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

TransClyde branded Class 303 unrefurbished unit no. 303 089 at Wemyss Bay railway station
TOPS class Pre-TOPS class Name or Information Image Withdrawn
Ex-MR units   Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham 1951
Class 300   Proposed parcels units
  AM1 25 kV AC prototype units 1966
Class 302 AM2 London-Tilbury-Southend 1999
Class 303 AM3 Strathclyde. Also on Greater Manchester area services during 1980s/early 1990s. 2002
Class 304 AM4 Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham 1996
Class 305 AM5 Chingford, Enfield 2001
Class 306 AM6 Shenfield (inner-suburban) 1980
Class 307 AM7 Southend (outer-suburban) 2000
Class 308 AM8 Eastern Region lines 2001
Class 309 AM9 Clacton Express. 2000
Class 310 AM10 Euston outer-suburban. Also West Midlands 2002
Class 311 AM11 Strathclyde 1999
Class 312 Great Eastern suburban
Great Northern suburban
West Midlands (four units)
2004

Second generation

TOPS class Built for Current Operator(s) Builder Number built Image
Class 313[lower-alpha 1] BR Eastern Region
(Great Northern suburban)
Govia Thameslink Railway
Network Rail
Southern
BREL York 1976-1977 64 x 3-car sets
Class 314 BR Scottish Region
(Argyle Line)
Abellio ScotRail BREL York 1979 16 x 3-car sets
Class 315 BR Eastern Region
(Great Eastern suburban)
London Overground
TfL Rail
BREL York 1980-1981 61 x 4-car sets
Class 316 (I) proposed units for Picc-Vic services - (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
Class 316 (III) (test unit) (never used in passenger service, scrapped 2006) converted from class 307 1 x 3-car set
Class 317 Class 317/1 London Midland Region
Class 317/2 Network SouthEast
(Bedpan and Great Northern lines)
Greater Anglia
London Overground
BREL York 1981-1982(317/1)
1985-1987(317/2)
72 x 4-car sets
Class 318 Provincial ScotRail
(for Strathclyde PTE)
Abellio ScotRail BREL York 1986-1987 21 x 3-car sets
Class 319[lower-alpha 1] Network SouthEast
(Thameslink services)
Northern
West Midlands Trains
BREL York 1987-1988(319/0)
1990(319/1)
86 x 4-car sets
Class 320 Provincial ScotRail
(for Strathclyde PTE)
Abellio ScotRail BREL York 1990 22 x 3-car sets
Class 321 Network SouthEast
(Great Eastern and Euston services)
Regional Railways
(for West Yorkshire PTE)
Greater Anglia
Northern
BREL York 1988-1991 117 x 4-car sets
Class 322 Network SouthEast
(Stansted Express service)
Northern BREL York 1990 5 x 4-car sets
Class 325[lower-alpha 1] Rail Express Systems
(for Royal Mail)
DB Cargo UK ABB Derby 1995-1996 16 x 4-car units

Modern/Third generation

Class 350/1 unit 350101 at Watford Junction

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
Class 323 Regional Railways
(for West Midlands PTE and Greater Manchester PTE)
Northern
West Midlands Trains
Hunslet 1992-1993 43 x 3-car sets
Class 331 (I) Original classification of Class 332
Class 331 (II)
Civity
Northern CAF 31 x 3-car units
12 x 4-car units
Class 332 Heathrow Express Heathrow Express Siemens/CAF 1997-1998 9 x 4-car sets
5 x 5-car sets
Class 333 Arriva Trains Northern
(for West Yorkshire PTE)
Northern Siemens/CAF 2000 16 x 4-car sets
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) -
Class 342
Networker
proposed units for CTRL Domestic Services - (never built) -
Class 345
Aventra
Crossrail Bombardier Derby, 2015-2018 70 x 9-car sets
Class 350 (I) Original classification of Class 325
Class 350 (II)[lower-alpha 1]
Desiro
Silverlink
Central Trains
TransPennine Express
West Midlands Trains
Siemens 2004-2005
2008-2009
2013-2014
87 x 4-car sets
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
TfL Rail
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
Abellio ScotRail
ABB York 1994-1995 41 x 4-car sets
Class 371[lower-alpha 1]
Networker
proposed units for Thameslink 2000 - (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
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 Govia Thameslink Railway
Southeastern
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) -
Class 385
A-Train
Abellio ScotRail Abellio ScotRail Hitachi Kudamatsu & Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2015-2018 46 x 3-car sets
24 x 4-car sets
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 TBC 30 x 5-car sets
60 x 10-car sets
Class 705
Aventra
Original classification of Class 701/0
Class 707[lower-alpha 1]
Desiro City
South West Trains South Western Railway Siemens 2016-2018 30 x 5-car sets
Class 710[lower-alpha 1]
Aventra
London Overground Bombardier Derby, 2017-2019 48 x 4-car sets
6 x 5-car sets
Class 711 (I)
Aventra
Original classification of Class 701/5
Class 711 (II)
Aventra
c2c Bombardier Derby, 2019-2020 6 x 10-car sets
Class 717[lower-alpha 1]
Desiro City
Govia Thameslink Railway Siemens 2016-2018 25 x 6-car sets
Class 720
Aventra
Greater Anglia Bombardier Derby, 2018-2020 89 x 5-car sets
22 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
Stadler Flirt
Greater Anglia Stadler Rail 2018-2020 20 x 12-car sets
Class 755
Stadler Flirt
Greater Anglia Stadler Rail 2018-2020 14 x 3-car sets
24 x 4-car sets
Class 769[lower-alpha 1]
Flex
Northern
Arriva Trains Wales
Great Western Railway
BREL York, 1987-88
Brush Traction 2017 (conversion)
35 x 4-car sets
Class 777[lower-alpha 1]
METRO
Merseyrail Stadler Rail 2018-2020 52 x 4-car sets

