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Revision as of 20:53, 14 February 2023

British Rail Class 508
Merseyrail Class 508 at Hightown
The interior of a Merseyrail-refurbished Class 508 unit
In service1979 - Present
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Order no.
  • DMSO vehicles: 30979
  • TSO vehicles: 30980
  • BDMSO vehicles: 30981[1]
Built atHolgate Road, York
Family nameBREL 1972
ReplacedClass 503
Constructed1979–1980
Entered service17 December 1979
Refurbished
Number built43
Number scrapped16
Successor
Formation
  • As built, 4 cars per unit:
  • DMSO-TSO-TSO-BDMSO
  • After 3-car conversion:
  • DMSO-TSO-BDMSO[1]
Diagram
  • DMSO vehicles: EA208
  • TSO vehicles: EH218
  • BDMSO vehicles: EI203[1][2]
Design code4PER[3]
Fleet numbers
  • 508001–508043
  • 508101–508143
  • 508201–508212[4]
Capacity
  • As built: 320 seats
  • As three-car: 234 seats
  • Three-car modified: 222 seats
  • 508/2 units: 219 seats
  • As refurbished: 192 seats
OwnersAngel Trains[5]
Operators
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe and body frame, aluminium body and roof[2]
Train length
  • Three-car: 199 ft 7 in (60.83 m)
  • Four-car: 264 ft 10 in (80.72 m)[4]
Car length20.18 m (66 ft 2 in)[7]
Width2.82 m (9 ft 3 in)[7]
Height3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)[2]
Floor height1.146 m (45.1 in)[2]
Doors
  • Double-leaf sliding
  • (2 per side per car, electro-pneumatically actuated)
Wheelbase14.170 m (46.49 ft) (between bogie centres)[2]
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)[1]
Weight
  • DMSO: 36.15 t (35.58 long tons; 39.85 short tons)
  • TSO: 26.72 t (26.30 long tons; 29.45 short tons)
  • BDMSO: 36.61 t (36.03 long tons; 40.36 short tons)
  • Total: 104.5 t (102.8 long tons; 115.2 short tons)[1]
Traction motors
Power output656 kW (880 hp)
HVACElectric heating (ducted warm air)[2]
Electric system(s)750/850 V DC third rail[1][2]
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
BogiesBREL BX1[1][2]
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic disc and rheostatic[1][4]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemTightlock
Multiple working
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
The TSO vehicles, removed as part of three-car conversion, were inserted into Class 455/7 units.[1]

The British Rail Class 508 (or 4PER) electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains were built by British Rail Engineering Limited, at Holgate Road carriage works, York, in 1979–80. They were the fourth variant of BR's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes (313/314/315/507/508). They have worked mostly on the Merseyrail network since 1983 and continue to do so, having been refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works. The Class 508 unit is now 45 years old.

Description

The class was developed for Merseyside, following extensive trials and testing of the 4Pep/2Pep stock that was built in the early 1970s. Testing of Class 313 took place on the Northern Line on Merseyside, using 313013/063[9] which were loaned from the Great Northern Line of the Eastern Region[10] to Hall Road TMD. Original plans were drawn up for 58 Class 508s to be constructed,[10] although costing issues limited the eventual number to 43. However, following planning and building, British Rail decided to divert the 508s to work alongside much older first-generation 4Sub EMUs in the London Waterloo area. The first unit was delivered to Strawberry Hill depot on 9 August 1979.[10] Based at Wimbledon Traincare Depot, they soon became problematic due to their non-standard dimensions and brake problems caused by leaf fall.[10][11]

Once a new build of Class 455 EMUs was completed, the Class 508s were sent slowly to their originally intended home on the Merseyrail network. Driver training began at Kirkdale on 17 February 1982[12] and the first Class 508 began service on the Northern Line the following month.[12] The first Wirral Line service commenced on 8 June 1984[12] and the Class 508s had completely displaced the Class 503 fleet by the end of March 1985.[12] The fleet was then working in parallel with the already well-established fleet of Class 507 EMUs across the River Mersey, which had been working on Merseyside since 1978.

