British Rail Class 360


The British Rail Class 360 is an electric multiple-unit class that was built by Siemens between 2002 and 2005. Part of the Siemens Desiro family, they are currently operated by Greater Anglia and TfL Rail.

Description

Class 360/1

ordered 21 four-car Class 360/1s to replace its slam-door Class 312s. After being tested at the Wildenrath, Germany and Velim, Czech Republic test tracks, the first entered service in August 2003. In February 2004, 360115 returned to Wildenrath for tests aimed at improving pantograph performance.
They are primarily used on Great Eastern Main Line services from London Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea, Colchester Town and Ipswich. They also run to Walton-on-the-Naze and the Mayflower line. They have on occasions operated through to Norwich.
In April 2004, the Great Eastern franchise was merged into the Greater Anglia franchise that was awarded to National Express East Anglia. All passed with the franchise to Greater Anglia in February 2012. The Class 360s are not maintained by the franchise, but under contract by Siemens at Ilford EMU Depot.
These are to be replaced by Class 720s and will move to East Midlands Railway in 2020 to operate services on the Midland Main Line from London St Pancras to Corby after its electrification and free-up to routes where InterCity 125 operates. They will have their 3+2 seating replaced with 2+2 and be modified to operate at. They will be based at Bedford Cauldwell Walk depot.
On 7 June 2020, 360105 was the first unit to be moved to Kings Heath Depot, Northampton, from Ilford EMU Depot, at which they will undergo modifications to operate at 110mph.

Class 360/2

In June 2003 Heathrow Connect ordered four Class 360/2s for its London Paddington to Heathrow Airport stopping trains. These were built using four trains that had been built for Angel Trains as a speculative order numbered 350001 to 350004. Only 350001 came to England, being used for training by South West Trains at Northam Carriage Servicing Depot. The others remained at the Wildenrath test track in Germany.
The first arrived at Old Oak Common TMD in November 2004. Services commenced in June 2005. An extra set was ordered arriving in England in November 2005, but didn't enter service for 12 months. In 2007 additional carriages were delivered to increase all sets to five carriages. In 2010, 360205 was revinyled into Heathrow Express livery to operate its Heathrow Central to Heathrow Terminal 4 shuttle.
In May 2018 TfL Rail inherited all five of Heathrow Connect's Class 360s. These are to be replaced by Class 345s once problems with the European Train Control System in the Heathrow tunnel have been resolved. The Office for Rail and Road gave approval for the Class 345s to operate to Heathrow in May 2020. On the 30th July 2020 Class 345s have entered passenger service on the Heathrow branch.

Accidents and incidents

On 25 May 2014, 360205 derailed as it entered due to bogie maintenance errors, exacerbated by a track defect.

Fleet details