List of British Rail electric multiple unit classes

This article 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, North Clyde 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 classPre-TOPS className or InformationBuiltQuantity (sets)NotesImageWithdrawnScrapped
 ex-Ex-MR unitsLancaster-Morecambe-Heysham19083 (4-car)1953All
Class 300 Proposed parcels unitsPlanned parcels conversation from Class 307Never builtNever built
 AM125 kV AC prototype units195241966All
Class 302AM2London-Tilbury-Southend1958–1960112 1999About 110
Class 303AM3Strathclyde. Also on Greater Manchester area services during 1980s/early 1990s.1959–19619175613 from unit 303013 is still in use with the British Transport Police 1974–200290
Class 304AM4Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham
1959 EMU
196045 1992–1996All
Class 305AM5Chingford, Enfield
1959 EMU
195971 1992–2001
Class 306AM6Shenfield (inner-suburban)194992Ordered by LNER in 1938, but construction was delayed due to World War II. 198191
Class 307AM7Southend (outer-suburban)1954–19563243 survived as parcel units until 2000 1990–199331
Class 308AM8Eastern Region lines
1959 EMU
195945 1983
1992
2001
All
Class 309AM9Clacton Express.1962–196376 1994–2000About 74
Class 310AM10Euston outer-suburban. Also West Midlands1965–196750310109 and 310113 survived in departmental use until 2005 1967 (1)
1989 (1)
2001–2002
All
Class 311AM11Strathclyde1966–196719311103-4 survived in departmental use until 1999 199018
Class 312Great Eastern suburban
Great Northern suburban
West Midlands (four units)
1975–1978196 2003–200449

Second generation

TOPS classBuilt forCurrent Operator(s)BuilderNumber builtImageWithdrawnScrapped
Class 313[a]BR Eastern Region
(Great Northern suburban)
BREL York 1976-197764 x 3-car sets 2019 (GN)
2023 (Southern)
62
Class 314BR Scottish Region
(Argyle Line)
BREL York 197916 x 3-car sets 2018–201915
Class 315BR Eastern Region
(Great Eastern suburban)
BREL York 1980-198161 x 4-car sets 2018–202253
Class 316 (I)proposed units for Picc-Vic services-(never built)-Never builtNever built
Class 316 (II)(AC Networker prototype)(never used in passenger service, now out of service)converted from class 210 and 313 cars1 x 4-car set Out of service1
Class 316 (III)(test unit)(never used in passenger service, scrapped 2006)converted from class 3071 x 3-car set2006
Class 317Class 317/1 London Midland Region
Class 317/2 Network SouthEast
(Bedpan and Great Northern lines)
BREL York 1981-1982 (317/1)
1985-1987 (317/2)
72 x 4-car sets 2020–202265
Class 318Provincial ScotRail
(for Strathclyde PTE)
ScotRailBREL York 1985-198621 x 3-car sets still in useNone
Class 319[a]Network SouthEast
(Thameslink services)
Rail Operations GroupBREL York 1987-1988 (319/0)
1990 (319/1)
86 x 4-car sets still in use33
Class 320Provincial ScotRail
(for Strathclyde PTE)
ScotRailBREL York 199022 x 3-car sets still in useNone
Class 321Network SouthEast
(Great Eastern and Euston services)
Regional Railways
(for West Yorkshire PTE)
Varamis RailBREL York 1988-1991117 x 4-car sets 2021–202312 TSOs
63 units
Class 322Network SouthEast
(Stansted Express service)
BREL York 19905 x 4-car sets 2022All
Class 325[a]Rail Express Systems
(for Royal Mail)
DB Cargo UKABB Derby 1995-199616 x 4-car units still in use1

Modern/Third generation

These use solid state switching devices (thyristors and transistors) and have electronic power control.

