British Rail Class 331

This article is about the CAF electric multiple unit for Northern Trains. For the previous units planned to have this designation, see British Rail Class 332.

British Rail Class 331
Civity
Class 331 at Stoke-on-Trent in 2023
Class 331 at Stoke-on-Trent in November 2023
Interior
In service1 July 2019 – present
ManufacturerCAF
Built at
Family nameCivity
Replaced
Constructed2017–2020
Entered service2019–2020
Number built
  • 43
  • (31 × 331/0, 12 × 331/1)
Formation
  • 3 cars per 331/0 unit:
  • DMSL-PTS-DMS
  • 4 cars per 331/1 unit:
  • DMSL-PTS-TS-DMS
Fleet numbers
  • 331/0: 331001–331031
  • 331/1: 331101–331112
Capacity
  • 331/0: 184 seats (plus 19 tip-up)
  • 331/1: 260 seats (plus 23 tip-up)
OwnersEversholt Rail Group
OperatorsNorthern Trains
Depots
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium[4]
Train length
  • 331/0: 71.40 m (234 ft 3 in)
  • 331/1: 94.75 m (310 ft 10 in)[4]
Car length
  • DM vehs.: 24.026 m (78 ft 9.9 in)
  • Trailers: 23.350 m (76 ft 7.3 in)
Width2.712 m (8 ft 11 in)[4]
Height3.870 m (12 ft 8 in)[4]
Doors
  • Double-leaf sliding plug
  • (2 per side per car)
Wheelbase
  • Bogies:
  • 2.250 m (7 ft 5 in)
  • Over bogie centres:
  • 16.000 m (52 ft 6 in)[4]
Maximum speed100 mph (161 km/h)
Axle load
  • DMSL: 11.30 t (11.12 long tons)
  • PTS: 8.88 t (8.74 long tons)
  • TS: 7.97 t (7.84 long tons)
  • DMS: 11.21 t (11.03 long tons)
  • (tare)[4]
Traction motors8 × TSA TME 52-15-4[5]
asynchronous three-phase AC
(4 per DM vehicle)
Power output
  • 1,760 kW (2,360 hp)
  • (220 kW (300 hp) per motor)[6]
Acceleration1.3 m/s2 (2.9 mph/s) max.
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Current collector(s)Pantograph (Brecknell Willis)[4]
UIC classification
  • 331/0: Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
  • 331/1: Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Braking system(s)
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemDellner
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [7] unless otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 331 Civity[8] is a class of electric multiple unit built by CAF, owned by Eversholt Rail Group, and currently operated by Northern Trains. A total of 43 units have been built – 31 three-car units and 12 four-car units. Construction of the trains started in July 2017 and they were phased into service from 1 July 2019.[9]

  1. ^ Clinnick, Richard (31 January 2018). "Northern unveils its first new CAF-built train". Rail Magazine. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  2. ^ Miles, Tony (February 2024). "'319s' finish with Northern". Moving Wheels. Modern Railways. No. 905. p. 87.
  3. ^ "Merriman visits Shipley depot site". News. Today's Railways UK. No. 267. May 2024. p. 16.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h The Class 331 Electric Multiple Unit (PDF). Sunderland: Arriva Rail North. 24 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  5. ^ "CAF Civity UK for various operators in the United Kingdom". Wiener Neudorf: Traktionssysteme Austria. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference engineer was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Class 331". London: Eversholt Rail Group. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  8. ^ Long Term Passenger Rolling Stock Strategy for the Rail Industry (PDF) (4th ed.). London: Rail Delivery Group. March 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2016.
  9. ^ Clinnick, Richard (22 July 2020). "Northern close to completion of £500 million CAF train order". Rail Magazine. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 27 August 2020.