| British Rail Class 333 | |
|---|---|
 Class 333 atIlkley in February 2020 | |
 Interior of a refurbished unit | |
| In service | 12 January 2001 – present |
| Manufacturer | CAF |
| Built at | Zaragoza,Spain |
| Replaced | Class 308 |
| Constructed | 2000–2003 |
| Refurbished | 2018–2020 |
| Number built | 16 |
| Successor | Class 382 (Planned)[1] |
| Formation |
|
| Fleet numbers | 333001–333016 |
| Capacity | |
| Owners | Angel Trains |
| Operators | |
| Depots |
|
| Lines served | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel[2] |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2.75 metres (9 ft 0 in)[6] |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (160 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Traction system | SiemensIGBT-C/I[7] E500 D600/860 M5 rdq-1[8] |
| Traction motors | 4×Siemens 1TB2218-0JA03[9] 350 kW asychronous motors (with ZF-Hurth gearboxes[6]) |
| Power output | 1,400 kW (1,900 hp)[10] |
| Acceleration | 0.9 m/s2 (2.0 mph/s)[10] |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV 50 Hz ACoverhead[2] |
| Current collection | Pantograph (Brecknell Willis)[7] |
| Braking system(s) | RegenerativeDisc (Westinghouse)[2][7][11] |
| Safety system(s) | |
| Coupling system | Dellner 10 (Scharfenberg)[2][12] |
| Multiple working | Within class[2] |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
TheBritish Rail Class 333 is a class ofelectric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built byCAF between 2000 and 2003 forNorthern Spirit (later Arriva Trains Northern), with traction equipment supplied bySiemens Transportation Systems. All have passed to subsequent franchises and subsequent operatorsNorthern Rail,Arriva Rail North andNorthern Trains.
In March 1998,Angel Trains ordered 16 three-carriage sets fromSiemens Transportation Systems forNorthern Spirit to replace the slam-doorClass 308s on theAiredale andWharfedale lines fromLeeds toBradford Forster Square,Ilkley andSkipton.[13][14] Construction of the trains was sub-contracted toCAF with Siemens Transportation Systems providing the traction equipment.[15]
The first was delivered toNeville Hill TMD in March 2000.[16][17] The first entered service on 12 January 2001.[18]
In April 2000, a further eight trailer carriages were ordered with funding fromWest Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and inserted into the first eight sets in 2002.[19][20][21] Subsequently a further order was placed with funding from theStrategic Rail Authority to increase the remaining sets to four carriages.[22] These were delivered in 2003.[23]
However, the funding for the fourth carriages in the latter eight sets expired in 2007 and as a consequence of this they could have been removed.[24][25] Had this happened the four-carClass 321s would have been removed from Leeds toDoncaster services. As a result, the fourth cars were funded by theSouth Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, despite not running in South Yorkshire, to ensure that four-car units are available on Doncaster services.[26]
In 2008, all were repainted into a new livery byWabtec atDoncaster Works that incorporated West Yorkshire Metro branding.[27]
When Arriva Rail North was awarded the Northern franchise in December 2015 plans were announced for the replacement of Class 333 units with a new fleet of 3-car trains,[28] though ultimately this did not occur.
Between December 2018 and April 2020, all were refurbished by Chrysalis Rail,Holbeck and repainted intoArriva Rail North and laterNorthern Trains livery.[29][30][31]
In 2022, the 333s started receiving digital upgrades, and these upgrades include added USB power plugs and Digital display screens among other upgrades.[32]
The units are capable of 100 mph (160 km/h),[2][11][33] but the maximum speed on their routes is 90 mph (140 km/h). They have standard class only 2+3 high-density seating, and each set has one toilet.[7]
| Class | Operator | No. built | Year built | Cars per unit | Unit nos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class 333 | Northern Trains | 16 | 2000–2003 | 4 | 333001–333016 |
Two units have previously carried names:
