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 operate off 25 kV alternating current (AC) from overhead wires. Where clearances for the overhead wires on the Great Eastern Main Line and London, Tilbury and Southend railway 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 operate off 650-850 V direct current (DC) from a third rail on the Southern Region and North London, Merseyside and Tyneside networks. The Manchester-Bury Railway line used 1,200 V DC from a side-contact third rail. The Manchester South Junction & Altrincham and "Woodhead" and initially the Great Eastern Railway routes used 1,500 V DC from overhead wires. Under the computer numbering, DC units were given a class in the range 400-599.
AC EMUs and dual-voltage EMUs[]
First generation[]
TransClyde branded Class 303 unrefurbished unit no. 303 089 at Wemyss Bay railway station.
First Great Eastern Class 312 units nos. 312718 and 312721 at Kirby Cross railway station
TOPS class | Pre-TOPS class | Name or Information | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Ex-MR units | Lancaster-Morecambe-Heysham | ||
Class 300 | Proposed parcels units | ||
AM1 | 25kV AC prototype units | ||
Class 302 | AM2 | London-Tilbury-Southend | File:LTS unit (class 302) 298 1964 Barking.jpg |
Class 303 | AM3 | Strathclyde. Also on Greater Manchester area services during 1980s/early 1990s. | File:303s 40central.jpg |
Class 304 | AM4 | Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham | File:BR multiple unit at Altrincham station - geograph.org.uk - 199795.jpg |
Class 305 | AM5 | Chingford, Enfield | File:305-plat-8-broken-down-Stratford.jpg |
Class 306 | AM6 | Shenfield (inner-suburban) | File:Class 306 Green.jpg |
Class 307 | AM7 | Southend (outer-suburban) | File:307-blue brute Liv-St-Stn.jpg |
Class 308 | AM8 | Eastern Region lines | File:Britishrailclass308.jpg |
Class 309 | AM9 | Clacton Express. | File:Class 309 NSE & Jaffa Cake.jpg |
Class 310 | AM10 | Euston outer-suburban. Also West Midlands | File:310-blue-Harrow&Wealdstone2.jpg |
Class 311 | AM11 | Strathclyde | File:311104 at a station.jpg |
Class 312 | Great Eastern suburban Great Northern suburban West Midlands (four units) |
File:312792 at Shoeburyness.jpg |
Second generation[]
First Capital Connect Class 313 no. 313060 at Kings Cross railway station
TOPS class | Built for | Current Operator(s) | Builder | Number built | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 313 | BR Eastern Region (Great Northern suburban) |
Southern | BREL York 1976-77 | 64 x 3-car sets | File:313046 030 ENC 01.jpg |
Class 314 | BR Scottish Region (Argyle Line) |
N/A, retired in 2019 | BREL York 19779 | 16 x 3-car sets | File:Class314orange.jpg |
Class 315 | BR Eastern Region (Great Eastern suburban) |
TfL Rail | BREL York 1980-81 | 61 x 4-car sets | File:Unit 315838 at Ilford.JPG |
Class 316 (I) | (AC Networker prototype) | (never used in passenger service, now out of service) | converted from class 210 and 313 cars | 1 x 4-car set | File:British Rail Class 457 - unit 7001 - vehicle 67300.JPG |
Class 316 (II) | (test unit) | (never used in passenger service, now out of service) | converted from class 307 | 1 x 3-car set | |
Class 317 | Network SouthEast ('Bedpan' and Great Northern lines) |
Greater Anglia | BREL York 1981-82(317/1) 1985-86(317/2) |
72 x 4-car sets | File:NXEA 317506 Liverpool Street AB1.JPG |
Class 318 | Provincial ScotRail (for Strathclyde PTE) |
Abellio ScotRail | BREL York 1985-87 | 21 x 3-car sets | File:British Rail Class 318 264 f.jpg |
Class 319 | Network SouthEast (Thameslink services) |
West Midlands Trains | BREL York 1987-88(319/0) 1990(319/1) |
86 x 4-car sets | File:319456 C London St Pancras.JPG |
Class 320 | Provincial ScotRail (for Strathclyde PTE) |
Abellio ScotRail | BREL York 1990 | 22 x 3-car sets (original)
12 x 3-car sets (converted from Class 321/4 in 2016) |
File:Glasgow2001 6.jpg |
Class 321 | Network SouthEast (Great Eastern and Euston services); and Regional Railways (for West Yorkshire PTE) |
Greater Anglia | BREL York 1988-90(321/3) 1989-90(321/4) 1991(321/9) |
117 x 4-car sets | File:V F CC 321404 A Hornsey TMD.JPG |
Class 322 | Network SouthEast (Stansted Express service) |
Greater Anglia | BREL York 1990 | 5 x 4-car sets | File:322485 at London Liverpool Street.JPG |
Class 325 | Rail Express Systems (for Royal Mail) |
FirstGBRf | ABB Derby 1995-96 | 16 x 4-car units | File:325016-Crewe-01.jpg |
Modern Generation[]
Class 350 no. 350101 at Watford Junction.
These use electrical switching devices (thyristors and transistors) and have electronic power control.
