The end of London Midland's 321s. (210915)

Binspirational. 321413 stands at Watford Junction 1 week before withdrawal ©LT3001

As of Sunday 20th September, the last 321 under London Midland run on the St. Albans Abbey line. All of London Midland's Class 321s (Bins) will be replaced by former Thameslink 319s.

The rather lazy logo application to a 319. ©LT3001

319216 was the first to run, replacing the bin at 16:04 from Watford, and remained on the line until the last trip. The unit, as the others are, are still in Southern colours, with LM decals on the sides. The units will be repainted into the appropriate livery in due course. One unit is sporting the new livery at present, but it isn't finished yet.

London Midland even advertised that the first 319 was coming to the line on their PIS systems, whether any ordinary people took notice is another matter however.

319003, 319216, 319429 and 319460 are the units transferring to London Midland from Thameslink. As well as operating on the Abbey Flyer, these units will also operate peak time services to/from London Euston to Watford Junction, Milton Keynes, Tring and Northampton.

So some of you may be asking, where will the 321s go? Well two are destined for London Overground for the Romford-Upminster line, which will later become TfL Rail, and the rest are destined for Abellio Scotrail to join the Scottish Class 320 units of similar design.

The old replaced by the old. 319216 stands at St. Albans Abbey displaying Northampton for some peculiar reason. ©LT3001

With these units now over half way through their serviceable lives, and having had worked with Network SouthEast, Connex South Central, Southern, Thameslink, First Capital Connect, Northern Rail and London Midland, and for plans* to later be used with Great Western Railway and Southeastern, who knows when these units will leave UK service for good...

*= Plans mean plans. Nothing is set in stone.