They followed the new British Railways standard design for suburban rolling stock: similar units were built at the same time for use on South London suburban routes, but the Tyneside units had features in keeping with previous Tyneside EMUs, such as a large brake van to accommodate a large volume of fish boxes and prams; electric headcode lights on the cab front between the windows; and above those a roller destination blind.

All 15 units were re-allocated to South London, Kent, Surrey and Berkshire, which entailed some rebuilding of the cabs and the declassification of the first class compartment.

One was used for testing the Tonbridge - Hastings line electrification before the route was opened for electric trains in the summer of 1986 by British Rail.

This unit also carried out similar work on the East Grinstead electrification two years later and saw occasional use on other test and tractor duties until laid up in 1995.

[citation needed] Two DMBS from two different units (5783 and 5790) were rebuilt as departmental set 026 (later 931062), with roller shutter doors on each side and tanks inside to carry carriage cleaning fluid and de-icing fluid between the supply point and depots.

With the introduction of yellow warning panels from late 1963 the motor coaches of all Southern Region 2 and 3-car units were equipped with an inverted black triangle in order to provide an early visual indication to station staff that there was no brake van at the other end of the unit.