View source for British Rail Class 317

{{Short description|British electric passenger trains}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox train
| background = 
| name = British Rail Class 317
| image = 317348 at Cambridge North.jpg
| imagesize = 
| caption = [[Greater Anglia (2012–2025)|Greater Anglia]] Class 317/1 at {{stnlnk|Cambridge North}} in 2017
| interiorimage = Class_317501_interior.jpg
| interiorimagealt = 
| interiorcaption = Refurbished standard class interior of a Greater Anglia Class 317/5
| service = 28 March 1983{{snd}}16 July 2022<ref name="butlin">{{cite book |last=Butlin| first=Ashley |title= British Multiple Units: Volume 3 Classes 302-390 |year=2001 |publisher=Coorlea Publishing |location=Pulborough |isbn=0-948069-19-8 |page=32}}</ref><ref name="RailExpressSeptember2022" >{{cite magazine |first=David |last=Russell |title= Class 317s stood down by Greater Anglia |magazine= [[Rail Express]] |issue= 316 | date=September 2022 |page=9 }}</ref>
| manufacturer = [[British Rail Engineering Limited]]
| designer = 
| assembly = 
| ordernumber = 
| factory = {{ubli|indent=1em|[[Derby Litchurch Lane Works|Litchurch Lane Works]], [[Derby]]<br />(317/1 TCO bodyshells only)|[[Holgate Road carriage works, York|Holgate Road Works]], [[York]]<br />(remainder)}}
| family = BR Second Generation ([[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]])
| replaced = {{ubl|[[British Rail Class 127|Class 127]]|[[British Rail Class 302|Class 302]]|[[British Rail Class 310|Class 310]]|[[British Rail Class 312|Class 312]]}}
| yearconstruction = {{ubl|1981–1982|1985–1987}}
| yearservice = 
| refurbishment = {{ubl|2000–2006 ([[Stansted Express]])|2006–2007 ([[First Capital Connect]])|2013–2015 ([[Greater Anglia (2012–2025)|Greater Anglia]])|2015–2018 ([[London Overground]])}}
| yearscrapped = 
| numberconstruction = 
| numberbuilt = 72
| numberservice = 
| numberpreserved = 2 vehicles
| numberscrapped = 72
| predecessor = 
| successor = {{ubl|[[British Rail Class 357|Class 357]]|[[British Rail Class 365|Class 365]]|[[British Rail Class 379|Class 379]]|[[British Rail Class 387|Class 387]]|[[British Rail Class 710|Class 710]]|[[British Rail Class 720|Class 720]]}}
| formation = {{ubl|4 cars per unit;|317/6 units: {{nowrap|{{abbr|DTSO|Driver's cab, Trailer car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|MSO|Motor car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|TSO|Trailer car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|DTCO|Driver's cab, Trailer car, Composite (first and standard class sections), Open saloon}}<ref name="AngelTrains">{{cite web|title=Class 317 - Angel Trains|url=https://angeltrains.co.uk/fleet/class-317/|url-status=live|access-date=29 December 2021|website=angeltrains.co.uk|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904233959/https://angeltrains.co.uk/fleet/class-317/ |archive-date=4 September 2021 }}</ref>}}|All others: {{nowrap|{{abbr|DTSO|Driver's cab, Trailer car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|MSO|Motor car, Standard class, Open saloon}}-{{abbr|TCO|Trailer car, Composite (first and standard class sections), Open saloon}}-DTSO}}}}
| diagram = {{ubli|indent=1em|317/1 DTSO vehicles: {{nowrap|EE216, EE232, & EE235{{notetag|Diagram EE232 describes a 71-seat variant used for Great Northern routes from 1986 onwards, while EE235 describes a 70-seat variant with a lockable area of the saloon adjacent to the driver's cab (for luggage, etc) used for services on the West Coast Main Line from 1986 onwards.<ref name=BRB210 />}}}}|317/1 MSO vehicles: EC202|317/1 TCO vehicles: EH307|317/2 DTSO vehicles: {{nowrap|EE224 & EE225}}|317/2 MSO vehicles: EC205|317/2 TCO vehicles: EH308}}
| code = 
| fleetnumbers = {{unbulleted indent list|indent=1em|'''''As built:'''''|317/1: 317301–317348|317/2: 317349–317372|'''''Following renumberings:'''''|317/1: 317337–317348|317/5: 317501–317515|317/6: 317649–317672|317/7: 317708–317710, 317714, 317719, 317722–317723, 317729, 317732|317/8: 317881–317892}}
| capacity = As built: 292 seats<br />(22 first-class, 270 standard)
| owner = 
| operator = {{ubl|[[British Rail]]|[[c2c (1996–2025)|c2c]]|[[Greater Anglia (2012–2025)|Greater Anglia]]|[[Great Northern route|Great Northern]]|[[First Capital Connect]]|[[London Overground]]|[[National Express East Anglia]]|[[Network SouthEast]]|[[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]]|[[West Anglia Great Northern]]}}
| depots = 
| lines = 
| carbody = [[Steel]]
| trainlength = 
| carlength = {{ubl|DT vehs.: {{convert|19.830|m|ftin|abbr=on}}|Others: {{convert|19.920|m|ftin|abbr=on}}}}
| width = {{convert|2.816|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height = {{convert|3.774|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| floorheight = {{convert|1.144|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| platformheight = 
| entrylevelorstep = 
| doors = Double-leaf pocket sliding, {{avoid wrap|each {{convert|1.010|m|ftin|abbr=on}} wide}} {{avoid wrap|(2 per side per car)}}
| wheeldiameter = 
| wheelbase = Over bogie centres:<br />{{convert|14.170|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| maxspeed = {{convert|100|mph|km/h||abbr=on}}
| weight = {{ubli|indent=1em|DTSO vehs.: {{convert|29.5|t}}|MSO vehs.: {{convert|49.0|t}}|TCO vehs.: {{convert|28.3|t}}}}
| axleload = 
| steep gradient = 
| traction = 
| traction motors = 4 × [[General Electric Company|GEC]] G315BZ<br />({{convert|332|hp|kW|order=flip|abbr=on}} each)
| poweroutput = {{convert|1328|hp|kW|order=flip|abbr=on}}
| tractiveeffort = 
| acceleration = 
| deceleration = 
| aux = 
| powersupply = 
| hvac = 
| electricsystem = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} [[Overhead line|overhead]]
| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (transportation)|Pantograph]]
| uicclass = 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′
| bogies = {{ubl|Powered: BREL BP20|Unpowered: BREL BT13}}
| minimum curve = {{convert|3.5|chain|m ftin|sigfig=3|order=out|abbr=on}}
| brakes = [[Electro-pneumatic brake system on British railway trains|Electro-pneumatic]] ([[Disc brake#Rail and aircraft|disc]])<br />([[Westinghouse Air Brake Company|Westinghouse]])
| safety = {{ubl|[[Automatic Warning System|AWS]]|[[Train Protection & Warning System|TPWS]]}}
| coupling = [[Tightlock coupling|Tightlock]]
| multipleworking = Within class
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| notes = Specifications as at November 1988,<ref name=BRB210>{{cite web |url=http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf |title=Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.) |at=EC202, EC205, EE216, EE224–EE225, EE232, EE235, EH307–EH308 (in work pp. 74–75, 80–81, 148–149, 162–165, 174–175, 180–181, 376–379) |work=Barrowmore MRG |publisher=BRB Residuary Ltd. |access-date=21 January 2015 |archive-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121172506/http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref> except where otherwise noted.
}}

