Kent Downs Line (Maidstone East Line) Class 465 & 466 Networkers - Final Years on the Line скачать в хорошем качестве

Kent Downs Line (Maidstone East Line) Class 465 & 466 Networkers - Final Years on the Line

Here's a little tribute video I made following the end of the Networkers operating on the Kent Downs Line/Maidstone East Line. With more 377s transferring over from Southern recently, it now means Southeastern have enough Electrostars to cover all lines down to Ashford, thus withdrawing Networkers from the Maidstone East Line. Networkers have been a fairly common sight at Ashford International for almost their entire life in service. But not until 2005 when 34 465/2s (465201 - 465234) were given a major refurbishment. Giving them new and brighter interiors, and first class. These being designated Class 465/9s. The refurbishment was for the 465s to replace the last remaining slam door units on the Mainline alongside Class 375s, covering routes from London to Dover, Faversham, Medway, Thanet, Tunbridge Wells, Canterbury, and of course Maidstone and Ashford. Between 2017 and 2018. With new Class 700s taking over the entire Thameslink network. These replaced Class 377/5s, which would find a new home at Southeastern. These would gradually replace Networkers on routes to Maidstone East, Ashford International, and Canterbury West. As well as appearing on some other routes like London to Gillingham. After the May 2018 timetable change, Networkers were completely taken off the Kent Downs Line for the foreseeable, and Canterbury West Line permanently with all 23 377/5s, and 2 377/1s taking over their work. Networkers remained on the Tunbridge Wells and Dover Priory routes at this time. In 2021, Networkers started reappearing at Ashford again in. An 8 car set running every Saturday morning, doing a single passenger service from Sevenoaks to Ashford via the South Eastern Main Line via Tonbridge, and then running empty back to Tonbridge before doing a run to Charing Cross, then to Tunbridge Wells, then back to Charing Cross, then back to Tonbridge, then back to Charing Cross, and so on and so on... This was most often 2 Class 465/9s. Occasionally a BREL unit or two would do it. This service was replaced with a 7 car Class 375 in May 2022. And as of now 2R18 is an 8 car Class 375 that now goes from Charing Cross to Ramsgate via Ashford Not long after an occasional 10 car Networker on an ECS move would appear down Ashford. From London Charing Cross to Ashford Down Sidings via the Tonbridge line in the morning. Then later back to Charing Cross, again on an ECS move, and would then do passenger runs on the Hayes branch. Networkers wouldn't properly return to the Kent Downs Line until August 2022. Following the withdrawal of all Southern Class 455s, Southeastern's 2 Class 377/1s, still in Southern livery, went back to Southern. And to fill the gap, Networkers officially returned to the Maidstone East Line. The first few months had them seen on the line from Mondays to Saturdays. But would later only run on Mondays to Fridays. However, the age of the units were really starting to show since their return to the line, with multiple fires happening on several Networkers on this line alone within the 3 year time period. The most severe example was the West Malling Fire in 2023. And now, after the Class 379s went for storage after being replaced by new 720s and 745s. They moved to Great Northern to replace the 387s. The 387s would move over to Southern, replacing a number of 377/1s, and of course, the 377/1s would move to Southeastern, putting an end to Maidstone East Line Networkers for good, as well as soon on the Gillingham services, and possibly the Tunbridge Wells services also. The final day of Networkers on the Kent Downs Line was on the 26th of September 2025, with the last one at Ashford the next day on the 27th on an empty run back to London. Interestingly enough, the last Networker at Ashford was on the same day the UK railways became exactly 200 years old, September 27th. And also on this same day, 465908 did a railtour up London. Something I wanted to see, but I was just worn out after a busy week. Will Networkers return to the Kent Downs Line? Highly unlikely unfortunately. The only possibility of one going down it again, is if a 465 farewell tour is to go down it Thanks for watching! Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:25 Ashford International 4:17 Charing 8:51 Lenham 10:59 Harrietsham 12:14 Hollingbourne 13:13 Bearsted 15:50 Maidstone East 20:36 Barming 21:47 East Malling 22:38 West Malling 26:36 Borough Green & Wrotham 28:15 Kemsing 29:17 Otford 30:23 Swanley 31:45 St Mary Cray 32:04 Bromley South 32:53 London Victoria 35:18 Outro