British Rail Class 315

British Rail Class 315
Class 315 units at Liverpool Street
Specifications
Car length	19.80 m

British Rail Class 315 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works from 1980 to 1981. They were the fifth and final 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). Like the Glasgow-based Class 314s, they are able to operate from 25kv overhead current collection only. The fleet works inner-suburban services for National Express East Anglia out of London Liverpool Street.

Description

315's are formed of Driving Motor Standard Open 1 and 2 each carrying 4 traction motors (rated at 110hp each),a main compressor and air reservoir (carrying air for the brakes, suspension and doors systems). Pantograph Trailer Standard Open carrying the main and auxillery transformers, batteries and battery chargers, pantograph, vacuum circuit breaker and auxillery compressor. Trailer Standard Open carries no equipment other than that which is standard to all coaches. The coaches only contain standard seating and have no toilet facilitys. Car numbering is as follows:

• 64461-64582 - DMSO
• 71281-71341 - PTSO
• 71389-71449 - TSO

Each 4-car set was able to seat 320 passengers. A relatively superficial refurbishment programme has been ongoing since the middle of 2003, when National Express East Anglia contracted Bombardier to carry out the refurbishment of all 61 units, starting with the ex-First Great Eastern examples. The low-back 3+2 seating is retained, so the capacity stays the same.

The 315s replaced the life-expired Class 306.

Current operations

Until 1 April 2004, the fleet was divided between First Great Eastern (43 units) and WAGN (16 units). Following that date, National Express East Anglia assumed control of all 61 sets (before NXEA was rebranded from 'one'). The usual duties include the Shenfield Metro service which requires the balance of the fleet; the Lea Valley Lines (Liverpool Street - Enfield Town/Chingford/Cheshunt); one set also operates the Upminster Branch Line during weekdays and on Saturdays. They can occasionally be found further afield, running to Hertford East, Bishop's Stortford, Broxbourne, Southminster and Southend, particularly in the peaks.

Naming

Four sets have now been named:

• 315812 - "London Borough of Newham Host Borough 2012 Olympics Bid"
• 315817 - "Transport for London"
• 315829 - "London Borough of Havering Celebrating 40 Years"
• 315845 - "Herbie Woodward"

Gallery

• 
  (Two 'One' Great Eastern electric multiple units at platform 8 of Stratford high-level station in London on 24 October 2005.
• 
  Homeward passengers during the evening peak hour scurry from a Central Line train (heading for Hainualt via Newbury Park) on platform 6 to catch the mainline train (calling at Ilford, Romford and all stations to Shenfield) train on platform 8 at Stratford.
• 
  Class 315 at Clapton railway station.This unit is painted plain white during the earlier WAGN franchise.
• 
  Class 315 at Theobalds Grove.This unit is painted in the earlier Network South East livery.