British diesel and electric multiple units
Encyclopedia
'Multiple Unit
' is a term used to describe a train which does not have a separate locomotive. Typically these are passenger trains with accommodation in every vehicle and motors or engines distributed under the floor along the length of the train. The term is further classified by the method of propulsion: Diesel (DMU
), Electric (EMU
) or Diesel-Electric (DEMU).
The term is also used, more loosely, to describe a train such as the Advanced Passenger Train
which was a permanent formation with 'power cars' in the train rather than a locomotive at one end.
This article describes the history, development and current use of diesel and electric multiple units in Great Britain.
The Southern Railway
went much further, implementing an extensive programme of electrification on its commuter routes, and consequently was a large user of EMUs.
Multiple unit operation on suburban routes was also (by Nationalisation) in use in London, the extensive operations of the LSWR (later part of the Southern) being the most visible example. Multiple unit operation was also in use on some suburban routes of the LMS in London
, Manchester and on Merseyside (Mersey Railway
). The LNER was also using electric units on Tyneside
.
Alongside the mainline railways, urban transit system
s in Liverpool
(1893), Glasgow
(1896) and London
were early adopters of multiple unit operation.
The Liverpool system utilised electrically powered units from opening, and it has been suggested that these units were the first electrical multiple units (EMU) globally. The Glasgow Subway began operations with single 'car' units on cable traction, additional trailer cars being provided from 1898 onwards, these were converted to electric traction in 1935.
. These were single carriages, with a boiler and steam engine unit at one end, and a driving cab at both ends. As the railmotors could not haul additional vehicles, in the 1920s the GWR developed the auto-train for routes where the railmotor was insufficient. An autotrain comprised a suitably equipped steam locomotive that could be controlled from the driving cab of a special 'autocoach'. This arrangement avoided the need for the locomotive to run round the train at the terminus. Up to four autocoaches could be used in a train, with the locomotive in the middle, driven from either end like a multiple unit. Autotrains remained in use right through to the end of steam operation on British Railways in the 1960s.
As the last steam railmotors were being withdrawn in the mid-1930s, the GWR introduced a series of diesel railcars
. Although most were single units, there were two sets of 'power twins' (pairs of single-cabbed railcars that operated together), a form of multiple unit that could be expanded to take additional centre coaches. The railcars were also successful and most survived into British Railways ownership, eventually being displaced in the late 1950s by the closure of unprofitable routes and the introduction of the 'first-generation' BR diesel multiple units.
In Northern Ireland, the Northern Counties Committee railcars were also used.
Prior to the Grouping, both the London and South Western Railway
(using third rail
) and the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
(using overhead wires) where both utilising electric multiple units on commuter routes in their respective territories.
Post-grouping, third-rail electrification (based on the LSWR's experience) became standardised on the Southern Railway and expansion of the system on the mainlines (as opposed to suburban routes) continued at a rapid pace. EMU development saw considerable variation to meet operational requirements. For non-electrified routes, steam locomotive haulage persisted, with no diesel multiple units being designed. A large number of the EMU designs survived long past nationalisation.
, or 'Metropolitan') that began unit operation on London's tube, but the deep-level Central London Railway
, in 1901. Unit operation on the 'surface' lines was again not by the Metropolitan but its rival, the Metropolitan District Railway
('District'). Operation of unit stock by the District began in 1906, and was electric in nature. Prior to the electrification the Metropolitan and District railways had previously been using locomotive-hauled rolling stock (and specialised steam locomotives). Design and technology on these early District units was inspired by developments in the US, and imported a number of characteristics of contemporary American examples.. The Yerkes tubes
(Hampstead, Bakerloo
and Picadilly
) were unit-operated from the opening, with the City and South London Railway (C&SLR) converting from loco haulage in the mid 1920s when it was combined with the "Hampstead tube" to form the core of the present day Northern line
. Thus by the late 1920s, all of the deep-level lines of the London Underground were running electrical multiple units.
By the mid-1930s on the Metropolitan Railway, unit stock was in use on the inner suburban portions of the line, and on the Inner Circle (whose operation was shared with the District). However loco-hauled operation continued on the Metropolitan main line well into the 1960s (despite ongoing electrification).
The Southern Region of British Railways
continued the legacy and experience the Southern had created. Southern electric multiple unit
s since the late 1920s had mainly consisted of two electrically powered carriages, each with a cab unit at one end, often pulling two non-powered carriages coupled between them. These trains were fairly reliable, based more on evolution rather than innovation.
Although a number of pre-war designs were gradually withdrawn, over the years, the use of others and post-war designs outlived British Rail, although designs evolved to meet changing demands. Even when these 1st generation designs were finally phased out
rapidly in 2005 (some after up to 40 years' or more service), it was not for any reasons related to performance or technical reliability. Reasons for the rapid phase out included stricter crash-worthiness standards and a desire to
eliminate manually operated 'slam doors'.
Outside of the Southern Region, 1st generation units were varied. Classes AM1
-AM11 (later Classes 302
-311) were developed from the mid-1950s to support AC electrification schemes across British Railways. Of these Class AM1 was the prototype unit, initially working at 6.6 kV 50 Hz, and later at 25 kV 50 Hz (both AC) and in bodywork terms did not differ considerably from pre-nationalisation DC units already in use by the LMS (from which some of the class were converted), despite the change to AC supply. Class 306
initially a 1500 V DC design was also based on pre war designs (in this case LNER) and shared characteristics with the later British Rail Class 506
units developed for suburban use on the electrified Woodhead route out of Manchester. The initial choice of 6.6 kV for some units was due to clearance concerns, which later technological advances overcame allowing 25 kV to be used exclusively.
Design of other AC units was subject to considerable variation, although the Class 304
is regarded as having influence on a number of related units. This influence included the Class 504
DC units which utilised an unusual (for British Railways) 1200 V DC side contact system and were thus unique to a particular line in the Manchester area. Although developed at a much later date Class 312 Clacton unit stock shares many traits with 1st generation AC EMU.
Non Southern DC unit designs (as they existed) were based on:
Some degree of inter-running of these units with earlier pre-nationalisation designs may have taken place . Non Southern 1st generation DC units began to be phased out from the mid-1970s,
as line closures and technical advances made newer designs a more viable prospect.
As part of the 1955 Modernisation Plan of British Railways, provision was made for a number of railcars or DMUs. The earliest of these were the "Derby Lightweights", built by BR's own Derby works
, and they quickly became popular with crews (for the increased comfort compared to a steam loco), operating authorities (they were, and still are, cheaper to operate than a loco hauled train, and are much more flexible, requiring no run around) and passengers (they were much cleaner than the old steam hauled stock and if you were lucky enough you could get a view of the line ahead).
Over the next few years a number of different designs came about, though nearly all were able to operate together thanks to BR standardising on the 'Blue Square' coupling code for multiple working. Although there were a few design differences, the units could basically be classified as suburban (Doors for each seating bay, 3+2 seating in second class- an example is Class 118
), Medium Density (2 doors per vehicle side, 3+2 bus style seating in second class- an example is Class 114
), Cross Country (externally similar to Medium Density, 2+2 bus style seating in second class- an example is Class 120
) and finally Intercity (Interiors to same standard as loco hauled stock- an example is Class 124
).
Today around 300 vehicles survive in preservation, various vehicles (mainly 101s
and 121
/122s
) survive in departmental use, and Chiltern Railways use a Class 121 on its Aylesbury
-Princes Risborough
Line.
