List of British Rail electric multiple unit classes
This page lists every electric-powered multiple unit allocated a TOPS classification or used on the mainline network since 1948 (i.e. British Railways and post-privatisation). For a historical overview of electric multiple unit development in Great Britain, see British electric multiple units.
British Rail operated a wide variety of electric multiple units for use on electrified lines:
- AC units operate off 25 kV alternating current (AC) from overhead wires. Where clearances for the overhead wires on the Great Eastern Main Line and London, Tilbury and Southend railway routes were below standard, a reduced voltage of 6.25 kV AC was used. The Midland Railway units used 6.6 kV AC. Under the computer numbering, AC units (including mixed-voltage units that can also work off a DC supply) were given a class in the range 300-399.
- DC units operate off 650-850 V direct current (DC) from a third rail on the Southern Region and North London, Merseyside and Tyneside networks. The Manchester-Bury Railway line used 1,200 V DC from a side-contact third rail. The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham and "Woodhead" and initially the Great Eastern Railway routes used 1,500 V DC from overhead wires. Under the computer numbering, DC units were given a class in the range 400-599.
AC EMUs and dual-voltage EMUs
First generation
TOPS class | Pre-TOPS class | Name or Information | Built | Quantity (sets) | Withdrawn | Notes | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ex-Ex-MR units | Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham | 1908 | 3 (4-car) | 1953 | All | |||
Class 300 | Proposed parcels units | Never built | Planned parcels conversation from Class 307 | Never built | ||||
AM1 | 25 kV AC prototype units | 1952 | 4 | 1966 | All | |||
Class 302 | AM2 | London-Tilbury-Southend | 1958–1960 | 112 | 1999 | About 110 | ||
Class 303 | AM3 | Strathclyde. Also on Greater Manchester area services during 1980s/early 1990s. | 1959–1961 | 91 | 1974–2002 | 75613 from unit 303013 is still in use with the British Transport Police | 90 | |
Class 304 | AM4 | Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham 1959 EMU |
1960 | 45 | 1992–1996 | All | ||
Class 305 | AM5 | Chingford, Enfield 1959 EMU |
1959 | 71 | 1992–2001 | |||
Class 306 | AM6 | Shenfield (inner-suburban) | 1949 | 92 | 1981 | Ordered by LNER in 1938, but construction was delayed due to World War II. | 91 | |
Class 307 | AM7 | Southend (outer-suburban) | 1954–1956 | 32 | 1990–1993 | 43 survived as parcel units until 2000 | 31 | |
Class 308 | AM8 | Eastern Region lines 1959 EMU |
1959 | 45 | 1983 1992 2001 |
44 | ||
Class 309 | AM9 | Clacton Express. | 1962–1963 | 76 | 1994–2000 | About 74 | ||
Class 310 | AM10 | Euston outer-suburban. Also West Midlands | 1965–1967 | 50 | 1967 (1) 1989 (1) 2001–2002 |
310109 and 310113 survived in departmental use until 2005 | All | |
Class 311 | AM11 | Strathclyde | 1967 | 19 | 1990 | 311103-4 survived in departmental use until 1999 | 18 | |
Class 312 | Great Eastern suburban Great Northern suburban West Midlands (four units) |
1975–1978 | 49 | 2003–2004 | About 47 |
Second generation
TOPS class | Built for | Current Operator(s) | Builder | Number built | Image | Withdrawn | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 313[lower-alpha 1] | BR Eastern Region (Great Northern suburban) |
Network Rail Southern |
BREL York 1976-1977 | 64 x 3-car sets | 2019 (GN) still in use |
44 | |
Class 314 | BR Scottish Region (Argyle Line) |
None | BREL York 1979 | 16 x 3-car sets | 2018–19 | 15 | |
Class 315 | BR Eastern Region (Great Eastern suburban) |
TfL Rail | BREL York 1980-1981 | 61 x 4-car sets | 2018–21 | 44 | |
Class 316 (I) | proposed units for Picc-Vic services | - | (never built) | - | Never built | Never built | |
