The motor luggage vans were created to provide luggage capacity for the newly electrified boat train services. Electrically compatible with the Southern regions' EMU trains the luggage vans had the added feature of battery power, allowing the van to move onto the non-electrified dockside sidings to transfer passenger luggage directly to the ship loading conveyors. When running on the 3rd rail these vans can also haul a trailing load, resulting in occasional use to power parcels trains and at least one railtour!
This model will be painted in the Network South East livery of the 1990s.