photograph by John Lewis

This photo of 375330, one of the South Central 3-car units, was taken at Brighton on 15 February 2003 at 10:50:38, if the clock was right!

Class 375 units, part of the "Electrostar" range from Adtranz/Bombardier, were first ordered by Connex for South Eastern services. They are related to the class 357 25kV ac units in service with c2c on the former LT&S lines. By way of elements of common design, construction and equipment packages they are also related to the same manufacturer's Turbostar diesel hydraulic family of units (classes 168 & 170). This particular variant of the Electrostar has corridor connections at unit ends, air conditioning and a mixture of facing and uni-directional seating in a 2+2 (express) and 2+3 (outer suburban) configuration. Initially the only significant difference in first class accommodation is antimacassars fitted to otherwise standard class seats and generally the units are regarded as single class but "proper" first class accommodation is due to be retro-fitted. As with the class 365 Universal Networker units this class is capable of 750 V dc third rail and 25kV ac overhead operation, though the majority of units will be dc only.

photograph by Colin Duff

An initial order was placed in July 1997 for 120 vehicles to replace the Connex South Eastern class 411 fleet followed by a further order for 90 vehicles to replace CSE's small fleet of class 421s. These have been funded by HSBC Rail. A further order was then placed for both Connex's SE and South Central services. However, with the loss by Connex of the South Central franchise from May 2003 and the takeover of South Central services by Govia South Central from the 26th August 2001 the South Central portion of the order was adopted by Govia - these and subsequent South Central orders will be detailed later. Subsequently Connex was removed by the SRA from the SE franchise which is now being run by an interim SRA operation called South Eastern Trains. The total 112 unit fleet for South Eastern services will be as follows:
 
375/3 3 car express dc only units, formed DMSO-TSO-DMSO - 10 units
375/6 4 car express dual voltage units, formed DMSO-MSO-PTSO-DMSO - 30 units
375/7 4 car express dc only units, formed DMSO-MSO-TSO-DMSO - 15 units
375/8 4 car express dc only units with modified shoegear, formed DMSO-MSO-TSO-DMSO - 30 units
375/9 4 car outer suburban dc only units, formed DMSO-MSO-TSO-DMSO - 27 units

photograph by Paul Ferbrache.

All dc only units are capable of becoming dual voltage with the installation of extra equipment, the rolling stock provision now being devised with the possibility of leasing units to other TOCs in the future in mind. The construction of the cars is aluminium with steel ends. Multiple operation up to twelve cars will eventually be possible. Tightlock couplers were originally fitted to /3, /6 and /7 batches and Dellners to /8 and /9 but it is believed that the Tightlock fitted units will be retro-fitted with Dellners. Unlike South Central units this will not result in a change to the unit class number. Four car sets have six axles motored, each axle with a 250kW traction motor controlled by an independent inverter drive. The units' regenerative braking will not be used except in its rheostatic mode until the power supply system is proven to be capable of accepting the additional intermittent power input. Bogies are of the Bombardier P3-25 (power) and T3-25 (unpowered) designs.

photograph by John Arkell.