British Rail Class 312 - British Rail

British Rail

As built, the 312/0 units were used on the newly-electrified Great Northern outer suburban services from London King's Cross to Royston. The 312/1s were built for Great Eastern line services from London Liverpool Street. The four 312/2 units were mainly used to enhance local services between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International, but were also used on other services in the West Midlands.

During the late 1980s, the units received an interior refurbishment that saw the wooden panel interiors covered with fascia panels, the removal of window blinds and other alterations. At the same time the units lost their blue/grey livery (312/1 and 312/2 units had been all-over blue when introduced) in favour of Network SouthEast (NSE) livery (the four 312/2 units carried West Midlands PTE yellow and blue livery before their transfer to NSE).

During the late 1980s the units were reallocated to new areas. The class 312/0 units moved to the Great Eastern Line following the delivery of class 317 units; the 312/1 units consequently moved to the London, Tilbury and Southend line, displacing older class 302 and 305 units. The class 312/2 units also moved to the Great Eastern, replaced by modified 310 units released by the arrival of class 321 units. These moves were complete by the end of the 1980s, and allocations remained broadly stable until their withdrawal during 2003-04.