Electrostar

Electrostar is the name given to a series of related electric multiple-unit passenger trains manufactured by Bombardier Transportation, formerly ADtranz. Since the privatisation of British Rail, it has become the most common new EMU type in Britain, where different variants referred to as Class 357, Class 375, Class 376, and Class 377 are most common on the high-volume commuter routes in South London and to the Sussex, Kent & South Essex coasts. It shares the same bodyshell and core structure as the Turbostar, which is in turn the most common post-privatisation diesel multiple unit family. Most of the Electrostar fleet were assembled at Bombardier’s Derby works.

The Electrostar has also been selected for use on the Gautrain system in South Africa, a new railway between Johannesburg, Pretoria, and the Johannesburg International Airport. The trains will be assembled by UCW Partnership in South Africa from components made in Derby. [http://www.bombardier.com/en/0_0/pressleft.jsp?group=0_0&lan=en&action=view&mode=search&year=null&id=2879&sCateg=1_0]

Transport for London (TfL) [http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/press-centre/press-releases/press-releases-content.asp?prID=882 announced] in August 2006 that it had ordered 48 three- and four-car Electrostar trains for the London Overground service, which will replace the Class 313 & Class 508 on the North London Line and West London Line in 2009 and will provide the opening service on the new East London Line extension in 2010. These have been categorised by Network Rail as Class 378.

Electrostar variants

* Classes 375 and 377 differ only in their coupler configuration and other minor fittings; all Southern units built as Class 375 have since been converted to Class 377 couplers and re-classed. Minor differences in interior trim remain.
** Forty-five units of the 375/6 and 377/2 sub-classes are configured for dual-voltage operation, and others have been constructed so as to allow future conversion to AC power.
*** Class 378 is being constructed in two separate batches - 24 four car units designated as Class 378/0 with dual voltage capability will be utilised on the North London Line and West London Line, while 23 four car units designated Class 378/1 that are DC electric only will be utilised on the East London Line.
The component drawings were done by a Norwegian Product Development Company named Techni AS.
**** First Capital Connect will run 23 four car Class 377 on the Thameslink route from March 2009 all trains will be dual-voltage.

Electrostar routes

c2c

The c2c fleet is now formed entirely of units of the 357 Electrostar, used on services from Fenchurch Street down the LTS Line to Southend and Shoeburyness.

Southeastern

The 375 Electrostar is the backbone of Southeastern's long distance routes, seeing services on most of its lines originating from its London termini (Victoria, Charing Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge) including;
*Chatham Main Line
**Maidstone East Line
*South Eastern Main Line
**Hastings Line
**Ashford to Ramsgate (via Canterbury West) line
**Kent Coast Line
*North Kent Line
*Limited use on London Bridge to Tunbridge Wells via the Brighton Main Line and Redhill to Tonbridge Line service.

On the outer suburban portions of these above routes, Class 465/9 (Networkers) support the Electrostars, but they do not work in multiple together.

The 376 Electrostar operates on the metro routes in suburban London, in conjunction with the Class 465 and 466 Networkers, operating over the London portion of the above lines from the London Termini (including Blackfriars) out to Dartford and Sevenoaks);

*North Kent Line (to Dartford)
*Bexleyheath Line (to Dartford)
*Dartford Loop Line (to Dartford)
*Chatham Main Line (to Sevenoaks)
*Maidstone East Line (to Sevenoaks)
*South Eastern Main Line (to Sevenoaks)
*Hayes Line

This leaves the few rural lines (Medway Valley Line, Sheerness Line and Redhill to Tonbridge Line) operated by Class 508s assisted by Class 466s (2 car Networkers) who also operate solely on the Bromley North Line.

outhern

Southern's Class 377 fleet usually operate on the operator's mid and long distance routes, but can occasionally be found on suburban services usually operated by Class 455s and Class 456s.

Main lines

*Brighton Main Line (Victoria–Gatwick-Brighton)
*East Coastway (Brighton–Eastbourne/Hastings)
*West Coastway (Brighton–Portsmouth/Southampton)
*Arun Valley Line (Victoria–Horsham/Littlehampton/Chichester)
*West London Line (Brighton–Watford Junction) (Using Dual Voltage class 377/2)

Outer suburban

*London Victoria–Horsham via Dorking
*London Victoria–East Grinstead
*London Bridge–Horsham via East Croydon

The 377s are sometimes found on suburban duties at peak hours, such as:

*London Victoria–Dorking via Sutton
*London Victoria–Epsom Downs
*London Bridge-Guildford

377s can be also found running overnight on Southern London Victoria–Brighton duties at 1:00am and 4:00am, calling at Clapham Junction, East Croydon, Horley, Gatwick Airport, Three Bridges.

London Overground

London Overground will operate its new 378s over three lines around London:
*North London Line (Richmond-Stratford)
*West London Line (Clapham Junction-Harrow and Wealdstone)
*East London Line (Crystal Palace/West Croydon-Highbury & Islington)

The fourth major route it is responsible for, the Gospel Oak to Barking Line, is not electrified. For this, London Overground is obtaining new lightweight Turbostar trains.

First Capital Connect

From March 2009 First Capital Connect will run 23 x 4 car Class 377's on the Thameslink Bedford to Brighton route. Trains have started testing in June 2008.
*Thameslink, Bedford to Birghton, From March 2009.

Diagram

Class 357, C2C

Class 375, Southeastern

Class 376, Southeastern

Class 377, Southern

Class 378, London Overground

ee Also

*Bombardier
*Southern (train operating company)
*Southeastern (train operating company)
*London Overground
*First Capital Connect
*C2c (train operating company)

External links

* [http://www.southernelectric.org.uk/features/flrvelc.html Southern Electric fleet review - Electrostars] The Makers of the Electrostars
* [http://www.bombardier.com] BombardierThe Operators of the Electrostars
* [http://www.southernrailway.com] (classes 375/376) Southern
* [http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk] (class 377) Southeastern
* [http://www.c2c-online.co.uk] (class 357) c2cThe Future Operators of the Electrostars
* [http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk] (class 377) First Capital Connect
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk] (class 378) London Overground