British Rail Class 350

British Rail Class 350 "Desiro"
Siemens Class 350 Desiro No. 350252 at Watford Junction
The Standard Class interior of a London Midland Class 350/2
In service	2005 – Current[1][2]
Manufacturer	Siemens
Family name	Desiro
Constructed	2004 - 2005[3] 2008 - 2009
Number built	67 trainsets
Formation	4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	350101 - 350130 350231 - 350267
Capacity	?
Operator	London Midland
Specifications
Car length	20.4 m (66 ft 11 in)[4]
Width	2.796 m (9 ft 2 in)[4]
Maximum speed	100 mph (160 km/h)[3]
Weight	175.5 tonnes (172.7 long tons; 193.5 short tons)[4]
Power output	1,500 kW (2,000 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC Overhead lines 750 V DC third rail[3] (350/1 only)
Braking system(s)	Air regenerative
Gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The British Rail Class 350 "Desiro" is class of electrical multiple unit built by Siemens AG from 2004–05 and 2008–09. Thirty of these units, designated Class 350/1, were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and services on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line. A further 37 Class 350/2 were ordered by London Midland in late 2007. All 37 units were delivered and in service by July 2009.

The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 360, 380, 444 and 450.

Description

The Class 350/1 units were originally part of an order for thirty-two 5-car Class 450 units for South West Trains. However, they were never built as such. Of the 160 carriages ordered, 40 were diverted as an additional ten 4-car Class 450 units, and the remaining 120 were modified as thirty 4-car Class 350/1 units.

A second batch of Class 350/2 units to replace the Class 321 units were delivered late 2008 and during 2009.^[5] The first of the Class 350/2 was launched on 8th October 2008, carried invited guests around the Wildenrath Test Track.^[5] Class 350 fleet was 350267 last officially delivered to the UK in the month of July 2009.^[6] These new units are designated Class 350/2 and differ from the Class 350/1 units in two key aspects: they have 3+2 seating in standard class (because they work short-hop commuter services, the Class 350/1 are 2+2 throughout and work longer distance services^[1][3]) and lack the dual voltage capability that the existing units have.

The Class 350 units differ from the Class 450 because the latter units operate from 750 V dc from a third rail, whilst the Class 350/1 units operate from both 25 kV ac from an overhead power supply, and also 750 V dc from a third-rail.^[3] The Dual voltage feature remains even today. But was reinstated on some units which were leased to Southern in 2008/2009.

Every set of doors has its own set of guard operated door controls behind a lockable panel. The cabs have three radio systems - Cab Secure Radio (CSR), National Radio Network (NRN) and the newest system, GSM-R. This allows a great deal of operational flexibility.

CCTV and Flip Dot destination screens are fitted throughout the train.

Operations

The first Class 350s entered service in July 2005 with Central Trains;^[1] these operated on services between Birmingham and Northampton via Coventry, and all Birmingham - Liverpool services, replacing Class 170 units. Most recently Desiros have taken over some peak services between Birmingham and Walsall.

At the same time, Silverlink began operating Class 350s.^[2] between London Euston - Milton Keynes Central and Northampton.^[2] The Class 350/1 were originally painted in an overall grey livery with blue doors and blue window surrounds with a mandatory yellow front-end warning panel required by safety rules.^[1][2] The original dual-use of the units on Silverlink and Central Trains services mandated a non-operator specific livery.

The Central Trains and Silverlink franchises expired in 2007. At this point, the fleet transferred to the new West Midlands franchise holder, London Midland. As part of the new franchise agreement, London Midland embarked on the acquisition of a significant number of new trains, the largest order of which was for 37 additional Class 350s. Unlike the Class 350/1s, the new 350/2s would not be dual voltage. The first 10 entered service in December 2008.^[5] In addition to the existing operations, these units took over the new Crewe - London Euston service running via Stoke-on-Trent and stopping at most of the Trent Valley Line stations.

The trains are managed at a new purpose built depot at Northampton, which opened in June 2006, and can also service Class 321 and other Desiro units if required. It is located at Kings Heath, near Kingsthorpe. The depot is equipped to maintain the entire Class 350 fleet and is managed by Siemens.

Fleet details

Class	Operator	No. Built	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.	Notes
Class 350/1	London Midland	30	2004–2005	4	350101 - 350130	Dual voltage
Class 350/2		37	2008–2009		350231 - 350267

Accidents and incidents

On 11 April 2011 a fire broke out in a toilet cubicle on board unit 350232 whilst working service 1N84, the 16:25 from Northampton to London Euston as it was on its final approach to Leighton Buzzard, resulting in one fatality, the female occupant of the toilet. It is thought that the death was a suicide. All other passengers and the train crew escaped unharmed.^[7]

Future

Subject to Government Approval, 10 additional 4 car units will be built for the TransPennine Franchise when electrification of the eastern section of the Manchester to Liverpool via Newton-le-Willows line is completed in 2013.^[8] These units will be used on services from Manchester to Scotland, with displaced Class 185 remaining with the TransPennine franchise, adding additional capacity on other TransPennine Express operated routes.^[9] The new trains will be likely to have a revised Class 350 specification allowing 110 mph (177 km/h) running and a more intercity style interior.^[8]

Again subject to government approval, 8 additional 4 car units will be built for the London Midland franchise, in order to provide additional capacity.^[8]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Central Trains launches Class 350 EMU - Railway Herald. Issue 11. Page 3. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Silverlink launches the 'Class 350' - Railway Herald. Issue 15. Page 3. 10 June 2005. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Desiro UK Class 350/1 Multiple Unit - Siemens Mobility. Page 40. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Class 350 Technical data - Angel Trains. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
5. ^ ^{a b c} Siemens hands over first "Desiro" EMU - Railway Herald. Issue 151. Page 4. 13 october 2008. Retrieved 2011-07-19.
6. ^ "London Midland completes £190m investment with final Siemens Desiro" (Press release). Siemens UK. 2009-07-30. http://www.siemens.co.uk/en/news_press/index/news_archive/londonmidland.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-19. 
7. ^ Daily Mail Reporter (13 April 2011). "Woman dies in toilet cubicle fire on Leighton Buzzard train" (html). Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1375827/Woman-dies-toilet-cubicle-Leighton-Buzzard-train.html. Retrieved 31 May 2011. "A woman passenger who committed suicide in a train toilet by setting herself on fire was named today" 
8. ^ ^{a b c} New Rolling Stock for London Midland and for First TransPennine Express - London Midland. 2011-09-14. Retrieved 2011-09-17.
9. ^ "Britain’s Transport Infrastructure - Rail Electrification" (pdf). DfT. 2009-07-22. pp. 22–24. http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/rail-electrification.pdf. Retrieved 2009-08-25. ^{[dead link]}