In service April 2001 - Current Refurbishment April 2015 - 2018 | Family name Electrostar Number built 140 units | |
 | ||
Manufacturer ADtranz Derby (now Bombardier) Replaced Class 365
Class 411
Class 421
Class 423
Class 466
Class 508 | ||
The British Rail Class 375 Electrostar electric multiple unit train was built by Bombardier Transportation (previously ADtranz) at their Derby Works, from 1999 to 2005. The Electrostar family, which also includes classes 357, 376, 377, 378, 379 and 387, is the most numerous type of EMU introduced since the privatisation of British Rail.
Contents
- Description
- Refurbishment
- Accidents and incidents
- Main lines
- Outer suburban
- Medway Valley Line
- Diagrams
- References
These units form the basis of Southeastern's mainline fleet.
Description
These trains are owned by Eversholt Rail Group (formerly HSBC Rail) and leased to Southeastern for operation from London to Kent and parts of East Sussex.
The first batch of 30 trains (Class 375/6) were fitted with both a pantograph and third-rail shoes for dual voltage, where the remainder of these trains have one coach in each unit with a recess where the pantograph could be fitted, allowing for future conversion to run on AC power from overhead lines. Although the units are normally operated on 750 V DC lines only, the class is numbered in the 3xx series which usually refers to AC operation. The option is available for the 375/6 units to be leased to a network which operates on 25 kV AC overhead lines. Southern's Class 375 units have since been converted to Class 377.
The Class 375 is the principal train used by Southeastern, and replaced the life-expired slam door Mark 1 derived stock which came to an end of their useful lives on mainline services to Kent and East Sussex and which did not meet up with modern health and safety requirements. All the Southeastern units have also been converted from Tightlock to Dellner couplers, but unlike the Southern fleet, they were reclassified as 377s. The 375/8 and 375/9 sub-classes were built with Dellner couplers from new. The only noticeable difference from the class 377 is that none of the 375s have external CCTV.
The Class 375 has GPS-based Selective Door Opening (SDO), so if the train configuration is too long for a particular station, the doors which are overhanging the platform will not open. An example of this is at Elephant & Castle Station which can only hold 8 cars. From August 2011, Southeastern has begun a minor refresh of the interiors of the units, with a full re-trim of the seating in the company's new purple moquette (as seen on the refreshed 465/466 units) and the addition of new CCTV cameras. The seats in first class have now been fitted with larger, more prominent seat bolstering to distinguish them from the standard class seats and the first class areas have been re-carpeted.
Refurbishment
In May 2015, unit 375301 was moved from Ramsgate Depot to Derby Litchurch Lane for a full refurbishment. On 16 May 2015, it was returned to the Kent depot wearing a new livery, similar to, but not based on the 'Highspeed' livery carried by the high speed Class 395 EMU, with a more vibrant shade of blue on the saloon doors and bolder stripes to highlight First Class and Disabled areas. Internally, the unit has received new carpets and lino flooring, new table top covers and the grab poles, side panels and table legs have been re-powder coated. The existing seat covers have been retained, but were dry cleaned to provide a brighter, cleaner interior. This work will also involve combining the two separate First Class sections on four car units into one section in the end of MOSL coach. It is intended for all class 375 units to receive this refurbishment between 2015 and 2018. The original plan was for the first 50 units (375/3's, 375/6's & 375/7's) to be refurbished at Bombardier in Derby and then the remaining units would be transferred for refurbishment at Bombardier Ilford. This plan did not go ahead and the 375/8's and 375/9's have started refurbishment at Derby. On the 19th September 2015 the last 375/3 unit no 375310 went to Derby for refurbishment. The following week on the 26th September the first 375/6 went to Derby for refurbishment.
The Class 375's are hauled 'dead' (3rd rail shoes removed and no power) to Derby from Ramsgate E.M.U.D. by Rail Operations Group mostly using their Class 37's numbered 37800 & 37884 which are equipped with dellner couplers to eliminate the use of barrier wagons.
Accidents and incidents
Main lines
Outer suburban
Electrostars also work the following outer suburban Southeastern routes interchangeably with Class 465/9 units:
Medway Valley Line
Class 375/3 Units operated some services on the Medway Valley Line between May 2012 and January 2016, with the exception of high-speed services from London St Pancras during peak hours, 4-car Class 375's occasionally appeared as well. Following on from the collapse of the Sea wall between Dover Priory and Folkestone Central, The Class 466 Networkers they replaced, have covered services along the route. Since the sea wall was repaired in September 2016, 375/3 Units are now back on this line.
Diagrams
A diagram of a Class 375 in the new Southeastern 'Blue' livery, unveiled in May 2015.
A diagram of a Class 375 in the new Southeastern Trial livery. (only applied prior to refurbishment on 375609 & 375624 & 375308). 375610 also carried a similar livery to this but was removed during a spring clean. It carried a livery with Dark blue doors with a Gold stripe and carried the name "Golden Jubilee".
A diagram of a class 375 in the livery seen on 375/8s&/9s
A diagram of a class 375 in the livery seen prior to refurbishment on 375/3,/6&/7's.