BRITISH RAIL CLASS 375

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 and 378, is the most numerous type of EMU introduced since the privatisation of British Rail.

Contents

Description

Class 375 routes

Main lines

Outer suburban

Fleet details

References

Description

Like all newly-built third-rail trains in the UK, one coach in each unit is fitted with a recess where a pantograph could be fitted, allowing for future conversion to run on AC power from overhead lines. Although most units are DC only, the class is numbered in the 3xx series normally used for AC units.
Southern's Class 375 units have since been converted to Class 377, now that their Tightlock couplings – which were compatible with the now-retired "slam-door" stock such as the Class 421 – are no longer needed. The ex-375s may be distinguished from the native 377s by having a mixture of grey, red, and blue seats as opposed to the 377's uniformly green seats and by having external cctv cameras for use by the driver.
The Class 375 is the principal new train used by Southeastern; all the Southeastern units have also been converted from Tightlock to Dellner couplers,^[1] but unlike the Southern fleet, they have not been reclassified as 377s. The 375/8 and 375/9 sub-classes were built with Dellner couplers from new.

Class 375 routes

Main lines

★ Charing Cross/Cannon Street – Tunbridge Wells and Hastings fast services,

★ Charing Cross/Cannon Street – Ashford–Folkestone via Sevenoaks, with some extending to Sandwich

★ Charing Cross/Cannon Street – Margate via Sevenoaks and Canterbury West,

★ Victoria – Margate and Dover Priory via Chatham

★ Cannon Street - Ashford via Maidstone East

★ Cannon Street - Broadstairs via Swanley

★ Tunbridge Wells - London Bridge via Redhill (used interchangeably with 508s).

★ Tunbridge Wells - Gatwick Airport - Horsham via Redhill (co-operated with Southern and their 377s).

Outer suburban

Electrostars also work the following outer suburban Southeastern routes interchangeably with Class 465/9 units:

★ Charing Cross/Cannon Street – Tunbridge Wells stopping services,

★ Charing Cross/Cannon Street – Ashford via Sevenoaks,

★ Victoria/Blackfriars – Ashford, via Maidstone East,

★ Victoria – Faversham via Bromley South.

Fleet details

Class	Type	Operator	No. Built	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.	Notes
'Class 375/3'	Express	Southeastern	10	2001-2002	3	375301-310	-
		Southern	28	2001-2002	3	375311-338	Since reclassified as Class 377 nos. 377301-328
'Class 375/6'	Express	Southeastern	30	1999-2001	4	375601-630	Dual-voltage units
'Class 375/7'	Express	Southeastern	15	2001-2002	4	375701-715	-
'Class 375/8'	Express	Southeastern	30	2004-2005	4	375801-830	-
'Class 375/9'	Outer suburban	Southeastern	27	2003-2004	4	375901-927	-

References

1. Southern Electrics website