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British Rail Class 317 Electric Multiple Units

Class 317 Electric multiple-units BREL EMUs were built at York & Derby from 1981-1982.

Class 317 units were designed for outer suburban services.

Class 317 car-sets are constructed of steel with a maximum speed 100 mph. Class 317 EMUs are powered by an overhead 25 kV AC electrical supply.

A history of Class 317 EMUs

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Class 800 bi-mode multiple units

Class 317/1 317346 standing in King's Cross Station with a First Capital Connect suburban service.

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At Ely Station (08/03/17) 317659 with a Greater Anglia service from Kings Lynn to London Liverpool Street station.

 

A BR Class 317 317664 (Class 317/6 664) EMU standing in Platform 4a of Cambridge Station. On the left is a Class 170 DMU.

 

Class 317/6 666 EMU unit 317666 in the white Greater Anglia trains livery at Liverpool Street station, London (leading driving cab carriage 77237).

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On the right Class 317/8 EMU unit Class 317 317891 with train for Hertford? (on the left is EMU 379010) at Liverpool Street station London.

 

Class 317 EMU unit 317346 at Peterborough station with a Great Northern Service for London Kings Cross

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A history of Class 317 EMUs

The Class 317 was the first British Rail EMU built on the all‑steel Mark 3 bodyshell and one of the most important second‑generation AC suburban/interurban units.
It served from 1983 to 2022, operating across the Midland Main Line, Great Northern, West Anglia, and Stansted Express routes.
Below is a complete, structured history grounded in authoritative sources.

Origins and Purpose of the Class 317 EMUs

The Class 317 was developed as part of British Rail's Second Generation EMU programme, replacing ageing first‑generation units such as Classes 127, 302, 310, 312, 322.
It was the first EMU to use the Mark 3 bodyshell, a major shift away from the aluminium PEP‑derived designs (Classes 313–315).

Why were the Class 317 EMUs built

  • To operate the newly electrified Bedford‑St Pancras route (London St Pancras–Bedford).

  • To modernise suburban and outer‑suburban services on the Eastern Region.

  • To introduce driver‑only operation, which caused a delayed entry into service due to union disputes.

Construction of the Class 317 EMUs

  • Manufacturer: British Rail Engineering Ltd (BREL)

  • Works: Holgate Road (York) for most vehicles; Derby for some TCO bodyshells

  • Built:

    • 317/1: 1981–1982

    • 317/2: 1985–1987

  • Total built: 72 four‑car sets

Family

  • BR Second Generation (Mark 3) EMUs

  • Related to Classes 318, 455, and diesel Class 150 (all Mark 3‑based)

Technical Characteristics of the Class 317 EMUs

Formation of the Class 317 EMU sets

Standard formation: DTSO – MSO – TCO – DTSO
(317/6 units used DTSO–MSO–TSO–DTCO)

Key Specifications of the Class 317 EMUs

  • Traction motors: 4 × GEC G315BZ (248 kW each)

  • Power output: 990 kW (1,328 hp)

  • Max speed: 100 mph (160 km/h)

  • Electrical system: 25 kV AC overhead

  • Braking: Electro‑pneumatic disc brakes

  • Couplers: Tightlock

  • Carbody: Steel Mark 3 construction

Entry Into Service of the Class 317 EMUs (1983)

Although built from 1981, the Class 317 did not enter service until 28 March 1983, due to industrial disputes over driver‑only operation.
They replaced the unreliable Class 127 DMUs on the St Pancras–Bedford route.

Operational History of the Class 317 EMUs

1. Bedford‑St Pancras Route (1983–1987)

  • Primary use for the first batch (317/1).

  • Operated out of London St Pancras to Bedford.

2. Great Northern & West Anglia (1987–2022)

  • 317/2 batch built for King's Cross and Liverpool Street suburban routes.

