Juniper (train)
Encyclopedia
The Coradia Juniper series is a family of electric multiple unit
trains built by Alstom
Transport Birmingham, subcontractor: Ganz Hunslet, Hungary (project for 120 bodyshells in 1998-2000, project manager at Ganz Hunslet; Gabor Honthy) for use on the railway network in Great Britain
. The family is related to the Coradia
1000 series of diesel multiple unit
. There are currently three types in service with various TOCs
.
is an EMU
in service with First ScotRail
on the suburban network around Glasgow
, including services to Edinburgh Waverley
via Airdrie
and Bathgate
on the North Clyde Line
. Class 334 trains are powered using overhead wires at 25 kV AC. A total of 40 three car units are in use (numbered 001-040), which were delivered from Alstom trains in 2000, although due to teething problems they did not enter service until 2001.
(also known as 4Jop) is operated by South West Trains
on services from London Waterloo
to Reading
, and Ascot
to Guildford
. As with all electrically powered trains on the former Southern Region, the Class 458 units are powered using third rail
at 750 V DC current. A total of thirty 4-car units were built, with deliveries beginning in 1998, with the full complement in service by 2004.
(also known as 8Gat) is an eight unit class, with eight cars per train, operated by Gatwick Express
. These units operate the dedicated express service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. Like the similar Class 458, these are powered using 750 V DC current on the third rail. The trains were delivered between 2000 and 2001. From 2008, they are operated by Southern
still under the Gatwick Express branding. From December 2010, the 460s were gradually phased out from Gatwick Express service in favour of Class 442
units, with the final two 460 units going off lease in May 2011. However, 2 units are back in service with Gatwick Express and have been since October 2011. The units in store will be transferred to South West Trains, where they will be paired up with Class 458 units to make 12-car trains. However, there is no date fixed for this.
, the owner of the Class 458 fleet, has proposed that part of this could be met through lengthening the 4-car Junipers to 5-cars using the mechanically similar Class 460
units currently employed on the Gatwick Express
. 24 Class 458s would be lengthened using vehicles from the Class 460s, while the remaining Class 460 vehicles would be reformed into six new 5-car sets, leaving additional vehicles for use as spare parts.
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...
trains built by 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...
Transport Birmingham, subcontractor: Ganz Hunslet, Hungary (project for 120 bodyshells in 1998-2000, project manager at Ganz Hunslet; Gabor Honthy) for use on the railway network in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. The family is related to the Coradia
Coradia (train)
The Alstom Coradia family range of Inter-city trains and regional trains includes multiple unit diesel or electric as well as double-decker trains that can carry up to 900 passengers. There are a number of variants of this series, used in several countries.-United Kingdom:In the United Kingdom,...
1000 series of diesel multiple unit
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:...
. There are currently three types in service with various TOCs
Train operating company
The term train operating company is used in the United Kingdom to describe the various businesses operating passenger trains on the railway system of Great Britain under the collective National Rail brand...
.
Class 334
The Class 334British 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...
is an 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...
in service with First ScotRail
First ScotRail
ScotRail Railways Ltd. is the FirstGroup-owned train operating company running domestic passenger trains within Scotland, northern England and the cross-border Caledonian Sleeper service to London using the brand ScotRail which is the property of the Scottish Government...
on the suburban network around 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...
, including services to Edinburgh Waverley
Edinburgh Waverley railway station
Edinburgh Waverley railway station is the main railway station in the Scottish capital Edinburgh. Covering an area of over 25 acres in the centre of the city, it is the second-largest main line railway station in the United Kingdom in terms of area, the largest being...
via Airdrie
Airdrie railway station
Airdrie railway station is a railway station serving the town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the North Clyde Line, east of Glasgow Queen Street.-History:...
and Bathgate
Bathgate (New) railway station
Bathgate railway station is a railway station serving the town of Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland. Opened on 18 October 2010, it is located close to the junction of the former Edinburgh and Bathgate Railway and the former Bathgate and Coatbridge Railway to the east of the 1986 station.- History...
on the North Clyde Line
North Clyde Line
The North Clyde Line is a suburban railway in West Central Scotland. The route is operated by First ScotRail, on behalf of Transport Scotland...
. Class 334 trains are powered using overhead wires at 25 kV AC. A total of 40 three car units are in use (numbered 001-040), which were delivered from Alstom trains in 2000, although due to teething problems they did not enter service until 2001.
Class 458
The Class 458British 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:...
(also known as 4Jop) is operated by 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...
on services from London Waterloo
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
to Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, and Ascot
Ascot railway station
Ascot railway station is a railway station in the town of Ascot in Berkshire, England. The station, and all trains serving it, are operated by South West Trains. It is at the junction of the Waterloo to Reading line with the Ascot to Guildford line....
to Guildford
Guildford (Surrey) railway station
Guildford railway station is an important railway junction on the Portsmouth Direct Line serving the town of Guildford in Surrey, England. It is 30.3 miles from London Waterloo....
. As with all electrically powered trains on the former Southern Region, the Class 458 units are powered 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...
at 750 V DC current. A total of thirty 4-car units were built, with deliveries beginning in 1998, with the full complement in service by 2004.
Class 460
The Class 460British 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...
(also known as 8Gat) is an eight unit class, with eight cars per train, operated by Gatwick Express
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...
. These units operate the dedicated express service between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. Like the similar Class 458, these are powered using 750 V DC current on the third rail. The trains were delivered between 2000 and 2001. From 2008, they are operated by 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...
still under the Gatwick Express branding. From December 2010, the 460s were gradually phased out from Gatwick Express service in favour of Class 442
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...
units, with the final two 460 units going off lease in May 2011. However, 2 units are back in service with Gatwick Express and have been since October 2011. The units in store will be transferred to South West Trains, where they will be paired up with Class 458 units to make 12-car trains. However, there is no date fixed for this.
Future lengthening
Under the government's Rolling Stock Plan, SWT are due to receive up to 140 additional vehicles. PorterbrookPorterbrook
Porterbrook is one of the three major ROSCOs in the United Kingdom...
, the owner of the Class 458 fleet, has proposed that part of this could be met through lengthening the 4-car Junipers to 5-cars using the mechanically similar 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...
units currently employed on the Gatwick Express
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...
. 24 Class 458s would be lengthened using vehicles from the Class 460s, while the remaining Class 460 vehicles would be reformed into six new 5-car sets, leaving additional vehicles for use as spare parts.