British Rail Class 331

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+12 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.