Class 375 "Electrostar"
| The first SC Electrostar was delivered to Brighton in February 2002 for testing and by April of that year six sets were commissioned and available at Brighton for driver training. These early units were delivered in white primer whilst the remaining were delivered in the new green and white livery that was from the Summer 2004 timetable re-branded as "Southern Railway". The SC units will be maintained, again as a joint arrangement with Bombardier, at Selhurst. In terms of traction motors and brakes they are identical to SET units. One major difference between SET and SC units is that SC units have external TV cameras so the driver can monitor door operation without leaning out of the cab door window. |
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375711 stands in the sidings at Dover on Sunday, 27th April 2003.
photograph by Paul Ferbrache |
| 375630 leaves Waterloo East for Charing Cross with a train
from Hastings on 10th August 2003.
photograph by Paul Ferbrache |
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375329 is pictured at Brighton soon after delivery, plus another
unidentified and unliveried Electrostar in the distance.
photograph by R M Brume |
| The early 3 car 375s were used on Coastway diagrams, in
particular 313-322 were dedicated to this as they are standard class only.
However the 2+2 seating is much appreciated by regular travellers on this
route. From late March 2003 fast London-Brighton services went over to 12 car
formations of 3 car 375s, particularly using 323-338 which have "1st"
accommodation. From the autumn of that year most Brighton main line services
were being worked by 375s due to difficulty manoeuvring a catering trolley
in3+2 pattern 377s. The Electrostars have not necessarily proved popular with
South Central travellers who do not find them particularly comfortable. Their
interiors are narrower than the Mk1 EMUs they replace and this is aggravated
where there is 3+2 seating. The hunt for the relatively more comfortable wide
2+2 seating in parts of the 377/1 units has turned some regular travellers,
who were not already so, into train spotters. The formula is follows: On units 377101-119 there is 2+2 seating throughout. On units 377120-140 the 2+2 seating is in the outer end portions of each car with 3+2 seating in the centre portions of each car. On units 377141-164 the 2+2 seating is in the driving cars. There is also 2+2 seating in the outer ends of the intermediate cars, which are otherwise 3+2, however this uses seats as narrow as those in the 3+2 section (albeit with a slight spacer in between effectively increasing the width a fraction). Note that leg spacing is slightly more generous in the outer portions of each car than in the central sections. It appears this latter formula also follows for the dual voltage (377201-215) units. The seating plan for the 377/4 units is not currently known. Selective door opening tests on South Central commenced on 24th March 2003. Test trips using dual voltage units between Victoria, Kensington Olympia and North Pole Junction. commenced in November 2003 followed by some workings between Euston and Watford in February 2004. |
| On 9th July 2003 South Central 375313 formed the 1:51pm
departure from Chichester to Brighton.
photograph by Colin Duff |
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375316 working the 2:30pm departure to Brighton from Havant on
9th July 2003.
photograph by Colin Duff |
| 375310 forms the fast service from Hastings to London while 4
Cig 1842 forms the stopping service to London Charing Cross on 15th November
2003.
photograph by Paul Ferbrache |
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Underframe and bogie detail on one DMSO of 375316.
photograph by Colin Duff |
| New Electrostar units 375902/905/907 approaching Wandsworth
Road on 2nd April 2004 with a service from Victoria.
photograph by Paul Ferbrache |
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Two more new sets of Electrostars, 375913/903 approaching
Wandsworth Road under the evening sun on 2nd April 2004, also with a service
from Victoria.
photograph by Paul Ferbrache |
All photographs are copyright
This page was last updated 15 May 2004