Anyone with an interest in these trains is highly recommended to visit The Railcar Association's website
The Southern Region of British Rail preferred Diesel Electric Multiple units for use on non electrified routes. Routes they were used on included London to Hastings
(now electrified), London to Uckfield
, Portsmouth
to Southampton
(now electrified) and Southampton to Salisbury
. Each Unit consisted of a motor coach and a number of trailers in formations of between two and six coaches depending on the type.
Later models of EMU had air-assisted sliding-doors added to them. In the late 1970s, new prototype 4Pep
trains were issued with air-assisted sliding-doors. These followed by a temporary batch of Class 508
before the production batch of Class 455
units was delivered (The 508's being transferred to Liverpool). These trains were nicknamed 'push-button' units since they were the first in the region to have passenger-operated push-button sliding doors. London Underground, on the other hand, let the drivers open them from the cab controls instead.
In the 1980s the third rail
was extended to Weymouth, around the same time the decision was taken replace to the powerful (3200 hp!) 4REP
tractor units and 4TC
trailers, which were built from redundant loco-hauled stock. However the budget did not permit the construction of completely new units. The decision was taken to salvage the relatively modern electrical equipment from the elderly bodywork and combine it with an improved version of the Mark 3 HST carriage. The central motor coach was based on an Irish generator van with the required floor strength for the traction equipment. The result was the Class 442 Wessex Electric
, with a high speed officially of 109 mph (during testing, though it has been known to achieve higher). These have proved popular with both enthusiasts and passengers.
, which BR was obliged to eradicate from its stock, the problem was compounded. Many of the designs produced were of non-standard design meaning that the procurement of parts to keep the units running became increasingly hard. For the second generation, British Rail pursued two basic designs - the Class 14x Pacer series, which were based on Leyland bus parts and were intended to be low cost trains to be used on regional branch lines, and the Class 15x Sprinter series - based largely on the Mark 3 bodyshell design, and intended for more demanding commuter routes, and also medium distance inter-city work.
Much derided, the Pacers were designed as "railbuses" - and were effectively a Leyland road bus (the Leyland National
was used as the prototype) mounted onto a freight bogie. The lack of bogie articulation and two-axle design meant that the Pacers were only suited to low speed operation and also gave rise to the infamous "nodding donkey" ride quality.
They were meant as a cheap replacement for the worn out Mk1 D.M.U.s, but were largely proven to be inferior to the trains they were replacing-not least the hard seats and loud engine noises. Later models were significantly improved. Later Pacer rail-buses have proven successful and are still in use in South Wales
, Manchester
, Liverpool
and Yorkshire
.
Sprinters were intended for longer distance routes and were designed from the outset as rail vehicles - unlike the Pacers. Most were based on the Mark 3 bodyshell design with the exception of the single-car Class 153 and the later 158/159 units. Using technology proven on the continent in the form of Cummins
engines and a Voith
hydraulic transmission
gave the extremely high reliability required. There are 6 types of Sprinter (plus a prototype for a seventh type that did not make it into production). The first type to enter service was the BREL
British Rail Class 150
with a high density layout suitable for short suburban services, quickly followed by the 150/2 with gangway between units and improved interior. For longer distance journeys there were the Leyland
Class 155
and Metro-Cammell Class 156
. These were fully carpeted with end doors, luxury unheard of at the time on the routes they operated. Some class 155 units were later split into two single car units with a new and very compact cab being grafted onto the inner ends forming Class 153
. The conversion was undertaken by Hunslet
. The class 153's are used on rural branchlines and for strengthening other services. For regional services the Class 158
was built. This offered near intercity
levels of comfort with full air conditioning and a quiet interior. The last of the Sprinters to be built was the Class 159
for Network South East for use of the West of England Main Line
between Exeter
and London Waterloo. These were three car versions of the Class 158 with an upgraded interior.
was a prototype DEMU. It was based on the then standard design of EMU (Classes 317 and 455) with a diesel engine mounted at the end of one of the driving cars. It was not a success due to weight and cost and the decision was made to order diesel hydraulic Sprinters.
was a two or three coach unit used on the Chiltern and Thames routes. This was followed by the Class 166
which featured air conditioning and seating more suited to longer distance services.
The 1959 tube stock
was initially developed to replace pre-war designs, and entered service on the Picadilly Line and later on the Central
(1962). An experimental unit (which became known as 1960 stock
) did not enter into production.
As new lines were developed by London Transport, the rolling stock developed too. The 1967 tube stock
for the Victoria line
included (for the time) cutting-edge technology in the form of automatic operation. For the Fleet (later 'Jubilee') line the 1972 tube stock
(in two variants) was developed. The 72 stock was, however, eventually cascaded to the Bakerloo, and Northern Lines, with the Jubilee line getting a new design (83 tube stock) to itself. Extension of the Picadilly to Heathrow Airport, saw the introduction of 73 tube stock
, which incorporated improved luggage space within the tight constraints of the tube loading gauge.
In the 1980s, prototype designs were trialled in order to generate feedback about future developments. These led directly to the 1992 tube stock
which was to replace the ageing 59/62 stock. In the 1990s 95 tube stock
also supplanted the 59 and 72 stocks which had (by this date) ended up on the Northern line. The extension of the Jubilee line also saw the development of the externally similar 96 tube stock
, but with vastly different internal technology. Although inter-operation of 83 and 95 tube stocks had been considered, the operation of a consistent fleet proved to have better economics and hence the 83 tube stock was withdrawn earlier than had been expected. The PPP of the early 2000s saw commitments to replacement of much of the existing tube stock with modern designs, these upgrades are likely to continue despite the seeming failure of some PPP arrangements.
), for the District line, replacing older units. The District line also continued to operate with the pre-war (CO/CP) and post-war (R) designs, until the late 1970s when the more square-shaped D
(District) stock was introduced between 1978 and 1983.
Extension of electrification of the Metropolitan line
as far as (where the original Metropolitan route was truncated) saw the introduction of A60 or A62 surface stock. This extension also effectively saw the end of locomotive-hauled operation, with the former service being operated by Class 115 DMU
units operating from . (These units would themselves be replaced by Class 165 Networker units when the Chiltern Line route was modernised in the mid 1990s). By comparison to the almost suburban design of the 'A', the 'C' (Circle) stock of 1967 incorporated a number of features for its role in Central London: a greater number of doors, and vastly greater standing/seated passenger ratio were two features to cope with the higher passenger densities and more frequent station stops found on the Circle line.
In the first decade of the new millennium (2000s), it was announced that the A, C and D stock would be phased-out in favour of a common 'S' stock for all the surface lines. The first of these 'S' stocks (designed and built by Bombadier) began entry into service in 2010 on the Metropolitan.
DMUs for Chiltern Railways
. These were a development of the Network Turbo design already in use by Chiltern and other operators, and themselves became the basis for the Class 170/171 Turbostar
fleet which operate local and regional services throughout the country.
The electric equivalent of the Turbostar is the Electrostar
. The first units built were the Class 357
for c2c
. These were followed by the Class 375
and Class 376
for Connex South Eastern
(now Southeastern
) and the Class 377
for Connex South Central
(now Southern
). A batch of Class 378
units is currently under construction for London Overground
.
These units are built by ABB, which became Adtranz
and is now part of Bombardier
. All units are built in Derby
, and it is now the last major rolling stock manufacturer in the UK.
for First North Western
's North Wales Services (later moving to Arriva Trains Wales
) and the 125 mph Class 180 Adelante
for First Great Western's semi-fast services. Both types have had a protracted entry into service in common with other Alstom trains.
The Juniper family includes the Gatwick Express
Class 460
and South West Trains
Class 458
third-rail EMUs, plus the Class 334
AC EMUs built for use in Glasgow
.
