Some older units have been cascaded to West Yorkshire to start off the local electric services between Leeds Bradford Forster Square, Ilkley and Skipton. Here, one of them, unit 308 157, leaves Bingley station while operating a Skipton-bound service on 31 July 1998. Not all of the units have exactly the same version of this livery - some, like this one have "Regional Railways" branding at the end, whilst others do not.

The class 313 e.m.u. trains were built for the Great Northern electrification project, which redirected Kings Cross inner suburban services into Moorgate. These are dual voltage units, as required for the GN service - from Moorgate to Drayton Park, the supply is third rail, thereafter it is overhead.

At weekends, these services still operate into Kings Cross - as shown by this picture of 313 048 at the suburban platforms there on 18 April 1998. These services are branded West Anglia Great Northern. 313 048 is still in Network SouthEast livery, though it does carry a triangular WAGN logo (shown in the inset) near the doors.

Some class 313 units were later moved to North London Line and Euston inner suburban services, replacing life-expired class 501 trains. These are now operated under the brand name Silverlink Metro. This picture shows unit 313 121 at North Woolwich on 18 April 1998, ready to work a service to Richmond.

The original North Woolwich station building, seen in the background, now houses a railway museum dedicated to the former Great Eastern Railway. (The museum is open from April to October, 10am to 5pm and admission is free. These details can obviously change, so it's best to check if you're likely to visit.)

Unit 315 815, photographed here at Stratford on 21 December 1998, has been repainted in the colours of First Great Eastern. The FGE livery has variations, according to the shape of the vehicles to which it is applied. Contrast this version, for example, with that applied to class 321 units (further down this page).

Although unit 317 344, photographed here running empty stock through Stratford, is in use on West Anglia Great Northern services, it was still on 21 December 1998, in Network SouthEast livery. The only concession to WAGN use was the triangular logo near the doors.

`In contrast to the picture immediately above, unit 317 654, photographed at London Liverpool Street also on 21 December 1998, had been repainted in full West Anglia Great Northern livery.

The class 319 electric multiple-units were first introduced on the Thameslink services from Bedford through London Blackfriars to a variety of destinations south of the Thames. With privatisation, some of these units are now being used by other operators. Here 319 216 stands between duties at Brighton on 23 August 1997. Connex South Central, the main franchise operator in this area, employs these units on the fast services to London, hence the banners hanging over the platform.

319 427 approaches London Bridge on 21 February 1998, with a northbound service for Bedford. The striking orange and navy blue colours are the second variety of Thameslink livery. South of the Thames, these units run on the 750V DC third-rail supply. North of the Thames, they operate on the 25kV AC overhead system. The changeover point is Farringdon Thameslink station.

The gloom of the Great Eastern suburban side of the redeveloped London Liverpool Street station may not be the best place to take pictures of rolling stock. Here, 321 322 was photographed on 21 December 1998 after having been repainted in the green, blue and pale grey livery of First Great Eastern. Unlike the version of this livery applied to some other units, the bands of colour stop short of the ends on the class 321's.

Unit 321 434 is in the Silverlink County livery. Silverlink County is the brand name for the longer-distance semi-fast services out of London Euston. This Euston to Milton Keynes service was photographed leaving Harrow & Wealdstone on 4 April 1998.

The class 321 units employed on West Yorkshire services seem to wear their Metro Train livery well - indeed, it looks good on all the classes to which it has been applied. What doesn't look so good in the view of 321 901 arriving at Leeds on 31 July 1998 is all the paraphernalia associated with the overhead line equipment. Still, mustn't grumble - we couldn't have the excellent electric train service without it. (And no, I'm not being sarcastic - I do think the electric services introduced recently in West Yorkshire are indeed praiseworthy, as is the unbelievably cheap day rover ticket.)

The handful of units which make up class 322 are dedicated to the service operated between London Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport, and are painted in a livery unique to that service. Here is unit 322 482 at London Liverpool Street on 10 January 1998.

Class 323 units run on the electrified network of the former London Midland region of British Rail, and are concentrated in the Birmingham and Manchester areas, though in addition to the local services, there are some longer-distance runs.

One of the Birmingham area units, and therefore carrying Centro livery, 323 204 stands at Crewe on 27 April 1998, while working a southbound service.

