British Rail Class 315

British Rail Class 315
Image showing a Transport for London Rail liveried Class 315 calling at Forest Gate
TfL Rail Class 315 at Forest Gate in September 2015
Image showing the interior of a Class 315, with 2x3 seating, grey and blue (or red) moquettes and blue grab poles.
The refreshed interior of a TfL Rail Class 315
In service1980 – 9 December 2022
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Built atHolgate Road Works, York
Family nameBREL 1972
Replaced
Constructed1980–1981
Refurbished
  • All units: 2004–2008 (at Bombardier Derby)[1]
  • LO & TfL Rail units: 2015–2016 (at Bombardier Ilford)
Number built61[2]
Number preserved1
Number scrapped53
Successor
Formation
  • 4 cars per unit:
  • DMSO-PTSO-TSO-DMSO
Diagram
  • DMSO vehicles: EA207
  • PTSO vehicles: EH217
  • TSO vehicles: EH216
Fleet numbers315801–315861
Capacity
  • As built: 318 seats
  • Post-2012: 309 seats, plus 7 tip-up
OwnersEversholt Rail Group
Operators
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe with aluminium body and roof
Car length
  • DM vehs.: 19.800 m (64 ft 11.5 in)
  • Trailers: 19.920 m (65 ft 4.3 in)
Width2.820 m (9 ft 3.0 in)
Height3.582 m (11 ft 9.0 in)
Floor height1.156 m (3 ft 9.5 in)
DoorsDouble-leaf pocket sliding, each 1.288 m (4 ft 2.7 in) wide (2 per side per car)
Wheelbase
  • Over bogie centres:
  • 14.170 m (46 ft 5.9 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
  • DMSO vehs.: 35.0 t (34.4 long tons; 38.6 short tons)
  • PTSO vehs.: 32.0 t (31.5 long tons; 35.3 short tons)
  • TSO vehs.: 25.5 t (25.1 long tons; 28.1 short tons)
Traction motors
  • 8 total; 4 per DMSO vehicle
  • (Brush TM61-53 or GEC G310AZ, interchangeably)
Power output660 kW (880 hp)
Acceleration0.75 m/s2 (2.5 ft/s2)[3]
HVACDucted warm air
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
BogiesBREL BX1
Minimum turning radius70.4 m (231 ft 0 in)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (disc)
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemTightlock[4]
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications as at November 1987[5] except where otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 315 is a fleet of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) trains that were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road Carriage Works in York between 1980 and 1981 to replace the Class 306 units. It was a variant of unit derived from British Rail's 1971 prototype suburban EMU design which, as the BREL 1972 family, eventually encompassed 755 vehicles across Classes 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508.[6] Revenue services with Class 315 units commenced in 1980 and continued until 9 December 2022.[2][7]

  1. ^ "News Desk" (PDF). The Railway Herald. No. 125. Northallerton. 21 March 2008. p. 4. ISSN 1751-8091. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  2. ^ a b "PEP-talk: the BR second generation EMU". Rail Express. No. 317. Horncastle: Mortons Media Group. October 2022. pp. 54–55.
  3. ^ "Class 315". London: Eversholt Rail. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. EA207 & EH216–EH217 (in work pp. 16–17 & 286–289). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  6. ^ "The twilight zone". Railways Illustrated. No. 249. November 2023. pp. 50–53.
  7. ^ "Class 315 farewell set saved". The Railway Magazine. No. 1462. January 2023. p. 73.