Desiro
has quickly established itself as an Electric train, the diesel version for Transpennine Express (Class 185 Pennine
) is in service. The first train was unveiled in Germany in November 2005 and arrived in the UK a month later. The first train went into public service in March 2006 with deliveries of the 51 strong fleet continuing into 2006, and being complete in December 2006, now all 51 units are in operation
s and have tilt for use on the West Coast Mainline. The result was the non-tilt Class 220 Voyager
and tilting Class 221 Super Voyager
.
Midland Mainline
and Hull Trains since ordered a non-tilt version. The Class 222 Meridian and Pioneer
units replaced slower Turbostars on semi-fast mainline services. The Class 222 does average much higher reliability than the Virgin units, this is possibly due to the later build taking account of problems encountered in the earlier units with cross feeding power and the omission of tilt capability.
Introduced from 2002 onwards by Virgin Trains
, the Class 390
units are tilting
EMUs built for the West Coast Main Line
(WCML) modernisation of the early 2000s. The units are based on Alstom
-Fiat Ferroviaria
’s Pendolino
design, modified for the British loading gauge
. The original order of 53 9-car sets were assembled at the former Metro-Cammell works in Washwood Heath, Birmingham. The units are employed almost exclusively on long distance express services between London Euston and Birmingham
, Liverpool
, Manchester
and Glasgow
.
The units replaced most of the former WCML long distance fleet made up primarily of Mark 2
and Mark 3
coaches hauled by Class 86
, 87
and 90
locomotives. The Class 390 tilting technology has its design roots in British Rail’s ill-fated Advanced Passenger Train
, and they were designed with a maximum speed of 140 mph (63 m/s). The units are currently restricted to 125 mph (56 m/s) in operational service, as the proposed installation of moving block signalling systems on the WCML was abandoned.
A further four 11-car sets were procured in 2010, and 31 of the original batch will be lengthened to 11 cars. They are expected to enter service in 2012 under the new InterCity West Coast franchise.
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
' is a term used to describe a train which does not have a separate locomotive. Typically these are passenger trains with accommodation in every vehicle and motors or engines distributed under the floor along the length of the train. The term is further classified by the method of propulsion: Diesel (DMU
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
), Electric (EMU
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...
) or Diesel-Electric (DEMU).
The term is also used, more loosely, to describe a train such as the Advanced Passenger Train
Advanced Passenger Train
The Advanced Passenger Train was an experimental tilting High Speed Train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s....
which was a permanent formation with 'power cars' in the train rather than a locomotive at one end.
This article describes the history, development and current use of diesel and electric multiple units in Great Britain.
Pre-Nationalisation
Prior to the Nationalisation that formed British Railways in 1948, all of the Big Four railway companies (GWR, LMS, LNER, SR) had experimented with using multiple units to some extent.The Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
went much further, implementing an extensive programme of electrification on its commuter routes, and consequently was a large user of EMUs.
Multiple unit operation on suburban routes was also (by Nationalisation) in use in London, the extensive operations of the LSWR (later part of the Southern) being the most visible example. Multiple unit operation was also in use on some suburban routes of the LMS in London
Suburban electrification of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway was involved in the development of railway electrification of Britain. Like the LNER and the SR the LMS took over several schemes that had been developed by its constituent companies and also completed some of its own. All were suburban lines, in London,...
, Manchester and on Merseyside (Mersey Railway
Mersey Railway
The Mersey Railway connected Liverpool and Birkenhead, England, via the Mersey Railway Tunnel under the River Mersey. Opened in 1886, it was the second oldest urban underground railway network in the world. The railway contained the first tunnel built under the River Mersey. It was constructed by...
). The LNER was also using electric units on Tyneside
Tyneside Electrics
The Tyneside Electrics refers to the suburban railways on Tyneside that were electrified by the North Eastern Railway and the London and North Eastern Railway. The North Tyneside loop was electrified from 1904 onwards and formed one of the earliest suburban electric networks, the South Tyneside...
.
Alongside the mainline railways, urban transit system
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
s in Liverpool
Liverpool Overhead Railway
The Liverpool Overhead Railway was the world's first electrically operated overhead railway. The railway was carried mainly on iron viaducts, with a corrugated iron decking, onto which the tracks were laid. It ran close to the River Mersey in Liverpool, England, following the line of Liverpool Docks...
(1893), Glasgow
Glasgow Subway
The Glasgow Subway is an underground metro line in Glasgow, Scotland. Opened on 14 December 1896, it is the third-oldest underground metro system in the world after the London Underground and the Budapest Metro. Formerly a cable railway, the Subway was later electrified, but its twin circular lines...
(1896) and London
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
were early adopters of multiple unit operation.
The Liverpool system utilised electrically powered units from opening, and it has been suggested that these units were the first electrical multiple units (EMU) globally. The Glasgow Subway began operations with single 'car' units on cable traction, additional trailer cars being provided from 1898 onwards, these were converted to electric traction in 1935.
Great Western Railway
The GWR network included many minor routes and branch lines, and there was a need for more economical trains for lesser-used routes. Having borrowed an LSWR steam railmotor in 1903, the GWR developed their own range of steam rail-motorsGWR steam rail motors
The steam rail motors were self-propelled carriages operated by the Great Western Railway in England and Wales from 1903 to 1935. They incorporated a steam locomotive within the body of the carriage.-History:...
. These were single carriages, with a boiler and steam engine unit at one end, and a driving cab at both ends. As the railmotors could not haul additional vehicles, in the 1920s the GWR developed the auto-train for routes where the railmotor was insufficient. An autotrain comprised a suitably equipped steam locomotive that could be controlled from the driving cab of a special 'autocoach'. This arrangement avoided the need for the locomotive to run round the train at the terminus. Up to four autocoaches could be used in a train, with the locomotive in the middle, driven from either end like a multiple unit. Autotrains remained in use right through to the end of steam operation on British Railways in the 1960s.
As the last steam railmotors were being withdrawn in the mid-1930s, the GWR introduced a series of diesel railcars
GWR railcars
In 1933, the Great Western Railway introduced the first of what was to become a very successful series of railcars, which survived in regular use into the 1960s, when they were replaced with the new British Rail "first generation" type diesel multiple units....
. Although most were single units, there were two sets of 'power twins' (pairs of single-cabbed railcars that operated together), a form of multiple unit that could be expanded to take additional centre coaches. The railcars were also successful and most survived into British Railways ownership, eventually being displaced in the late 1950s by the closure of unprofitable routes and the introduction of the 'first-generation' BR diesel multiple units.
London Midland and Scottish Railway
The LMS also used a number of single diesel railcars and built a prototype streamlined multiple unit, prior to nationalisation.In Northern Ireland, the Northern Counties Committee railcars were also used.
Southern Railway
Development of electric multiple units on the Southern Railway, pre-nationalisation, was extensive.Prior to the Grouping, both the London and South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
(using third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
) and the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
The London, Brighton and South Coast Railway was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1846 to 1922. Its territory formed a rough triangle, with London at its apex, practically the whole coastline of Sussex as its base, and a large part of Surrey...
(using overhead wires) where both utilising electric multiple units on commuter routes in their respective territories.
Post-grouping, third-rail electrification (based on the LSWR's experience) became standardised on the Southern Railway and expansion of the system on the mainlines (as opposed to suburban routes) continued at a rapid pace. EMU development saw considerable variation to meet operational requirements. For non-electrified routes, steam locomotive haulage persisted, with no diesel multiple units being designed. A large number of the EMU designs survived long past nationalisation.
