British Rail Class 365

The British Rail Class 365 "Networker Express" are dual-voltage (25 kV AC and 750 V DC) electric multiple-unit trains built by ABB at York from 1994 to 1995. These were the last units to be built at the York factory before its closure. All Class 365 units in service have received front-end cab modifications to equip them with cab air-conditioning, installed by WAGN, the design of which has given them the nickname "Happy Train".^[2]

History

Class 365 with original front end

In the early 1990s, the Networker family was entering large-scale service in the Network SouthEast sector – both third-rail 'Networker' EMUs (Class 465/466) and 'Network Turbo' DMUs (Class 165/166) were in service, with proposals for others, including a so-called "Universal Networker", intended as Class 371 and 381, that would have dual-voltage capability. However, by 1992, no work had been done in the development of these due to a lack of funding, so a replacement plan was required. For this, the Class 465 was modified for longer-distance services – a prototype was converted from an existing unit (designated as Class 465/3) to determine suitability, before funding was authorised for the purchase of 41 dual-voltage EMUs, each of four cars. These became the Class 365.^[3][4][5]

Description

Although specified as a dual-voltage unit, Class 365s have never operated with this capability since they were built with only one system of traction current pickup. Units 365 501 to 365 516, which worked briefly for Network SouthEast before the franchise was given to Connex South Eastern, were originally supplied only with DC shoe gear for use on the 750 V third-rail system^[6] (with the exception of unit 365 502, which ran briefly on the AC network during testing and commissioning and was the main reason for this unit being chosen as the one subleased from Connex South Eastern to WAGN to bolster unit availability in the aftermath of the Potters Bar Crash in 2002). In this configuration the maximum speed was 90 mph (145 km/h).^[7]

When they transferred to West Anglia Great Northern for use with 25 kV AC overhead line traction supply, the shoes and associated equipment were removed and a Brecknell Willis high-speed pantograph was installed, along with other operator and voltage-specific modifications and testing by Bombardier Transportation at its Doncaster Works, shortly before the works were closed.

However, the 365s retain the original 750 V DC bus, meaning that when on 25 kV overhead lines the current is collected as AC, rectified to DC for the onboard systems, and then inverted back to AC for the 3-phase traction motors. For running on overhead lines the maximum speed was raised to 100 mph (161 km/h).

Basic equipment consists of:

• DMOC A – 4x 3-phase AC traction motors, traction inverter, sander
• TOSL – Compressor, auxiliary converter, disabled toilet
• PTOSL – Pantograph, transformer, auxiliary converter, small toilet
• DMOC B – 4x 3-phase AC traction motors, traction inverter, sander

Dynamic (rheostatic) braking on the two Driving Motor coaches is available in addition to disc brakes, via a system of brake blending.

In common with the whole Networker fleet, wheel slide protection (WSP) operates on every axle. Under braking conditions a blowdown valve releases air from the brake cylinder of any axle if the rotational speed varies significantly from the average axle speed on the train.

Internal LED Passenger Information Display Systems (PIDS) and Auto-Announcers are fitted across the entire fleet.

Current operations

GTR (Great Northern)

365530 in obsolete Network SouthEast livery arriving at Cambridge on 15 May 2004 with a service from King's Lynn.

Great Northern, which took over the service formerly operated by First Capital Connect until 14 September 2014, and previously WAGN until 1 April 2006, uses Class 365s on outer-suburban services from King's Cross. These services are shared with older Class 317 and Class 321 units, although 365s are seen more frequently. Services generally fall into two categories:

• King's Cross to Peterborough
• King's Cross to Cambridge and on to King's Lynn

These services usually stop more frequently than the Virgin Trains East Coast expresses with which they share the southern section of the East Coast Main Line, although there are exceptions, notably the non-stop services to Cambridge (many of which go on to King's Lynn), operated almost solely by Class 365 units.

First Capital Connect 365538 rolls into Cambridge on a service from London Kings Cross.

All 40 units in service have received an interior refresh by FCC. This involved retrimming the carpet, dado panels and seat moquette, and the two toilets were repainted. Externally these units are all in FCC livery, with the exception of four units carrying WAGN's special advertising liveries.

Starting from January 2014, the fleet has been undergoing a refurbishment by Bombardier Transportation at their Ilford site, some of which were completed on a two-part basis with a second stage starting from the summer of 2014.^[8] The first unit to be put back into service was 365 517, which began operations on 16 January 2014.^[8] The initial refurbishment comprises new seat upholstery, new flooring, interior and exterior repaint and an engineering overhaul to maintain reliability.^[8]

The second stage of upgrades will bring the units in line with the latest disability regulations by installing two wheelchair bays, new external door buttons and vestibule grab handles, a new wheelchair-accessible toilet, a new fully automated passenger information system with audio and visual announcements, and a call-for-aid in the wheelchair and toilet areas. This will be retrofitted to units that have already undergone refurbishment prior to the start of works.^[8] Work is due to be completed in Autumn 2016.^[9]

Former operations

South-eastern England

The first 16 units were fitted for use on the 750 V DC lines, entering service on 16 August 1996 for Network SouthEast. Following franchising, they became part of the South Eastern franchise, operated from 13 October that year by Connex South Eastern, then by South Eastern Trains.^[3][4] All were transferred to WAGN in 2004. Govia Thameslink Railway now has all the Class 365 units.