Delivered to the Southern Region as four-car sets numbered 508 001–043, all of the sets were reduced to three cars for Merseyside operation by the removal of one trailer and were renumbered as 508/1. The individual passenger door controls were plated over before they were sent north. The spare trailer car from each set was incorporated into class 455/7 EMUs. Carriage numbering is as follows:

  • 64649-64691 - DMSO
  • 71483-71525 - TSO
  • 71526–71568 – TSO (removed before transfer to Merseyside)
  • 64692-64734 - BDMSO

Current operations

Merseyrail

Merseyrail operates 25 508s, which are used interchangeably between the Northern Line and the Wirral Line. They commonly work the following services:

Merseyrail's fleet of Class 508 units are primarily maintained at Birkenhead North TMD, with minor maintenance being undertaken at Kirkdale TMD. The units, when out of service, have stabling points at various sidings around the Merseyrail network. These can be found at the station termini and the depots, as well as at Rock Ferry station and Birkenhead North station.

Past operations

Southeastern

Connex South Eastern leased twelve Class 508s freed up by capacity reductions on Merseyrail services in 1996 (508101/105/106/107/109/113/116/119/121/129/132/133), for operation on specific Kent services that would replace slam-door 4CEP units.[13] They were refurbished at Eastleigh Works, including the installation of 2+2 seating and wheel-in cycle racks in the centre cars, and reclassified as the Class 508/2 (508201-212).[14] Their main duties included London Bridge to Tunbridge Wells, Paddock Wood to Strood, Maidstone West to Three Bridges and Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea, as well as Grove Park to Bromley North for a short period. Units were based at Gillingham Depot.

Due to their comfort and ride quality, alongside the lack of toilets and first class facilities, which were felt as a downgrade from the slam-door units they replaced, the Class 508s were unpopular with passengers. In 2005, one unit (508208) was refurbished by interim operator South Eastern Trains to improve external appearances, with a black, white and yellow livery.

In September 2006 new operator Southeastern announced that a cascade of rolling stock would see Class 466 units replace the 508s on the Sheerness and Medway Valley lines in the December 2006 timetable.[15] Following this timetable change, the fleet's diagrams were reduced to six serviceable units, resulting in five sets being placed in "warm store" at Ashford Chart Leacon, and one unit (508212) was cannibalised. With the transfer of the Tonbridge to London via Redhill services to Southern, Southeastern placed its remaining 508s in store in December 2008.[16]

Silverlink/London Overground

Silverlink leased three 508/0s in 2003 for operation on the Watford DC Line to assist its fleet of Class 313 EMUs.[8] They were modified to make them inter-operable with 313s and were reclassified as Class 508/3.[8] These were withdrawn following the delivery of Class 378 Capitalstar units, and the 508/3s were scrapped in 2013.[8]

Fleet information

A Class 508 at Hampton Court in 1984, with its original number and livery.


Class Operator Number Year Built Cars per Set Unit nos. Notes
Class 508/1 Merseyrail 23 1979–1980 3 508103–508104, 508108, 508111–508112, 508114–508115, 508117, 508120, 508122–508128, 508130–508131, 508136–508139, 508141 Converted from 508/0 in 1984–1985[17]
Scrapped 4 508110, 508134, 508140, 508123
Class 508/2 Scrapped 9 508202–508208, 508210–508211 Converted from 508/1 in 1998[17]
Other 3 2/4 508201 & 508209 (1 coach from each set in departmental use) (Arlington Fleet Services, Eastleigh), 508212 (Fire Service College, Long Marston)
Class 508/3 Scrapped 3 3 508301–508303 Converted from 508/1 in 2002–2003[17]

Network Rail's Route Utilisation Strategy for Merseyside has called for an expansion to Merseyrail's current fleet to allow for both additional services and lengthening of trains to six cars. In December 2009 it was reported by various sources that the former Southeastern and London Overground units would be transferred to Merseyrail.[18][19]

Liveries

London Overground Class 508 at London Euston in Silverlink Metro livery.