323 227 carries the red-stripe livery of Greater Manchester PTE, and is seen here on 27 April 1998 at Manchester Piccadilly in the company of locomotive 86 224.

Manchester Piccadilly is uncharacteristically gloomy in this view because maintenance work on the station's glass roof required the construction of a wooden platform over the electric wires.

The futuristic-looking Class 332 units have been introduced on the Heathrow Express services out of London Paddington - where unit 332 009 was photographed on 28 March 1998. At this date, the units were running in three-car formations, as one of the coaches for each set was yet to be delivered

"Networker" unit 365 509, photographed at London Charing Cross on 21 December 1998, is one of those operated by Connex South Eastern, and as such carries the CSE livery. For these services, the units operate from a third rail supply.

These units also work out of London Kings Cross on the fast services to Cambridge, though on this route, the electric supply is 25kV overhead. Unit 365 534 was photographed at Kings Cross on 18 April 1998, in Network SouthEast livery. Although externally these units are very similar to the class 165 diesel units, the fact that the class 365's have 2+2 seating instead of 2+3 makes them seem luxurious and roomy in comparison.

Although introduced for the Kent Coast Electrification project at the start of the 1960's, class 411 units have been cascaded to other duties in recent years, including a number which are now operated by South West Trains. One of these, unit 1512, is seen between duties in Clapham Junction yard (on track 42?) on 6 February 1999 wearing SWT colours.

Some class 421 units have been reformed as three-car sets by Connex South Central for use on the "Coastway" services out of Brighton. One of these, unit 1405, is seen at Portsmouth Harbour on 30 December 1998 in CSC colours.

I'm not sure whether this picture is a good advertisement for safe railway practices, so just in case it isn't, I've obscured the face of the person walking on the track. Here class 423 unit 3409 in South West Trains colours arrives at Camberley on 21 March 1998 with a service bound for Ascot.

While some of the stock operated by Connex South Central has been repainted into CSC livery, this wasn't the case for class 455 unit 5820, seen here leaving Clapham Junction for London Victoria on 12 June 1998, still carrying Network SouthEast colours.

A couple of notes about this picture: First, the flash built into the camera wasn't powerful enough to take this, so I used a more powerful flash triggered by a slave unit, and a mixture of calculation and experimentation to determine the range. Second, it would be irresponsible to photograph a train at night coming towards you with flash, because it could dazzle the driver, so that's why you see the back of this one - not that it makes much difference with a train that's the same at each end.

With reference to the class 455 picture above, here is another train operated by Connex South Central that hasn't been repainted into CSC livery. This is 2-car unit 456 012 accelerating away from the rebuilt East Croydon station with a lunchtime service to Tattenham Corner on 6 February 1999, still carrying its original Network SouthEast colours.

This was one of the less aesthetically pleasing applications of NSE livery, as the slab-like ends that these units share with class 321 etc. don't benefit from the dark grey surrounds. In addition, the profusion of jumper leads and covers (one of which has been lost from this end of the unit anyway) doesn't really enhance the appearance of this class either.

Connex South Eastern, responsible for operating trains between London and Kent, is a sister company to Connex South Central, which helps to explain the similarity of the liveries of the two companies. The main difference is the blue window surrounds on the CSE livery. Here, "Networker" unit 465 018 crosses Blackfriars Bridge on 27 April 2001.

Photograph by Ian Francis

The class 465 units were originally delivered in Network SouthEast livery, as seen on this example, 465 235, photographed at London Waterloo (East) on 5 April 1997. The class 465/2's had a different builder from the 465/0's - how many detailed differences can you spot?

Railtrack operate a variety of diesel and electric multiple-unit trains that have in most cases been redeployed after withdrawal from passenger-carrying duties. Some of the first trains to be re-liveried for Railtrack carried this subtle chestnut, white and grey livery, seen here on unit 930 011 between duties at London Bridge on 6 February 1999.

This picture represents a later livery applied to Railtrack vehicles. Whereas the former livery was restrained but carried moderately large RAILTRACK lettering, this lime green and royal blue version is rather brash, but at the same time the company branding is more subtle, whilst the purpose of the train - "clearing Britains railways" - is much more prominent. This is 930 005, photographed at Clapham Junction on 6 February 1999.