these services. The work was carried out at Doncaster Works and involved reducing the unit length to three carriages, with the removal of the intermediate trailers, which were scrapped. The trains were also painted in West Yorkshire Metro crimson and cream livery. In 1996, with the privatisation of British Rail, the Class 308 fleet passed into the ownership of Angel Trains and were leased to the Regional Railways North East franchise. This was originally operated as Northern Spirit, but the franchise was later taken over by Arriva and operated as Arriva Trains Northern. By the late 1990s, it was clear that the elderly Class 308 units needed replacing. Due to their age, they were increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain. They were replaced by sixteen new 3-car Class 333 units, which were introduced from 12 January 2001, all 16 Class 333 units were later lengthened to 4-car sets. The Class 308 units were withdrawn and sent for storage at MoD Shoeburyness. The final three units, nos. 308138/157/158, were withdrawn in late 2001, and were sent for scrap at Immingham. Since then, the stored units have slowly been scrapped at various locations, with the final vehicles disposed of in 2004. However, one driving trailer was saved for preservation. Accidents and incidents On 14 February 1990, an empty stock train formed of a Class 305 and a Class 308 unit was derailed at . Preservation One driving trailer from unit 308136 has been saved for preservation. 75881 - Colne Valley Railway . Restoration ongoing. The carriage has been stripped of asbestos, and the full internal rebuild was abandoned in favour of housing the salvaged parts of the London Underground Victoria Line Cobourg Street signalling centre, and much of the former Brixton interlocking machine room equipment. The Cobourg Street equipment is now partially working, with work ongoing to allow simulated train movements to be displayed. Fleet details References Sources Further reading External links 308 Train-related introductions in 1959 25 kV AC multiple units