British Rail Class 350
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The British Rail Class 350 "Desiro" electrical multiple units were built by Siemens AG from 2004-2005. Thirty of these units were built for use by Central Trains and Silverlink on regional express services and Central Trains CityLink services on the southern section of the West Coast Main Line. The "Desiro" family also includes units of Classes 185, 360, 444 and 450.
[edit] Description
These units were originally part of an order for thirty-two 5-car Class 450 units for South West Trains. However, they were never built as such. Of the 160 carriages ordered, 40 were diverted as an additional ten 4-car Class 450 units, and the remaining 120 were modified as thirty 4-car Class 350 units. The main difference in design between Class 350 and Class 450 units is the power source. The Class 450 units operate from 750 V dc from a third rail, whilst the Class 350 units operate from both 25 kV ac from an overhead power supply, and also 750 V dc from a third-rail (although this capacity is not used in service at the present time).
[edit] Current operations
The units are currently in service on Silverlink County services between Northampton and London Euston, and Central Trains services between Birmingham and Northampton via Coventry, a new Birmingham-Preston service (via Crewe and Wigan) and almost all Birmingham - Liverpool services having replaced Class 170 units. Most recently Desiros have taken over some peak services between Birmingham and Walsall.
They are painted in an overall grey livery with blue doors and blue window surrounds. They have the mandatory yellow front-end warning panel required by safety rules.
Every set of doors has its own set of guard operated door controls behind a lockable panel, allowing the guard to check tickets on the train without having to return to a single control position to operate the doors, an important consideration on local services with frequent stops.
Driving cabs have three radio systems - Cab Secure Radio (CSR), National Radio Network (NRN) and the newest system, GSM-R. This allows a great deal of operational flexibility.
Flip Dot destination screens (Passenger Information System - PIDs) are both situated at the Driving Ends and Side of each carriage of the train. LED based PIDs are located inside the carriage.
CCTV is fitted throughout the train.
The Trains are managed at a new purpose built depot at Northampton equipped to maintain the entire Class 350 fleet. The depot is managed by Siemens on behalf of Angel Trains for Central Trains and Silverlink.
With the loss of Virgin services during the peaks for Milton Keynes commuters giving rise to the need for additional capacity on Silverlink and the uncertainty over the West Midlands franchise, the Class 321s remain in service with Silverlink for the foreseeable future.
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