Class 508s have appeared in many colours over their lifetimes, more so than any EMU of similar type.[citation needed]

  • BR Blue and Grey (1979–1997): the initial livery lasted until well into their careers on Merseyside. The units also carried the MPTE 69 logo and Merseyrail branding on the driver's side of the outer ends of the driving vehicles after transfer to Merseyside.[citation needed]
BR Corporate Livery 1979 - 1997
  • Merseyrail Original (1992–2001; repaints 2002–2004): yellow with white around the windows and black and grey stripes, exclusive to Merseyside EMUs.[citation needed]
  • Connex Yellow and White (1996–2006): white with yellow effects down the sides.[citation needed]
Connex South Eastern livery 1996 - 2006
  • Merseyrail Revised (2000–2004): a lighter yellow, and no black stripe.[citation needed]
  • Merseyrail trial liveries (2001): One car of 508123 used for testing new liveries on each side of the carriage.[20]
  • Merseyrail Refurbished (2003–2015): silver, with vertical curved yellow stripes receding from the cab ends. The passenger doors were all yellow, introduced as a safety measure by Merseyrail. 'M' branding on the front ends and the sides, and a Merseyrail vinyl.[citation needed] The vinyl was purchased without graffiti protection, and so it does not wear well if vandalised. Several sets are run with their 'M' logos missing or worn away.[citation needed]
Merseyrail Refurbished 2003 - 2015
  • Silverlink Metro (2003–2007): purple, green and yellow, applied when they were modified in 2003.[citation needed]
Silverlink livery 2003 - 2007
  • South Eastern Trains (2005–2006): white with yellow and black side stripes. Unit 508208 was one of the first to receive this, in May 2005.[citation needed]
  • Southeastern (April 2006 – December 2008): white, black and grey as carried by the 465/466 fleet, with the doors in corporate lilac.[citation needed]
South Eastern livery, 2006 - 2008
London Overground livery, 2007 - 2010
  • Merseyrail Capital of Culture (2008–2009): based around the Merseyrail Refurbished livery, with overlain graphics. One of the four sets in the promotional Capital of Culture liveries[21] is 508134, with the theme of creativity with a purple background. Photographs depicted focus on some of the culture of Liverpool, such as the SuperLambBanana.
The Beatles Story liveried Class 508 at Hillside railway station.
Merseyrail Good Communications liveried Class 508
  • Merseyrail The Beatles Story (since October 2011): blue background, with mainly-white text and graphics, advertising The Beatles Story exhibition at the Albert Dock in Liverpool. The passenger doors are all yellow, as a safety measure which was introduced, previously, by Merseyrail. The livery is applied as a vinyl skin.[22] This livery is unique to unit number 508111.
  • Merseyrail Good Communications (since January 2014): six different designs, half with a yellow background, and half with a brushed metal background, applied with each set having one yellow side and one brushed metal side.[23] Both sides have lifestyle text, in a rounded font, and graphics along a lower railway map-type stubbed stripe. The passenger doors are white on the yellow sides and yellow on the brushed metal sides. There is Merseyrail 'M' branding on each of the passenger doors, as well as on the cab fronts. The livery is applied as a vinyl skin.[24]

Naming

Named units are as follows:[25]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 21 April 1982, 508031 was running the 06:34 service from London Waterloo crashed at Shepperton, demolishing barriers and a wall. The train also slid into some new pedestrian crossing lights, rendering them unusable. The crash was initially believed to be the result of braking tests the previous night, which involved applying grease to the tracks, and that the grease may not have been sufficiently cleaned off, however it was later found that the train's brakes were faulty. [27]
  • In 1987, a Class 508 unit collided with the buffer stop at Kirkby.[28]
  • On 26 October 2005 508124, forming 2W43 1706 West Kirby return via Liverpool Lime Street, derailed 200m short of Liverpool Central, caused by track gauge widening due to poor track condition. There were no serious injuries. The RAIB report[29] cited incompatibility between Class 508 (and 507) EMUs and the Liverpool Loop track as a causal factor, along with maintenance and other track design concerns.
  • On 6 March 2007 a 508/3, forming the 0500 Tonbridge to Gatwick Airport, derailed near Crowhurst, Surrey, after hitting a fallen tree on the line. None of the eight people on board were hurt.[30]

Replacement

On 14 May 2012, Merseytravel announced that it was beginning a project for replacement of the 508s and 507s.[31][32] The lease on the Class 507s and 508s had been extended to 2018. As part of the agreement with Angel Trains, the fleet received a refresh package including external re-livery, internal enhancements and engineering work.[33]

