| British Rail Class 377 Electrostar | |
|---|---|
 ASouthern Class 377/6 atBattersea Park in 2014 | |
 The interior of a Southern Class 377/4 | |
| In service | May 2003 – present |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier Transportation |
| Built at | Derby Litchurch Lane Works |
| Family name | Electrostar |
| Replaced | Class 313 |
| Number built | 211 units (excluding 28375/3 conversions) |
| Successor | Class 700 (Thameslink) |
| Formation |
|
| Owners | Porterbrook[1] |
| Operators | |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 20.4 m (66 ft11+1⁄8 in) |
| Width | 2.80 m (9 ft2+1⁄4 in) |
| Height | 3.78 m (12 ft4+7⁄8 in) |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Traction motors | 4–8 × 200 kW (270 hp) |
| Power output |
|
| Electric system(s) |
|
| Current collection |
|
| Coupling system | Dellner |
| Multiple working | Within class,Class 378[2] andClass 379[2] |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge |
TheBritish Rail Class 377Electrostar is a British dual-voltageelectric multiple unit passenger train (EMU) built byBombardier Transportation on itsElectrostar platform atDerby Litchurch Lane Works from 2001 to 2014.
The trains work suburban services inSouth London, and main-line commuter services toSussex,Surrey,Kent and the South Coast, on which they replacedClass 421 andClass 423slam-door stock that was more than 40 years old and did not meet modern health and safety requirements. Built in the early 2000s, the units had a troubled introduction: being fully air-conditioned, their higher power consumption compared to the trains they replaced led to major upgrades being required to the 750 VDC third-rail power supply used in the former Southern region.[3] The collapse ofRailtrack following theHatfield rail crash further delayed this upgrade work, and the new stock did not enter squadron service until 2003.
Class 377s are fitted with externalCCTV. There is an open area for wheelchairs, prams and cycles, and both intermediate coaches have toilets. Bodyside power doors are electrically operated, a move away from the air-powered systems of previous generationEMUs. Dual-voltage units are fitted with aBrecknell Willis high-speedpantograph, incorporating a pair ofaerofoils on the pan knuckle to steady the pan head against theOLE contact wire.[4]The configuration of a 5-car Class 377 unit is:
In the 4-car units the driving cars are composite. The first-class saloon is between the driving cab and the first set of passenger doors. 4-car units also do not contain the MOS coach.[citation needed]
The Class 377 useDellner instead ofTightlock couplings originally used on theClass 375s.[5] Southern's 375s were all reclassified to Class 377/3s upon conversion. These reclassified units can still be identified by their 3-car formation. Note thatSoutheastern's 375s (sub-classes 375/3, 375/6, and 375/7) were also later converted from Tightlock to Dellner couplers but were not reclassified. Its sub-class 375/8 and 375/9 units were fitted with Dellner couplers, as built.[6]
All units can receive power viathird-rail pick-up which provides 750 VDC. There are eight pick-up shoes per unit (twice the number of previous generation 4-car electric multiple units), and this enables them to ride smoothly over most third-rail gaps. The units in the 377/2, 377/5 and 377/7 sub-classes are dual-voltage, and are fitted with a pantograph to pick up 25 kVAC fromoverhead lines. On these units (and on single-voltage sub-class 377/6), the shoe mechanism is air-operated so that when powered down, or working on AC overhead lines, the shoe is raised out of the way. This is used on trains fromHemel Hempstead toClapham Junction, which use part of theWest Coast Main Line between Hemel Hempstead andWillesden Junction, and then theWest London Line towards Clapham Junction. These trains change to third-rail DC supply on a dual-voltage section of the West London line north of Shepherd's Bush.[7] Since March 2009, dual-voltage Class 377 units operated someThameslinkBedford toBrighton,Rochester andAshford services (see below). The Bedford to Brighton services are now run byClass 700s, while the Class 377/5s themselves are now operated by Southeastern.
Among the remaining units, the trailer coach in each unit has a recess in its roof where apantograph could be fitted, to allow for future conversion to overhead AC power.[citation needed]
In December 2016Southeastern (Govia) received 8 units (377501-377508), transferred fromThameslink. In September 2017 these were joined by an additional 17 units (377509-523 & 377163/164)
Southeastern is also set to receive 13Class 377/1s (377121-133) fromSouthern to replace ageingClass 465 units, with 377121 and 377122 in passenger service since 2 January 2025.[8]
In April 2007, as part of the Route Utilisation Strategy for theBrighton Main Line, it was announced that Southern would procure an additional 48 Class 377 carriages to replace an identical number ofClass 319 carriages (12 x 4-car units) due to be transferred toFirst Capital Connect.[9] Eleven further dual-voltage units were then added to the order, making a total of 23. The units were commissioned at Southern's Selhurst depot in Croydon before being transferred to First Capital Connect'sBedford Cauldwell depot. The first of these, unit 377501, was delivered to Cauldwell depot on 27 February 2009 after making its first appearance through theThameslink Central London core. The 377/5s operated mainly on Bedford to Brighton services but in the peaks formed part of First Capital Connect's andSoutheastern's joint service to places such as Rochester and Ashford.