Class 316 (II) | (AC Networker prototype) | (never used in passenger service, now out of service) | converted from class 210 and 313 cars | 1 x 4-car set | Out of service | 1 | |
Class 316 (III) | (test unit) | (never used in passenger service, scrapped 2006) | converted from class 307 | 1 x 3-car set | 2006 | ||
Class 317 | Class 317/1 London Midland Region Class 317/2 Network SouthEast (Bedpan and Great Northern lines) |
Greater Anglia | BREL York 1981-1982 (317/1) 1985-1987 (317/2) |
72 x 4-car sets | 2020–21 | 4 | |
Class 318 | Provincial ScotRail (for Strathclyde PTE) |
Abellio ScotRail | BREL York 1985-1986 | 21 x 3-car sets | still in use | None | |
Class 319[lower-alpha 1] | Network SouthEast (Thameslink services) |
Northern Trains West Midlands Trains |
BREL York 1987-1988 (319/0) 1990 (319/1) |
86 x 4-car sets | 1 | ||
Class 320 | Provincial ScotRail (for Strathclyde PTE) |
Abellio ScotRail | BREL York 1990 | 22 x 3-car sets | None | ||
Class 321 | Network SouthEast (Great Eastern and Euston services) Regional Railways (for West Yorkshire PTE) |
Greater Anglia | BREL York 1988-1991 | 117 x 4-car sets | 12 TSOs | ||
Class 322 | Network SouthEast (Stansted Express service) |
BREL York 1990 | 5 x 4-car sets | None | |||
Class 325[lower-alpha 1] | Rail Express Systems (for Royal Mail) |
DB Cargo UK | ABB Derby 1995-1996 | 16 x 4-car units | 1 |
Modern/Third generation
These use solid state switching devices (thyristors and transistors) and have electronic power control.
TOPS class | Built for | Current Operator(s) | Builder | Number Built | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 323 | Regional Railways (for West Midlands PTE and Greater Manchester PTE) |
Northern Trains West Midlands Trains |
Hunslet 1992-1996 | 43 x 3-car sets | None | |
Class 331 (I) | Original classification of Class 332 | |||||
Class 331 (II) Civity |
Arriva Rail North | Northern Trains | CAF 2017-2020 | 31 x 3-car units 12 x 4-car units |
None | |
Class 332 | Heathrow Express | None | Siemens/CAF 1997-1998 | 9 x 4-car sets 5 x 5-car sets |
5 | |
Class 333 | Arriva Trains Northern (for West Yorkshire PTE) |
Northern Trains | Siemens/CAF 2000-2001 | 16 x 4-car sets | None | |
Class 334 Juniper |
ScotRail (for Strathclyde PTE) |
Abellio ScotRail | Alstom Birmingham 1999-2002 | 40 x 3-car sets | ||
Class 341 Networker |
proposed units for Crossrail | - | (never built) | - | Never built | |
Class 342 Networker |
proposed units for CTRL Domestic Services | |||||
Class 345 Aventra |
Crossrail | TfL Rail | Bombardier Derby 2015-2019 | 70 x 9-car sets | None | |
Class 350 (I) | Original classification of Class 325 | |||||
Class 350 (II)[lower-alpha 1] Desiro |
Silverlink Central Trains |
West Midlands Trains | Siemens 2004-2005 2008-2009 2013-2014 |
87 x 4-car sets | None | |
Class 357 Electrostar |
LTS Rail | c2c | Adtranz/Bombardier Derby 1999-2002 | 74 x 4-car sets | ||
Class 360 Desiro |
First Great Eastern Heathrow Connect |
Greater Anglia | Siemens 2002-2003 2004-2005 |
21 x 4-car sets 5 x 5-car sets |
||
Class 365[lower-alpha 1] Networker |
Network SouthEast (Great Northern and South Eastern services) |
Govia Thameslink Railway | ABB York 1994-1995 | 41 x 4-car sets | 1 | |
Class 371[lower-alpha 1] Networker |
proposed units for Thameslink 2000 | - | (never built) | - | Never built | |
Class 375[lower-alpha 1] Electrostar |
Connex South Eastern South Eastern Trains |
Southeastern | Adtranz/Bombardier Derby 1999-2005 | 10 x 3-car sets 102 x 4-car sets |
None | |
Class 376[lower-alpha 1] Electrostar |
South Eastern Trains | Southeastern | Bombardier Derby 2004-2005 | 36 x 5-car sets | ||
Class 377[lower-alpha 1] Electrostar |
Southern | Southeastern Southern |
Bombardier Derby 2001-2005 2008-2009 2013-2014 |
