Southeastern to use classic Network Southeast-painted train for Kent coastal services
In a nice move Southeastern have revealed they’ll be using their Networker train repainted back into classic Network Southeast colours when direct Kent coast trains commence next week.
From 24th May the company will run direct weekend services along the Woolwich line to various Kent towns along the coast including Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate.
Using the repainted train is a nice nod back to when Network SouthEast ran coastal specials. It’s a variant of Networker that’s far more pleasant than other subclasses featuring first class sections, a brighter internal colour scheme and generally far better maintained inside.
Last year I took the coastal train, which on that specific day used another Networker sub-class, and it was in a sorry state.
The internal doors were broken and making an absolute racket (some sort of constant very loud clicking), the fittings were generally filthy everywhere with what looked like months of grime and there was some suspicious stains that looked weeks old.
It was busy (only a four carriage put on) but made worse as everyone was moving away from the broken doors given the constant loud noises made it an abysmal place to sit.
☀️ Step back into the ’90s and head to the beach onboard our Network Southeast 465. 🟥🟦⬜️
Our ‘Bucket & Spade’ specials; starting with the 08:18 Cannon St-Ramsgate (via Woolwich & Dartford) on Saturday 24th May.
Book tickets here 👇https://t.co/5ewb1boVgp#NSEasideSpecial pic.twitter.com/qAoCu63cyK
— Southeastern (@Se_Railway) May 9, 2025
It wasn’t good at all as an experience. Put it this way, if an irregular traveller had boarded thinking this special coastal service would make a nice trip they’d probably not return to using trains again.
Better variant
Hopefully Southeastern will use the 465/9 subclass on the route daily as much as possible over the summer (though of course it may not always be possible) before they go for good. Sadly it’s the best variant of networkers for passengers that look like leaving soon.
The repainted train has been named after Chris Green, former Director of Network SouthEast, who oversaw initial introduction of Networkers in the early 1990s and worked wonders at the organisation before privatisation and the arrival of Connex.
Networkers were built by two companies in the early 1990s (BREL and Metro-Cammell) and subclasses heading off to scrap thus far are those built by Metro-Cammell, which includes the nicest Networkers.
BREL’s have a drearier internal colour scheme with lots of greys and generally seem unloved with bubbling flooring, years of filth around the grills and are generally not great places to spend an hour and a half if heading to the coast.
Nice to see a train painted in Network Southeast to head down to East Kent and to be used on the Kent Coast service. Especially seeing them at Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate. And maybe could see them at Dover Priory and Folkestone Central.
Nice to see the Class 465 Networker to operate on the Kent coast in Network Southeast livery. Whilst some of the Class 465 and Class 466 have gone for scrap. And Southeastern should consider ordering new trains to replace the rest of the Class 465 and Class 466 Networkers.