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British Rail Class 318

The British Rail Class 318 is an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train which operates in west central Scotland. The units were introduced on 29 September 1986 as part of the electrification of the Ayrshire Coast Line between Glasgow Central and Ayr/Ardrossan with alternating current (AC) overhead lines. Their use was extended to Largs in January 1987. They were also used on the Inverclyde Line in small numbers. The trains currently operate Argyle Line (including services to Lanark from Glasgow Central High Level), Cathcart Circle Line, North Clyde Line, Whifflet Line, Paisley Canal Line and Inverclyde Line services. Following the withdrawal of the Class 314 fleet in 2019, these units are the oldest working EMUs in Scotland, having been in revenue-earning service for more than 37 years.

Background and history

Class 318 at Fairlie in the first month of electric operation
Class 318 in original orange and black Strathclyde Transport livery at Ardrossan Harbour in 1990

Effectively a 3-car version of the Class 317, 21 of these British Rail Mark 3-based units were built by BREL York works between 1985–1986 to replace the elderly Class 101, Class 107, Class 120 and Class 126 diesel multiple units (DMUs) which had worked the Glasgow South Western sector for nearly 30 years. The technical description of the units are DTSO+MSO+DTSO, consisting of a central motor car (with a roof mounted Stone Faiveley AMBR pantograph and four traction motors located under the floor within both bogies (two motors per bogie)) with a driving trailer at either end. The units run on the standard 25 kV AC overhead line system, and are standard-class throughout.

The units have a maximum speed of 90 mph (145 km/h) and up to four sets can be worked in multiple to form a 12-car set, although platforms are capable only of handling 8-car trains. The 318 can also operate in multiple with the slightly newer Class 320 in a six-car formation, regularly used on the North Clyde and Argyle Lines. Upon the introduction of the Class 334s on Ayrshire/Inverclyde routes in 2001, both the 334 and 318 were found operating the North Clyde and Argyle Lines together.

There were two named units: 318259 Citizens' Network and 318266 Strathclyder. Both were denamed during the 2013-2017 refurbishment.

Accidents and incidents

Front view of 318254 shortly after the crash at Largs station

Refurbishment

2005-2007

Class 318 in SPT livery with original front end at Gourock in July 2006
Class 318 with revised front end at Glasgow Central Low Level in 2011

Between 2005 and 2007, all Class 318s underwent a refurbishment by Hunslet-Barclay which involved the removal of the corridor connection on the driving cars allowing the provision of a full-width driver's cab.[11] The passenger accommodation was also improved, with new passenger door controls, a repainted interior, new seat moquette and flooring, and new grab handles. New lighting was also fitted, with similar shades to the Class 320 units along with LED lights for cab indicators and marker lights. New passenger information systems, similar to those seen on other trains, were installed.[11]

In September 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would eventually be repainted in a new blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. Since the units had recently been refurbished and repainted, they would be the last in the EMU fleet to be repainted in Saltire livery. In the interim, all units had their "SPT Rail" naming removed, leaving them with an unbranded SPT livery.

2013-2017

Two Class 318s stand at Partick station wearing both pre and post-refurbishment liveries in 2017.

The Class 318 units received a second refurbishment between October 2013 and October 2017.

The work included:

The refurbishment programme of the Class 318 fleet was completed in October 2017.

2021-2023

The Class 318 units received a third refurbishment between December 2021 and September 2023.[2][3]

This work included:

Fleet details

Vehicle numbering

Individual vehicles are numbered in the ranges as follows:[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Marsden, C. J. (2007). "Class 318". Traction Recognition. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4. OCLC 230804946. OL 16902750M.
  2. ^ a b "Class 318". Units. Rail Express. No. 330. November 2023. p. 21.
  3. ^ a b "Brodie's final refurbished '318' released". Rail Magazine. No. 994. 18 October 2023. p. 18.
  4. ^ a b "Class 318". London: Eversholt Rail. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Class 318". British Rail Motive Power Combined Volume. Shepperton: Ian Allan. 1989. Multiple-Units p. 99. ISBN 978-0-7110-1849-5. OCLC 931408393. OL 32082500M.
  6. ^ Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electric Multiple Units (including A.P.T.) (PDF). Derby: Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Department, British Railways Board. October 1986. EC207, EE227, EE228 (in work pp. 84–85 & 168–171). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  7. ^ firstInsight. First ScotRail. March 2005. {{cite magazine}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ^ Rail Accident Report 04/2009: Derailment near Exhibition Centre station, Glasgow, 3 September 2007 (PDF). Derby: Rail Accident Investigation Branch, Department for Transport. February 2009. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Passengers hurt as trains collide". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 16 January 2008. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Services cancelled after ScotRail train derails". Rail Magazine. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. May 2022. p. 17.
  11. ^ a b "Class 318 C6X Refurbishment". Loughborough: Brush Traction Group. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011.

Further reading