The '''British Rail Class 317''' [[electric multiple unit]] (EMU) passenger trains were constructed by [[British Rail Engineering Limited]] in two batches: 48 sets were produced in 1981–1982 and 24 sets in 1985–1987. They were the first of several classes of British Rail EMU to be based on the all-[[steel]] [[British Rail Mark 3|Mark 3]] bodyshell, departing from the [[British Rail Class 445|''PEP'']]-aluminium design which had spawned the earlier [[British Rail Class 313|Class 313]] to [[British Rail Class 315|Class 315]], [[British Rail Class 507|Class 507]] and [[British Rail Class 508|Class 508]]. The Mark 3 bodyshell was also the basis of [[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]], [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] and the diesel [[British Rail Class 150|Class 150]]. The Class 317 uses overhead [[alternating current]] electrification. All units were withdrawn in July 2022.

==Description==
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2022}}
{{Missing information|section|subclasses /5, /6, /7, and /8|date=September 2022}}
}}

===Class 317/1===
The first batch of 48 units was built in 1981–1982 and was classified as '''Class 317/1'''. Units were numbered in the range 317301–317348, and had a maximum speed of {{cvt|100|mph|km/h}}.

Each unit is composed of four vehicles: two unpowered standard-class vehicles with driver's cabs, an intermediate trailer with both first- and standard-class seating, and an intermediate motor vehicle with second-class seating. The motor vehicle also carries the roof-mounted Stone Faiveley AMBR [[Pantograph (transport)|pantograph]].

The technical description of the formation of the units is DTSO(A)-MSO-TCO-DTSO(B).<ref name=RailMag-Jun1981/> Individual vehicles were numbered in the following ranges:
* DTSO(A): 77000–77047
* MSO: 62661–62708
* TCO: 71577–71624
* DTSO(B): 77048–77095

Bodyshells for the TCO vehicles in this batch were constructed at [[Derby Litchurch Lane Works]], while construction of the other bodyshells and overall assembly was carried out at the [[Holgate Road carriage works|Holgate Road Carriage Works]] in [[York]].<ref name=RailMag-Jun1981>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=June 1981 |title=Four-Car Sets for Bedford–Luton: Class "317" Electric Multiple-Units for Midland Suburban Services Revert to All-steel Construction |magazine=The Railway Magazine |publisher=IPC Transport Press |location=Sutton |volume=127 |pages=268–269 |issn=0033-8923}}</ref>

The units were built to operate services on the newly electrified [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] to [[Bedford railway station|Bedford]] route and were due to replace the elderly [[British Rail Class 127|Class 127]] [[diesel multiple unit]]s in October 1982.<ref name=RailMag-Jun1981/> However, their introduction was delayed until 28 March 1983<ref>{{cite web|last=McCrickard|first=John P.|date=|title=THE NETWORK SOUTHEAST ACHIEVEMENT A CHRONOLOGY OF 12 YEARS FORWARD PROGRESS AND DELIVERY, 1982 - 1994|url=https://www.nsers.org/1982.html|url-status=live|access-date=10 November 2020|website=Network SouthEast Railway Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920200321/https://www.nsers.org/1982.html |archive-date=20 September 2020 }}</ref> due to an industrial dispute with the unions over [[One-man operation|driver-only operation]],<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Not station--> |title=Grim prospect |date=August 1982 |magazine=The Railway Magazine |publisher=IPC Transport Press |location=Sutton |volume=128 |number=976 |page=339 |issn=0033-8923}}</ref> and the diesel units lingered on until finally being replaced in mid-1983. Units were delivered in the standard livery of BR blue and grey.

In 1986, the route came under control of the ''Thameslink'' subsector of newly created [[Network SouthEast]]. From 1987, new dual-voltage [[British Rail Class 319|Class 319]] units were introduced on the route, allowing the creation of a new cross-London service, from Bedford to [[Brighton]], via [[Farringdon station|Farringdon]] and [[City Thameslink station]]. The Class 317 units were displaced to outer-suburban services on the [[West Coast Main Line|WCML]] out of [[Euston railway station|London Euston]] to [[Milton Keynes Central railway station|Milton Keynes]] and [[Northampton railway station|Northampton]]. They replaced the slam-door [[British Rail Class 310|Class 310]] units, which subsequently transferred to the [[London, Tilbury and Southend railway]].

However, the use of Class 317 units out of Euston again proved to be short-lived. In 1989, the second batch of new [[British Rail Class 321|Class 321]] were introduced onto WCML services. The Class 317 units were again displaced, this time to the ''Great Northern'' and ''West Anglia'' routes out of [[London King's Cross railway station|London King's Cross]] and [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]], where they joined the second batch units. Therefore, for the first time, the entire Class 317 fleet was operating in the same place.

===Class 317/2===
[[File:317364 at Peterborough.jpg|thumb|left|Class 317/2 in BR Blue and Grey livery at [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]]]]
The second batch of 20 units was built in 1985–1986 and were classified as '''Class 317/2'''. Units were numbered in the range 317349–317368. A further four units were built in 1987 and numbered 317369–317372. These units have same DTSO(A)-MSO-TCO-DTSO(B) composition as Class 317/1 units, and have vehicles numbered in the following ranges:
* DTSO(A): 77200–77219 and 77280–77283
* MSO: 62846–62865 and 62886–62889
* TCO: 71734–71753 and 71762–71765
* DTSO(B): 77220–77239 and 77284–77287
All vehicles in this batch were constructed at Holgate Road Carriage Works.

