.357023 and No.357025 are pictured on a diverted C2C service into London Liverpool Street. The 9G37 11:09 Shoereburyness - London Liverpool Street service is pictured passing Bethnal Green on the 6th April 2019.

TFL Rail Class 345 Bombarier 'Aventra' passes Bethanl Green on the 6th April 2019 operating 2W80 12:20 Liverpool Street - Shenfield operating part of the new TFL 'Elizabeth Line' temporary services until the Crossrail Tunnels open.

Greater Anglia Stanstead Express Class 379s No.379019 and No.379001 pass Bethnal Green on the 6th April 2019 operating 1B62 12:25 Liverpool Street - Stanstead Airport.

London Overground Class 315 No.315807 arrives into Bethnal Green on the 6th April 2019 operating the 2U40 12:30 Liverpool street - Enfield Town service.

Greater Anglia Class 317 No.317654 passes Bethnal Green on the 6th April 2019 operating 2O30 12:42 Liverpool Street - Hertford East.

London St Pancras:
With Eurostar having introduced new Class 374 'Valero' units built by Siemens the original Class 373 'Classic' Eurostars are seen on a less regular basis at London St Pancras International. This view of the impressive Barlow arched roof shows four Eurostar sets in the platforms.

A view of St Pancras International on the 6th April 2019. From left to Right Siemens Valero No.4032, 'Classic Eurostar' No.3205, followed by two further Class 374s No.4033 and No.4014