On 11 January 2016 Merseytravel announced the short list of companies bidding to build new trains which will replace the Class 507 and Class 508s on the Merseyrail network.[31] In December 2016, Merseytravel announced that Stadler had won the £460 million contract and that the new Class 777 trains were to be delivered from summer 2019 with all the old trains replaced by 2021.[34]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Fox 1994, p. 86
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electric Multiple Units (Including A.P.T.) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1981. p. EA208, EH218, EI203. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Marsden 1982, pp. 4, 6
  4. ^ a b c d "Class 508". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ Sherratt, Philip, ed. (2023). "ROSCO Fleets". Modern Railways: Review 2023. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 18–19. ISBN 978-1-80282-569-5.
  6. ^ Maund 2001, p. 78
  7. ^ a b "Class 507/8 - Angel Trains". angeltrains.co.uk. Archived from the original on 4 September 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d Llewelyn, Hugh (15 April 2016). EMUs a History. ISBN 9781445649832. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. ^ Cadwallader & Jenkins 2010, p. 42
  10. ^ a b c d Maund 2001, p. 82
  11. ^ "Readers' round-up". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. February–March 1982. p. 51. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  12. ^ a b c d Maund 2001, p. 85
  13. ^ "Class 508". Kent Rail. Archived from the original on 27 November 2015. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Farewell Class 508s - The Final Months - Introduction". Southern Electric Group. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  15. ^ "New Southeastern timetable begins in December". 5 September 2006. Archived from the original on 6 October 2006. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  16. ^ "It's all change as new trains spark 'cascade'". Railnews. 2 December 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  17. ^ a b c Marsden 2011, p. 268
  18. ^ Broadbent, Steve (December 2008). "Merseyside RUS addresses serious growth issues". Rail. No. 607. Peterborough. pp. 10–11. ISSN 0953-4563.
  19. ^ "North Wales Coast Railway Noticeboard". Charlie Hulme. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  20. ^ Maund 2001, p. 83
  21. ^ "Trains take fast track to Capital of Culture". Wirral Globe. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  22. ^ "Stewart Signs wrap The Beatles Story train for Merseytravel's ultimate Ticket to Ride!". Stewart Signs. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  23. ^ "New Look Trains". Merseyrail. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  24. ^ "Good Communications designs new-look Merseyrail trains". Prolific North. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  25. ^ "The Encyclopaedia of Modern Traction Names". Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  26. ^ "The Encyclopedia of Modern Traction Names: C". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  27. ^ "The Shepperton Train Crash | Shepperton Matters". www.villagematters.co.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  28. ^ "Buffer stop collision at Kirkby, Merseyside, 13 March 2021" (PDF). Rail Accident Investigation Branch. 11 August 2022.
  29. ^ "Derailment near Liverpool Central underground station 26 October 2005". RAIB. 11 August 2006. Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  30. ^ "Train derails after hitting tree". BBC News. 6 March 2007. Archived from the original on 25 March 2007. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
  31. ^ a b "Another step towards new Merseyrail trains as bidder shortlist announced". Merseytravel. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Merseyrail trains to be replaced". BBC News. 14 May 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  33. ^ Hodgson, Neil (1 May 2014). "Best Merseyrail service for two years". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  34. ^ Houghton, Alistair (16 December 2016). "Merseytravel reveals new £460m train fleet plans - with no train guards". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2017.

Sources

  • Cadwallader, Jonathan; Jenkins, Martin (2010). Merseyside Electrics. Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711034174. OCLC 455806364.
  • Fox, Peter (1994). Electric Multiple Units. British Railways Pocket Book No.4 (7th ed.). Platform 5. ISBN 9781872524603.
  • Marsden, Colin (1982). Motive Power Recognition:2 EMUs (1st ed.). Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-1165-6.
  • Marsden, Colin J. (2011). Traction Recognition (2nd ed.). Ian Allan. ISBN 9780711034945. OCLC 751525080.
  • Maund, T.B. (2001). Merseyrail Electrics: The Inside Story. NBC Books. OCLC 655126526.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Rail Class 508.
  • Hilbert, Martyn (2016). Merseyrail Electric. Fonthill Media. ISBN 9781781555132.
  • West, Lee (26 August – 8 September 1998). "Connex '508s' go to work on Isle of Sheppey line". RAIL. No. 338. EMAP Apex Publications. p. 15. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
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