British Rail Class 377
British Rail Class 377 Electrostar | |
---|---|
standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 377 Electrostar is a British dual-voltage electric multiple unit passenger train (EMU) built by Bombardier Transportation on its Electrostar platform at Derby Litchurch Lane Works from 2001 to 2014.
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Southern_Class_377_111_%22NHS_We_Thank_You%22.jpg/220px-Southern_Class_377_111_%22NHS_We_Thank_You%22.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Southern_Class_377_377203_%2840323964420%29.jpg/220px-Southern_Class_377_377203_%2840323964420%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/377447_Hassocks.jpg/220px-377447_Hassocks.jpg)
The trains work suburban services in South London, and main-line commuter services to Sussex, Surrey, Kent and the South Coast, on which they replaced 4Cig and 4Vep slam-door stock that was more than 40 years old and did not meet modern health and safety requirements. Built in the early 2000s, the units had a troubled introduction. Being fully air-conditioned, their higher power consumption compared to the trains they replaced led to major upgrades being required to the 750 V DC third-rail power supply used in the former Southern region.[3] The collapse of Railtrack following the Hatfield accident further delayed this upgrade work, and the new stock did not enter squadron service until 2003.
Class 377s are fitted with external
- DMOC(A) – 2 motors on inner bogie, sander, auxiliary converter module
- MOSL – 2 motors on inner bogie, standard toilet (not found on 377/3s)
- PTSOL – compressor, universal-access toilet
- MOS – 2 motors on inner bogie, standard-class interior (only found on Class 377/6 and 377/7 units)
- DMOS(B) – 2 motors on inner bogie, sander, auxiliary converter module
In the 4-car units the driving cars are composite. The first-class saloon is between the driving cab and the first set of passenger doors. 4-car units also do not contain the MOS coach.[citation needed]
Couplers
The Class 377 use Dellner instead of Tightlock couplings originally used on the Class 375s.[5] Southern's 375s were all reclassified to Class 377/3s upon conversion. These reclassified units can still be identified by their 3-car formation. Note that Southeastern's 375s (sub-classes 375/3, 375/6, and 375/7) were also later converted from Tightlock to Dellner couplers but were not reclassified. Its sub-class 375/8 and 375/9 units were fitted with Dellner couplers, as built.[6]
Traction current supply
All units can receive power via
Among the remaining units, the trailer coach in each unit has a recess in its roof where a pantograph could be fitted, to allow for future conversion to overhead AC power.[citation needed]
Additional units and the Thameslink Programme
In April 2007, as part of the Route Utilisation Strategy for the
Delays in the construction of the Class 377/5s for First Capital Connect saw the temporary transfer of eight of Southern's Class 377/2s to FCC to enable it to implement the planned timetable changes on 22 March 2009. The loss of these units until September 2009 was covered by the temporary cascade of a number of Class 350/1s to Southern from London Midland, which operated services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes.[9]
In September 2011, it was announced that Southern had begun the procurement of 130 vehicles, due to delays in the procurement of new Thameslink rolling stock that would prevent transfer of the 377/5s in time for the December 2013 timetable change.[10] The contract was awarded to Bombardier in December 2011.[11][12] The additional eight five-car units (from an option in the contract for 40 additional vehicles) are dual-voltage and known as Class 377/7.[13]
In December 2011, three Class 377/2 units were transferred from
During mid-2013, the first of the new Class 377/6s arrived from Derby for type testing, and since October 2013, these units have been used in passenger service, initially in peak-hour services on the
Southeastern received 25 Class 377 units (the 23 Class 377/5s and 2 Class 377/1s) in recent years[when?], as specified in Department for Transport documents, published in September 2013, relating to the new combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Franchise.[15]
Refurbishment
Porterbrook is funding the £55 million five-year Project Aurora programme to refurbish 214 Class 377 Electrostars operated on Southern services.[16] The work started in 2020 and is being done at Selhurst depot. 377 430 was the first unit to be completed in early 2021.[17] Changes include the installation of screens showing live GTR and London Underground service information, the provision of USB and power points, energy-saving LED lighting and a passenger-counting system which will enable GTR to analyse how busy individual services are.[18]
Current operations
Southern
- Mainline and Redhill Routes: London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton, Reigate, Tonbridge, Eastbourne, Ore, Portsmouth, Southampton, Littlehampton and Bognor Regis
- East Coastway: Brighton to Seaford, Eastbourne, Hastings and Ore
- West Coastway: Brighton to Portsmouth, Littlehampton, Bognor Regis and Southampton
- West London Route: Clapham Junction to Watford Junction
- Oxted Line: London Victoria to East Grinstead
- Outer Suburban services: London Victoria and London Bridge to Tattenham Corner, Epsom, Horsham and Dorking
- Inner Suburban services: London Victoria and London Bridge to Caterham, Sutton, Epsom Downs, West Croydon and Beckenham Junction via Crystal Palace
Southeastern
In December 2016
Aborted proposals
Great Northern
In 2016, 19 of the 23 Class 377/5 units were planned to be transferred to Great Northern, for use on non-stop London-Cambridge services. However, the 29 former
Fleet details
Class | Operator | No. built | Year built | Cars | Unit nos. | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
377/1 | Southern | 64 | 2002–03 | 4 | 377101-164 | All 3rd rail routes. 377163 and 377164 transferred from Southeastern to Southern on the 15th May 2022, following the retirement of the Class 455s.[20] |
377/2 | 15 | 2003–04 | 377201-215 | Dual-voltage units. These are used on Metro routes in South London and occasionally main line workings to the South Coast. | ||
377/3 | 28 | 2001–02 | 3 | 377301-328 | 3-car units converted from Class 375 Nos. 375311-338 by having their Tightlock couplers replaced by Dellners. Originally used on Coastway services but later moved to London suburban services, being partly replaced by Class 313s, although many have now returned to Coastway workings following the retirement of Class 313s. | |
377/4 | 75 | 2004–05 | 4 | 377401-475 | All 3rd rail routes. 377442 returned back to /4 status Mid July 2021 after spending years as a 377/3. | |
377/5 | Southeastern | 23 | 2008–09 | 377501-523 | Dual-voltage units. All units were transferred from Thameslink to Southeastern during 2016–17 to bolster their existing Class 375 fleet. | |
377/6 | Southern | 26 | 2012–13 | 5 | 377601-626[13] | Used on London suburban routes, extending as far as Dorking and Horsham, as well as Tattenham Corner/Caterham services, splitting and attaching at Purley. Run to Brighton at weekends. Also used on the East/West Coastway during events such as the Eastbourne Airshow. |
377/7 | 8 | 2014 | 377701-708[13] | Dual-voltage units.
