British Rail Class 378

British Rail Class 378 Capitalstar
London Overground Class 378 at Wandsworth Road
The interior of a Class 378 unit
In service29 July 2009 – present
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family nameElectrostar
Replaced
Constructed
  • 2008–2011
  • (plus additional vehicles in 2015)
Number built57
SuccessorClass 710[a]
Formation
  • 5 cars per unit:
  • DMOS-MOS-PTOS-MOS-DMOS
Fleet numbers
  • 378135–378154
  • 378201–378224
  • 378225–378234
  • 378255–378257
Capacity
  • 1,178 total
  • (186 fixed seats, 86 tip-up seats, and up to 906 standees)
OwnersTransport for London[1]
OperatorsLondon Overground
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionWelded aluminium body with steel cab ends
Train length101.350 m (332 ft 6.2 in)
Car length
  • DMOS vehs.: 19.995 m (65 ft 7.2 in)
  • Others: 19.660 m (64 ft 6.0 in)
Width2.800 m (9 ft 2.2 in)
Height3.774 m (12 ft 4.6 in)
Floor height1.151 m (3 ft 9.3 in)[2]
DoorsDouble-leaf pocket sliding, each 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) wide
(2 per side per car)
Wheel diameter840 mm (2 ft 9 in) (nominal)[2]
Wheelbase
  • Over bogies:
  • 2.600 m (8 ft 6.4 in)
  • Over bogie centres:
  • 14.173 m (46 ft 6.0 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
  • DMOS vehs.: 45.5 t (44.8 long tons; 50.2 short tons)
  • MOS vehs.: 41.1 t (40.5 long tons; 45.3 short tons)
  • PTOS vehs.: 39.9 t (39.3 long tons; 44.0 short tons)
  • Total: 212.8 tonnes (209.4 long tons; 234.6 short tons)
Steep gradient1 in 29[2]
Traction motors3 per motor car, each of 600 kW (800 hp)
Power output2,400 kW (3,200 hp)[2]
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)
Bogies
  • Powered: Bombardier P3-25
  • Unpowered: Bombardier T3-25
Braking system(s)
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemDellner 12
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Classes 375, 376, 377 and 379
SeatingLongitudinal
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Sourced from [3] and [4] unless otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 378 Capitalstar[5] is an electric multiple unit passenger train specifically designed for the London Overground network. It is part of Bombardier Transportation's Electrostar family. A total of 57 five-car trains have been built, most of which were originally built as three- or four-car units.

The Class 378s were ordered in August 2006 in response to passenger dissatisfaction with existing mass-transit trains operated by Silverlink, such as the ageing fleet of Class 313. The procurement of a modern replacement was viewed as yielding better performance than the refurbishment of the existing units. Accordingly, a total of 57 Class 378s were manufactured at Bombardier's Derby site; the first example of which entered revenue service during July 2009. The type's introduction was roughly half a year later than originally planned, largely as a result of difficulties with multiple suppliers.

In design terms, the train is broadly similar to the Class 376 trains operated by Southeastern, featuring the same wider metro-style sliding pocket doors for more efficient boarding and alighting. However, it also has significant differences from the Class 376, such as fully longitudinal seating similar to that used on London Underground rolling stock to give more standing and less seating capacity and reduce overcrowding; the interior was optimised for the high-volume metro-style services being operated by London Overground.


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  1. ^ Lynch, Ben (12 July 2023). "London Overground: Rising interest rates behind unbudgeted £281m spend on trains, TfL confirms". London World. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e Jacob, Gemma (17 August 2016). "London Overground Class 378 Details". Letter to Adam Palfrey. Transport for London. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  3. ^ Hall, Peter (February 2012). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2012. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 292. ISBN 978-1-90233-692-3.
  4. ^ Class 378 Information Sheet (PDF) (1 ed.). Transport for London. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2020.
  5. ^ Pritchard, R. (November 2008). "TfL's first Class 378 ready to roll!". Today's Railways UK. Sheffield. p. 32.