London Underground
In London, it was not the first 'under ground' line (the Metropolitan RailwayMetropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
, or 'Metropolitan') that began unit operation on London's tube, but the deep-level Central London Railway
Central London Railway
The Central London Railway , also known as the Twopenny Tube, was a deep-level, underground "tube" railway that opened in London in 1900...
, in 1901. Unit operation on the 'surface' lines was again not by the Metropolitan but its rival, the Metropolitan District Railway
Metropolitan District Railway
The Metropolitan District Railway was the predecessor of the District line of the London Underground. Set up on 29 July 1864, at first to complete the "Inner Circle" railway around central London, it was gradually extended into the suburbs...
('District'). Operation of unit stock by the District began in 1906, and was electric in nature. Prior to the electrification the Metropolitan and District railways had previously been using locomotive-hauled rolling stock (and specialised steam locomotives). Design and technology on these early District units was inspired by developments in the US, and imported a number of characteristics of contemporary American examples.. The Yerkes tubes
Underground Electric Railways Company of London
The Underground Electric Railways Company of London Limited , known operationally as The Underground for much of its existence, was established in 1902. It was the holding company for the three deep-level "tube"A "tube" railway is an underground railway constructed in a circular tunnel by the use...
(Hampstead, Bakerloo
Baker Street and Waterloo Railway
The Baker Street and Waterloo Railway , also known as the Bakerloo tube, was a railway company established in 1893 that constructed a deep-level underground "tube" railway in London...
and Picadilly
Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway
The Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway , also known as the Piccadilly tube, was a railway company established in 1902 that constructed a deep-level underground "tube" railway in London. The GNP&BR was formed through a merger of two older companies, the Brompton and Piccadilly Circus...
) were unit-operated from the opening, with the City and South London Railway (C&SLR) converting from loco haulage in the mid 1920s when it was combined with the "Hampstead tube" to form the core of the present day Northern line
Northern Line
The Northern line is a London Underground line. It is coloured black on the Tube map.For most of its length it is a deep-level tube line. The line carries 206,734,000 passengers per year. This is the highest number of any line on the London Underground system, but the Northern line is unique in...
. Thus by the late 1920s, all of the deep-level lines of the London Underground were running electrical multiple units.
By the mid-1930s on the Metropolitan Railway, unit stock was in use on the inner suburban portions of the line, and on the Inner Circle (whose operation was shared with the District). However loco-hauled operation continued on the Metropolitan main line well into the 1960s (despite ongoing electrification).
'First Generation' EMUs
Southern Region of British Railways
The Southern Region was a region of British Railways from 1948. The region ceased to be an operating unit in its own right in the 1980s and was wound up at the end of 1992. The region covered south London, southern England and the south coast, including the busy commuter belt areas of Kent, Sussex...
continued the legacy and experience the Southern had created. Southern electric multiple unit
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...
s since the late 1920s had mainly consisted of two electrically powered carriages, each with a cab unit at one end, often pulling two non-powered carriages coupled between them. These trains were fairly reliable, based more on evolution rather than innovation.
Although a number of pre-war designs were gradually withdrawn, over the years, the use of others and post-war designs outlived British Rail, although designs evolved to meet changing demands. Even when these 1st generation designs were finally phased out
rapidly in 2005 (some after up to 40 years' or more service), it was not for any reasons related to performance or technical reliability. Reasons for the rapid phase out included stricter crash-worthiness standards and a desire to
eliminate manually operated 'slam doors'.
Outside of the Southern Region, 1st generation units were varied. Classes AM1
British Rail Class AM1
Class AM1 was allocated to the prototype AC electric multiple units, converted from fourth-rail DC electric stock in 1952 and used on the Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham route...
-AM11 (later Classes 302
British Rail Class 302
The British Rail Class 302 was a type of electric multiple unit introduced between 1958 - 1960 for outer suburban passenger services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway route...
-311) were developed from the mid-1950s to support AC electrification schemes across British Railways. Of these Class AM1 was the prototype unit, initially working at 6.6 kV 50 Hz, and later at 25 kV 50 Hz (both AC) and in bodywork terms did not differ considerably from pre-nationalisation DC units already in use by the LMS (from which some of the class were converted), despite the change to AC supply. Class 306
British Rail Class 306
The British Rail Class 306 was a type of electric multiple unit introduced in 1949. It consisted of 92 three-car trains which were used on newly electrified suburban lines between and London Liverpool Street.- Overview :...
initially a 1500 V DC design was also based on pre war designs (in this case LNER) and shared characteristics with the later British Rail Class 506
British Rail Class 506
The British Rail Class 506 was a 3 carriage Electric Multiple Unit built for local services between Manchester, Glossop and Hadfield on the Woodhead Line, which was electrified in 1954 on the 1,500V dc overhead system.-Design:...
units developed for suburban use on the electrified Woodhead route out of Manchester. The initial choice of 6.6 kV for some units was due to clearance concerns, which later technological advances overcame allowing 25 kV to be used exclusively.
Design of other AC units was subject to considerable variation, although the Class 304
British Rail Class 304
The British Rail Class 304 electric multiple units were built for suburban use on the first phases of the West Coast Main Line electrification between Crewe and Manchester/Liverpool/Rugby. Originally classed as AM4 units, they later became Class 304 under the TOPS numbering system, and could be...
is regarded as having influence on a number of related units. This influence included the Class 504
British Rail Class 504
The British Rail Class 504 was a unique type of electric multiple unit that ran on 1200 V DC third rail with side-contact current collection. All other UK third rail has the electric "shoe" on top of the rail. The type was used only between Manchester and Bury...
DC units which utilised an unusual (for British Railways) 1200 V DC side contact system and were thus unique to a particular line in the Manchester area. Although developed at a much later date Class 312 Clacton unit stock shares many traits with 1st generation AC EMU.
Non Southern DC unit designs (as they existed) were based on:
- pre-nationalisations designs (Class 502British Rail Class 502The British Rail Class 502 was a type of electric multiple unit originally built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway at their Derby Works...
, Class 503British Rail Class 503British Rail Class 503 trains were 70 mph electric multiple units. They were introduced in two batches — in 1938 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway with a further batch in 1956 by the then nationalised British Railways...
, Class 505British Rail Class 505British Railways Class 505 were 1,500 V DC electric multiple units introduced in 1931 by the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway...
) - localised variants on equivalent AC designs , Class 504British Rail Class 504The British Rail Class 504 was a unique type of electric multiple unit that ran on 1200 V DC third rail with side-contact current collection. All other UK third rail has the electric "shoe" on top of the rail. The type was used only between Manchester and Bury...
,(Class 506British Rail Class 502The British Rail Class 502 was a type of electric multiple unit originally built by the London Midland and Scottish Railway at their Derby Works...
) (based Class 306 which had began operation as a 1500 V DC unit anyway) - Contemporary Southern Region DC designs (Class 501British Rail Class 501The British Rail Class 501 electric multiple units were built in 1957/58 for use on the former LNWR/LMS suburban electric network of the London Midland Region...
)
Some degree of inter-running of these units with earlier pre-nationalisation designs may have taken place . Non Southern 1st generation DC units began to be phased out from the mid-1970s,
as line closures and technical advances made newer designs a more viable prospect.
First Generation DMUs
Derby Carriage and Wagon Works
Derby Carriage and Wagon Works was built by the Midland Railway in Derby, England. The plant has been through many changes of ownership and is currently owned by Bombardier Transportation, a subsidiary of Bombardier Inc. of Canada. As of 2011 it is the only remaining passenger rolling stock...
