British Rail Class 312

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British Rail Class 312
Class 312, nos. 312718 and 312721, at Kirby Cross station in Essex on the 6th March 2004. These units were operating a farewell excursion train ('The Grand Slam') to commemorate their retirement from service. These two units were among the final three of their type in traffic with First Great Eastern, and were eventually withdrawn in June 2004.
In service	1966 - 2004
Manufacturer	BREL York
Number built	49 trainsets
Formation	4 cars per trainset
Operator	British Rail
Specifications
Maximum speed	90 mph (145 km/h)
Weight	Total - 156.6 tonnes
Braking system	Air (EP/Auto)
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)

The front of a British Railways Class 312 stock train in InterCity Blue/Grey livery passes through East London on a working to London Liverpool Street Station, as seen from the open window of another train. The yellow stripe above the windows denotes the 1st class seating, which is at the London end of the train for the convenience of 1st class passengers (so they will be nearer the ticket barrier when they alight).

The British Rail Class 312 is a type of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) built in 1966-1974^[1] intended for use on outer-suburban passenger services. It was the last class of multiple unit to be constructed to the British Rail Mark 2 bodyshell, and also the last with slam doors. This latter feature contributed to their relatively early withdrawal (between 25-28 years old, compared to a life expectancy of 30 years). Ironically, the examples withdrawn by First Great Eastern and later 'one' Great Eastern between 2003 and 2004 were slightly newer than most of the carriages the operator is introducing during 2005 for use on its premier express service.

[edit] Description

The table below illustrates the original formation, numbering and area of use for these units:

These units were based on the earlier Class 310 stock, used on the suburban services out of London Euston. The only significant difference between the various sub-classes was that the 312/1 units were also equipped to work on the 6.25 [volt|kV]] AC overhead electrification system used on parts of the Great Eastern Main Line and London, Tilbury and Southend Railway networks.

[edit] British Rail

Inside a Class 312 driving trailer open as seen before refurbishment. For second class passengers these trains featured 3+2 high back seating. The passengers behind the driver were able to enjoy a driver's view of the route ahead due to the glass windows between the cab and the passenger compartment as seen in this photograph, although sometimes the driver would close the blinds by the driver's cab rear window to block this view.

During the late 1980s, the units received an interior refurbishment, which saw the previous wooden panel interiors covered with fascia panels, the removal of their window blinds, and other alterations. At the same time the units lost their blue/grey livery (312/1 and 312/2 units had been all-over blue when first introduced), in favour of Network SouthEast (NSE) livery (the four 312/2 units also carried the West Midlands PTE yellow and blue livery for a while before their transfer to NSE).

Also during the late 1980s, all of the units were reallocated to new areas. The Class 312/0 units moved to the Great Eastern Line following the delivery of Class 317 units; the 312/1 units consequently moved to the London, Tilbury and Southend line, displacing older Class 302 and 305 units. The Class 312/2 units also moved to the Great Eastern, being replaced by modified 310 units released by the arrival of Class 321 units. These moves were complete by the end of the 1980s, and henceforth allocations remained broadly stable until their withdrawal during 2003-04.

[edit] Post-Privatisation

Class 312, no. 312792, is seen at Shoeburyness in Essex on 29th March 2003. This was the final day of operation of the class on c2c. This unit is painted in Network SouthEast livery. Since this photograph was taken, part of this unit has been preserved.

Upon privatisation, the fleet was divided between three franchises.

[edit] Central Trains

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

[edit] First Great Eastern

First Great Eastern inherited a fleet of 24 units (nos. 312701-724). These were used mainly on Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze and Manningtree to Harwich services, as well as London Liverpool Street to Ipswich and Clacton peak trains. In later years, two former LTS units (nos. 312728/784) were acquired to replace accident-damaged units (such as no. 312707, which was written-off by an arson attack).

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 (nos. 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 finally withdrawn in July 2004, after the arrival of the five Class 322 units, which had previously been on hire to ScotRail.

[edit] LTS Rail

LTS Rail inherited a fleet of 21 units (nos. 312729/730/781-799), which were later supplemented with the four former Central Trains units (nos. 312725-728). These later four 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.

[edit] Preserved

Vehicles no.78037 and 71205 from unit no. 312792 have been preserved and are currently stored at Coventry.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Fleet details

[edit] External links

• Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey Project

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Sources

• Marsden, Colin J. (1982). Motive Power Recognition:2 EMUs (1st Edition ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1165-6. OCLC 16537600. 
• Marsden, Colin J. (1986). Motive Power Recognition:2 EMUs (New Edition ed.). Shepperton: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1569-4. OCLC 16471464. 

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