British Rail Class 379

The Class 379 Electrostar is a type of electric multiple unit ordered in April 2009 for Stansted Express services operated by National Express East Anglia. The trains will also be used on services from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge.

Description
The trains are part of Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar family and are owned by Lloyds TSB General leasing (No 8) Ltd. They are being built at Bombardier's plant in Derby where the first unit was unveiled on 13 October 2010. After going to the Velim railway test circuit in the Czech Republic during November 2010, the first train returned to the UK in December for further testing along with other members of the class as they are built. A phased introduction into passenger service is due to commence from May 2011. They will be maintained by Bombardier at Ilford.

Features and fitted equipment
The Class 379 units will feature 2+2 seating and wi-fi internet and large luggage racks. Multi-lingual signage will be expected. They will have regenerative braking, and will use Bombardier's Orbita predictive fault monitoring system. Some features are taken from the upcoming Aventra. Interior lightings have been manufactured by Teknoware Oy and it is including state of the art emergency lighting to fulfill GM/RT 2130 requirements.

Workings
The first 20 of the fleet will enter service in May 2011, on Stansted Express workings. They will work in a mixture of 12 and 8 car lengths. The remaining 10 will enter service over the summer of 2011, being used on Cambridge trains, with some possible 12 car workings. The Class 379 made its maiden passenger runs on the eve of Thursday 3rd March 2011 when it worked the 20:10 from London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport and the 21:15 return service.