British Rail Class 334

British Rail Class 334 Juniper
SPT-livered Class 334 no. 334015 enters Edinburgh Waverley with Saltire-liveried 334023 behind.
In service	2001 – current
Manufacturer	Alstom
Built at	Washwood Heath, Birmingham
Family name	Juniper
Replaced	Class 303
Constructed	1999 - 2002
Number built	40 trainsets
Formation	3 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	334001 - 334040
Capacity	183 seats
Operators	First ScotRail
Specifications
Car length	21.01 m (68 ft 11 in) 19.94 m (65 ft 5 in)
Width	?
Height	?
Maximum speed	90 mph (145 km/h)
Weight	Total - 124.72 t (122.75 long tons)
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead
Braking system(s)	Air (regenerative)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 334 is a suburban electric multiple unit built by Alstom in Birmingham. They are part of the Juniper family of trains along with Classes 458 and 460. They were built for SPT/ScotRail (when part of National Express Group) outer suburban services in Glasgow, UK. They later became part of First ScotRail/SPT fleet once they took over the franchise in 2004.

History

Their introduction saw the withdrawal of the last of Glasgow's venerable Class 303 "Blue Train" sets which had been in service since 1960. Although delivered to Strathclyde in 1999-2002, they did not enter passenger service until 2001 due to a large number of teething problems (in common with other Juniper-based classes) and technical failures which plagued the new units at their introduction. SPT had ordered 38 Juniper units originally, but two were added to the order as a goodwill gesture due to teething problems.

SPT purchased a total of 40 units, which can be seen in use daily across the SPT electric network. On the maiden run of the units, 334010 and 334020 ran to Gourock. Initially the units ran Ayrshire Coast Line and Inverclyde Line but then become a common sight on the Argyle Line and North Clyde Line.

In December 2010, the Class 334s operated the Ayrshire Coast Line, Inverclyde Line, North Clyde Line and Argyle Line.

By June 2011 the class was substantially replaced by the Class 380 units on the Ayrshire and Inverclyde lines, with only occasional units seen on those routes.

Relivery and Refurbishment

334038 at Edinburgh Waverley having just arrived from Helensburgh Central.

In September 2008, the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all ScotRail trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. Class 334 re-livery began in November 2010 in preparation for the Airdrie to Bathgate reopening.

On 24 August 2011, ScotRail announced plans to refurbish all the fleet, with the project expected to start in November 2011 and take two years to complete. 334020 was the first to be properly refurbished at Kilmarnock's Brodie Rail Works. It was there for 3 months from 3 February 2012 to 2 May 2012.

Accidents

On 16 January 2008, 334017 was involved in a minor collision whilst entering Glasgow Central station. The unit was working the 08:24 Gourock to Glasgow Central service (2G16) when it collided with an empty, stationary Class 318 unit (318267). The train was travelling at less than 4 mph (6 km/h) when the collision occurred. Four passengers were slightly injured; however only one required hospital attention, and was transferred to Glasgow Southern General hospital in a taxi. The unit was undamaged.

Fleet details

Class	Operator	No. Built	Year Built	Cars per Set	Unit nos.
Class 334	First ScotRail South West Trains	40	1999-2002	3	334001 - 334040, 334041 - 334128