TOPS classBuilt forCurrent Operator(s)BuilderNumber BuiltImageWithdrawnScrapped
Class 323Regional Railways
(for West Midlands PTE and Greater Manchester PTE)
Northern Trains
West Midlands Trains
Hunslet Transportation Projects/Holec[1][2][3] 1992-199543 x 3-car sets still in useNone
Class 331 (I)proposed units for London, Tilbury and Southend
Original classification of Class 332
(never built)Never builtNever built
Class 331 (II)
Civity
Arriva Rail NorthNorthern TrainsCAF 2017-202031 x 3-car units
12 x 4-car units
still in useNone
Class 332Heathrow ExpressSiemens Transportation Systems/CAF 1997-1998, 20029 x 4-car sets
5 x 5-car sets
202058 cars
Class 333Arriva Trains Northern
(for West Yorkshire PTE)
Northern TrainsSiemens Transportation Systems/CAF 2000-200316 x 4-car sets still in useNone
Class 334
Juniper
ScotRail
(for Strathclyde PTE)
ScotRailAlstom Birmingham 1999-200240 x 3-car sets
Class 341
Networker
proposed units for Crossrail(never built)-Never builtNever built
Class 342
Networker
proposed units for Channel Tunnel Rail Link Domestic ServicesNever built
Class 345
Aventra
Elizabeth lineElizabeth lineBombardier Derby 2015-201970 x 9-car sets still in useNone
Class 350 (I)Original classification of Class 325
Class 350 (II)[a]
Desiro
Silverlink
Central Trains
West Midlands TrainsSiemens Transportation Systems 2004-2005
2008-2009
2013-2014
87 x 4-car sets still in useNone
Class 357
Electrostar
LTS Railc2cAdtranz/Bombardier Derby 1999-200274 x 4-car sets
Class 360
Desiro
First Great Eastern
Heathrow Connect
East Midlands Railway
Rail Operations Group
Siemens Transportation Systems 2002-2003
2004-2005
21 x 4-car sets
5 x 5-car sets
2
Class 365[a]
Networker
Network SouthEast
(Great Northern and South Eastern services)
ABB York 1994-199541 x 4-car sets 2021161 cars
Class 371[a]
Networker
proposed units for Thameslink 2000-(never built)-Never builtNever built
Class 375[a]
Electrostar
Connex South Eastern
South Eastern Trains
SoutheasternAdtranz/Bombardier Derby 1999-200510 x 3-car sets
102 x 4-car sets
still in useNone
Class 376[a]
Electrostar
South Eastern TrainsSoutheasternBombardier Derby 2004-200536 x 5-car sets
Class 377[a]
Electrostar
SouthernSoutheastern
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[a]
Capitalstar
London OvergroundLondon OvergroundBombardier Derby 2008-201157 x 5-car sets
Class 379
Electrostar
National Express East AngliaNoneBombardier Derby 2010-201130 x 4-car sets 2022
Class 380
Desiro
First ScotRailScotRailSiemens Mobility 2009-201122 x 3-car sets
16 x 4-car sets
still in use
Class 381[a]
Networker
proposed Network SouthEast express units-(never built)-Never builtNever built
Class 385 AT200
Abellio ScotRailScotRailHitachi Kudamatsu & Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2015-201946 x 3-car sets
24 x 4-car sets
still in useNone
Class 387[a]
Electrostar
Thameslink
Great Western Railway
c2c
Gatwick Express
Great Northern
Great Western Railway
Heathrow Express
Bombardier Derby 2014-2017107 x 4-car sets
Class 700[a]
Desiro City
ThameslinkThameslink
Great Northern
Siemens Mobility 2014-201860 x 8-car sets
55 x 12-car sets
Class 701[a]
Aventra
South Western RailwaySouth Western RailwayBombardier/Alstom Derby 2019-30 x 5-car sets
60 x 10-car sets
Class 705Original classification of Class 701[4]
Class 707[a]
Desiro City
South West TrainsSoutheastern
South Western Railway
Siemens Mobility 2015-201830 x 5-car sets still in useNone
Class 710[a]
Aventra
London OvergroundLondon OvergroundBombardier Derby 2017-202048 x 4-car sets
6 x 5-car sets
Class 711Original classification of Class 701[4]
Class 717[a]
Desiro City
Great NorthernGreat NorthernSiemens Mobility 2018-201925 x 6-car sets still in useNone
Class 720
Aventra
Greater Anglia
c2c
Greater Anglia
c2c
Bombardier/Alstom Derby 2018-2020145 x 5-car sets
Class 730
Aventra
West Midlands TrainsWest Midlands TrainsBombardier/Alstom Derby 2020-202136 x 3-car sets
45 x 5-car sets
Class 745
FLIRT
Greater AngliaGreater AngliaStadler Rail 2018-202020 x 12-car sets
Class 755
FLIRT
Greater AngliaGreater AngliaStadler Rail 2018-202014 x 3-car sets
24 x 4-car sets
Class 756
FLIRT
Transport for Wales RailStadler Rail TBC7 × 3-car sets
17 × 4-car sets
Class 768Rail Operations GroupRail Operations GroupBREL York 1987-88
Brush Traction 2020- (conversion)
10 x 4-car sets
Class 769[a]
Flex
Great Western Railway
Northern Trains
Rail Operations Group
Transport for Wales Rail
Northern TrainsBREL York 1987-88
Brush Traction 2017-2020 (conversion)
35 x 4-car sets 1 car
Class 777[a]
METRO
MerseyrailMerseyrailStadler Rail 2018-202152 x 4-car sets None
Class 799[a]
HydroFlex
PorterbrookPorterbrookBREL York, 1987
Quinton Rail Technology Centre 2019 (conversion)
2 x 4-car sets1