Used on the East Croydon – Watford Junction/Hemel Hempstead services, and metro duties shared with the 377/6s.[21] The 8 sets were built as 5 car units with dual voltage configuration, costing circa £60 million in total, and they were delivered during 2014 for service entry in December of that year. |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Southern_Class_377-1-4.png/1024px-Southern_Class_377-1-4.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Southeastern_Class_377-5.png/1024px-Southeastern_Class_377-5.png)
Accidents and incidents
On 28 November 2016, a fire broke out in the MOSL car of a Southern Class 377 (unit 377442) at Eastbourne station, causing damage to the ceiling and interior. The cause was later identified to be faulty wiring within a hand dryer located in the toilet.[22]
On 17 February 2018, a 377 (unit 377454) hit a car on a level crossing at Barns Green near Horsham. The two occupants of the car died at the scene.[23]
On 8 May 2019, 377142 collided with the buffer stop at London Victoria station.[24]
On 23 August 2020, 377317 was derailed at the exit of the Tonbridge Jubilee Sidings.[25]
References
- ISBN 978-1-80282-569-5.
- ^ OCLC 795598388.
- ^ Ford, Roger (May 2003). "SR power upgrade agreements signed". Modern Railways. London. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011.
- ^ First Capital Connect: Class 377 Drivers' Guide p.91 "The pantograph" 2009.
- ^ "Dellner Couplers AB — Automatic and Semi-Permanent Couplers". Retrieved 10 October 2014.
- ^ "Southern Electric Fleet Review Summer 2004". Southern Electric Group. 21 April 2006. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013.
- ^ Jacobs, G. (ed) (2008). Railway Track Diagrams 5: Southern and TfL (3rd edition). Bradford-on-Avon: Quail. p. 1R.
- ^ "More trains arriving on busy rail routes". Department for Transport. 4 April 2007. Archived from the original on 5 July 2007.
- ^ 350s with Southern until November Today's Railways UK issue 95 November 2009 page 65
- ISSN 1751-8091. Archived from the original(PDF) on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Boost for Derby as Bombardier wins Southern order". Railnews. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ "DfT acts to ease Thameslink trains logjam". Railnews. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- ^ a b c Today's Railways UK. Sheffield. March 2013. Issue 135. Page 31. The article states that the additional 8 units were initially 377624-634 but have been reclassified due to the dual-voltage option being taken up.
- ^ First Capital Connect runs first 12 car Thameslink train Rail issue 686 29 December 2011 page 14
- ^ "Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Franchise: Invitation to Tender" (PDF). London: Department for Transport. September 2013. p. 75. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ "GTR launches £55m Electrostar refurbishment". Railway Gazette International. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Southern's first refurbished Electrostar returns to service". Railway Gazette International. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "GTR launches £55m Electrostar refurbishment". Railway Gazette International. 16 September 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ "Trio of GTR Class 387/1s readied for move to Great Northern duties". PressReader. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
- ^ "Units numbers 377 163 and 377 164 transfer from Southeastern to Southern exact dates". whatdotheyknow.com. 13 December 2022.
- ^ "Procurement of New Rolling Stock" (Press release). Southern. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 29 March 2013.
- ^ "Hand dryer caused Eastbourne train fire". Eastbourne Herald. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ "Barns Green: Boy and granddad die as train hits car". BBC News. 17 February 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
- ^ Clifton, Katy (8 May 2019). "Victoria station crash: Southern Rail train 'hits buffers causing loud bang and smoke' in front of shocked commuters". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
- ^ Network Rail [@NetworkRailSE] (24 August 2020). "Due to Sunday's low-speed derailment of an empty train in the depot near Tonbridge Station our engineers are continuing to work to re-rail the train and check the signalling and track systems in the area" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 August 2020 – via Twitter.
External links
Media related to British Rail Class 377 at Wikimedia Commons