28 x 3-car sets 177 x 4-car sets 34 x 5-car sets |
||
Class 378[lower-alpha 1] Capitalstar |
London Overground | London Overground | Bombardier Derby 2008-2011 | 57 x 5-car sets | ||
Class 379 Electrostar |
National Express East Anglia | Greater Anglia | Bombardier Derby 2010-2011 | 30 x 4-car sets | ||
Class 380 Desiro |
First ScotRail | Abellio ScotRail | Siemens 2009-2011 | 22 x 3-car sets 16 x 4-car sets |
||
Class 381[lower-alpha 1] Networker |
proposed Network SouthEast express units | - | (never built) | - | Never built | |
Class 385 AT200 |
Abellio ScotRail | Abellio ScotRail | Hitachi Kudamatsu & Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2015-2019 | 46 x 3-car sets 24 x 4-car sets |
None | |
Class 387[lower-alpha 1] Electrostar |
Govia Thameslink Railway Great Western Railway c2c |
Govia Thameslink Railway Great Western Railway c2c |
Bombardier Derby 2014-2017 | 107 x 4-car sets | ||
Class 700[lower-alpha 1] Desiro City |
Govia Thameslink Railway | Govia Thameslink Railway | Siemens 2014-2018 | 60 x 8-car sets 55 x 12-car sets |
||
Class 701[lower-alpha 1] Aventra |
South Western Railway | Bombardier 2019- | 30 x 5-car sets 60 x 10-car sets |
|||
Class 705 | Original classification of Class 701 | |||||
Class 707[lower-alpha 1] Desiro City |
South West Trains | South Western Railway | Siemens 2015-2018 | 30 x 5-car sets | None | |
Class 710[lower-alpha 1] Aventra |
London Overground | London Overground | Bombardier Derby 2017-2020 | 48 x 4-car sets 6 x 5-car sets |
||
Class 711 | Original classification of Class 701 | |||||
Class 717[lower-alpha 1] Desiro City |
Govia Thameslink Railway | Govia Thameslink Railway | Siemens 2018-2019 | 25 x 6-car sets | None | |
Class 720 Aventra |
Greater Anglia c2c |
Greater Anglia | Bombardier Derby 2018-2020 | 89 x 5-car sets 28 x 10-car sets |
||
Class 730 Aventra |
West Midlands Trains | Bombardier Derby 2020-2021 | 36 x 3-car sets 45 x 5-car sets |
|||
Class 745 FLIRT |
Greater Anglia | Greater Anglia | Stadler Rail 2018-2020 | 20 x 12-car sets | ||
Class 755 FLIRT |
Greater Anglia | Greater Anglia | Stadler Rail 2018-2020 | 14 x 3-car sets 24 x 4-car sets |
||
Class 756 FLIRT |
Transport for Wales | Stadler Rail TBC | 7 × 3-car sets 17 × 4-car sets |
|||
Class 769[lower-alpha 1] Flex |
Great Western Railway Northern Trains Rail Operations Group Transport for Wales |
Transport for Wales | BREL York 1987-88 Brush Traction 2017-2020 (conversion) |
35 x 4-car sets | ||
Class 777[lower-alpha 1] METRO |
Merseyrail | Stadler Rail 2018-2021 | 52 x 4-car sets | |||
Class 799[lower-alpha 1] HydroFlex |
Porterbrook | Porterbrook | BREL York, 1987 Quinton Rail Technology Centre 2019 (conversion) |
1 x 4-car set |
High speed trains
High speed multiple unit or fixed formation trainsets, capable of operating at speeds above 190 kilometres per hour (120 mph).[1]
TOPS class | Built for | Current Operator(s) | Builder | Number Built | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 370 APT-P |
prototype APT | Withdrawn 1985–1986 | BREL Derby 1979 | 6 x 7-car half sets 2 spare cars |
35 cars | |
Class 373 TGV |
Eurostar | Eurostar IZY |
GEC Alsthom, La Brugeoise et Nivelles 1992-1996 | 14 x 8-car half sets 62 x 10-car half sets 1 spare car |
16 | |
Class 374 Velaro UK |
Eurostar | Eurostar | Siemens 2011-2018 | 34 x 8-car half sets | None | |
Class 390 Pendolino |
Virgin Trains | Avanti West Coast | Alstom Birmingham 2001-2004 Alstom Savigliano, Italy 2010-2012 |
22 x 9-car sets 35 x 11-car sets |
1 | |
Class 395[lower-alpha 1] Javelin |
Southeastern | Southeastern | Hitachi, Japan 2007-2009 | 29 x 6-car sets | None | |
Class 397 Civity |
TransPennine Express | TransPennine Express | CAF 2017-2019 | 12 x 5-car sets | ||
Class 800 AT300 |