The second batch units were built to operate outer-suburban trains on the ''Great Northern'' route from London King's Cross to [[Stevenage railway station|Stevenage]], [[Cambridge railway station|Cambridge]] and [[Peterborough railway station|Peterborough]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Shannon |first1=Paul |title=BR traction in colour-2. |date=1989 |publisher=Ian Allan. |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-1871-5 |page=64}}</ref> Like the first batch units, they were delivered in BR Blue/Grey livery. The units replaced the slam-door [[British Rail Class 312|Class 312]] units, dating from 1975, which subsequently transferred to the [[Great Eastern Main Line]] and London-Tilbury-Southend routes. Like the DC [[British Rail Class 455|Class 455]] units, several aspects of the exterior were modified, with metal hopper ventilators replaced with larger panes of glass and the 'headcode indicator' flat front replaced with a rounded design.

In 1986, the route came under the control of the newly created [[Network SouthEast]], which introduced a new blue, red and white livery. The extension of the [[Overhead lines|overhead line equipment]] soon allowed the units to work services on the ''West Anglia'' route from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge. In 1992, electrification spread north from Cambridge to [[Ely railway station|Ely]] and [[King's Lynn railway station|King's Lynn]], allowing the replacement of locomotive-hauled trains.

The closely related [[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]] units, which were built for the [[Ayrshire Coast Line|Ayrshire Coast]] electrification in Scotland, are effectively a three-car version of the same design, but with a lower speed capability of {{cvt|90|mph}}, and with traction motors provided by [[Brush Traction|Brush]] instead of GEC.

==Operations==
{{Multiple issues|section=yes|
{{more citations needed section|date=September 2022}}
{{Confusing|section|date=September 2022|reason=it is not in chronological order and the renumberings are hard to follow}}
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With the privatisation of Britain's railways, the Class 317 fleet was incorporated into the [[West Anglia Great Northern]] (WAGN) franchise. Since then, various changes occurred to the fleet, as units were swapped and franchises changed. The following companies operated Class 317s after privatisation.

===Greater Anglia===
[[File:317668 Hackney Downs.jpg|left|thumb|Greater Anglia Class 317/6 at [[Hackney Downs railway station|Hackney Downs]] in 2015]]
[[File:Class 317508 Farewell tour.jpg|thumb|left|Greater Anglia Class 317/5 on 16 July 2022, the last day of scheduled working]]
[[Greater Anglia (2012–2025)|Greater Anglia]] operated 15 Class 317/5 units, 24 Class 317/6 units, six Class 317/8 units and 12 Class 317/1 units, the last of which were transferred from [[Govia Thameslink Railway|Great Northern]] in 2017. They were mainly used on medium-distance services between London Liverpool Street / [[Stratford railway station|Stratford]] and [[Broxbourne railway station|Broxbourne]] / [[Hertford East railway station|Hertford East]] and on longer distance services between London Liverpool Street/Stratford and [[Bishop's Stortford railway station|Bishop's Stortford]], [[Harlow Town railway station|Harlow Town]] and Cambridge. They were also used on some Bishops Stortford/Stansted Airport - Cambridge services. These trains were used on rush hour services from Liverpool Street to [[Witham railway station|Witham]] and [[Ipswich railway station|Ipswich]] while some class 321s were being refurbished. There was one class 317/7 demonstrator unit 317722. This unit has now been withdrawn and scrapped.

The fleet of 24 Class 317/6s were all refurbished with the following enhancements:<ref>{{cite web|title=Abellio Greater Anglia to Invest Over £10m in Customer-Focused Service Improvements|url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/abellio-greater-anglia-to-invest-over-f10m-in-customer-focused-service-improvements|website=Greater Anglia|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-date=20 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220115550/https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/abellio-greater-anglia-to-invest-over-f10m-in-customer-focused-service-improvements|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Refresh of Class 317/6 trains complete|url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/refresh-of-class-3176-trains-complete|website=Greater Anglia|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-date=2 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202003615/https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/refresh-of-class-3176-trains-complete|url-status=live}}</ref>

* New carpets in first vlass cabins
* New hard wearing, 'easy to clean' vinyl flooring in Standard Class accommodation
* All the seats were re-covered into new moquette trim
* Repainted grab rails
* New dado side panels and wall end coverings
After the Class 317/6 were refurbished, Greater Anglia then carried out an interior refresh to its 15 Class 317/5 trains.<ref>{{cite web|title=Abellio Greater Anglia's first five upgraded Class 317/5 trains enter service|url=https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/abellio-greater-anglias-first-five-upgraded-class-3175-trains-enter-service|website=Greater Anglia|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-date=20 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220054135/https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/news-articles/abellio-greater-anglias-first-five-upgraded-class-3175-trains-enter-service|url-status=live}}</ref>