High speed trains

TOPS class Built for Current Operator(s) Builder Number Built Image
Class 370
APT-P
prototype APT (out of service) BREL Derby 1979 6 x 7-car half sets
2 spare cars
Class 373
TGV
Eurostar Eurostar GEC Alsthom, La Brugeoise et Nivelles 1992-1996 14 x 8-car half sets
62 x 10-car half sets
1 spare car
Class 374
Velaro UK
Eurostar Eurostar Siemens 2011-2018 34 x 8-car half sets
Class 390
Pendolino
Virgin West Coast Virgin Trains Alstom Birmingham 2001-2004
Alstom Savigliano, Italy 2009-2012
22 x 9-car sets
35 x 11-car sets
Class 395[lower-alpha 1]
Javelin
Southeastern Southeastern Hitachi, Japan 2007-2009 29 x 6-car sets
Class 397
Civity
TransPennine Express CAF 12 x 5-car sets
Class 800
Super Express
London North Eastern Railway Hitachi, Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe 2014-2019 34 x 9-car sets
46 x 5-car sets
Great Western Railway
Class 801
Super Express
London North Eastern Railway Hitachi Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe 2017-2019 30 x 9-car sets
12 x 5-car sets[1]
Class 802
A-Train
Great Western Railway Hitachi Kudamatsu & Hitachi Rail Italy 2017-2020 46 x 5-car
14 x 9-car sets
Hull Trains
TransPennine Express

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

4Sub unit no. 8143 at the National Railway Museum
TOPS class SR class Name or Information Image
Class 401 2-Bil
Class 402 2-Hal
2-Pan[2]
2-Nol
2-SL South London
2-Wim Wimbledon-Croydon
3-Sub
4-Buf
Class 404 4-Cor
4-DD Double Deck EMU
4-Gri
4-Lav
4-Res
Class 405 4-Sub
Class 403 5-Bel Brighton Belle
London Victoria-Brighton
6-Cit London Bridge-Brighton
6-Pan Pantry units
6-Pul Pullman
London Victoria-Brighton

Mark 1 and 2 bodyshell

Gatwick Express Class 489 unit no. 489110 at London Victoria
South Eastern Trains Class 411 unit no. 1586 at London Victoria
TOPS class SR class Name or Information Image
Class 410 4-Bep
Class 411 4-Cep
Class 412 4-Bep
Class 413 4-Cap 2 x 2Hap permanently coupled
Class 414 2-Hap
Class 415 4-EPB
Class 416 2-EPB
Class 418 2-Sap 2Hap units with declassified 1st Class accommodation
Class 419 MLV London-Dover/Folkestone boat trains
Class 420 4-Big
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
Class 427 4-Veg First stock used for Gatwick Express
Class 430 4-Rep
Class 431 6-Rep
Class 432 4-Rep
Class 438 3-TC
4-TC
Class 480 8-Vab
Class 482 (I) 8-Mig
Class 488 Gatwick Express Trailers
Class 489 GLV Gatwick Express driving trailers
Class 499 (I) TLV

Tube Stock

TOPS class SR class Name or Information Image
Class 482 (II) Waterloo & City line
sold to London Underground
Class 483 Island Line Trains
ex LU 1938 stock
Class 485 4-Vec ex LU Standard stock
Class 486 3-Tis ex LU Standard stock
Class 487 Waterloo & City Line

Modern EMUs

TOPS class SR class Name or Information Image
Class 424 Networker Classic Prototype
Class 442 5-Wes Wessex Express
Class 444 5-Des Siemens Desiro
Class 445 4-Pep Second Generation EMU prototype - 4 car
Class 446 2-Pep Second Generation EMU prototype - 2 car
Class 447 Proposed Battersea Bullet
Class 450 4-Des Siemens Desiro
Class 455
Class 456
Class 457 DC Networker prototype
Class 458 5-Jop Juniper
Class 460 8-Gat Juniper - Gatwick Express
Class 465 Networker - 4 car
Class 466 Networker - 2 car
Class 471 Proposed Networker - Main Line Express

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
Class 501North London stock 1985 650 V Third & Fourth Rail
Class 502Liverpool-Southport/Ormskirk stock 1980 650 V Third Rail
Class 503Mersey-Wirral stock 1985 650 V Third Rail
Class 504Manchester-Bury stock 1991 1.2 kV Side Contact Third Rail
(Unique on BR network)
Class 505Manchester-Altrincham stock 1971 1.5 kV OHLE
Class 506Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock 1984 1.5 kV OHLE
Class 507Merseyside stock 750 V Third Rail
Class 508Merseyside stock 750 V Third Rail
Class 510Original classification of Class 455
Pre-TOPS classes

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) is being created in 2014, converted from a Class 379.

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 399 Sheffield Supertram tram-train stock Will be used for a trial 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 994 Tyne & Wear Metro rolling stock Used for operation between Pelaw and Sunderland

See also

References

  1. http://www.abrail.co.uk/emuformations.htm
  2. Atkinson, John. "Southern Railway's 2 HAL Units". Retrieved 15 March 2014.
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