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British Rail Class 319 facts for kids

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British Rail Class 319
319445 at St Pancras 2.jpg
Class 319 at St Pancras
In service 1987 - Current
Manufacturer BREL York
Number built 86 trainsets
Formation 4 cars per trainset
Operator(s) Northern
West Midlands Trains
Line(s) served Abbey Line
Liverpool to Manchester Lines
Liverpool to Wigan Line
Specifications
Maximum speed 100 mph (161 km/h)
Electric system(s) 25 kV AC Overhead lines or 750 V DC 3rd rail
Track gauge Standard gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)

The British Rail Class 319 is a special type of train. It's called an electric multiple unit (EMU) because it runs on electricity and is made of several connected cars. These trains were built by BREL in York in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

They were first used for new train services that went across London, connecting places like Bedford in the north to Brighton in the south. Over the years, different train companies like Thameslink and First Capital Connect operated these services.

What makes the Class 319 unique is its "dual-voltage" power system. This means it can get electricity in two different ways. North of London, it uses 25,000 volts of alternating current (AC) from overhead lines. South of London, it switches to 750 volts of direct current (DC) from a third rail on the ground. This allows the train to travel on different parts of the railway network without stopping to change trains.



What Makes Them Special?

The Class 319 trains were designed to be very flexible. Their ability to switch between two different types of electricity was a big deal. This helped create a direct train route through the heart of London.

A similar type of train, the Class 325, was built for carrying mail. It used the same power system and body design as the Class 319. However, the postal trains had a slightly different look for their front cabs.

Where Did They Go?

Starting in 2015, newer trains began to take over the services that the Class 319s used to run. Because of this, many Class 319 units were moved to other parts of the country. For example, some started working in the North West of England.

By 2017, all the Class 319 trains that were part of the Thameslink service were replaced. They were swapped out for the even newer Class 700 trains. Even so, some Class 319s are still in use today with other train companies.

Images for kids

  • 319058 - Bedford (8959164642)

    A Network SouthEast Class 319/0 No. 319058 at Bedford

  • Class 319 at Eastleigh

    BR class 319 unit in Eastleigh Works

  • 319444 St Albans

    Thameslink Class 319/4 No. 319444 arrives at St Albans City

  • 3194xx A Standard Class Interior

    The refurbished Thameslink interior of a Class 319/4

  • 319379 Liverpool Lime Street

    Northern Class 319/3 No. 319379 at Liverpool Lime Street

  • 319433 St Albans Abbey

    London Midland Class 319/4 No. 319433 at St Albans Abbey

  • 319433 TSO Internal

    The London Midland refreshed interior of a Class 319

  • 319425 Transforming Travel Bedford

    The first refurbished Class 319/4 for First Capital Connect was 319425, seen here at Bedford

  • Hugh llewelyn 319 215 (6332119748)

    Southern 319215 at Sutton

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