British Rail Class 312

The British Rail Class 312 was a type of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) built in 1975-1978[6] for use on outer-suburban passenger services. It was the last class of multiple unit to be constructed with the British Rail Mark 2 bodyshell, as well as the last with slam doors in Britain. These features contributed to their relatively early withdrawal at 25–28 years old, compared with a typical EMU life expectancy of 30–40 years.

British Rail Class 312
First Great Eastern 312718 and 312721 at Kirby Cross in March 2004
Inside a Class 312 driving trailer open before refurbishment
In service1975 - 2004
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Order no.
  • 30863 (BDTSOL, 312/0)
  • 30864 (MBSO, 312/0)
  • 30865 (TSO, 312/0, 312/1)
  • 30866 (DTCOL, 312/0)
  • 30867 (BDTSOL, 312/1)
  • 30868 (MBSO, 312/1)
  • 30870 (DTCOL, 312/1)
  • 30891 (BDTSOL, 312/2)
  • 30892 (MBSO, 312/2)
  • 30893 (TSO, 312/2)
  • 30894 (DTCOL, 312/2)[1]
Built atBREL York
Family nameBR First Generation (Mark 2)
ReplacedClass 125
Constructed1975-1978
Number built49 units
Number preserved2 cars
SuccessorClass 317
Class 321/4
Class 360 Desiro
Formation4 cars per unit:
BDTSOL+MBSO+TSO+DTCOL
Diagram
  • ED212 (MBSO, 312/0)
  • ED213 (MBSO, 312/1)
  • ED214 (MBSO, 312/2)
  • EE305 (DTCOL)
  • EF213 (BDTSOL)
  • EH209 (TSO)[1][2]
Fleet numbers
  • 312001-312026 (312/0, units as built)
  • 312101-312119 (312/1, units as built)
  • 312201-312204 (312/2, units as built)
  • 312701-312730 (312/0, units rebuilt)
  • 312781-312799 (312/1, units rebuilt)
  • 76949-76997 (BDTSOL)
  • 62484-62528, 62657-62660 (MBSO)
  • 71168-71212, 71277-71280 (TSO)
  • 78000-78048 (DTCOL)[3]
Operator(s)
Depot(s)
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[2]
Train length256 ft 8 1⁄2 in (78.245 m)[3]
Car length
  • 65 ft 1 5⁄8 in (19.853 m) (DTC, BDTS, over body)
  • 65 ft 4 1⁄4 in (19.920 m) (MBS, TS, over body)[2]
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m) (overall)[2]
Height13 ft 0 9⁄16 in (3.977 m) (pantograph down)[2]
Floor height3 ft 9 in (1.14 m)[2]
DoorsSlam[3]
Wheelbase
  • 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres)
  • 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m) (motor bogies)
  • 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) (trailer bogies)[2]
Maximum speed90 mph (140 km/h)[2]
WeightTotal - 156.6 tonnes (154.1 long tons; 172.6 short tons)
Traction motors4 × EE546A 201.5 kW (270.2 hp)[4][5]
Power output1,080 hp (810 kW)[3]
Train heatingElectric[2]
Electric system(s)
Current collection methodPantograph
UIC classification2'2'+Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2'
Bogies
  • BP14, BP14a (MBS, 312/0, 312/1)
  • BP14b, BP14c (MBS, 312/2)
  • BT8, BT8a (DTC, BDTS)
  • BT8b, BT8c (TS)[2]
Braking system(s)Air (EP/Auto)[2]
Safety system(s)AWS[2]
Coupling systemBuckeye[3]
Multiple workingWithin Class and Class 310
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Description

These units were based on the Class 310 used on the suburban services out of London Euston, but were rated for a top speed of 90 mph (140 km/h), and they had flat windscreens from the outset. The only significant difference between sub-classes was that the 312/1 units were also equipped to work on the 6.25 kV AC overhead electrification system used on parts of the Great Eastern Main Line and London, Tilbury and Southend Railway networks.

British Rail
Class 312 in 1970s blue/grey livery
c2c 312792 at Shoeburyness in March 2003

As built, the 312/0 fleet were used on the newly electrified Great Northern outer suburban services from London King's Cross to Royston. The 312/1s were built for Great Eastern line services from London Liverpool Street. The four 312/2 units were mainly used to enhance local services between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International, but were also used on other services in the West Midlands.

During the late 1980s, the class received an interior refurbishment that saw the wooden panel interiors covered with fascia panels, the removal of window blinds and other alterations. At the same time units lost their blue/grey livery (312/0) or all-over blue livery (312/1 and 312/2 as introduced) in favour of Network SouthEast (NSE) livery (312/0-1), whilst of the four 312/2 units, 312204 carried West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive yellow and blue livery and the others were dressed in the standard blue and grey, before their transfer to NSE.