High speed trains

High speed multiple unit or fixed formation trainsets, capable of operating at speeds above 190 kilometres per hour (120 mph).[5]

TOPS classBuilt forCurrent Operator(s)BuilderNumber BuiltImageWithdrawnScrapped
Class 370
APT-P
prototype APTWithdrawn 1985–1986BREL Derby 19796 x 7-car half sets
2 spare cars
1985–198635 cars
Class 373
TGV
EurostarEurostarGEC Alsthom, La Brugeoise et Nivelles 1992-199614 x 8-car half sets
62 x 10-car half sets
1 spare car
2014–

still in use

16
Class 374
Velaro UK
EurostarEurostarSiemens Mobility 2011-201834 x 8-car half sets still in useNone
Class 390
Pendolino
Virgin TrainsAvanti West CoastAlstom Birmingham 2001-2004
Alstom Savigliano, Italy 2010-2012
22 x 9-car sets
35 x 11-car sets
1
Class 395[a]
Javelin
SoutheasternSoutheasternHitachi, Japan 2007-200929 x 6-car sets None
Class 397
Civity
TransPennine ExpressTransPennine ExpressCAF 2017-201912 x 5-car sets
Class 800
AT300
London North Eastern RailwayLondon North Eastern RailwayHitachi, Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe 2014-201834 x 9-car sets
46 x 5-car sets
Great Western RailwayGreat Western Railway
Class 801
AT300
London North Eastern RailwayLondon North Eastern RailwayHitachi Kudamatsu & Newton Aycliffe 2017-202030 x 9-car sets
12 x 5-car sets[6]
Class 802
AT300
Great Western RailwayGreat Western RailwayHitachi Kudamatsu & Hitachi Rail Italy 2017-202046 x 5-car
14 x 9-car sets
Hull TrainsHull Trains
TransPennine ExpressTransPennine Express
Class 803
AT300
LumoLumoHitachi Newton Aycliffe5 x 5-car sets
Class 805
AT300
Avanti West CoastHitachi Newton Aycliffe13 x 5-car setsStill not in service
Class 807
AT300
10 x 7-car sets
Class 810
Aurora
East Midlands Railway33 x 5-car sets

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 classSR className or InformationBuiltQuantity (sets)WithdrawnNotesImageScrapped
Class 4012-Bil1935–381521965–71 151
Class 4022-Hal
  • 1938–1939
  • 1948
  • 1955
1001969–71 All
2-Pan[citation needed]
2-Nol1934–36781956–59
2-SLSouth London192981954
2-WimWimbledon-Croydon19294
3-Sub1946–511841976–83
4-Buf1937–38851964
Class 4044-Cor1968–71 28
4-DDDouble Deck EMU194921971
4-GriAll
4-Lav
  • 1930–32
  • 1939–40
351968–69
4-Res
Class 4054-Sub About 184
Class 4035-BelBrighton Belle London Victoria-Brighton1932151 (p) 2
6-CitLondon Bridge-Brighton38 in total
6-PanPantry units
6-PulPullman London Victoria-Brighton