TOPS class | Built for | Current Operator(s) | Builder | Number Built | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 323 | Regional Railways (for West Midlands PTE and Greater Manchester PTE) |
Northern Trains,
West Midlands Trains |
Hunslet 1992-93 | 43 x 3-car sets | File:London Midland Class 323.jpg |
Class 331 | Arriva Rail North/Northern Trains | Northern Trains | CAF 2017-2020 | 31 x 3-car sets
12 x 4-car sets | |
Class 332 | Heathrow Express | N/A, currently stored or scrapped | Siemens/CAF 1997-1998 2002[4→5Car] |
9 x 4-car sets 5 x 5-car sets |
File:Heathrow Express 332 008.jpg |
Class 333 | Arriva Trains Northern (for West Yorkshire PTE) |
Northern Trains | Siemens/CAF 2000 | 18 x 4-car sets | File:Northern-333015-03.jpg |
Class 334 Juniper |
ScotRail (for Strathclyde PTE) |
Abellio ScotRail | Alstom Birmingham 1999-2002 | 40 x 3-car sets | File:SPT trains.jpg |
Class 341 Networker |
proposed units for Crossrail | - | (never built) | - | |
Class 342 Networker |
proposed units for CTRL Domestic Services | - | (never built) | - | |
Class 350 Desiro |
Silverlink, Central Trains, |
West Midlands Trains | Siemens 2004-05 2008-09 |
67 x 4-car sets | ![]() |
Class 357 Electrostar |
LTS Rail/c2c | c2c | Adtranz/Bombardier Derby 1999-2001 2001-02 |
74 x 4-car sets | File:357036 at Southend Central.jpg |
Class 360 Desiro |
First Great Eastern, Heathrow Connect |
Greater Anglia (360/1)
Storage (360/2) |
Siemens 2002-03 2004-2005 |
21 x 4-car sets 5 x 5-car sets |
File:360109 at Marks Tay.jpg |
Class 365 Networker |
Network SouthEast (Great Northern and South Eastern services) |
Great Northern (21 units)
Storage (20 units) |
ABB York 1994-95 | 41 x 4-car sets | File:Class 365 near Watlington.jpg |
Class 371 Networker |
proposed units for Thameslink 2000 | - | (never built) | - | |
Class 375 Electrostar |
Connex South Eastern, South Eastern Trains |
Southeastern | Adtranz/Bombardier Derby 1999-2005 | 10 x 3-car sets 102 x 4-car sets |
File:P011WlloEiv.JPG |
Class 376 Electrostar |
South Eastern Trains | Southeastern | Bombardier Derby 2004-06 | 36 x 5-car sets | File:Class376londonbridge.jpg |
Class 377 Electrostar |
Southern, | Southern, Southeastern |
Bombardier Derby 2001-05 2008-2009 |
28 x 3-car sets 154 x 4-car sets |
File:Unit 377213 Watford.JPG |
Class 378 Capitalstar |
London Overground | London Overground | Bombardier Derby 2009-2013 | 57 x 5-car sets | File:Unit 378138 at Hoxton.jpg |
Class 379 Electrostar II |
National Express East Anglia | Greater Anglia | Bombardier Derby 2010-2011 | 30 x 4-car sets | |
Class 380 Desiro |
First ScotRail | Abellio ScotRail | Siemens 2009-2011 | 38 x 3/4-car sets | File:New train mock-up at Glasgow Central - geograph.org.uk - 1300543.jpg |
Class 381 Networker |
proposed Network SouthEast express units | - | (never built) | - | |
Class 385 AT200 | Abellio ScotRail | Abellio ScotRail | Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2015-2019 | 46 x 3-car sets (385/0)
24 x 4-car sets (385/1) | |
Class 387
Electrostar |
Great Western Railway, Great Northern, Gatwick Express, c2c | Great Western Railway, Heathrow Express, Great Northern, Gatwick Express, c2c | Bombardier Derby 2014-2017 | 104 x 4-car sets |
High Speed Trains[]
Virgin Trains Class 390 no. 390029 at Birmingham New Street
TOPS class | Built for | Current Operator(s) | Builder | Number Built | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 370 APT-P |
prototype Advanced Passenger Train | (out of service) | BREL Derby 1979 | 6 x 7-car half sets 2 spare cars |
File:APT at Crewe.jpg |
Class 373 e300 |
Eurostar | Eurostar SNCF |
various builders 1992-96 | 14 x 8-car half sets 64 x 10-car half sets 1 spare car |
File:Eurostar at St Pancras railway station.jpg |
Class 374
e320 |
Eurostar | Eurostar | Siemens Krefeld 2011-2018 | 17 16-car sets | |
Class 390 Pendolino |
Virgin Trains West Coast | Avanti West Coast | Alstom Birmingham 2001-2012 | 22 x 9-car sets
(390/0) 35x 11-car sets (390/1) |
File:390045 at Carlisle.JPG |
Class 395 Javelin, AT300 |
Southeastern | Southeastern | Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2007-2009 | 29 x 6-car sets | File:Class 395 Javelin STP 001.jpg |
Class 801
Azuma, AT300 |
Virgin Trains East Coast/London North Eastern Railway | London North Eastern Railway | Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2017-2020 | 12 x 5-car sets
(801/1) 30 x 9-car sets (801/2) |
|
Class 803 AT300 | East Coast Trains | N/A (not in service yet) | Hitachi Newton Aycliffe 2020-N/A
(still under construction) |
5 x 5-car sets |
DC EMUs[]
Southern Region units[]
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.
