GTR to stand down ‘365s’

Happy train: a Class 365 trails through Hornsey on 26 March 2018.

In May Govia Thameslink Railway is to withdraw its fleet of 21 Class 365 EMUs, used on Great Northern services out of King’s Cross.

GTR told Modern Railways the majority of peak-time additional services that use these trains are not operating while a reduced timetable is in operation, and the change reflects the lower numbers of people travelling and delivers better value for taxpayers.

When additional peak services are reintroduced, Class 387/2s spare from Gatwick Express duties while the airport station is being upgraded will be used on Great Northern services. GTR says this will deliver an improved environment through the use of modern, air-conditioned trains. In the longer-term, GTR says it will work with the Department for Transport to introduce additional trains as required, enabling the ‘387s’ to be returned to the Gatwick Express.

Of the 40x4-car Class 365 fleet, 19 units are already in store, having been withdrawn by GTR when Class 700s were introduced on Thameslink services, although 10 were temporarily used by ScotRail while issues with the windscreens on that operator’s new Class 385 EMUs were resolved. The fleet is owned by DfT subsidiary Train Fleet (2019) Ltd, managed alongside the Department’s Operator of Last Resort function, ownership having transferred from Eversholt Rail in 2019.