British Rail Class 312

British Rail Class 312
First Great Eastern Class 312 at Kirby Cross in 2004
Inside a Class 312 unit before refurbishment
In service1975–2004
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Order no.
  • 30863 (312/0 BDTSOL vehicles)
  • 30864 (312/0 MBSOs)
  • 30865 (312/0 & /1 TSOs)
  • 30866 (312/0 DTCOLs)
  • 30867 (312/1 BDTSOLs)
  • 30868 (312/1 MBSOs)
  • 30870 (312/1 DTCOLs)
  • 30891 (312/2 BDTSOLs)
  • 30892 (312/2 MBSOs)
  • 30893 (312/2 TSOs)
  • 30894 (312/2 DTCOLs)[1]
Built atHolgate Road, York
Family nameBR First Generation (Mark 2)
ReplacedClass 125
Constructed1975–1978
Number built49
Number preserved
  • 0
  • (2 vehicles from 1 unit)
Successor
Formation
  • 4 cars per unit:
  • BDTSOL-MBSO-TSO-DTCOL
Diagram
  • ED212 (312/0 MBSOs)
  • ED213 (312/1 MBSOs)
  • ED214 (312/2 MBSOs)
  • EE305 (all DTCOLs)
  • EF213 (all BDTSOLs)
  • EH209 (all TSOs)[1][2]
Fleet numbers
  • As built:
  • 312/0: 312001–312026
  • 312/1: 312101–312119
  • 312/2: 312201–312204
  • As rebuilt:
  • 312/0: 312701–312726
  • 312/1: 312781–312799
  • 312/2: 312727–312730[3]
Capacity
  • As built: 322 seats
  • (25 first-class, 297 standard)[2]
Operators
Depots
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[2]
Train length256 ft 8+1⁄2 in (78.245 m)[3]
Car length
  • Drv. cars: 65 ft 1+5⁄8 in (19.853 m)
  • Int. cars: 65 ft 4+1⁄4 in (19.920 m)[2]
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)[2]
Height12 ft 4+1⁄2 in (3.772 m)[2]
Floor height3 ft 9 in (1.14 m)[2]
DoorsHinged, manually operated ("slam")[3]
Wheelbase
  • Motor bogies: 9 ft 0 in (2.74 m)
  • Trailer bogies: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
  • Over bogie centres:
  • 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)[2]
Maximum speed
  • 312/0 & /1: 90 mph (140 km/h)
  • 312/2: 75 mph (121 km/h)[2]
Weight
  • BDTSOL: 35 tonnes (34 long tons; 39 short tons)
  • DTCOL: 33 tonnes (32 long tons; 36 short tons)
  • 312/0 MBSO: 56 tonnes (55 long tons; 62 short tons)
  • 312/1 &/2 MBSO: 55.5 tonnes (54.6 long tons; 61.2 short tons)
  • TSO: 30.5 tonnes (30.0 long tons; 33.6 short tons)[2]
Traction motors4 × English Electric 546A[4][5]
Power output1,080 hp (810 kW)[3]
HVACElectric heating[2]
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classification2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′
Bogies
  • Motor cars: BREL BP14
  • Trailer cars: BREL BT8[2]
Minimum turning radius231 ft 0 in (70.41 m)[2]
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic[2]
Safety system(s)AWS[2]
Coupling systemDrop-head buckeye[6]
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Class 310
SeatingTransverse
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 312 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMUs) were built between 1975 and 1978[7] for use on outer-suburban passenger services. It was the last class of multiple unit to be constructed with the British Rail Mark 2 bodyshell, as well as the last class of multiple unit to be built with slam doors in Britain. These features contributed to their relatively early withdrawal at 25–28 years old, compared with a typical EMU life expectancy of 30–40 years.

  1. ^ a b Longworth 2015, pp. 73–74, 144, 169–170, 199, 204
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. ED212, ED213, ED214, EE305, EF213, EH209. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Class 312". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ a b Fox 1987, pp. 56–57
  5. ^ Swain 1990, p. 58
  6. ^ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  7. ^ Marsden 1982, p. 42