During 2021, all Class 317/6 units were scrapped at [[Eastleigh Works|Eastleigh works]]. Between 2019 - 2020, a few Class 317/1s units and 317/5s units were refurbished with the following enhancements:

* [[Persons with reduced mobility legislation|PRM]] accessible universal toilet (replacing the two passenger toilets)
* Call to aid buttons
* [[Persons with reduced mobility legislation|PRM]] door buttons
* Wheelchair spaces
* Improved free [[Wi-Fi]]

In addition, eight Class 317/7 units formerly operated by London Overground were brought back into use by Greater Anglia in 2020 as supplementary PRM-compliant units following the withdrawal of the 317/6 fleet.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Greater Anglia brings in Class 317/7s to improve accessibility |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/11/greater-anglia-brings-in-class-317-7s-to-improve-accessibility.html |access-date=2022-09-27 |work=RailAdvent |date=19 November 2020}}</ref>

The final scheduled Class 317 workings took place on 16 July 2022,<ref>{{cite magazine |title= '317s' end outer suburban duties | department= News in pictures| magazine= Rail |issue= 10 August 2022 |page=30}}</ref> with the last Class 317s withdrawn at the end of July 2022.<ref name= RailExpressSeptember2022 />

===West Anglia Great Northern, First Capital Connect & Great Northern===
[[File:317663 A Liverpool Street.JPG|thumb|left|WAGN refurbished Class 317/6 at [[Liverpool Street railway station|London Liverpool Street]] in 2006]]
[[File:317651 Standard Class Interior.jpg|thumb|left|The interior of Standard Class aboard a refurbished Class 317/6]]
[[File:317348 Peterborough.jpg|thumb|right|First Capital Connect Class 317/1 at Peterborough in 2012]]
[[File:317340 DTSO Standard Class Interior.jpg|thumb|right|The interior of Standard Class aboard a First Capital Connect refreshed Class 317/1]]
WAGN Railway used the Class 317 fleet on various services, including all London Liverpool Street to Cambridge services on the ''West Anglia'' route, and many stopping services to intermediate destinations. The fleet also worked services on the ''Great Northern'' route, from London King's Cross to Cambridge, Peterborough, [[Hertford North railway station|Hertford]], [[Stevenage railway station|Stevenage]] and King's Lynn, plus at weekends when the line to [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] was closed, the units operated inner suburban services from London King's Cross to [[Letchworth railway station|Letchworth Garden City]], Hertford and [[Welwyn Garden City railway station|Welwyn Garden City]].

In 1998/99, WAGN Railway started to refurbish its Class 317/2 fleet. The work was carried out by Railcare at [[Wolverton railway works|Wolverton Works]]. The [[Stone Faiveley AMBR]] pantograph was replaced by the industry standard [[Brecknell Willis high speed pantograph]]. Units were reclassified as '''Class 317/6''' and were renumbered into the range 317649–672.

Many of the WAGN Class 317/1 units still wore the [[Network SouthEast]] (NSE) blue and red livery dating from 1986. In 2001, a new livery of metallic purple with lilac doors was introduced. The first unit so treated was 317 312, which had recently returned from loan to [[c2c (1996–2025)|LTS Rail]]. The livery was progressively applied to the Class 317/1 fleet, with the final NSE examples (317 328 & 317 345) disappearing by mid-2004. By April 2004, the only units not repainted were 317301–307, which were hired to [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]] and remained in LTS livery. The WAGN purple livery was also applied to Class 313 and Class 315 EMU trains.

In April 2004, the WAGN franchise was split into the ''Great Northern'' and ''West Anglia'' routes. The latter became part of the new [[National Express East Anglia]] franchise, which operated under the title of [[National Express East Anglia|One Railway]]. Great Northern was temporarily operated independently under the WAGN brand name, until it was merged with the Thameslink franchise in April 2006. These changes resulted in the Class 317 fleet being divided among [[First Capital Connect]] and National Express East Anglia.

First Capital Connect carried out a minor interior refresh to its 12 Class 317 EMU trains inherited from WAGN. [[Govia Thameslink Railway]] operated the 12 strong Class 317/1 fleet from when the new franchise began on 14 September 2014 until 21 May 2017 where they were replaced by the [[British Rail Class 387|Class 387]]. These 12 Class 317 units were later transferred to Greater Anglia.