Mark 1 and 2 bodyshell

Gatwick Express Class 489 unit no. 489110 at London Victoria
TOPS classSR className or InformationImageScrapped
Class 4104-Bep About 114 in total
Class 4114-Cep
Class 4124-Bep
Class 4134-Cap2 x 2Hap permanently coupled All
Class 4142-Hap 207
Class 4154-EPB 282
Class 4162-EPB 121
Class 4182-Sap2Hap units with declassified 1st Class accommodation All
Class 419MLVLondon-Dover/Folkestone boat trains 2
Class 4204-Big About 140 in total
Class 4214/3-Cig
3-Cop
Last 2 units of this type in service were withdrawn in 2010
Class 4224-Big
8-Dig
Class 4234-Vep
4-Vop
About 188 in total
Class 4274-VegFirst stock used for Gatwick Express
Class 4304-Rep 14
Class 4316-Rep
Class 4324-Rep
Class 4383-TC
4-TC
27
Class 4808-Vab-
Class 482 (I)8-Mig
Class 488Gatwick Express Trailers 14
Class 489GLVGatwick Express driving trailers 3
Class 499 (I)TLVAll

Tube Stock

Island Line Class 483 unit no. 483004 at Smallbrook Junction
TOPS classNumber BuiltSR className or InformationImageNumber Scrapped
Class 482 (II)10 x 4-carWaterloo & City line
sold to London Underground
None
Class 48310 x 2-carIsland Line
ex LU 1938 stock
4
Class 4856 x 4-car4-Vecex LU Standard stock about 5
Class 4866 x 3-car3-Tisex LU Standard stock All
Class 48728 x 1-carWaterloo & City Line 27

Modern EMUs

South West Trains Class 455 unit no. 455713 at Wimbledon railway station
Southeastern Class 466 unit no. 466018 at Bromley North railway station
TOPS classSR classNumber BuiltName or InformationImageScrapped
Class 4241Networker Classic Prototype1
Class 4425-Wes24Wessex Express 119 cars
Class 4445-Des45Siemens Desiro None
Class 4454-Pep2Second Generation EMU prototype - 4 car All
Class 4462-Pep1Second Generation EMU prototype - 2 car
Class 447Never BuiltProposed Battersea BulletNever built
Class 4504-Des127Siemens Desiro None
Class 455137 54
Class 45624 All
Class 4571DC Networker prototype 1
Class 4585-Jop36Juniper None
Class 4608-Gat8Juniper - Gatwick Express DMLFOs

(4 cars)

Class 465147Networker - 4 car None
Class 46643Networker - 2 car
Class 471Never BuiltProposed Networker - Main Line Express Never built
Class 4845 x 2-carIsland Line 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.

Merseyrail Class 507 unit no. 507009 at Liverpool Central railway station
TOPS classes
ClassInfoImageNumber BuiltWithdrawnNotesScrapped
Class 501North London stock 571985650 V Third & Fourth Rail56
Class 502Liverpool-Southport/Ormskirk stock 611980650 V Third Rail150 cars
Class 503Mersey-Wirral stock 451985650 V Third Rail44
Class 504Manchester-Bury stock 2619911.2 kV Side Contact Third Rail
(Unique on BR network)
25
Class 505Manchester-Altrincham stock22 sets19711.5 kV OHLE?
Class 506Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock 819841.5 kV OHLEAbout 7
Class 507Merseyside stock 332022–750 V Third Rail16
Class 508Merseyside stock 432022–2024750 V Third Rail41
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) was created in 2014, converted from a Class 379.[citation needed]

ClassInfoImageNotes
BEMUExperimental 2 Car
Class 230D-Train DEMU
DMU
Diesel-Battery hybrid

Non National Rail units

All rail vehicles operating on Network Rail infrastructure are required to be given TOPS codes. For this reason, London Underground, Sheffield Supertram and Tyne & Wear Metro trains have their own TOPS classes:

ClassInfoImageNotes
Class 398
CITYLINK
Transport for Wales Rail tram-train stockPlanned use on Valley Lines services with street running through Cardiff
Class 399
CITYLINK
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 555
METRO
Tyne & Wear Metro rolling stockReplacement Tyne and Wear Metro fleet
Class 599 Runs on Network Rail tracks between Pelaw and Sunderland

See also

References

Sources

  • Webber, B. (1999). "Class 323 Electric Multiple Units". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part F: Journal of Rail and Rapid Transit. 213 (1): 49–62. doi:10.1243/0954409991531029. S2CID 109704714.