Pre-Nationalisation[]
4Sub unit no. 8143 at the National Railway Museum
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information |
---|---|---|
2Nol | ||
2SL | South London | |
2Wim | Wimbledon-Croydon | |
3Sub | ||
4Buf | ||
4DD | Double Deck EMU | |
4Gri | ||
4Lav | ||
4Res | ||
6Cit | London Bridge-Brighton | |
6Pan | Pantry units | |
6Pul | Pullman London Victoria-Brighton | |
Class 401 | 2Bil | |
Class 402 | 2Hal 2Pan |
|
Class 403 | 5Bel | Brighton Belle |
Class 404 | 4Cor | |
Class 405 | 4Sub |
Mark 1 and 2 Bodyshell[]
Gatwick Express Class 489 unit no. 489110 at London Victoria.
South Eastern Trains Class 411 unit no. 1586 at London Victoria.
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information |
---|---|---|
Class 410 | 4Bep | |
Class 411 | 4Cep | |
Class 412 | 4Bep | |
Class 413 | 4Cap | 2 x 2Hap permanently coupled |
Class 414 | 2Hap | |
Class 415 | 4EPB | |
Class 416 | 2EPB | |
Class 418 | 2Sap | 2Hap units with declassified 1st Class accommodation |
Class 419 | MLV | London-Dover/Folkestone boat trains |
Class 420 | 4Big | |
Class 421 | 4/3Cig 3Cop |
Last 2 units of this type in service were withdrawn in 2010 |
Class 422 | 4Big 8Dig |
|
Class 423 | 4Vep 4Vop |
|
Class 427 | 4Veg | First stock used for Gatwick Express |
Class 430 | 4Rep | |
Class 431 | 6Rep | |
Class 432 | 4Rep | |
Class 438 | 3TC 4TC |
|
Class 480 | 8Vab | |
Class 482 (I) | 8Mig | |
Class 488 | Gatwick Express Trailers | |
Class 489 | GLV | Gatwick Express driving trailers |
Class 499 | TLV |
Tube Stock[]
Network SouthEast branded Class 483 unit no.483001
TOPS class | SR class | Name or Information | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Class 482 (II) | Waterloo & City Line sold to LU |
File:65507 at Bank LUL station.jpg | |
Class 483 | Isle of Wight ex LU 1938 stock |
File:Island line.JPG | |
Class 484 | Isle of Wight
overhauled and re-engined ex-LU D stock |
||
Class 485 | 4Vec | ex LU Standard stock | File:Shanklinstn.jpg |
Class 486 | 3Tis | ex LU Standard stock | File:Rydephstn.jpg |
Class 487 | Waterloo & City Line | File:487-TSO-Blue.jpg |
Modern EMUs[]
South West Trains Class 455 unit no. 455713 at Wimbledon railway station.
Southeastern Class 466 unit no. 466018 at Bromley North railway station.
Other DC units[]
The 500 series classes were reserved for DC (third/fourth rail) EMUs not from the Southern Region. This included the DC (third/fourth rail) 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.
Merseyrail Class 507 unit no. 507009 at Liverpool Central railway station.
TOPS classes
Class | Info | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Class 501 | North London stock | File:Class-501-train-B1-headcode.jpg | 650v Third & Fourth Rail |
Class 502 | Liverpool-Southport/Ormskirk stock | File:Class 502 EMU at Tebay.jpg | 650v Third Rail |
Class 503 | Mersey-Wirral stock | File:Image-British-Rail-Class-503.jpg | 650v Third Rail |
Class 504 | Manchester-Bury stock | File:British Rail Class 504 ManVic prior to Metrolink.jpg | 1.2kV Side Contact Third Rail (Unique on BR network) |
Class 505 | Manchester-Altrincham stock | 1.5kV OHLE | |
Class 506 | Manchester-Hadfield/Glossop stock | File:Class 506 EMU and Class 104 DMU Longsight 1983.jpg | 1.5kV OHLE |
Class 507 | Merseyside stock | File:507001 Hunts Cross.jpg | 750v Third Rail |
Class 508 | Merseyside stock | File:508141-LiverpoolLS-01.jpg | 750v Third Rail |
Class 510 | Original classification of Class 455 | ||
Class 777 | New Merseyrail stock |
Pre-TOPS classes
- Ex-LNER Units (Tyneside stock)
- Ex-LNWR Units (North London stock)
- Ex-LYR Units (Manchester-Bury stock)
Battery electric multiple unit (BEMU)[]
This was a one-off unit, withdrawn before the introduction of TOPS.
- 79998/79999
See also[]
- British Rail locomotive and multiple unit numbering and classification
- SR multiple unit numbering and classification
- British Rail coach designations
References[]
External links[]
|
simple:List of British Rail electric multiple unit classes