, and they quickly became popular with crews (for the increased comfort compared to a steam loco), operating authorities (they were, and still are, cheaper to operate than a loco hauled train, and are much more flexible, requiring no run around) and passengers (they were much cleaner than the old steam hauled stock and if you were lucky enough you could get a view of the line ahead).
Over the next few years a number of different designs came about, though nearly all were able to operate together thanks to BR standardising on the 'Blue Square' coupling code for multiple working. Although there were a few design differences, the units could basically be classified as suburban (Doors for each seating bay, 3+2 seating in second class- an example is Class 118
British Rail Class 118
The British Rail Class 118 diesel multiple units were built by the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company and introduced from 1960....
), Medium Density (2 doors per vehicle side, 3+2 bus style seating in second class- an example is Class 114
British Rail Class 114
The British Rail Class 114 diesel multiple units were built by BR Derby from 1956 to 1957. Forty-nine 2-car units were built, numbered 50001-49 for driving motors and 56001-49 for driving trailers . The units were used in the early days out of Lincoln TMD on services all over the county...
), Cross Country (externally similar to Medium Density, 2+2 bus style seating in second class- an example is Class 120
British Rail Class 120
The Class 120, were a cross-country DMU in three-car formation, built at the British Rail Swindon Works.Totalling 194 cars, three batches were built:*1958 - 49 sets for the Western Region*1959 - 7 sets for the Scottish Region...
) and finally Intercity (Interiors to same standard as loco hauled stock- an example is Class 124
British Rail Class 124
The British Rail Class 124 diesel multiple units were built by BR Swindon Works in 1960.-Introduction:The British Rail Class 124 was a class of initially six-car Diesel Multiple Units used and built specifically for the trans-pennine route...
).
Today around 300 vehicles survive in preservation, various vehicles (mainly 101s
British Rail Class 101
The British Rail Class 101 diesel multiple units were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham from 1956 to 1959, following construction of a series of prototype units. This class proved to be the most successful and longest-lived of all BR's First Generation DMUs, with the final five...
and 121
British Rail Class 121
Sixteen Class 121 single-car driving motor vehicles were built from 1960, numbered 55020–55035. These were supplemented by ten trailer vehicles, numbered 56280–56289 . They had a top speed of 70 mph, with slam-doors, and vacuum brakes...
/122s
British Rail Class 122
The British Rail Class 122 diesel mechanical multiple units were built by Gloucester RC&W in 1958. Twenty single-car driving motor vehicles, called "Bubble Cars", were built, numbered 55000–55019...
) survive in departmental use, and Chiltern Railways use a Class 121 on its Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
-Princes Risborough
Princes Risborough
Princes Risborough is a small town in Buckinghamshire, England, about 9 miles south of Aylesbury and 8 miles north west of High Wycombe. Bledlow lies to the west and Monks Risborough to the east. It lies at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, at the north end of a gap or pass through the Chilterns,...
Line.
Anyone with an interest in these trains is highly recommended to visit The Railcar Association's website
The Southern Region of British Rail preferred Diesel Electric Multiple units for use on non electrified routes. Routes they were used on included London to Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
(now electrified), London to Uckfield
Uckfield
-Development:The local Tesco has proposed the redevelopment of the central town area as has the town council. The Hub has recently been completed, having been acquired for an unknown figure, presumed to be about half a million pounds...
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
to Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
(now electrified) and Southampton to Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
. Each Unit consisted of a motor coach and a number of trailers in formations of between two and six coaches depending on the type.
Second Generation EMUs
British Rail Class 445
The PEP Stock were prototype electric multiple units used on British Rail's Southern Region during the early 1970s. They were forerunners of the BR Second Generation electric multiple unit fleet. Three units were built, one two-car unit , and two four-car units...
trains were issued with air-assisted sliding-doors. These followed by a temporary batch of Class 508
British Rail Class 508
The British Rail Class 508 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works in 1979-80. They were the fourth variety of BR's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes...
before the production batch of Class 455
British Rail Class 455
The British Rail Class 455 is a type of electric multiple unit drawing power from a 750 V DC third rail. Built by BREL at York works in the early and mid-1980s, they were initially categorised as Class 510 as the successor to the Class 508...
units was delivered (The 508's being transferred to Liverpool). These trains were nicknamed 'push-button' units since they were the first in the region to have passenger-operated push-button sliding doors. London Underground, on the other hand, let the drivers open them from the cab controls instead.
In the 1980s the third rail
Third rail
A third rail is a method of providing electric power to a railway train, through a semi-continuous rigid conductor placed alongside or between the rails of a railway track. It is used typically in a mass transit or rapid transit system, which has alignments in its own corridors, fully or almost...
was extended to Weymouth, around the same time the decision was taken replace to the powerful (3200 hp!) 4REP
British Rail Class 432
The British Rail 4-REP electric multiple units were built by BR at York Works from 1966-1967 and 1974. The units were built to power the 4-TC trailer units on services on the South Western Main Line. Fifteen four-car units were eventually built. The motor coaches were new build, but the trailers...
tractor units and 4TC
British Rail Class 438
The British Rail TC multiple units were un-powered fixed formations of 3 or 4 carriages with a driving position at each end of the set, converted by BR at York Works from locomotive-hauled Mark 1 carriages in 1966-1967 and 1974. The units built on experience gained from the prototype 6TC unit...
trailers, which were built from redundant loco-hauled stock. However the budget did not permit the construction of completely new units. The decision was taken to salvage the relatively modern electrical equipment from the elderly bodywork and combine it with an improved version of the Mark 3 HST carriage. The central motor coach was based on an Irish generator van with the required floor strength for the traction equipment. The result was the Class 442 Wessex Electric
British Rail Class 442
The British Rail Class 442 Wessex Electric electrical multiple units were introduced in 1988 on the South Western Main Line from London Waterloo to Southampton Central, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth. Twenty-four of these 5-car units were built in 1988/89 by BREL at its Derby works...
, with a high speed officially of 109 mph (during testing, though it has been known to achieve higher). These have proved popular with both enthusiasts and passengers.
Mark 3 based designs
Classes 455, 456, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 325 and 442.Second Generation DMUs
By the early 1980s it had become apparent that the Modernisation Plan DMUs were showing their age, and needed replacement or refurbishment. As several were insulated with blue asbestosAsbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
, which BR was obliged to eradicate from its stock, the problem was compounded. Many of the designs produced were of non-standard design meaning that the procurement of parts to keep the units running became increasingly hard. For the second generation, British Rail pursued two basic designs - the Class 14x Pacer series, which were based on Leyland bus parts and were intended to be low cost trains to be used on regional branch lines, and the Class 15x Sprinter series - based largely on the Mark 3 bodyshell design, and intended for more demanding commuter routes, and also medium distance inter-city work.
Pacer units
- See Main Article Pacer (train)Pacer (train)Pacer is the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses, built between 1984 and 1987...
Much derided, the Pacers were designed as "railbuses" - and were effectively a Leyland road bus (the Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
was used as the prototype) mounted onto a freight bogie. The lack of bogie articulation and two-axle design meant that the Pacers were only suited to low speed operation and also gave rise to the infamous "nodding donkey" ride quality.
They were meant as a cheap replacement for the worn out Mk1 D.M.U.s, but were largely proven to be inferior to the trains they were replacing-not least the hard seats and loud engine noises. Later models were significantly improved. Later Pacer rail-buses have proven successful and are still in use in South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Sprinter units
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
engines and a Voith
Voith
The Voith GmbH, which is headquartered in Germany, is a family-run corporation in the mechanical engineering sector with worldwide operations....
hydraulic transmission
Hydraulic transmission
Hydraulic transmission may refer to:* Hydrostatic transmission, see Hydraulic drive system and Hydraulic machinery* Hydrokinetic transmission, see Torque converter...
gave the extremely high reliability required. There are 6 types of Sprinter (plus a prototype for a seventh type that did not make it into production). The first type to enter service was the BREL
BREL
British Rail Engineering Limited , was the railway systems engineering division of British Rail, until the design and building of trains in the UK was privatised in 1993. On 31 October 1969, the company was incorporated as British Rail Engineering Limited.-Main products:The vast majority of BREL's...
