British Rail Class 376

British Rail Class 376 Electrostar
Class 376 passing Wandsworth Road in 2025
The refreshed interior of a Class 376 unit
In service16 August 2004 – present
ManufacturerBombardier Transportation
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family nameElectrostar
Replaced
Constructed2004–2005
Number built36
Formation
  • 5 cars per unit:
  • DMS-MS-TS-MS-DMS
Capacity
  • 222 seats
  • plus 12 tip-up
OwnerEversholt Rail Group
OperatorSoutheastern
Depots
Specifications
Car length
  • DM cars: 19.95 m (65 ft 5 in)
  • MS & TS: 19.69 m (64 ft 7 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Acceleration0.66 m/s2 (1.5 mph/s)
Electric system750 V DC third rail
Current collectionContact shoe
Safety systems
Coupling systemDellner 12
Multiple workingWithin class
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 376 Electrostar is a class of electric multiple unit passenger train that was manufactured by Bombardier Transportation at its Derby Litchurch Lane Works. It is part of the Electrostar family, which are the most common EMUs introduced since the privatisation of British Rail. The units were ordered by Connex South Eastern and introduced in 2004/2005 by South Eastern Trains to replace Class 465 and Class 466, which were transferred to Outer Suburban services to Kent to replace the Class 423 slam-door trains.

Refurbishment

In early 2025 it was announced that all 36 Class 376 units would undergo a mid-life refresh. Changes include a new exterior wrap in the current blue Southeastern livery on the exterior, new LED lighting, refurbished seating, at-seat power, USB sockets and newer, blue paintwork and design in the interior. The work is being conducted at Southeastern's Gillingham and Grove Park depots.

The first partially refurbished unit, 376 027, re-entered service on 16 April 2025 with the unit having been fully refurbished by 27 November 2025.

Maintenance

All Class 376 trains are allocated to Slade Green Depot, but due to the high volume of work there, these trains are sent to Ramsgate EMUD for routine maintenance.

Fleet details

Class Operator No. built Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
376 Southeastern 36 2004–2005 5 376001–376036
Side-profile illustration of a Class 376 unit

Named units

Accidents and incidents

A train formed by units 376 002 and 376 035 was one of eleven trains that stalled and became stranded in the Lewisham area on 2 March 2018. Passengers self-evacuated the train after conditions on board became intolerable due to lack of heating, toilets and communication.

On 10 July 2018, 376 030 partially derailed at Grove Park depot.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Marsden, Colin J. (2007). Traction Recognition. Ian Allan Publishing. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-7110-3277-4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "CLASS 376". Eversholt Rail Group. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  3. ↑ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  4. ↑ "Southeastern marks first major milestone in Class 376 fleet refresh". Southeastern Media Centre. Southeastern Railway. Retrieved 8 October 2026.
  5. ↑ "First fully refreshed Class 376 train comes into customer service". Southeastern (train operating company). Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Southeastern marks first major milestone in Class 376 fleet refresh". Southeastern (train operating company). Retrieved 17 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Pritchard, Robert (February 2025). "Slade Green: maintaining Southeastern's Metro Fleet". Today's Railways UK. No. 276. pp. 38–41.
  8. ↑ "Class 376 Moves to Ramsgate". Southern Electric Group. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Alan Doggett's legacy lives on as son Lee becomes a Southeastern driver". Newcastle upon Tyne: London & South Eastern Railway. 12 March 2025. Archived from the original on 22 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  10. ↑ Butlin, Ashley (June 2026). "Multiple Units". Stock Update. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 172, no. 1503. p. 81.
  11. ↑ Harris, Nigel. "Disastrous disruption plans. Did no one say 'It's nearly three hours - with no toilets'?". Rail Magazine. No. 848. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media Ltd. p. 3. ISSN 0953-4563.
  12. ↑ "Self-detrainment of passengers onto lines that were still electrically live at Lewisham, London 2 March 2018" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  13. ↑ "Report 02/2019: Self-detrainment of passengers onto lines that were still open to traffic and electrically live at Lewisham". Rail Accident Investigation Branch. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  14. ↑ McInerney, Liam (10 July 2018). "Southeastern delays after train derailment at Grove Park". News Shopper. Retrieved 20 September 2018.