British Rail Class 315
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| British Rail Class 315 | |
 Class 315 unit at Ilford |
|
| In service | 1980 - Current |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BREL York |
| Refurbishment | All 61 National Express East Anglia sets 2006-present |
| Number built | 61 trainsets |
| Formation | 4 cars per trainset |
| Capacity | 320 seats |
| Operator | National Express East Anglia |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 19.80 m |
| Width | 3.58 m |
| Height | 2.82 m |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Weight | 127.5 tonnes |
| Power output | 656 kW |
| Voltage | 25 kV AC Overhead |
| Gauge | Standard gauge (1,435 mm) |
British Rail Class 315 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMU) were built by BREL at York works from 1980 to 1981. They were the fifth and final variety of British Rail's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes (Class 313/314/315/507/508). Like the Glasgow-based Class 314 units, they are only able to operate from 25 kV overhead line current collection. The fleet works inner-suburban services on the Great Eastern Main Line run by the train operating company National Express East Anglia out of London Liverpool Street.
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[edit] Description
Each Class 315 unit is formed of four vehicles: Driving Motor Standard Open 1 (DMSO-1), Pantograph Trailer Standard Open (PTSO), Trailer Standard Open (TSO), and Driving Motor Standard Open 2 (DMSO-2). Each DMSO carries 4 traction motors rated at 110hp each and a main compressor and air reservoir which carries air for the brakes, suspension and doors systems. The PTSO carries the main and auxillery transformers, batteries and battery chargers, pantograph, vacuum circuit breaker and auxiliary compressor. The TSO carries no equipment other than that which is standard to all coaches. The coaches only contain standard seating and have no toilet facilities. Car numbering is as follows:
- 64461-64582 - DMSO
- 71281-71341 - PTSO
- 71389-71449 - TSO
Each 4-car set was able to seat 320 passengers. A relatively superficial refurbishment programme has been ongoing since the middle of 2003, when National Express East Anglia contracted Bombardier to carry out the refurbishment of all 61 units, starting with the ex-First Great Eastern examples. The low-back 3+2 seating is retained, so the capacity stays the same.
The Class 315 units replaced the life-expired Class 306 units.
[edit] Current operations
[edit] Operators
Until 1 April 2004, the fleet was divided between the train operating companies First Great Eastern (43 units) and WAGN (16 units). On that date, 'one' was awarded the new Greater Anglia rail franchise which combined the First Great Eastern and WAGN routes, and so assumed control of all 61 sets. 'one' has since been rebranded National Express East Anglia (NXEA) by its parent company, National Express Group.
[edit] Services
The usual duties include:
- London Liverpool Street - Shenfield 'Metro' - this service requires the balance of the fleet.
- Romford - Upminster - this service uses one set, operating on the Upminster Branch Line which links the National Express East Anglia services with c2c. This service does not operate on a Sunday.
The Lea Valley Lines
- London Liverpool Street - Enfield Town
- London Liverpool Street - Chingford
- London Liverpool Street - Cheshunt
Initially, the Shenfield Metro and Upminster Branch Line services used only sets 315801-843 and the Lea Valley Lines only 315844-861. Presently, however, all 61 sets are used interchangeably.
They can occasionally be found further afield, running to Hertford East, Bishop's Stortford, Broxbourne, Southminster and Southend Victoria, particularly at the peak times.
[edit] Naming
Five Class 315 sets have now been named:
- 315812 - "London Borough of Newham Host Borough 2012 Olympics Bid"
- 315817 - "Transport for London"
- 315829 - "London Borough of Havering Celebrating 40 Years"
- 315845 - "Herbie Woodward"
- 315857 - "Stratford Connections"
[edit] Gallery
 Two 'one' Great Eastern electric multiple units at platform 8 of Stratford high-level station in London on 24 October 2005. |
 Class 315 at Clapton railway station. This unit is shown painted in the plain white livery it carried during the earlier WAGN franchise. |
 A Class 315 unit at Theobalds Grove. This unit is painted in the pre-privatisation Network SouthEast (NSE) livery. |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: British Rail Class 315 |
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