British Rail Class 333

The British Rail Class 333 electric multiple units were built by Siemens and are based on the Class 332 trains operated by Heathrow Express.

Description
Sixteen three-car units were introduced in 2000 by Northern Spirit then operated by Arriva Trains Northern and now by Northern Rail on the Wharfedale and Airedale lines in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England (between Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, Ilkley and Skipton). They are based at the Neville Hill depot in Leeds and painted in the livery of West Yorkshire Metro, the local passenger transport executive. Due to increased passenger numbers, the sets were lengthened to four cars, 333001 - 333008 in 2002 and 333009 - 333016 in 2003 - this was funded by Metro and the Strategic Rail Authority. However, this funding ran out in 2007 and as a consequence of this the 4th carriages could have been removed. Had this happened the 4 car 321s would have been removed from Doncaster services on to Wharfedale and/or Airdale services. This means that the fourth carriages on the 333s are now funded by South Yorkshire PTE, despite rarely running in the South Yorkshire to ensure that 4 car units are available on Doncaster services. Despite changes to the franchise, up until 2008 the units still carried the old 'combined' Northern Spirit and Metro livery of all over red with the large N vinyl. From summer 2008 a new livery has been introduced; again combining the current operator (Northern) and Metro. Units 333 002 and 333 004 initially received the new livery by September 2008 but the finish of the vinyls was unsatisfactory. New vinyls were acquired and the whole fleet was reliveried by mid 2009.

Performance
The units are capable of 100 mph, but the maximum speed on any part of the routes on which they operate is 90 mph; their brisk acceleration and high power makes them well-suited to commuter services with generally short distances between stations in the hilly part of Yorkshire in which they operate. They are fitted with standard class only 2+3 high-density seating, and each set has one toilet.