===London Overground===
[[File:London Overground 317891 at Enfield Town.jpg|thumb|left|London Overground Class 317/8 at [[Enfield Town railway station|Enfield Town]] in 2017]]
On 31 May 2015, [[London Overground]] took over operation of the Liverpool Street to Chingford, Enfield Town and Cheshunt via Seven Sisters, using eight Class 317/7 units and six Class 317/8 units.  All these trains had an exterior repaint, however not all were internally refurbished. They were all replaced by [[British Rail Class 710|Class 710 "Aventra"]] in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 November 2020 |title=Greater Anglia brings in Class 317/7s to improve accessibility |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/11/greater-anglia-brings-in-class-317-7s-to-improve-accessibility.html |website=railadvent.co.uk}}</ref>

===LTS Rail & c2c===
In 1996, LTS Rail (renamed [[c2c (1996–2025)|c2c]] in 2000) began to hire Class 317/1 units from its sister [[Prism Rail]] franchise WAGN for use on the [[London, Tilbury and Southend railway]]. At first only two units were hired, but by mid-1997 this had increased to a total of 18 units. Units were maintained at LTS Rail's main [[East Ham Depot]].

The Class 317 units enabled LTS Rail to replace the elderly [[British Rail Class 302|Class 302]] slam-door EMUs, the last examples of which were withdrawn in 1998. The Class 317 units also replaced some of the [[British Rail Class 310|Class 310]] fleet on off-peak workings, pending introduction of new [[British Rail Class 357|Class 357]] "Electrostar" units.

Many of the units hired to LTS Rail were repainted in a variation of the existing [[Network SouthEast]] blue, red and white livery. The red stripe was replaced with a green stripe, and both the blue band and green stripe extended to the cab ends.

The units were slowly returned to WAGN from 1999, with the introduction of the new "Electrostar" units. The last examples were returned by 2000. However, unreliability of the "Electrostars" meant that four units were still hired on a daily basis until 2002. These units were maintained as part of the main WAGN fleet, and therefore the specific units involved changed when units required maintenance at WAGN's [[Hornsey TMD]] depot.

===Thameslink===
In 2002, [[Thameslink (train operating company 1997–2006)|Thameslink]] began hiring four Class 317/1 units from [[West Anglia Great Northern|WAGN]] to allow it to run additional [[Bedford]] to [[Moorgate station|Moorgate]] services. Unlike when units were hired to LTS Rail, specific units were not involved. Instead, units were still maintained by WAGN and only hired for a fortnight. Two units each week were transferred in each direction, generally being hauled over the non-electrified route by two [[British Rail Class 31|Class 31]] locomotives provided by [[Fragonset Railways]] or [[British Rail Class 47|Class 47]] locomotives with barrier vehicles at either end of the Class 317.

In 2004, when the WAGN franchise was split, twelve Class 317/1 units were transferred to Thameslink from the ''Great Northern'' route. This was because a planned route blockade for engineering works meant that extra units were required for Bedford services. The Class 317 units were replaced on Great Northern by [[British Rail Class 365|Class 365]] "Networkers", themselves displaced from [[South Eastern Trains]] by new [[British Rail Class 375|Class 375]] "Electrostars".

The Class 317 units transferred to Thameslink were maintained at the newly built [[Bedford Cauldwell depot]] in Bedford. They were restricted to services on the Northern half of the franchise only, as only dual-voltage or DC units can operate South of Farringdon . All units were transferred to National Express East Anglia following the end of the blockade.

===National Express East Anglia===
[[File:Hugh llewelyn 317 670 (6394811827).jpg|left|thumb|NXEA Class 317/6 at [[Stratford station|Stratford]] in 2008]]
On 1 April 2004, the ''West Anglia'' and ''Stansted Express'' routes became part of the new One franchise.

This was operated under the brand name 'one' until 26 February 2008, when it was rebranded as [[National Express East Anglia]]. During introduction, the units had one of six different liveries: the old WAGN white; a de-branded version of 'one' livery (minus the rainbow car ends); the same but with a white, National Express branded, stripe; three different Stansted Express liveries and the new National Express corporate scheme, similar to that of [[National Express East Coast]] and [[National Express Coaches]].

====Stansted Express====
[[File:317709 A Liverpool Street 1.JPG|thumb|left|Stansted Express Class 317/7 at [[Liverpool Street railway station|London Liverpool Street]] in 2005]]
In 2000, nine Class 317/1 units were selected to be refurbished for the dedicated [[Stansted Express]] service, from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport, replacing the previously dedicated [[British Rail Class 322|Class 322]] units. The work was again carried out by Railcare at Wolverton, and included the fitting of luggage racks and new window frames, identical to existing 317/2 units. The units also received a revised front end design, and a new metallic blue livery. The nine units were reclassified as Class 317/7, and were renumbered such that the last two digits of the set number remained unchanged. Some Class 317/7 units had their original Stone Faiveley AMBR pantograph replaced by the Brecknell Willis High Speed design.

