Class 313 Retiring?

I just saw Dad Rail streaming and apparently the Class 313 is retiring? I can't actually watch the stream unfortunately, but it seems like the Southern Class 313s will soon be replaced by Electrostars. What are your thoughts? I'm not even sure if this is verified or if there will be a farewell tour or something but it will be sad to see them go.

(First the 455s and now this? I wonder how long the Turbostars have?!)

 

Yep, this is due to their age though, the 313 Farewell Tour was last Saturday with a large turnout to see 313201 and 313213 (I think, correct me if I'm wrong) head along the Coastways for one final time

Good question, how long will the 171s last, probably until there is a replacement available for the diesel-only Marshlink and Uckfield Lines but who knows how long that'll be in the future

 

Sad to see them go. Hopefully when I (fingers crossed) go to Eastleigh next week I will be able to see a few that are there.

 

This has been going on for a while and the last run was last weekend...
Looks like with the refurb of the electrostars now in full swing there's enough to phase out the 313s, which to be fair were long in the tooth (ie very old)

 

It's weird isn't it.
The Class 313s were introduced because they wanted more Electrostars on the Mainline and London Suburban services. Now they are being removed with the Electrostars coming back. I wonder what will happen when the Electrostars are needed on the mainlines again (Especially now that the Class 455s are gone)

 

Southern operate fewer main line services nowadays, some of the routes previously run by 377s are now operated using Gatwick Express 387s and Thameslink 700s with recent timetable changes, hence why they have only now been able to replace the 313 and 455 fleets without sourcing new stock. However if the Marshlink and Oxted lines are to be electrified soon (there has been recent talk of this) they would likely need new stock for that (although by the time that might happen the electrostars themselves would need replacing).

 

Panic - DfT wants fleets pruned as much as possible - GWRs HSTs finish soon and XC's HSTs are going soon

 

Some 171s have also been refitted back to 170s and transferred to East Midlands Trains as well.

 

Yep because they still bleat out that no one is using trains anymore despite all the evidence to the contrary

 

Yeah, 170922-170924 were sent to EMR where they regained their ScotRail numbers of 170422-170424