British Rail Class 360

British Rail Class 360 Desiro
A Heathrow Connect Class 360/2 Desiro
300px The interior of a Heathrow Connect Siemens Class 360/2 Desiro EMU
In service	12 August 2003 - Current
Manufacturer	Siemens
Family name	Desiro
Constructed	2002 - 2005 2007 - 2008 (Thailand)
Number built	26 trainsets
Formation	3/4/5 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	360101 - 360121 360201 - 360205
Capacity	16 First, 264 Standard (360/1) 16 First, 324 Standard (360/2)
Operator(s)	Abellio Greater Anglia Heathrow Express Heathrow Connect State Railway of Thailand
Specifications
Car length
Width
Height	?
Maximum speed	100 mph (161 km/h)
Weight	170 tonnes (167 long tons; 187 short tons)
Power output
Acceleration	0.98 m/s2
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC Overhead
Current collection method	Pantograph
Braking system(s)	Air, regenerative
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Class 360 electric multiple-unit passenger trains were built by Siemens in two sub-types from 2002–2003 and 2004-2005. These units are part of the Siemens Desiro family.

The Siemens "Desiro UK" family also includes units of Classes 185, 350, 380, 444 and 450.

Description

Unlike the South West Trains and West Coast Main Line Desiros, the Class 360 lacks inter-unit gangways. This was a late design change, as the Health and Safety Executive was not happy with the driver's visibility with the previous design's gangway cab for Driver Only Operation.

The Class 360 has air conditioning, rapid acceleration technology, and a top speed of 100 mph (161 km/h).

The Class 360 can achieve 0–60 mph (0–97 km/h) in about 45 seconds, making it the fastest accelerating train in the Abellio Greater Anglia fleet.

Current operations

United Kingdom

Abellio Greater Anglia

First Great Eastern ordered 21 4-car units to replace its elderly Class 312 slam-door units. They entered service in August 2003, and by mid-2004 had completely replaced the old trains. They are primarily used on London Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea, Ipswich and Colchester Town services. They also run to Walton-on-the-Naze at peak times.

They do not run to Southend, Upminster, and Southminster due to restrictions and driver knowledge; they run to Braintree only in the weekday morning peaks. In April 2004 FirstGroup lost the franchise to the National Express Group, which operated the Great Eastern routes as part of its National Express East Anglia franchise. The franchise is now operated by Abellio Greater Anglia. Though operated by Abellio Greater Anglia, the Class 360 is not maintained by the franchise but is under contract from Siemens for routine maintenance at Ilford Depot near London.

All trains retain the blue First Great Eastern livery with vinyls removed. A white stripe was added in 2008 when the franchise was rebranded from One to National Express. 360115 was re-liveried into National Express livery by application of a vinyl wrap; this was removed by Abellio Greater Anglia in May 2012.

The toilets are being re-fitted with new flooring and repainted panels. All 21 trains were overhauled beneath the solebar at Northampton Depot.

Heathrow Connect

Heathrow Connect runs five 5-car units operating London Paddington-Heathrow Airport stopping trains. They entered service on 12 June 2005. These units were originally intended as Class 350s for prospective spot hire. In 2010, one unit (360205) was transferred to Heathrow Express to operate its Heathrow Terminal 4 shuttle service.

Thailand

Nine Desiro Class 360/2 units have been supplied for the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link (SARL) in Thailand. Four are four-car sets for Express services running non-stop from City Air Terminal at Makkasan to the airport. Another five sets are three-cars for City Line Service stopping at all stations from Phayathai to the airport. The air-conditioning system on these trains is designed for the Thai climate, and the roof-mounted equipment pods are much larger than those on the UK units.

Fleet details

Class	Cars per Set	No. Built	No. Range	Operator	Year Built	Remark
Class 360/1	4	21	360101-360121	Abellio Greater Anglia	2002–2003
Class 360/2	5	4	360201-360204	Heathrow Connect	2004–2005
		1	360205	Heathrow Express
Class 360 Thailand	4	4	1012-1014-1013-1011 1022-1024-1023-1021 1032-1034-1033-1031 1042-1044-1043-1041	State Railway of Thailand	2007–2008	for Express Line service
	3	5	2012 - 2013 - 2011 2022 - 2023 - 2021 2032 - 2033 - 2031 2042 - 2043 - 2041 2052 - 2053 - 2051			for City Line service

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Gallery

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  First Great Eastern liveried Class 360/1 EMU No. 360109 calls at Marks Tey, with a service bound for London Liverpool Street

• 360115 B DMCO 65565 First Class Interior.JPG

  The interior of First Class cabin aboard a Siemens Class 360/1 Desiro EMU

• Class 360 interior.JPG

  The interior of Standard Class accommodation aboard a Siemens Class 360/1 Desiro EMU

• 360115 A London Liverpool Street.JPG

  The only Siemens Class 360/1 Desiro EMU in National Express East Anglia livery was No. 360115 and is seen departing London Liverpool Street, with a service bound for Clacton. When Abellio Greater Anglia took over the franchise, it was reverted to the white stripe livery.

• 360114 Greater Anglia.JPG

  Class 360/1 Desiro EMU in unbranded First Great Eastern livery with Abellio Greater Anglia white stripe added on the side at London Liverpool Street

• 360203 A London Paddington.JPG

  Brand new Heathrow Connect Siemens Class 360/2 Desiro EMU No. 360203 at London Paddington, in the dedicated platform for Heathrow Connect services

• 

  The final member of the Heathrow Connect Siemens Class 360/2 Desiro EMU No. 360205 arrives at Southall, with a service bound for London

• 

  Desiro built for use on the Suvarnabhumi Airport Link in Thailand

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  Inside Desiro Class 360/2 Suvarnabhumi Airport Link City Line Train