In 2006 12 further Class 317 EMU trains were given a more basic refresh of new carpets, re-trimmed seats in new moquette and new dado side panels; by Wabtec Doncaster and the bodysides were painted in a lighter shade of blue than the Class 317/7.<ref name="Issue55">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/magazine/pdf/RHUK/Issue55.pdf |title=NewsDesk |magazine=Railway Herald |page=3 |date=29 September 2006 |issue=55 |access-date=17 July 2011 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002132002/http://www.railwayherald.co.uk/magazine/pdf/RHUK/Issue55.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="railwayherald">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.railwayherald.org/magazine/pdf/RHUK/Issue41.pdf |title=Rolling Stock News |magazine=Railway Herald |page=7 |date=23 June 2006 |issue=41 |access-date=17 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009152212/http://www.railwayherald.org/magazine/pdf/RHUK/Issue41.pdf |archive-date=9 October 2011 }}</ref> These units were reclassified as Class 317/8.<ref name="Issue55" /><ref name="railwayherald" />

Both Classes 317/7 and 317/8 could occasionally be found working on West Anglia services and also it was not uncommon for Classes 317/5 and 317/6 units to work Stansted Express services alongside the dedicated Classes 317/7 and 317/8.

Following the arrivals of the new Class 379 units on Stansted Express services, the Class 317/7s and 317/8s were originally used alongside other Class 317s as a common pool. This changed when Abellio took over the East Anglia franchise on 5 February 2012, as the Class 317/7s were deemed too expensive to lease and surplus to requirements, and so they entered storage.

==Aborted proposals==
===Fitting of new traction equipment===
At the end of the [[National Express East Anglia]] franchise, [[Angel Trains]] opted to use off-lease Class 317/7 unit 317722 as a test-bed unit and engaged [[Bombardier Transportation]] to rebuild it as a pre-series unit with new traction equipment. The DC motors, traction electronics and thyristors were removed, though the original transformer remained in place. The original bogies were modified to accept new AC motors, and three-phase converters fitted.<ref name="rgi_317ac">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/world-rolling-stock-market-august-2012.html|title=World rolling stock market August 2012|magazine=Railway Gazette International|date=14 August 2012|access-date=18 August 2012|archive-date=21 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120821053902/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/world-rolling-stock-market-august-2012.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Regenerative braking was also fitted. 

At the same time, a £1{{nbsp}}million interior refurbishment was carried out on two vehicles of the same unit - driving trailer standard open 77021 and motor standard open 62682.<ref name="Global Rail">{{cite news |url=http://www.globalrailnews.com/2012/07/27/contract-signed-to-develop-317s-as-alternative-to-new-trains/ |title=Contract signed to develop 317s as alternative to new trains |newspaper=Global Rail News |access-date=30 May 2013 |date=27 July 2012 |publisher=Rail Media |archive-date=6 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906201001/http://www.globalrailnews.com/2012/07/27/contract-signed-to-develop-317s-as-alternative-to-new-trains/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The interiors were refurbished in a Metro style layout and provided a direct contrast to the 3+2 and 2+2 seating in use on the remainder of the unit. Trials to test the reaction of passengers commenced with Greater Anglia in mid-2014. Trials were not particularly successful, and the unit was kept at Ilford for several years before being withdrawn in early 2019.

