British Rail Class 377
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| British Rail Class 377 "Electrostar" | |
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 Southern Class 377 at Worthing |
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| In service | 2002 - Current |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Derby |
| Family name | Electrostar |
| Number built | 154 trainsets (excluding 28 375/3 conversions) |
| Formation | 3 cars per trainset (377/3 only) 4 cars per trainset (others) |
| Operator | Southern |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 20.4 m |
| Width | 2.80 m |
| Height | 3.78 m |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Weight | 133.1 t (377/3 only) 173.6 t (others) |
| Power output | 2x373 = 746 kW kW (377/3 only) 3x373 = 1119 kW (others) 3x560 = 1680 kW (AC mode) |
| Gauge | 1,435 mm |
| Voltage | 750 V DC 3rd rail 25 kV AC Overhead (377/2 only) |
The Class 377 Electrostar electric multiple units were built by Bombardier Transportation (previously ADtranz) at their Derby Works, from 2001 to 2005. The Electrostar family, which also includes Classes 357, 375 and 376, is the most numerous type of EMU built in the post-privatisation period of Britain's railways.
The units are found working suburban services in south London, and rural commuter services to Sussex, Kent and the South Coast, on which they replaced the old 4Cig and 4Vep slam-door stock. Although built in the early 2000s the new units suffered from a plagued introduction: their higher power consumption compared to the slam-door Mark 1-based stock that they replaced led to major upgrades being required to the 750V DC third rail power supply used in the Southern region.[citation needed] The collapse of Railtrack following the Hatfield accident further delayed this upgrade work and the new stock did not begin appearing until 2003.
Class 377s are fitted with external CCTV cameras for driver-only operation.
The Class 377 uses Dellner couplers instead of the Tightlock type originally used on Southern's Class 375s. Southern's 375s were all converted to Class 377 when their Tightlock couplers became redundant after the retirement of the "slam-door" stock such as the Class 421. These reclassified units can still be identified due to their blue, grey, and red seating, as opposed to the green seating fitted to Southern's native 377s. Note that Southeastern's 375s (sub-classes 375/3, 375/6, and 375/7) were converted to Dellner couplers but not reclassified; their 375/8 and 375/9 units were fitted with Dellner couplers from the start.[1]
In April 2007, as part of the Route Utilisation Strategy for the Brighton Main Line, it was announced that Southern would obtain an additional 48 Class 377 carriages to replace an identical number of Class 319 carriages (12 4-car units) that will be transferred to First Capital Connect[2]. Further to this, eleven more units were added to the order, making a total of 23. The first 12 will be transferred to First Capital Connect on delivery, with the second batch covering for these. They were ordered from Bombardier in March 2008.
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[edit] Description
Like all new trains in the United Kingdom using third-rail power, one carriage in each unit has a recess in its roof where a pantograph could be fitted, so as to allow for future conversion to overhead AC power. Some of the units are actually dual voltage, are fitted with a pantograph and run using it on the West Coast Main Line between Watford and Gatwick Airport.
Despite most units being DC only, the class is numbered in the 3xx series normally used for AC units.
[edit] Current operations
- Brighton Main Line: Brighton–London (various destinations)
- East Coastway (Brighton–Eastbourne/Ore)
- West Coastway (Brighton–Portsmouth/Southampton)
- Gatwick Main Line London Victoria to Gatwick Airport
- Redhill-Tunbridge Wells (Tunbridge Wells to Horsham or London Bridge)
- West London Line (Clapham Junction–Watford Junction)
- Sutton & Mole Valley Line (Horsham, Guildford & Epsom Downs to London)
[edit] Fleet details
| Class | Type | Operator | No. Built | Year Built | Cars per Set | Unit nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 377/1 | Express | Southern | 64 | 2002-2003 | 4 | 377101-164 | The first 19 units are Brighton based and used on main line routes. 377120 to 377157 are now Selhurst based and used on a mixture of Metro workings, East Grinstead workings and occasional outer suburban workings to Horsham. 377158 to 377164 are Brighton based and used on main line routes. |
| Class 377/2 | Express | Southern | 15 | 2003-2004 | 4 | 377201-215 | Dual-voltage units.
These are dedicated to the Brighton - Watford Junction. Also, occasionally used on the London Metro Route |
| Class 377/3 | Express | Southern | 28 | 2001-2002 | 3 | 377301-328 | Converted from Class 375 nos. 375311-338 when "slam-door" stock was retired, and Tightlock couplings became redundant.
These are now mainly used on West Coastway local services, Brighton to Southampton services, East Coastway local Seaford line services and occasional main line work. On Saturday they cover the Brighton Express workings. |
| Class 377/4 | Outer suburban | Southern | 75 | 2003-2005 | 4 | 377401-475 | Brighton based covering most main line routes. Note: units 377472 and 377474 have 'speed run' branding in reference to these units forming the record breaking London to Brighton run. |
| Class 377/5 | Express | Southern | 12 | 2007-2008 | 4 | 377501-512 | Dual-voltage units.
Additional units due to enter service with Southern in late 2008. |
[edit] Diagram
[edit] References
- ^ Southern Electrics website
- ^ Department for Transport (2007-04-04). More trains arriving on busy rail routes. Retrieved on 2007-07-14.
[edit] External links
- YouTube videos by a Class 377 enthusiast
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