Manufacturer Siemens Number built 26 trainsets | ||
 | ||
In service 12 August 2003 - Current Constructed 2002 - 20052007 - 2008 (Thailand) Formation 3/4/5 cars per trainset | ||
The Class 360 is an electric multiple-unit that was built by Siemens in two sub-types from 2002–2003 and 2004-2005. These units are part of the Siemens Desiro family.
Contents
The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 380, 444 and 450.
Description
Unlike the South West Trains and West Coast Main Line Desiros, the Class 360 lacks inter-unit gangways. This was a late design change, as the Health and Safety Executive was not happy with the driver's visibility with the previous design's gangway cab for Driver Only Operation.
The Class 360 has air conditioning, rapid acceleration technology, and a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h).
Greater Anglia
First Great Eastern ordered 21 4-car units to replace its elderly Class 312 slam-door units. They entered service in August 2003, and by mid-2004 had completely replaced the old trains. They are primarily used on London Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea, Ipswich and Colchester Town services. They also run to Walton-on-the-Naze at peak times.
In April 2004 FirstGroup lost the franchise to the National Express Group, which operated the Great Eastern routes as part of its National Express East Anglia franchise. The franchise is now operated by Greater Anglia. Though operated by Greater Anglia, the Class 360 is not maintained by the franchise but is under contract from Siemens for routine maintenance at Ilford Depot near London.
These are to be replaced by Bombardier Aventra units entering service between 2019-2020, which means that the class 360/1s will be passed on to another company. It has not yet been announced where they will be passed on to.
Heathrow Connect
Heathrow Connect normally runs five 5-car units operating London Paddington-Heathrow Airport stopping trains. For a period in early 2016, service was suspended to facilitate the use of the Class 360 trains on the Heathrow Express service, whose Class 332s had been taken out of service for safety reasons.
The trains entered service on 12 June 2005. These units were originally intended as Class 350s for prospective spot hire. In 2010, one unit (360205) was transferred to Heathrow Express to operate its Heathrow Terminal 4 shuttle service.
Thailand
Nine Desiro Class 360/2 units have been supplied for the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link (SARL) in Thailand. Four are four-car sets for Express services running non-stop from City Air Terminal at Makkasan to the airport. Another five sets are three-cars for City Line Service stopping at all stations from Phayathai to the airport. The air-conditioning system on these trains is designed for the Thai climate, and the roof-mounted equipment pods are much larger than those on the UK units.