London North Eastern Railway | London North Eastern Railway | Hitachi, Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe 2014-2018 | 34 x 9-car sets 46 x 5-car sets |
||
Great Western Railway | Great Western Railway | |||||
Class 801 AT300 |
London North Eastern Railway | London North Eastern Railway | Hitachi Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe 2017-2020 | 30 x 9-car sets 12 x 5-car sets[2] |
||
Class 802 AT300 |
Great Western Railway | Great Western Railway | Hitachi Kudamatsu & Hitachi Rail Italy 2017-2020 | 46 x 5-car 14 x 9-car sets |
||
Hull Trains | Hull Trains | |||||
TransPennine Express | TransPennine Express | |||||
Class 803 (I) AT300 | Original classification of Class 802/2 | |||||
Class 803 (II) AT300 |
East Coast Trains | Hitachi | 5 x 5-car sets | None | ||
Class 804 AT300 | Original classification of Class 810 | |||||
Class 805 AT300 |
Avanti West Coast | Hitachi Newton Aycliffe | 13 x 5-car sets | None | ||
Class 807 AT300 |
10 x 7-car sets | |||||
Class 810 AT300 |
East Midlands Railway | 33 x 5-car sets |
- DC 600-750 V 3rd rail support.
DC EMUs
Southern Region units
The Southern Railway and its successor, the Southern Region of British Rail, used three letter codes to classify their DC EMU fleets, as shown after the TOPS class numbers. Southern Region EMUs were classified in the 400 series under TOPS.
Pre-Nationalisation
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information | Built | Quantity (sets) | Withdrawn | Notes | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 401 | 2-Bil | 1935–38 | 151 | 1965–71 | 151 | |||
Class 402 | 2-Hal |
|
100 | 1969–71 | All | |||
2-Pan[3] | ||||||||
2-Nol | 1934–36 | 78 | 1956–59 | |||||
2-SL | South London | 1929 | 8 | 1954 | ||||
2-Wim | Wimbledon-Croydon | 1929 | 4 | |||||
3-Sub | 1946–51 | 184 | 1976–83 | |||||
4-Buf | 1937–38 | 85 | 1964 | |||||
Class 404 | 4-Cor | 1968–71 | 28 | |||||
4-DD | Double Deck EMU | 1949 | 2 | 1971 | ||||
4-Gri | All | |||||||
4-Lav |
|
35 | 1968–69 | |||||
4-Res | ||||||||
Class 405 | 4-Sub | About 184 | ||||||
Class 403 | 5-Bel | Brighton Belle London Victoria-Brighton | 1932 | 15 | 1 (p) | 2 | ||
6-Cit | London Bridge-Brighton | 38 in total | ||||||
6-Pan | Pantry units | |||||||
6-Pul | Pullman London Victoria-Brighton |
Mark 1 and 2 bodyshell
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 410 | 4-Bep | About 114 in total | ||
Class 411 | 4-Cep | |||
Class 412 | 4-Bep | |||
Class 413 | 4-Cap | 2 x 2Hap permanently coupled | All | |
Class 414 | 2-Hap | 207 | ||
Class 415 | 4-EPB | ? | ||
Class 416 | 2-EPB | 121 | ||
Class 418 | 2-Sap | 2Hap units with declassified 1st Class accommodation | All | |
Class 419 | MLV | London-Dover/Folkestone boat trains | 2 | |
Class 420 | 4-Big | About 140 in total | ||
Class 421 | 4/3-Cig 3-Cop |
Last 2 units of this type in service were withdrawn in 2010 | ||
Class 422 | 4-Big 8-Dig |
|||
Class 423 | 4-Vep 4-Vop |
About 188 in total | ||
Class 427 | 4-Veg | First stock used for Gatwick Express | ||
Class 430 | 4-Rep | 14 | ||
Class 431 | 6-Rep | |||
Class 432 | 4-Rep | |||
Class 438 | 3-TC 4-TC |
27 | ||
Class 480 | 8-Vab | - | ||
Class 482 (I) | 8-Mig | |||
Class 488 | Gatwick Express Trailers | 14 | ||
Class 489 | GLV | Gatwick Express driving trailers | 3 | |
Class 499 (I) | TLV | All |
Tube Stock
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 482 (II) | Waterloo & City line sold to London Underground |
None | ||
Class 483 | Island Line Trains ex LU 1938 stock |
4 | ||
Class 485 | 4-Vec | ex LU Standard stock | ? | |
Class 486 | 3-Tis | ex LU Standard stock | ||
Class 487 | Waterloo & City Line | 27 |
Modern EMUs
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information | Image | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|
Class 424 | Networker Classic Prototype | 1 | ||