British Rail Class 150
British Rail Class 150
The British Rail Class 150 "Sprinter" diesel multiple units were built by BREL from 1984-87. A total of 137 units were built in three main subclasses, replacing many of the earlier first-generation "Heritage" DMUs.- Background :...
with a high density layout suitable for short suburban services, quickly followed by the 150/2 with gangway between units and improved interior. For longer distance journeys there were the Leyland
British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd . It was partly nationalised in 1975 with the government creating a new holding company called British Leyland Ltd which became BL Ltd in 1978...
Class 155
British Rail Class 155
The British Rail Class 155 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple unit. These DMUs were built by British Leyland at Workington between 1987 and 1988 as part of British Rail's replacement of its ageing diesel fleet which were First-Generation.- History and description :The Class 155 train is made up...
and Metro-Cammell Class 156
British Rail Class 156
The British Rail Class 156 Super Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train . 114 of these units were built from 1987 to 1989 by Metro-Cammell at its Washwood Heath Works in Birmingham...
. These were fully carpeted with end doors, luxury unheard of at the time on the routes they operated. Some class 155 units were later split into two single car units with a new and very compact cab being grafted onto the inner ends forming Class 153
British Rail Class 153
The British Rail Class 153 Super Sprinter is a single car diesel multiple unit converted from British Rail Class 155s.-Description:These units were originally built as two-car Class 155 units by British Leyland from 1987–88, but were converted by Hunslet-Barclay at Kilmarnock from 1991-92...
. The conversion was undertaken by Hunslet
Hunslet Engine Company
The Hunslet Engine Company is a British locomotive-building company founded in 1864 at Jack Lane, Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England by John Towlerton Leather, a civil engineering contractor, who appointed James Campbell as his Works Manager.In 1871, James Campbell bought the company for...
. The class 153's are used on rural branchlines and for strengthening other services. For regional services the Class 158
British Rail Class 158
British Rail Class 158 Express Sprinter is a diesel multiple-unit train, built for British Rail between 1989 and 1992 by BREL at its Derby Works. They were built to replace many locomotive-hauled passenger trains, and allowed cascading of existing Sprinter units to replace elderly 'heritage' DMUs...
was built. This offered near intercity
Inter-city rail
Inter-city rail services are express passenger train services that cover longer distances than commuter or regional trains.There is no precise definition of inter-city rail. Its meaning may vary from country to country...
levels of comfort with full air conditioning and a quiet interior. The last of the Sprinters to be built was the Class 159
British Rail Class 159
The British Rail Class 159 is a class of diesel multiple unit of the Sprinter family, built in 1989 - 1992 by BREL at the Derby Carriage and Wagon Works as Class 158...
for Network South East for use of the West of England Main Line
West of England Main Line
The West of England Main Line is a British railway line that runs from , Hampshire to Exeter St Davids in Devon, England. Passenger services run between London Waterloo station and Exeter...
between Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and London Waterloo. These were three car versions of the Class 158 with an upgraded interior.
Class 210
The British Rail Class 210British Rail Class 210
The British Rail Class 210 was a type of diesel-electric multiple unit built in the late 1970s. The class was intended to be a modern replacement for the ageing 'first generation' types in use on the Southern Region of British Railways but the prototypes built did not manage to secure production...
was a prototype DEMU. It was based on the then standard design of EMU (Classes 317 and 455) with a diesel engine mounted at the end of one of the driving cars. It was not a success due to weight and cost and the decision was made to order diesel hydraulic Sprinters.
Network Turbo
The Turbo family was originally a standardised model for diesel suburban services around London. There were two types, the first Class 165British Rail Class 165
The British Rail Class 165 Turbo is a fleet of suburban diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by BREL at York Works between 1990 and 1992...
was a two or three coach unit used on the Chiltern and Thames routes. This was followed by the Class 166
British Rail Class 166
The British Rail Class 166 Turbo Express is a fleet of diesel multiple units , originally specified by and built for British Rail, the then United Kingdom state owned railway operator. They were built by ABB at York Works between 1992 and 1993...
which featured air conditioning and seating more suited to longer distance services.
Deep-level lines
London Underground's unit operations continued post-war, with new units for the deep-level lines (known as 'tube stock') being developed to meet changing needs.The 1959 tube stock
London Underground 1959 Stock
The 1959 Tube Stock was a type of London Underground tube train constructed in the late 1950s. They were intended for use on the Piccadilly line, but also saw use on several other tube lines...
was initially developed to replace pre-war designs, and entered service on the Picadilly Line and later on the Central
Central Line
The Central line is a London Underground line, coloured red on the tube map. It is a deep-level "tube" line, running east-west across London, and, at , has the greatest total length of track of any line on the Underground. Of the 49 stations served, 20 are below ground...
(1962). An experimental unit (which became known as 1960 stock
London Underground 1960 Stock
The London Underground 1960 Stock was a small, prototype class of electric multiple unit designed for the London Underground Central Line. Twelve motor cars were supplied by Cravens, and pairs were made up to four cars by the addition of two converted standard stock trailers...
) did not enter into production.
As new lines were developed by London Transport, the rolling stock developed too. The 1967 tube stock
London Underground 1967 Stock
The 1967 Stock was a fleet of deep-level tube stock which operated on the Victoria line between 1 September 1968 and 30 June 2011, and was the original rolling stock provided from the line's opening...
for the Victoria line
Victoria Line
The Victoria line is a deep-level London Underground line running from the south to the north-east of London. It is coloured light blue on the Tube map...
included (for the time) cutting-edge technology in the form of automatic operation. For the Fleet (later 'Jubilee') line the 1972 tube stock
London Underground 1972 Stock
The London Underground 1972 stock is a fleet of trains used on the London Underground. The 1972 Stock was ordered to make up the shortfall in trains on the Northern line's 1959 Tube Stock fleet...
(in two variants) was developed. The 72 stock was, however, eventually cascaded to the Bakerloo, and Northern Lines, with the Jubilee line getting a new design (83 tube stock) to itself. Extension of the Picadilly to Heathrow Airport, saw the introduction of 73 tube stock
London Underground 1973 Stock
The 1973 Tube Stock operates on the Piccadilly line of the London Underground and was introduced in 1975 for the opening of the extension to Hatton Cross .-Construction:...
, which incorporated improved luggage space within the tight constraints of the tube loading gauge.
In the 1980s, prototype designs were trialled in order to generate feedback about future developments. These led directly to the 1992 tube stock
London Underground 1992 Stock
The 1992 Tube Stock is the type of train used on the Central line and Waterloo & City line of the London Underground.-Construction:The 1992 Stock was built by ABB for the Central line as the result of the extensive testing of the three 1986 tube stock prototype trains...
which was to replace the ageing 59/62 stock. In the 1990s 95 tube stock
London Underground 1995 Stock
The London Underground's 1995 stock is used in daily service on the Northern Line. There are 106 six car trains in operation; they entered service between 12 June 1998 and 10 April 2001....
also supplanted the 59 and 72 stocks which had (by this date) ended up on the Northern line. The extension of the Jubilee line also saw the development of the externally similar 96 tube stock
London Underground 1996 Stock
The London Underground 1996 Stock is a deep tube train used on the Jubilee Line and one of the newest trains currently running on the network. They were built by Alstom and began service in 1997...