  • Long service with:

    • Network SouthEast

    • WAGN

    • First Capital Connect

    • National Express East Anglia

    • Greater Anglia

    • London Overground (temporary)

  • Extensively used on Cambridge, Hertford, Enfield, Chingford, and Stansted Airport services.

3. Stansted Express (2000–2006)

  • 317/7 subclass refurbished for airport services.

4. London Overground (2015–2018)

  • 317/8 units used on West Anglia routes before Class 710 introduction.

Refurbishments and Sub‑classes of the Class 317 EMUs

The Class 317 underwent several major rebuilds:

  • 317/1 – Original batch for Bed‑Pan route.

  • 317/2 – Second batch for King’s Cross/Liverpool Street.

  • 317/5 – Greater Anglia refurbishment (2000s).

  • 317/6 – Re‑tractioning trial units (new pantograph, upgraded systems).

  • 317/7 – Stansted Express refurbishment.

  • 317/8 – London Overground refurbishment (2015–2018).

A proposed full re‑tractioning programme (new traction equipment) was cancelled.

Withdrawal and Disposal of the Class 317 EMUs

  • In service: 1983 – 16 July 2022 (final withdrawal by Greater Anglia).

  • Scrapped: All 72 units scrapped between 2022–2024.

  • Preserved: Only 2 vehicles survive.

Significance of the Class 317 EMUs

The Class 317 is historically important because it was:

  • The first Mark 3‑bodied EMU, influencing decades of BR design.

  • One of the earliest EMUs designed for driver‑only operation.

  • A long‑serving, reliable workhorse of London suburban and airport services.

  • A key transitional design between PEP‑derived units and later AC EMUs.

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Preserved LocomotivesHOMEPAGE for all of Phil and Molly's PicsMy Archive Steam Photos from the 1960s

docspics images of Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays photos of Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays photographs of Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays pictures of Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays © Dr Phil Brown * Treyn Railway Holidays to France, Italy and Spain from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays Booking tickets for Great Railway Journey luxury Rail Trip holidays Train travel in Europe Rail holidays from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays to the USA & Canada luxury train through the Rocky Mountain Canadian rail railway holidays through the Rockies US Cities by train from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays  Continental rail holidays to France Germany Italy Austria Switzerland Glacier Express Treyn Holidays from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays from Eurostar to Paris Brussels Avignon Turin Turino Rome Roma Florence Firenze TGV fast trains Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays Travelling by train always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery  to Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of Europe! The railway trip from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive in action and there is nothing like the sight and sounds of a steam train to invoke feelings of nostalgia in some of us to Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays even more luxury by having a special trip out on a steam dining train! England Scotland Wales Northern Ireland top class hotels in Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays dining out travel tours top tourist destinations tourist information on Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays weekend breaks mini-breaks family holidays restaurants touring coach trips from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays continental tours cruise ships pleasure cruises summer breaks spring breaks continental winter breaks European winter holidays spring holidays summer holidays European Rail tours Railway travel holidays special steam excursions from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays A great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains European Rail tours US and Canadian Railway travel holidays special steam excursions to Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays A great steam heritage line and offers luxury Pullman coach dining trains Travelling by train from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays always seems a pleasure, especially if through wonderful scenery either in England, Scotland, Wales or on holiday in the rest of the railways of Europe! The railway trip involves seeing or travelling behind a 'real' steam locomotive or heritage diesel in action on a special trip from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets Stuttgart Brussels Eurostar Brussels from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays by TGV to Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International Stratford International, St Pancras International Paris Gare du Nord Paris Gare de Lyon Paris Gare de L'est Paris Gare Montparnasse by Eurostar from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays London to Paris, Eurostar London - Brussels Eurostar London to Lille deals bargain city breaks Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays Great Railway Journey holidays in Italy, Spain and France by TGV booking from Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays Booking Eurostar Continental Rail Travel Tour Tickets to the Continent  eg Paris Brussels Avignon or railway tours across France, Holland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Asia or China for a travel spectacular Class 317 EMU rail tour holidays

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