The Class 313 fleet were one of several Electric Multiple Units based on the PEP of 1971, and were the only class of this type to work on both AC overhead wires as well as DC third rail. The PEP design was also of a smaller profile compared to other trains of the era, to allow them to work in the tunnels of the Northern City Line from Finsbury Park to Moorgate. The Class 313s were introduced to the Northern City Line, as well as the Watford DC and North London Line, in 1976. This makes the Class 313 units the oldest EMUs operating on the National Rail network in Great Britain prior to their withdrawal in 2023.

Following privatisation allocations of the fleet remained largely similar to that of British Rail and Network SouthEast, with Great Northern operating the 41 Northern City units and Silverlink operating the remaining 23. Both still made use of the Class 313s unique ability to switch between overhead AC and third rail DC, making the Class 313s difficult to replace. Silverlink became London Overground in 2007, with Transport for London intending to replace their entire legacy fleet with new units as soon as possible. By 2010 the last Class 313s had operated, with service taken over by Class 378 ‘Capitalstars’. Service on Great Northern lasted much longer, with the 41 units being a challenge to replace thanks to the unique operation on the Northern City Line. Class 717s however saw the end of the Class 313s operation in London by 2019, however A few Class 313s were cascaded from the London area to work services on the South Coast following withdrawal by London Overground. 

From 2010 until its withdrawal in 2023 313201 worked Southern’s Coastway routes, between Portsmouth, Brighton, Seaford and Eastbourne alongside 19 classmates. Southern returned the unit into its original British Rail blue and grey livery in 2017 during regular maintenance of the unit, in order to celebrate the heritage of such a special train. It now is the responsibility of the 400 series preservation group, however it remains a complete unit in Eastleigh Works and is currently maintained by the Arlington Fleet team.

The 400 Series Preservation Group have confirmed that 313201 will be attending ‘The Greatest Gathering’ in August.

(1) Southern 313204 at Barnham. (2) Network Rail 313121 at Melton Rail Innovation & Development Centre. (3) Southern 313212 at Bognor Regis. (4) Refurbished Southern Class 313 interior. (5) Southern 313208 at Hove.

Additional information on the Class 313

Southern Railway Group - Class 313

https://sremg.org.uk/emu/class313.shtml

Motion History: Silent Workhorses - The British Rail 1972 PEP Units

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfynlUtRYxo&pp

313201 preservation

http://www.400series.co.uk/313201-2/

313121 preservation

https://www.fifeheritagerailway.co.uk/fleet