New Tooling!

Poor service saw the Network SouthCentral franchise transferred from Connex Trains, later renamed Southern in 2000. No serious attempt to update the units to the new Southern brand took place with only 4-VEP unit 3514 ever being painted into Southern green livery.

The introduction of the Class 377 Electrostar units gradually saw the old and high millage 4-VEPs replaced. The final regular Southern 4-VEP service took place in August 2005, while Southern 4-VEP operations came to a final end with the Sussex Slammer rail tour occurring in November.