British Rail Class 314

British Rail Class 314
First ScotRail 314212 at Patterton in 2011
The interior of a ScotRail refurbished Class 314
In service	1979 – 2019
Manufacturer	British Rail Engineering Limited
Built at	Holgate Road carriage works
Family name	BREL 1972
Constructed	1979
Refurbished	2006-2007 2009-2010 2011-2013
Number built	16 trainsets
Number scrapped	15 trainsets
Successor	Class 385
Formation	3 cars per trainset DMSO+PTSO+DMSO
Fleet numbers	314201-216
Capacity	212 seats
Operator(s)	British Rail ScotRail (British Rail) ScotRail (National Express) First ScotRail Abellio ScotRail
Depot(s)	Glasgow Shields Road Hyndland
Line(s) served	Argyle Line North Clyde Line Cathcart Circle Lines Inverclyde Line Paisley Canal Line
Specifications
Car length	19.80 m (64 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Width	2.82 m (9 ft 3 in)
Height	3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
Floor height	1,156 mm (3 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Maximum speed	70 mph (113 km/h)
Weight	102.5 t (100.9 long tons; 113.0 short tons)
Power output	656 kW (880 hp)
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC Overhead
Current collection method	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 314 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMU) were built by British Rail Engineering Limited, Holgate Road carriage works in 1979. They were the third variety of British Rail's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five classes (Class 313/314/315/507/508).

Following their introduction, the Class 314 fleet was typically used to operate inner suburban services on the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport rail network in Scotland. They ran in a three-unit configuration, featuring an unpowered central car and two powered driving units; for rush hour services, two formations could be temporarily coupled together to form a six-car unit. In service, they were typically operated on various routes, such as the Argyle Line, North Clyde Line, Cathcart Circle Line, Paisley Canal Line, and the Inverclyde Line.

The Class 314 fleet was subject to numerous overhauls and upgrades throughout their lifetime, usually for the purpose of extending their operational lives. During the late 2010s, the fleet was withdrawn largely due to its non-compliance with the Reduced Mobility Technical Specification for Interoperability (PRM-TSI) legislation that came into force in January 2020. They were largely replaced by cascaded Class 318s and Class 320s following the introduction of the Class 385s. Most of the Class 314s were promptly scrapped following their retirement, although a single example has been converted into a hydrogen-powered train to function as a demonstrator unit.

Technical description[]

314202 at Gourock in Strathclyde Partnership for Transport orange and black livery at Gourock in September 2006

The Class 314 was based on the experimental Class 445 or "PEP" unit, the design of which spawned the sister Class 313 and Class 315 units which are used extensively in the London commuter area. In line with the other PEP-based classes, the Class 314 units consisted of two outer motor cars with an unpowered trailer vehicle in the middle, giving a technical description of DMSO+PTSO+DMSO. The coaches were of integral aluminium alloy construction based on a steel underframe.^{[citation needed]}

The Class 314 was powered via 25 kV overhead line (OHLE) and had a maximum speed of 70 mph (113 km/h).^[1][2] Current was supplied from the OHLE via a single centrally-mounted pantograph, using high power cables running along much of the vehicle's length to reach the traction motors present on the driving units.^[3]

Each three-car set could accommodate to 220 seated passengers, in line with the standard practice in the Glasgow suburban sector, capacity could be expanded for peak time services via the operation of two units working in multiple to form a six-car train.^{[citation needed]}

Operations[]

Sixteen Class 314 three-car units were introduced in late 1979 to operate on the then newly opened Argyle Line and were used on both this and the North Clyde Line routes until October 1999, at which point the scrapping of most of the Class 303 stock resulted in their being transferred to Cathcart Circle services.^[4]

314207 in Strathclyde Partnership for Transport carmine and cream livery at Gourock in May 2006

314210 in de-branded Strathclyde Partnership for Transport livery at Gourock in March 2019

From 1999, the Class 314 fleet was typically found working on the Cathcart Circle Line services to Cathcart, Neilston and Newton.^{[citation needed]} The type also frequently operated the Paisley Canal Line during off-peak times, following the electrification of the branch in November 2012.^[5]

A small number of units also worked Inverclyde Line services to Gourock and Wemyss Bay, mostly during peak hours. They were replaced by Class 380 trains on this line, but then returned to share the service with 380s. They were also occasionally seen on the Ayrshire Coast Line, particularly when extreme weather affected the availability of other ScotRail EMUs.^{[citation needed]}

Incidents[]

The leading motor coach of unit 314203 was replaced by an ex-Class 507 coach after the original was destroyed in the Newton rail crash in July 1991.^[6][7] The unit re-entered service in May 1996.^[4][8]

Units 314208 and 314212 were severely damaged when they were caught in a flood in an Argyle Line tunnel following the River Kelvin bursting its banks in torrential rain at the end of 1994.^[9]

Overhaul and refurbishment[]

During May 2006, a limited mechanical overhaul programme to the units was initiated; this led to the installation of improved door mechanisms and upgrades to the electrics and Automatic Warning System (AWS) equipment. 314202 lost its classic Strathclyde orange/black livery (the last remaining operational multiple unit in Scotland to carry the old livery) in favour of the carmine/cream scheme when it passed through Glasgow Works at the end of November 2006. 314206 entered Glasgow Works on 20 July 2007. This was to be the final unit to receive a major overhaul, pending a decision on the future of the Class 314 units.^{[citation needed]}

Between 2009 and 2010, all Class 314s received a life extension overhaul (C5E). This work included the bogies being replaced, alterations to the driver's cab, and various other modifications^[10] Furthermore, between 2011 and 2013, the Class 314s underwent a C3 overhaul/relivery at Railcare Springburn. All 16 sets were refurbished internally, whilst five units received the new ScotRail saltire livery.