Class 442 | 5-Wes | Wessex Express | 2 | |
Class 444 | 5-Des | Siemens Desiro | None | |
Class 445 | 4-Pep | Second Generation EMU prototype - 4 car | All | |
Class 446 | 2-Pep | Second Generation EMU prototype - 2 car | ||
Class 447 | Proposed Battersea Bullet | Never built | ||
Class 450 | 4-Des | Siemens Desiro | None | |
Class 455 | ||||
Class 456 | ||||
Class 457 | DC Networker prototype | 1 | ||
Class 458 | 5-Jop | Juniper | None | |
Class 460 | 8-Gat | Juniper - Gatwick Express | DMLFOs | |
Class 465 | Networker - 4 car | None | ||
Class 466 | Networker - 2 car | |||
Class 471 | Proposed Networker - Main Line Express | Never built | ||
Class 484 | Isle of Wight D-Train ex-LU D78 Stock |
None |
Other DC units
The 500 series classes were reserved for miscellaneous DC EMUs not from the Southern Region. This included the DC (third/fourth rail) lines in North London, Manchester and Merseyside and the OHLE lines in Greater Manchester. The DC electric network around Tyneside had been de-electrified by the time TOPS was introduced, and the stock withdrawn or transferred to the Southern Region.
- TOPS classes
Class | Info | Image | Withdrawn | Notes | Scrapped |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 501 | North London stock | 1985 | 650 V Third & Fourth Rail | 56 | |
Class 502 | Liverpool-Southport/Ormskirk stock | 1980 | 650 V Third Rail | 150 | |
Class 503 | Mersey-Wirral stock | 1985 | 650 V Third Rail | 44 | |
Class 504 | Manchester-Bury stock | 1991 | 1.2 kV Side Contact Third Rail (Unique on BR network) |
25 | |
Class 505 | Manchester-Altrincham stock | 1971 | 1.5 kV OHLE | ? | |
Class 506 | Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock | 1984 | 1.5 kV OHLE | About 7 | |
Class 507 | Merseyside stock | 750 V Third Rail | 1 | ||
Class 508 | Merseyside stock | 750 V Third Rail | 16 | ||
Class 510 | Original classification of Class 455 |
- Pre-TOPS classes
- Ex-LNER Units (Tyneside stock)
- Ex-LNWR Units (North London stock)
- Ex-LOR Units (Liverpool Overhead Railway stock)
- Ex-LYR Units (Manchester-Bury stock)
- Ex-Mersey Railway Units (Merseyside DC stock)
- Ex-W&CR Units (Waterloo & City Railway stock)
Battery electric multiple unit (BEMU)
The original BEMU was a one-off unit, withdrawn before the introduction of TOPS. A new generation battery EMU (called an Independently Powered Electric Multiple Unit) was created in 2014, converted from a Class 379.
Class | Info | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
BEMU | Experimental 2 Car | ||
Class 230 | D-Train | DEMU DMU Diesel-Battery hybrid |
Non National Rail units
All rail vehicles operating on part of the National Rail network are required to be given TOPS codes. For this reason, London Underground, Sheffield Supertram and Tyne & Wear Metro trains have their own TOPS classes:
Class | Info | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Class 398 | Transport for Wales tram-train stock | Planned use on Valley Lines services with street running through Cardiff | |
Class 399 | Sheffield Supertram tram-train stock | Used for service to Rotherham via the Dearne Valley line | |
Class 499 (II) | London Underground rolling stock | Classification given to all London Underground stock operating on Network Rail, regardless of line | |
Class 599 | Tyne & Wear Metro rolling stock | Four units not refurbished for DDA compliance Used for operation between Pelaw and Sunderland in peak hours | |
Class 994 | Used for operation between Pelaw and Sunderland |
See also
References
- Rail Safety and Standards Board (June 2020). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST: Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering (PDF).
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- Atkinson, John. "Southern Railway's 2 HAL Units". Retrieved 15 March 2014.