, but with vastly different internal technology. Although inter-operation of 83 and 95 tube stocks had been considered, the operation of a consistent fleet proved to have better economics and hence the 83 tube stock was withdrawn earlier than had been expected. The PPP of the early 2000s saw commitments to replacement of much of the existing tube stock with modern designs, these upgrades are likely to continue despite the seeming failure of some PPP arrangements.
Surface lines
Post-war development on the 'surface' lines was initially just pre-war designs, suitably updated (London Underground R StockLondon Underground R Stock
The R38, R47, R49, and R59 Stock cars were built for the District Line in 1938, 1949, 1952 and 1959. R Stock cars were driving motors and non-driving motors...
), for the District line, replacing older units. The District line also continued to operate with the pre-war (CO/CP) and post-war (R) designs, until the late 1970s when the more square-shaped D
London Underground D78 Stock
The London Underground D Stock is a type of electric multiple unit used on the London Underground District Line . The entire fleet is due to be replaced with S Stock trains in 2015.- History :...
(District) stock was introduced between 1978 and 1983.
Extension of electrification of the Metropolitan line
Metropolitan Line
The Metropolitan line is part of the London Underground. It is coloured in Transport for London's Corporate Magenta on the Tube map and in other branding. It was the first underground railway in the world, opening as the Metropolitan Railway on 10 January 1863...
as far as (where the original Metropolitan route was truncated) saw the introduction of A60 or A62 surface stock. This extension also effectively saw the end of locomotive-hauled operation, with the former service being operated by Class 115 DMU
British Rail Class 115
The British Rail Class 115 diesel multiple units were 41 high density sets which operated the outer-suburban services from Marylebone usually to destinations such as High Wycombe, Aylesbury and Banbury which are on the Chiltern Main Line and Great Central Main Line...
units operating from . (These units would themselves be replaced by Class 165 Networker units when the Chiltern Line route was modernised in the mid 1990s). By comparison to the almost suburban design of the 'A', the 'C' (Circle) stock of 1967 incorporated a number of features for its role in Central London: a greater number of doors, and vastly greater standing/seated passenger ratio were two features to cope with the higher passenger densities and more frequent station stops found on the Circle line.
In the first decade of the new millennium (2000s), it was announced that the A, C and D stock would be phased-out in favour of a common 'S' stock for all the surface lines. The first of these 'S' stocks (designed and built by Bombadier) began entry into service in 2010 on the Metropolitan.
Bombardier Electrostar and Turbostar families
During the privatisation process, there was a gap of more than two years during which no new rolling stock orders were placed. The first new order placed was in May 1996 for a fleet of Class 168 ClubmanBritish Rail Class 168
The Class 168 Clubman is a diesel multiple-unit train used on services between London and the Midlands.-Description:The units were built in several batches from 1997 onwards. The first batch of units was classified 168/0 under TOPS and resembled the Class 165 units previously built by BREL at York...
DMUs for Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways
Chiltern Railways is a British train operating company. It was set up at the privatisation of British Rail in 1996, and operates local passenger trains from Marylebone station in London to Aylesbury and main-line trains on the Chiltern Main Line to Birmingham Snow Hill with its associated branches...
. These were a development of the Network Turbo design already in use by Chiltern and other operators, and themselves became the basis for the Class 170/171 Turbostar
British Rail Classes 170 and 171
The Class 170 "Turbostar" is a British diesel multiple-unit train built by Bombardier Transportation at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works. Introduced after privatisation, they have operated as regional trains as well as long-distance trains, and to a lesser extent suburban trains...
fleet which operate local and regional services throughout the country.
The electric equivalent of the Turbostar is the Electrostar
Electrostar
Electrostar is the name given to a series of related electric multiple-unit passenger trains manufactured by Bombardier Transportation at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England...
. The first units built were the Class 357
British Rail Class 357
The British Rail Class 357 "Electrostar" alternating current electric multiple units were built by ADtranz at their Litchurch Lane Works in Derby, England, in two batches from 1999 to 2002 at a cost of approximately £292 million...
for c2c
C2c
c2c is a British train operating company that is part of the National Express Group. It provides passenger rail services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway line from Fenchurch Street railway station in the City of London to east London and the entire length of the northern Thames Gateway...
. These were followed by the Class 375
British Rail Class 375
The British Rail Class 375 Electrostar electric multiple unit train was built by Bombardier Transportation at their Derby Works, from 1999 to 2005...
and Class 376
British Rail Class 376
The Class 376 Suburban Electrostar is a model of electric multiple-unit passenger train manufactured by Bombardier Transportation. It is part of the Electrostar family, which are the most common EMUs introduced since the privatisation of British Rail...
for Connex South Eastern
Connex South Eastern
Connex South Eastern was a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It was owned by the Connex Group and operated between 14 October 1996 and 9 November 2003. The company operated passenger services in South London and Kent...
(now Southeastern
Southeastern (train operating company)
London & South Eastern Railway Limited, trading as Southeastern is a train operating company in south-east England. On 1 April 2006 it became the franchisee for the new Integrated Kent Franchise , replacing the publicly owned South Eastern Trains on the former South East Franchise...
) and the Class 377
British Rail Class 377
The Class 377 Electrostar is an electric multiple unit type built by Bombardier Transportation at their Derby Works, from 2001 to present. The Electrostar family, which also includes Classes 357, 375, 376, 378, and 379, is the most numerous type of EMU built in the post-privatisation period of...
for Connex South Central
Connex South Central
Connex South Central was a short-lived train operating company in the United Kingdom. It was owned by the Connex Group, and operated under the Connex brand between October 1996 until mid-2001....
(now Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
). A batch of Class 378
British Rail Class 378
The Class 378 Capitalstar is a type of electric multiple-unit train, part of Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar family. These trains are operating on the new London Overground network...
units is currently under construction for London Overground
London Overground
London Overground is a suburban rail network in London and Hertfordshire. It has been operated by London Overground Rail Operations since 2007 as part of the National Rail network, under the franchise control and branding of Transport for London...
.
These units are built by ABB, which became Adtranz
Adtranz
ABB Daimler-Benz Transportation , commonly known under its brand Adtranz, was a multi-national rail transport equipment manufacturer with facilities concentrated in Europe and the USA....
and is now part of Bombardier
Bombardier Transportation
Bombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
. All units are built in Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, and it is now the last major rolling stock manufacturer in the UK.
Alstom Coradia family
Coradia 1000
The Coradia is a family of multiple units produced by Alstom. The British diesel versions are the 100 mph Class 175British Rail Class 175
The Class 175 Coradia is a type of diesel multiple unit passenger train used in the United Kingdom. The fleet of 27 sets were built from 1999 to 2001 by Alstom at Washwood Heath in Birmingham. They are part of the Coradia family of trains along with the Class 180.The entire fleet is owned by the...
for First North Western
First North Western
First North Western was a train operating company in the United Kingdom serving North West England. It operated from 1997 to 2004.The company when first privatised was known as North Western Trains and was owned by Great Western Holdings, a partnership between Great Western's management, First...
's North Wales Services (later moving to Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
) and the 125 mph Class 180 Adelante
British Rail Class 180
The Class 180 is a type of British diesel multiple unit train built by Alstom between 2000 and 2001 for use on then-new express services by First Great Western . They were built at Washwood Heath in Birmingham and are part of the Coradia 1000 family along with the Class 175. FGW stopped using the...
for First Great Western's semi-fast services. Both types have had a protracted entry into service in common with other Alstom trains.
