British Rail Class 314
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The British Rail Class 314 is an electric multiple unit train found on the SPT rail network in Central Scotland.
These 16 3-car units were introduced between 1979 and 1980 to operate on the then newly opened Argyle Line, and were used on both this and the North Clyde routes until 2002, when the scrapping of the elderly Class 303 stock led to much stock cascading within the SPT network. The 314 was based on the experimental Class 445 or "PEP" unit, the design of which spawned the sister classes 313 and 315 which were used are used extensively in the London commuter area.
In line with the other PEP-based classes, the 314s consist of two outer motor cars with an unpowered trailer vehicle in the middle, giving a technical description of DMSO+PTSO+DMSO. The coaches are of integral aluminium alloy construction based on a steel underframe. Each 3-car set can seat up to 220, and following the standard practice in the Glasgow suburban sector, peak time services can be formed by operating two units in multiple to form a 6-car train.
Today, they are mostly found working on the Cathcart Circle, Neilston and the Newton line. A small number of units also work Inverclyde Line services to Greenock and Gourock.
The 314 units are now the oldest on the SPT network, and are unique in that they have not yet been internally refurbished (the leading motor coach of unit 314203 was replaced in 1992 by an ex Class 507 coach after the original was destroyed in the Newton rail crash and differs from the other units due to its blue interior compared to the yellow of the others.), whilst units 314208 and 314212 were severely damaged when they were "drowned" in an Argyle Line tunnel following the River Kelvin bursting its banks in torrential rain at the end of 1994.
In May 2006 a limited mechanical refurbishment programme to the units was initiated, with upgraded door mechanisms and upgrades to the electrics and AWS equipment. 314202 lost its classic SPT Orange/Black livery (the last remaining multiple unit in Scotland to carry the old livery) in favour of the current carmine/cream scheme, when it passed through Glasgow's works at the end of November 06.
Much speculation exists over the future of the 314s - some believe that they may be replaced by converted Class 458's (the DC version of the Class 334 "Juniper" units already used elsewhere on the SPT network). Due to high costs in converting the Class 458s and SWT now retaining the Class 458, the Class 314 will be replaced around 2010, by displaced Class 320s. It is expected that the Class 320s will only operate Newton/Neilston/Cathcart Circle services, which will mean a major increase in capacity on this these lines which are constantly overcrowded.
