| British Rail Class 313 |
Article Index for British Rail |
Website Links For British |
Information AboutBritish Rail Class 313 |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT BRITISH RAIL CLASS 313 | |
| british rail electric multiple units | |
| 313 | |
|
on 30th October 2004 with a service from Willesden Junction . This unit is painted in Silverlink Metro livery.]] livery at Stevenage , albeit with FCC decals.]] Class 313 Electric Multiple Unit s were built by BREL at York Works from 1976 - 77 , these being the first Second-generation EMUs to be constructed for British Rail . They were also the first dual-voltage units to be built, capable of drawing power via 25 kV AC overhead, or 750 V DC third-rail. DESCRIPTION The Class 313 fleet was developed following extensive trials with the prototype Class 445 "PEP" unit built in the early 1970 s. Outwardly the 313 is similar to its sister classes Class 314 and Class 315 which are used in Glasgow and Merseyside respectively. The three-car units were originally numbered in the range 313001-064. Each unit is formed of two outer driving motors, and an intermediate trailer equipped with a Pantograph . Individual vehicles are numbered as follows.
All units have standard class seating only. CURRENT OPERATIONS Following privatisation, the Class 313 fleet was divided between two franchises. These are described below. Silverlink Silverlink inherited a fleet of 23 units. They mainly operate Silverlink Metro services, such as:
First Capital Connect West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN) inherited the majority of the class, with a fleet of 41 units. They operate inner suburban services out of Moorgate and King's Cross , to Welwyn Garden City , Hertford North , Letchworth and Stevenage . Although the majority of the route is 25kV AC through overhead cables the line between Moorgate and Drayton Park is 3rd rail DC only. (The line was originally part of the Northern Line and although built to full loading gauge there is insufficient clearance to add catenary). Trains bound for Moorgate arrive at Drayton Park drawing power via the pantograph. At Drayton Park the driver presses a single button that lowers the pantograph and completes all the necessary electrical switching to proceed on DC power. On journeys from Moorgate the procedure is reversed again at Drayton Park. From 1st April 2006 the WAGN franchise merged with Thameslink , the new combined franchise is First Capital Connect FLEET DETAILS |
|
|