==Accident==
*On 17 September 2015, unit 317346 collided with the [[buffer stop]]s at [[London King's Cross railway station|King's Cross]] at a speed of {{convert|7.5|mph|km/h}}. Fourteen people were injured.<ref name=KX>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543121/R152016_160803_Kings_Cross.pdf |title=Collision with buffer stops at King's Cross 17 September 2015 |publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch |date=4 August 2016 |access-date=4 August 2016 |archive-date=3 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803101948/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/543121/R152016_160803_Kings_Cross.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Fleet details==
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
!Class
!Status
!Qty.
!Year built
!Cars per unit
!Unit nos.
!Notes
|-
! rowspan="2" |317/1
|Preserved
| align="center" |–
| rowspan="3" |1981&ndash;1982
| rowspan="7" |4
|DTSO 77092 and TCO 71621 from 317345<ref name="RailExpressDecember" />
| rowspan="3" |Originally {{avoid wrap|Class 317/1}}
|-
|Scrapped
|align="center" |12
|317337&ndash;317348<ref name="317Story">{{cite magazine |last=Russel |first=David |date=November 2024 |title=The Class 317 Story |magazine=Rail Express |publisher=Mortons Media Group |place=Horncastle|issue=342 |pages=76–81}}</ref>
|-
!317/5
|Scrapped
| align="center" |15
|317501&ndash;317515<ref name="317Story" />
|-
!317/6
|Scrapped
| align="center" |24
|align="center" |1985&ndash;1987
| 317649–317672<ref name="317Story"/>
|Originally {{avoid wrap|Class 317/2}}
|-
!317/7
|Scrapped
| align="center" |9
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |1981&ndash;1982
|317708–317710, 317714, 317719, 317722–317723, 317729, 317732<ref name="317Story"/>
| rowspan="3" |Originally {{avoid wrap|Class 317/1}}
|-
!317/8
|Scrapped
| align="center" |12
|317881-317892<ref name="317Story"/>
|}

=== Named units ===
[[File:317348 Nameplate.jpg|thumb|The nameplate on 317348]]
A number of units carried names these were as follows:
* 317345: ''Driver John Webb''<ref name=Pritchard2021p265>{{cite book |last=Pritchard |first=Robert |title=British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2021 |year=2021 |publisher=Platform 5 Publishing |location=Sheffield |isbn=978-1-909431-86-7 |page=265 }}</ref>
* 317348: ''Richard A Jenner''<ref name=Pritchard2021p265 />
* 317363: ''The Hatfield Comet''<ref name="MLI" />
* 317370: ''Harlow 50 Years 1947-1997''<ref name="MLI" />
* 317371: ''Stevenage New Town 50 Years - 1946 - 1996''<ref name="MLI">{{cite magazine |title=Class 317 |magazine=Modern Locomotives Illustrated |date=October 2018 |issue=233 |pages=29–37 |publisher=Key Publishing |location=Stamford}}</ref>
*317372: ''Welwyn Garden City Seventy  Five Years''<ref name="MLI" />
* 317507: ''University of Cambridge 800 Years 1209-2009''<ref>{{harvnb|Pritchard|2021|p=266}}</ref>
* 317654: ''Richard Wells''<ref>{{harvnb|Pritchard|2021|p=267}}</ref>
* 317709: ''Len Camp''<ref name="MLI" />
* 317723: ''The Tottenham Flyer''<ref name="MLI" />
* 317892: ''Ilford Depot''<ref>{{harvnb|Pritchard|2021|p=268}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Russell|first=David|title=Depot Talk|department=Units |magazine=Rail Express |publisher=Mortons Media Group |place=Horncastle |issue=310 |date=March 2022 |page=31}}</ref>

==Preservation==
DTSO (Driving Trailer Standard Open) vehicle 77092 from unit 317345 is preserved at the [[East Anglian Railway Museum]], and TCO (Trailer Composite Open) vehicle 71621 from the same unit is at The Depot in [[Caxton, Cambridgeshire|Caxton]]. The static display will show the history of both the Class 317 fleet and that of [[Railway electrification in Great Britain|electrification]] in [[East Anglia|Anglia]].{{Explain|date=April 2022}}<ref name="RailExpressDecember">{{cite magazine |title=Half of Class 317 EMU preserved|magazine=[[Rail Express]] |issue=December 2021|page=12 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=East Anglian Railway Museum adds Class 317 DTSO to its collection |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2021/10/east-anglian-railway-museum-adds-class-317-dtso-to-its-collection.html |website=railadvent.co.uk|date=21 October 2021 }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{notefoot}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{commons}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Anatomy of a '317'|first=Basil|last=Cooper|pages=56–58|date=August 1983|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}
*{{cite magazine|title=Cleared for action!|first=Peter|last=Kelly|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|date=June 1983|pages=8–9, 11|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}
*{{cite magazine|title=First refurbished Class 317 for WAGN enters traffic|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|RAIL]]|issue=328|publisher=EMAP Apex Publications|date=8–21 April 1998|page=15|issn=0953-4563|oclc=49953699}}

{{Mark 3-derived}}
{{British Rail EMU}}
{{London Overground navbox}}

[[Category:British Rail electric multiple units|317]]
[[Category:BREL products|317]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1983]]
[[Category:25 kV AC multiple units]]