Coradia Juniper
Gatwick Express
Gatwick Express is the name given to the frequent rail shuttle service between Victoria station in London and Gatwick Airport in South East England, operated by the Southern franchise...
Class 460
British Rail Class 460
The British Rail Class 460 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath from 2000-01. These units are part of Alstom's "Juniper" family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 458...
and South West Trains
South West Trains
South West Trains is a British train operating company providing, under franchise, passenger rail services, mostly out of Waterloo station, to the southwest of London in the suburbs and in the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset, Berkshire, and Wiltshire and on the Isle of Wight...
Class 458
British Rail Class 458
The South West Trains Class 458 electrical multiple units were built by Alstom at Washwood Heath between 1998 and 2002. These units are part of Alstom's Juniper family of units, which also includes Classes 334 and 460.-Description:...
third-rail EMUs, plus the Class 334
British Rail Class 334
The British Rail Class 334 is a suburban electric multiple unit built by Alstom in Birmingham. They are part of the Juniper family of trains along with Classes 458 and 460. They were built for SPT/ScotRail outer suburban services in Glasgow, UK. They later became part of First ScotRail/SPT fleet...
AC EMUs built for use in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Siemens Desiro family
While the SiemensSiemens AG
Siemens AG is a German multinational conglomerate company headquartered in Munich, Germany. It is the largest Europe-based electronics and electrical engineering company....
Desiro
Desiro
The Siemens Desiro is a family of diesel or electric multiple unit passenger trains. The main variants are the Desiro Classic, Desiro ML, Desiro UK and the future Desiro City and Desiro RUS. The trains are mostly used for commuter and regional services, and their rapid acceleration makes them...
has quickly established itself as an Electric train, the diesel version for Transpennine Express (Class 185 Pennine
British Rail Class 185
The Class 185 Pennine Desiro is a diesel multiple-unit passenger train of the Desiro type built by Siemens in Germany for the British train operating company First TransPennine Express.51 units were acquired, representing an investment of £250 million....
) is in service. The first train was unveiled in Germany in November 2005 and arrived in the UK a month later. The first train went into public service in March 2006 with deliveries of the 51 strong fleet continuing into 2006, and being complete in December 2006, now all 51 units are in operation
Bombardier Voyager, Meridian and Pioneer
The Voyager family is a series of high speed DEMUs. Virgin Trains were looking to replace the Cross Country fleet as part of their franchise obligations. The new train had to replace a mixture of life expired loco-hauled trains and mid-life HSTHigh Speed Train
There are three types of trains in Britain that have been traditionally viewed as high speed trains:* Advanced Passenger Train - Tilting trains which never entered into regular revenue-earning service....
s and have tilt for use on the West Coast Mainline. The result was the non-tilt Class 220 Voyager
British Rail Class 220
The Class 220 Voyager are a class of diesel-electric high-speed multiple-unit trains built by Bombardier Transportation in 2000 and 2001....
and tilting Class 221 Super Voyager
British Rail Class 221
The Class 221 Super Voyager is a class of British diesel-electric multiple-unit express trains built by Bombardier Transportation between 2001 and 2002, entering service on 12 April 2002....
.
Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline
Midland Mainline was a British train operating company owned by the National Express Group and based in Derby. It was created after the privatisation of British Rail. Midland Mainline services operated from April 1996 to November 2007....
and Hull Trains since ordered a non-tilt version. The Class 222 Meridian and Pioneer
British Rail Class 222
The British Rail Class 222 is a diesel-electric multiple unit high-speed train capable of . Twenty-seven units have been built by Bombardier Transportation....
units replaced slower Turbostars on semi-fast mainline services. The Class 222 does average much higher reliability than the Virgin units, this is possibly due to the later build taking account of problems encountered in the earlier units with cross feeding power and the omission of tilt capability.
Alstom/Fiat Pendolino
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
, the Class 390
British Rail Class 390
The Class 390 Pendolino is a type of train used in Great Britain. They are electric multiple units using Fiat's tilting train pendolino technology and built by Alstom. Fifty-three 9-car units were originally built for Virgin Trains from 2001 to 2004 for operation on the West Coast Main Line , with...
units are tilting
Tilting train
A tilting train is a train that has a mechanism enabling increased speed on regular rail tracks. As a train rounds a curve at speed, objects inside the train experience centrifugal force. This can cause packages to slide about or seated passengers to feel squashed by the outboard armrest due to...
EMUs built for the West Coast Main Line
West Coast Main Line
The West Coast Main Line is the busiest mixed-traffic railway route in Britain, being the country's most important rail backbone in terms of population served. Fast, long-distance inter-city passenger services are provided between London, the West Midlands, the North West, North Wales and the...
(WCML) modernisation of the early 2000s. The units are based on Alstom
Alstom
Alstom is a large multinational conglomerate which holds interests in the power generation and transport markets. According to the company website, in the years 2010-2011 Alstom had annual sales of over €20.9 billion, and employed more than 85,000 people in 70 countries. Alstom's headquarters are...
-Fiat Ferroviaria
Fiat Ferroviaria
thumb|300px|[[FS Class E626]] locomotive, a mainstay of Italian railways starting from the 1930s.Fiat Ferroviaria was the rail division of FIAT of Italy....
’s Pendolino
Pendolino
Pendolino is an Italian family of tilting trains used in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russian Federation, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Switzerland, China and shortly in Romania and Poland...
design, modified for the British loading gauge
Loading gauge
A loading gauge defines the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures...
. The original order of 53 9-car sets were assembled at the former Metro-Cammell works in Washwood Heath, Birmingham. The units are employed almost exclusively on long distance express services between London Euston and Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
The units replaced most of the former WCML long distance fleet made up primarily of Mark 2
British Rail Mark 2
The Mark 2 family of railway carriages were British Rail's second design of carriages. They were built by British Rail workshops between 1964 and 1975...
and Mark 3
British Rail Mark 3
British Rail's third design of standard carriage was designated 'Mark 3' , and was developed primarily for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train...
coaches hauled by Class 86
British Rail Class 86
The British Rail Class 86 was the standard electric locomotive built during the 1960s, developed as a result of testing with the earlier Classes 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85. One hundred of these locomotives were built from 1965-1966 by either English Electric at Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows, or...
, 87
British Rail Class 87
The British Rail Class 87 is a type of electric locomotive built from 1973-75 by British Rail Engineering Limited . 36 of these locomotives were built to work passenger services over the West Coast Main Line . They were the flagships of British Rail's electric locomotive fleet until the late 1980s,...
and 90
British Rail Class 90
The British Rail Class 90 electric locomotives were built by BREL at Crewe from 1987-1990. Each locomotive weighs 84.5 tonnes and has a top speed of . They operate from 25 kV AC overhead wires and produce...
locomotives. The Class 390 tilting technology has its design roots in British Rail’s ill-fated Advanced Passenger Train
Advanced Passenger Train
The Advanced Passenger Train was an experimental tilting High Speed Train developed by British Rail during the 1970s and early 1980s....
, and they were designed with a maximum speed of 140 mph (63 m/s). The units are currently restricted to 125 mph (56 m/s) in operational service, as the proposed installation of moving block signalling systems on the WCML was abandoned.
A further four 11-car sets were procured in 2010, and 31 of the original batch will be lengthened to 11 cars. They are expected to enter service in 2012 under the new InterCity West Coast franchise.
Sources
Platform 5 books- Locomotives and coaching stock of 1986.
- Locomotives and coaching stock of 1998.
- A.B.C. book- Diesel multiple units- 1979.