Accidents

• 365 526 – DMOC B and PTOSL were damaged in the Potters Bar rail crash in 2002.^[10] Three coaches are in store at Railcare's Wolverton Works. The DMOC was written off as it was deemed to be beyond economical repair (and was used and eventually destroyed by the MoD for training purposes) while the PTOSL, which sustained damage to the drag box and sole bar, was deemed to be repairable if needed. The vehicles were bought from the insurance company, Lloyds, by HSBC Rail (UK) Ltd, the leasing agents of the Class 365s at that time, as a source of spare bodyshells and parts.
• 365 531 – DMOC A was damaged in a fatal collision with a tractor at Black Horse Drove crossing in October 2005.^[11]
• 365 532 – DMOC A was damaged in a collision with a tractor at Hatson's User-Worked Crossing in September 2011^[12]
• 365 512 – DMOC B was damaged in a fatal collision with a car at Pleasants crossing in July 2012.^[13]
• A class 365 was in collision with another electric multiple unit at Cambridge on 30 May 2015. Three passengers sustained slight injuries.^[14]
• 365 520 - DMOC B was damaged in a collision with a Land Rover at Nairns User-Worked Crossing in August 2016^[15]

Fleet details

Future

In March 2015 it was confirmed that 21 Class 365s will be released from Great Northern services once they come off-lease to be cascaded to Great Western Railway to operate newly electrified services in the Thames Valley.^[16] However, in June 2016, GWR ordered 37 class 387 Electrostar units for these services so the 365s will not be transferred.^[17]

In late 2015 Eversholt Rail has awarded a contract for a First in Class installation of ETCS Level 2 for a Class 365 train operated by Govia Thameslink. It includes an option to retrofit the rest of the fleet in time for the installation of ETCS Level 2 on the East Coast Main Line.^[18]

Naming

A total of ten units have been named. Vinyl nameplates with a pink backing were applied to the driving vehicles, behind the cab doors, by First Capital Connect. Following a repaint into Thameslink Great Northern colours most were removed, however several have since been reapplied in the same style but with a light blue backing.

• 365 506 – The Royston Express^[19]
• 365 513 – Hornsey Depot
• 365 514 – Captain George Vancouver
• 365 517 – Supporting Red Balloon
• 365 518 – The Fenman
• 365 527 – Robert Stripe – Passengers' Champion (denamed)
• 365 530 – The Interlink Partnership
• 365 533 – Max Appeal
• 365 536 – Rufus Barnes – Chief Executive of London Travelwatch for 25 years
• 365 537 – Daniel Edwards – Cambridge Driver 1974–2010

Special liveries

Four units were given advertising vinyls, for places along the Great Northern route, by West Anglia Great Northern. Only 365 510 still carries a special livery (as at March 2016).

• 365 510 – Cambridge and Ely
• 365 519 – Discover Peterborough
• 365 531 – Norfolk-Nelson's County
• 365 540 - Garden Cities of Hertfordshire

Gallery

• 
  365515 in its original Network SouthEast livery (but with First Capital Connect branding) at Welwyn Garden City with a southbound service
• 
  The original interior of a First Class compartment
• 
  The refreshed interior of a First Class compartment
• 
  The original interior of a Standard Class saloon
• 
  The refreshed interior of a Standard Class saloon on a former South Eastern Trains unit
• 
  Another view of 365515 departing Welwyn Garden City with a northbound service
• 
  365507 was the first unit to receive an interior refresh and is seen departing Peterborough with a southbound service
• 
  Refreshed 365508 at Welwyn Garden City, with a southbound service
• 
  365530 leading a pair of refreshed units at Stevenage
• 
  A pair of refreshed units call at Stevenage, with 365537 at the rear
• 
  365519 in ‘Discover Peterborough’ advertising livery calls at Welwyn Garden City, with a southbound service
• 
  365540 in ‘Garden Cities of Hertfordshire’ advertising livery calls at Welwyn Garden City, with a southbound service
• 
  Driver's cab and controls
• 
  365502 at London Victoria in 2003. This unit is in Connex South Eastern livery.

References

Further reading

• "Networker Express brake defect not a safety threat says Connex". Rail (344). Peterborough. 18 November 1998. p. 6. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699. 

External links

• Media related to British Rail Class 365 at Wikimedia Commons