List of British Rail electric multiple unit classes
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This page lists every electric-powered multiple unit allocated a TOPS classification or used on the mainline network since 1948 (i.e British Railways and post-privatisation). British Rail operated a wide variety of electric multiple units for use on electrified lines.
- AC units operated off 25 kV AC from overhead wires. Where clearances for the overhead wires on the Great Eastern and London, Tilbury & Southend routes were below standard, a reduced voltage of 6.25 kV AC was used. The Midland Railway units used 6.6 kV AC. Under the computer numbering, AC units (including mixed-voltage units that can also work off a DC supply) were given a class in the range 300-399.
- DC units operated off 650-850 V DC from a third rail on the Southern Region and North London, Merseyside and Tyneside networks. The Manchester-Bury line used 1200 V DC from a side-contact third rail. The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham and "Woodhead" and initially the Great Eastern routes used 1500 V DC from overhead wires. Under the computer numbering, DC units were given a class in the range 400-599.
Contents |
| TOPS class | Pre-TOPS class | Name or Information |
|---|---|---|
| Ex-MR units | Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham | |
| Class 300 | Proposed parcels units | |
| AM1 | 25kV AC prototype units | |
| Class 302 | AM2 | London-Tilbury-Southend |
| Class 303 | AM3 | Strathclyde |
| Class 304 | AM4 | Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham |
| Class 305 | AM5 | Chingford, Enfield |
| Class 306 | AM6 | Shenfield (inner-suburban) |
| Class 307 | AM7 | Southend (outer-suburban) |
| Class 308 | AM8 | Eastern Region lines |
| Class 309 | AM9 | Clacton Express |
| Class 310 | AM10 | Euston outer-suburban |
| Class 311 | AM11 | Strathclyde |
| Class 312 | Great Northern and Great Eastern |
- Class 313 (Great Northern and North London)
- Class 314 (Strathclyde)
- Class 315 (Shenfield inner-suburban)
- Class 316 (Prototype units)
- Class 317 (Bed-Pan and Great Northern)
- Class 318 (Strathclyde)
- Class 319 (First Capital Connect)
- Class 320 (Strathclyde)
- Class 321 (Great Eastern, Euston & W Yorks Metro outer-suburban)
- Class 322 (ScotRail: Glasgow/Edinburgh-North Berwick)
- Class 323 (West Midlands & Greater Manchester)
- Class 325 (Parcels)
- Class 332 (Heathrow Express)
- Class 333 (West Yorkshire)
- Class 334 (Juniper - Strathclyde)
- Class 350 (Desiro - West Coast)
- Class 357 (Electrostar - London-Tilbury-Southend)
- Class 360 (Desiro - Great Eastern)
- Class 365 (Networker Express)
- Class 375 (Electrostar)
- Class 376 (Electrostar Metro)
- Class 377 (Electrostar)
- Class 378 (Electrostar Metro - London Overground)
The Southern Railway and its successor, the Southern Region of British Rail, used three letter codes to classify their DC EMU fleets, as shown after the TOPS class numbers.
TOPS classes
- Class 401 2Bil
- Class 402 2Hal or 2Pan
- Class 403 5Bel
- Class 404 4Cor
- Class 405 4Sub
- Class 410 4Bep
- Class 411 4Cep
- Class 412 4Bep
- Class 413 4Cap
- Class 414 2Hap
- Class 415 4EPB
- Class 416 2EPB
- Class 418 2Sap
- Class 419 MLV
- Class 420 4Big
- Class 421 4Cig or 3Cop
- Class 422 4Big or 8Dig
- Class 423 4Vep or 4Vop
- Class 424 (Networker Classic Prototype)
- Class 427 4Veg
- Class 430 4Rep
- Class 431 6Rep
- Class 432 4Rep
- Class 438 4TC
- Class 442 5Wes (Wessex Express)
- Class 444 5Des (Desiro)
- Class 445 4Pep
- Class 446 2Pep
- Class 447 (Proposed Battersea Bullet)
- Class 450 4Des (Desiro)
- Class 455
- Class 456
- Class 457 (Networker Prototype)
- Class 458 4Jop (Juniper)
- Class 460 8Gat (Gatwick Express)
- Class 465 (Networker)
- Class 466 (Networker)
- Class 480 8Vab
- Class 482 (Waterloo & City Line)
- Class 483 (Isle of Wight)
- Class 485 4Vec
- Class 486 3Tis
- Class 487 (Waterloo & City Line)
- Class 488 (Gatwick Express Trailers)
- Class 489 GLV
- Class 491 4TC
- Class 492 3TC
- Class 499 TLV
- Class 2Nol
- Class 2SL
- Class 2Wim
- Class 3Sub
- Class 4Buf
- Class 4DD
- Class 4Gri
- Class 4Lav
- Class 4Res
- Class 6Cit
- Class 6Pan
- Class 6Pul
The 500 series classes were reserved for DC EMUs not from the Southern Region. This included the DC lines in North London, Merseyside and Greater Manchester. The DC electric network around Tyneside had been de-electrified by the time TOPS was introduced, and the stock withdrawn or transferred to the Southern Region.
TOPS classes
| Class | Info | Image |
|---|---|---|
| Class 501 | North London stock |  |
| Class 502 | Liverpool-Southport-Ormskirk stock | |
| Class 503 | Mersey-Wirral stock |  |
| Class 504 | Manchester-Bury stock |  |
| Class 505 | Manchester-Altrincham stock | |
| Class 506 | Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock | |
| Class 507 | Merseyside stock |  |
| Class 508 | Merseyside stock |  |
Pre-TOPS classes
- Ex-LNER Units (Tyneside stock)
- Ex-LNWR Units (North London stock)
- Ex-LYR Units (Manchester-Bury stock)
This was a one-off unit, withdrawn before the introduction of TOPS.
- British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification
- SR multiple unit numbering and classification
- British Rail coach designations