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TOPS class Pre-TOPS class Name or Information Built Quantity (sets) Withdrawn Notes Image Scrapped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
  1. 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

4Sub unit no. 8143 at the National Railway Museum
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
  • 1938–1939
  • 1948
  • 1955
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
  • 1930–32
  • 1939–40
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

Gatwick Express Class 489 unit no. 489110 at London Victoria
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 501North London stock 1985 650 V Third & Fourth Rail 56
Class 502Liverpool-Southport/Ormskirk stock 1980 650 V Third Rail 150
Class 503Mersey-Wirral stock 1985 650 V Third Rail 44
Class 504Manchester-Bury stock 1991 1.2 kV Side Contact Third Rail
(Unique on BR network)
25
Class 505Manchester-Altrincham stock 1971 1.5 kV OHLE ?
Class 506Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock 1984 1.5 kV OHLE About 7
Class 507Merseyside stock 750 V Third Rail 1
Class 508Merseyside stock 750 V Third Rail 16
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.

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

  1. Rail Safety and Standards Board (June 2020). Rail Industry Standard RIS-2453-RST: Vehicle Registration, Marking and Numbering (PDF).
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 August 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Atkinson, John. "Southern Railway's 2 HAL Units". Retrieved 15 March 2014.
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