British Rail Class 332
Encyclopedia
The British Rail Class 332 is the type of electric multiple unit
train
used on the Heathrow Express
between London Paddington
and Heathrow Airport.
and CAF
at the latter’s factory in Zaragoza
, Spain
. There are 14 four/five carriage units.
The units have Automatic Train Protection
(ATP) equipment, one of the few fleets in the UK to do so. This is largely as a consequence of the Paddington-Heathrow route being mainly on the Great Western Main Line
, which was equipped with ATP in the early 1990s as part of a trial of the system by British Rail
.
The Class 332 units were the first electric trains to operate over the Great Western Main Line
out of Paddington when the line was electrified as far as Airport Junction. All 14 units were constructed as four-car sets, but in 2002 five units were lengthened to five cars, allowing trains of up to ten cars to be operated.
The service frequency between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five is four trains per an hour, one every 15 minutes. The Class 332 can either work on their own or in pairs when in service.
The units are divided into First class and Executive class accommodation: the four-car sets can accommodate up to 175 standard class passengers, with up to 239 in the five-car sets. First class accommodation is in one of the driving cars, which have two different layouts: 332002, 332004 and the five-car sets can accommodate up to 26 First class passengers in DS cars, while in the other four-car sets up to 14 first class passengers can be accommodated in DSC(FS) cars. This is due to the Checked Luggage compartments installed in some DSC(FS) cars in 1999.
One driving car in each set is usually given an all-over advertising livery; currently Vodafone
is providing this advertising, who replaced RBS
.
Class 332 units are capable of working in multiple only with each other, and theoretically with the related Class 333
units operated by Northern Rail
, based on the same design.
Class 332 units are maintained at the purpose-built train care depot at Old Oak Common
.
First class saloons, in the DS and DSC(FS) cars, consist of 2+1 seating, mostly in facing layout around tables.
All saloons have large luggage stacks adjacent to the vestibules. Video screens display news and information.
All carriages are air-conditioned and carpeted.
Although the vehicle were designed before the introduction of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations
, various features were incorporated into the interior of the STD car in consultation with DPTAC (Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee), including a wheelchair space with communication device and a wheelchair accessible toilet.
At the Design Business Association's Design Effectiveness Awards in 2000, a team of Design Triangle
, Wolff Olins
and Glazer won the Grand Prix and Design Management awards for the design of the Class 332 trains.
In 1999, seven DSC(FS) First class cars were converted to include Checked Luggage compartments, with a partition in the centre of the car. The Checked Luggage compartments were taken out of service when the checked luggage service was withdrawn some years ago.
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
used on the Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express is an airport rail link from London Heathrow Airport to London Paddington station in London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authority, a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA. It was opened by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 1998...
between London Paddington
Paddington station
Paddington railway station, also known as London Paddington, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex.The site is a historic one, having served as the London terminus of the Great Western Railway and its successors since 1838. Much of the current mainline station dates...
and Heathrow Airport.
Description
The fleet was built in 1997-1998 by SiemensSiemens
Siemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
and CAF
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles
Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is a rail equipment manufacturer based in Beasain in the Basque Country, Spain. Equipment manufactured by CAF includes light rail vehicles, rapid transit trains, railroad cars and locomotives, as well as variable gauge axles that can be fitted on any...
at the latter’s factory in Zaragoza
Zaragoza
Zaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. There are 14 four/five carriage units.
The units have Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction...
(ATP) equipment, one of the few fleets in the UK to do so. This is largely as a consequence of the Paddington-Heathrow route being mainly on the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
, which was equipped with ATP in the early 1990s as part of a trial of the system by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
.
The Class 332 units were the first electric trains to operate over the Great Western Main Line
Great Western Main Line
The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in Great Britain that runs westwards from London Paddington station to the west of England and South Wales. The core Great Western Main Line runs from London Paddington to Temple Meads railway station in Bristol. A major branch of the Great...
out of Paddington when the line was electrified as far as Airport Junction. All 14 units were constructed as four-car sets, but in 2002 five units were lengthened to five cars, allowing trains of up to ten cars to be operated.
The service frequency between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport, Terminal Five is four trains per an hour, one every 15 minutes. The Class 332 can either work on their own or in pairs when in service.
The units are divided into First class and Executive class accommodation: the four-car sets can accommodate up to 175 standard class passengers, with up to 239 in the five-car sets. First class accommodation is in one of the driving cars, which have two different layouts: 332002, 332004 and the five-car sets can accommodate up to 26 First class passengers in DS cars, while in the other four-car sets up to 14 first class passengers can be accommodated in DSC(FS) cars. This is due to the Checked Luggage compartments installed in some DSC(FS) cars in 1999.
One driving car in each set is usually given an all-over advertising livery; currently Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
is providing this advertising, who replaced RBS
Royal Bank of Scotland
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is a British banking and insurance holding company in which the UK Government holds an 84% stake. This stake is held and managed through UK Financial Investments Limited, whose voting rights are limited to 75% in order for the bank to retain its listing on the...
.
Class 332 units are capable of working in multiple only with each other, and theoretically with the related Class 333
British Rail Class 333
The British Rail Class 333 electric multiple units were built by Siemens and CAF are based on the Class 332 trains operated by Heathrow Express.-Description:...
units operated by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
, based on the same design.
Class 332 units are maintained at the purpose-built train care depot at Old Oak Common
Old Oak Common TMD
Old Oak Common TMD is situated to the west of London, in Old Oak Common. The Traction Maintenance Depot is the main facility for the storage and servicing of locomotives and multiple-units which utilise Paddington Station. The depot codes are 'OC' for the diesel depot, and 'OO' for the carriage shed...
.
Interior Layout
Executive class saloons consist of 2+2 seating, arranged in airline-style layout. The majority of seats face the luggage stacks. The seats are finished in three complementary textile colours.First class saloons, in the DS and DSC(FS) cars, consist of 2+1 seating, mostly in facing layout around tables.
All saloons have large luggage stacks adjacent to the vestibules. Video screens display news and information.
All carriages are air-conditioned and carpeted.
Although the vehicle were designed before the introduction of the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations
Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations
The Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations 2010 is a Statutory Instrument in the United Kingdom. It aims to set standards designed to improve accessibility for disabled people on light rail passenger vehicles.It came into force on 6th April 2010...
, various features were incorporated into the interior of the STD car in consultation with DPTAC (Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee), including a wheelchair space with communication device and a wheelchair accessible toilet.
At the Design Business Association's Design Effectiveness Awards in 2000, a team of Design Triangle
Design Triangle
Design Triangle is a transport design firm, based in Cambridge, UK. Founded in 1986, Design Triangle specializes in the design of the interiors and exteriors of vehicles for public transport, particularly rail passenger cars.- Rail Vehicles :...
, Wolff Olins
Wolff Olins
Wolff Olins is a brand consultancy, based in London, New York City and Dubai. It employs 150 designers, strategists and account managers, and has been part of the Omnicom Group since 2001.-History:...
and Glazer won the Grand Prix and Design Management awards for the design of the Class 332 trains.
In 1999, seven DSC(FS) First class cars were converted to include Checked Luggage compartments, with a partition in the centre of the car. The Checked Luggage compartments were taken out of service when the checked luggage service was withdrawn some years ago.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | Number of Trains | Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 332 | Heathrow Express | 14 | 1997-1998 | 4 | 332001 - 332004 332010 - 332014 |
| 5 | 332005 - 332009 |