• Any corrosion repairs required
• Relivery (5 units only)
• Internal repaint
• Internal lino replacement on floor
• Replacement seat inserts/covers
• Full bogie/buckeye overhaul
• Further reliability upgrades

However, three of the first four units only received a C4 overhaul and internal works.^[11][12]

In September 2008, the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. Relivery of the first unit - 314 212 - took place in spring 2011.^[11] In 2016, 2 other Class 314 units (314209 & 314214) were also repainted into the Saltire livery.^[13] Nine units remained in the debranded SPT Carmine & Cream livery.^[13] These units were the last units (apart from one car of the preserved Class 303) to carry the SPT Carmine & Cream livery.^{[citation needed]}

Replacement and withdrawal[]

During the latter 2010s, efforts to withdraw the Class 314 fleet intensified; this move came not only as a result of their age, but as a consequence of the type's design being non-compliant with the Reduced Mobility Technical Specification for Interoperability (PRM-TSI) legislation that came into force in January 2020.^[3] During 2019, the last examples in-service Class 314s were withdrawn following the successful introduction of Class 385s, which had resulted in the cascading of the Class 318s and Class 320s onto the lines previously operated by the 314s.^[14]

During May 2019, Scotrail announced that the type's replacement by Class 385s would begin on the Inverclyde Line that same month, resulting in the Class 314s only taking three early morning Gourock services each day.^[15] On 14 December 2019, the final scheduled passenger service by a Class 314 was worked by 314216, running between Paisley Canal and Glasgow Central.^[16] ScotRail held a farewell tour for the class on 18 December 2019 with units 314202 and 314205 operating a special service around the ScotRail network, running to Ayr, Carstairs, Cumbernauld and Helensburgh. The tour raised funds for ScotRail's charity partner MND Scotland.^[17] Within the space of a year, nearly all of the withdrawn units had been scrapped.^[3]

Hydrogen conversion[]

In February 2020, ScotRail announced plans to convert one of the two remaining units, 314209, to run on hydrogen. This initiative is intended to be a feasibility study that runs alongside ScotRail's wider commitment to end its operations of diesel traction by 2035.^[18][3] Initially, the project was largely handled through the University of St Andrews, prior to a competitive tender being issued to industry during September 2020 for the full system design, installation and demonstration of the train.^[19][20]

The conversion work was performed principally by the rolling stock refurbishment firm Brodie Engineering and the hydrogen energy specialist Arcola Energy.^[3] Particular attention was paid to the unit's weight, necessitating accurate measurements throughout the project, to avoid the additional equipment imposing excessive axle loads and dynamic gauging constraints. New apparatus included Arcola'd A-Drive hydrogen fuel cell powertrain, with hydrogen tanks and battery modules underneath every coach; the weight gain was partially offset by the removal of old traction equipment, the original DC motors were replaced by modern AC counterparts.^[3] Where realistic to do so, issues were normally addressed via mechanical engineering-based solutions rather than via custom software, as this was viewed as less complicated and more practical due to the unit's bespoke nature. It believed that the modified unit should satisfy existing main-line certification requirements.^[3] The majority of the conversion work was performed following the unit's relocation to the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, outside Glasgow, in December 2020.^[3]

In September 2020, it was announced that the hydrogen train would appear at the COP26 Climate Change Summit, to be held in Glasgow during November 2021.^[21] It is believed that the unit will be operating special demonstration services for the benefit of visiting delegates and to show the potential of hydrogen traction. The completion of the hydrogen demonstrator ahead of this high-profile event has been viewed as a particularly challenging timeframe for an experimental initiative.^[3] While the converted Class 314 will have a maximum storage capacity of 80 kg (180 lb) of hydrogen, pressurised at 350 bar (35,000 kPa), deemed to be sufficient for demonstration purposes, this would need to be expanded greatly expanded for normal regular passenger services. The conversion team believe that such an increase can be achieved via additional rectangular tanks housed within the coaches, roof-mounted tanks aren't feasible due to the UK's loading gauge.^[3]

Livery details[]

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BR Blue and Grey (1979-1984)

Strathclyde Transport Orange and Black (1983-2006)

SPT Carmine and Cream (1997-2019)

ScotRail Saltire (2011-2019)

References[]

Further reading[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 314.

• Marsden, Colin J. (1982). EMUs. Motive Power Recognition. 2. Ian Allan. pp. 50–51. ISBN 9780711011656. OCLC 16537600.