At the same time, or soon after, units were reallocated. The Class 312/0 units moved to the Great Eastern Main Line following the arrival of a more modern 100 mph (160 km/h) Class 317 fleet. The 312/1 subfleet consequently moved to the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway, displacing older Class 302 and 305 units. The section of 6.25 kV on the GEML had been converted to the now standard 25 kV, meaning the exclusive dual-voltage capability of this subfleet would continue to be useful, the line still being dual-voltage at the time.

The 312/2 units would also to the Great Eastern, replaced by modified 310 units released by the delivery of Class 321/4 units in the West Midlands. These moves were complete by the end of the 1980s, and allocations remained broadly stable until privatisation and the period until withdrawal in 2003-04.

Post-privatisation

Upon privatisation, the fleet was divided between three franchises.

Central Trains

Central Trains inherited four units, 312725-728. These were primarily used on fast Birmingham New Street to Liverpool Lime Street services, and were painted in Regional Railways livery. Their stay with Central Trains did not last long and they were transferred to LTS Rail (since rebranded c2c) in 1996.

First Great Eastern

First Great Eastern inherited 24 units, 312701-724. These were used mainly on Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze and Manningtree to Harwich services and London Liverpool Street to Ipswich and Clacton peak trains. In later years, two former LTS units, 312728/784, were acquired to replace accident-damaged units such as 312707, written off by an arson attack whilst stabled at Colchester Station on 11 March 2003.

In 2003, First Great Eastern acquired new Class 360 units to replace these trains. Units were gradually removed from traffic, and by March 2004 only three sets, 312718/721/723, remained in service. A farewell charter train operated on their previous routes using two of these units. The final sets were used on peak trains, and were withdrawn on 25 June 2004 after the return of the five Class 322 units which had been on hire to ScotRail.

With all sets on the London Liverpool Street to Southend service having been replaced by 321 units, the last service to survive east of Shenfield junction was the early morning 12 car service from Southminster to London, where 321 units could only operate in 8 car configuration.

LTS Rail

c2c (operating the London, Tilbury and Southend franchise) inherited 21 units, 312729/730/781-799, later supplemented by the four former Central Trains units 312725-728. These latter units were repainted in Network SouthEast livery, some of the last vehicles to be so treated.

The final units were withdrawn from service in 2003, having been replaced by new Class 357/2 "Electrostar" units. Two units were later transferred to First Great Eastern to supplement their fleet as detailed earlier.

Accidents and incidents

Preservation

Vehicles 78037 and 71205 from unit 312792 have been preserved and were at Electric Railway Museum, Warwickshire.[8]

Following the closure of the ERM, both vehicles moved to the Colne Valley Railway, Essex in March 2018, taking them back to their native operating area.

Fleet details

The table below illustrates the original formation, numbering and areas of use:

Sub-Class Built Unit Numbers BDTSOL MBSO TSO DTCOL Area of Use
Original Later
312/0 1976-78 312001-312026 312701-312726 76949-76974 62484-62509 71168-71193 78000-78025 Great Northern
312/1 1975-76 312101-312119 312781-312799 76975-76993 62510-62528 71194-71212 78026-78044 Great Eastern
312/2 1976 312201-312204 312727-312730 76994-76997 62657-62660 71277-71280 78045-78048 West Midlands
Operator No. of Units Unit Numbers Withdrawn Comments
Central Trains 4 312725-728 1996 Transferred to c2c
c2c 25 312725-730

312781-799

 March 2003 -
First Great Eastern 24 312701-724 June 2004 312707 destroyed by arson attack in 2003

312728 and 312784 transferred from c2c in 2003

References
  1. Longworth 2015, pp. 73-74, 144, 169-170, 199, 204
  2. "Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. ED212, ED213, ED214, EE305, EF213, EH209. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. "Class 312". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  4. Fox 1987, pp. 56-57
  5. Swain 1990, p. 58
  6. Marsden 1982, p. 42
  7. McCrickard, John P (6 October 2016). "January 1990 to December 1990". Network South East Railway Society. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  8. "Electric Railway Museum - Full Stocklist". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.

Sources
  • Fox, Peter (1987). Multiple Unit Pocket Book. British Railways Pocket Book No.2 (Summer/Autumn 1987 ed.). Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.
  • Longworth, Hugh (2015). British Railways Electric Multiple Units to 1975. Oxford Publishing Co. ISBN 9780860936688. OCLC 923205678.
  • Marsden, Colin J. (1982). EMUs. Motive Power Recognition. 2 (1st ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1165-6. OCLC 16537600.
  • Swain, Alec (1990). Overhead Line Electric Multiple Units. British Rail Fleet Survey. 11. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711019027. OCLC 315344213.
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