Delays in the construction of the Class 377/5s for First Capital Connect saw the temporary transfer of eight of Southern's Class 377/2s to FCC to enable it to implement the planned timetable changes on 22 March 2009. The loss of these units until September 2009 was covered by the temporary cascade of a number ofClass 350/1s to Southern fromLondon Midland, which operated services between East Croydon and Milton Keynes.[10]
In September 2011, it was announced that Southern had begun the procurement of 130 vehicles, due to delays in the procurement of newThameslink rolling stock that would prevent transfer of the 377/5s in time for the December 2013 timetable change.[11] The contract was awarded to Bombardier in December 2011.[12][13] The additional eight five-car units (from an option in the contract for 40 additional vehicles) are dual-voltage and known as Class 377/7.[14]
In December 2011, three Class 377/2 units were transferred fromSouthern toFirst Capital Connect to allow more 12-car services to operate.[15]
During mid-2013, the first of the new Class 377/6s arrived from Derby for type testing, and since October 2013, these units have been used in passenger service, initially in peak-hour services on theSutton and Mole Valley lines,Epsom Downs Branch,Tattenham Corner Line and theCaterham Line.[citation needed]
Southeastern received 25 Class 377 units (the 23 Class 377/5s and 2 Class 377/1s) in recent years,[when?] as specified in Department for Transport documents, published in September 2013, relating to the new combined Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern Franchise.[16]
Porterbrook is funding the £55 million five-year Project Aurora programme to refurbish 214 Class 377 Electrostars operated on Southern services.[17] The work started in 2020 and is being done at Selhurst depot. 377 430 was the first unit to be completed in early 2021.[18] Changes include the installation of screens showing live GTR and London Underground service information, the provision of USB and power points, energy-saving LED lighting and a passenger-counting system which will enable GTR to analyse how busy individual services are.[19]
In 2016, 19 of the 23 Class 377/5 units were planned to be transferred to Great Northern, for use on non-stop London-Cambridge services. However, the 29 formerThameslinkClass 387/1s were transferred, instead.[20] The Class 377/5s were later transferred toSoutheastern, as part of their requirement for additional capacity.
| Class | Operator | No. built | Year built | Cars | Unit nos. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 377/1 | Southern | 54 | 2002–03 | 4 | 377101-377120, 377131-377164 | Allthird-rail routes. 377163 and 377164 transferred from Southeastern to Southern on 15 May 2022, following the retirement of the Class 455s.[21] |
| Southeastern | 10 | 377121-377126-377127, 377129[22] | Transferred from Southern[23][24][25] | |||
| 377/2 | Southern | 15 | 2003–04 | 377201-215[26] | Dual-voltage units. These are used on Metro routes in South London and occasionally main line workings to the South Coast. | |
| 377/3 | 28 | 2001–02 | 3 | 377301-328[26] | 3-car units converted fromClass 375 Nos. 375311-338 by having their Tightlock couplers replaced by Dellners. Originally used on Coastway services but later moved to London suburban services, being partly replaced byClass 313s, although many have now returned to Coastway workings following the retirement of Class 313s. | |
| 377/4 | 75 | 2004–05 | 4 | 377401-475[26] | All third-rail routes. 377442 returned back to /4 status Mid July 2021 after spending years as a 377/3. | |
| 377/5 | Southeastern | 23 | 2008–09 | 377501-523[26] | Dual-voltage units. All units were transferred from Thameslink to Southeastern during 2016–17 to bolster their existing Class 375 fleet. | |
| 377/6 | Southern | 26 | 2012–13 | 5 | 377601-626[26] | Used on London suburban routes, extending as far as Dorking and Horsham, as well as Tattenham Corner/Caterham services, splitting and attaching at Purley. Run to Brighton at weekends. Also used on the East/West Coastway during events such as the Eastbourne Airshow. |
| 377/7 | 8 | 2014 | 377701-708[26] | Dual-voltage units. Used on the East Croydon – Watford Junction services, and metro duties shared with the 377/6s.[27] The 8 sets were built as 5 car units with dual voltage configuration, costing circa £60 million in total, and they were delivered during 2014 for service entry in December of that year. |
On 28 November 2016, a fire broke out in the MOSL car of a Southern Class 377 (unit 377442) at Eastbourne station, causing damage to the ceiling and interior. The cause was later identified to be faulty wiring within a hand dryer located in the toilet.[28]
On 17 February 2018, a 377 (unit 377454) hit a car on a level crossing atBarns Green nearHorsham. The two occupants of the car died at the scene.[29]
On 8 May 2019, 377142 collided with thebuffer stop atLondon Victoria station.[30]
On 23 August 2020, 377317 was derailed at the exit of theTonbridge Jubilee Sidings.[31]
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