British Rail Class 314 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 314 |
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314207 at Gourock railway station.
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| In service | 1979 - Current |
| Manufacturer | BREL York |
| Number built | 16 trainsets |
| Formation | 3 cars per trainset |
| Capacity | 212 seats |
| Operator(s) | Abellio Scotrail |
| Specifications | |
| Car length | 19.80 m |
| Width | 3.58 m |
| Height | 2.82 m |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Weight | 102.5 t |
| Power output | 656 kW |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC Overhead |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge (1,435 mm) |
The British Rail Class 314 is a type of electric train used for passenger services. These trains are known as electric multiple units (EMUs). They were built by a company called BREL at their factory in York, England. Construction happened from 1978 to 1979.
These trains were part of a larger group of similar designs. This design was first created in 1972 for trains that run in and around cities. The Class 314 trains get their power from electricity. They use 25 kV AC electricity from overhead wires. You can find them running on local train lines in Central Scotland. They are part of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport rail network.
Contents
About the Class 314 Trains
The Class 314 trains are a special kind of train. They are called Electric Multiple Units, or EMUs for short. This means they are powered by electricity. Also, they are made up of several connected carriages that can all drive themselves. This is different from a train pulled by a separate engine.
What is an EMU?
An electric multiple unit (EMU) is a train that has its own engines in each carriage. This means it does not need a separate locomotive to pull it. EMUs are very common for passenger services. They are often used for busy commuter routes. They can speed up and slow down quickly.
How They Get Power
The Class 314 trains get their power from overhead wires. These wires carry 25 kV AC electricity. This is a very high voltage. A special arm on top of the train, called a pantograph, touches the wire. This collects the electricity to make the train move.
Where Do They Run?
These trains mainly run on outer-suburban services. This means they connect towns and cities with their surrounding areas. They are a key part of the Strathclyde Passenger Transport rail network. This network serves many places in Central Scotland. They help thousands of people travel every day.
Design and Features
The Class 314 trains were designed to be efficient and reliable. Each train is made up of three carriages. They can carry many passengers, with 212 seats available on each train. They can reach a top speed of 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). This makes them suitable for their suburban routes.
They were built by BREL (British Rail Engineering Limited). This company was a major train builder in the UK. The Class 314 was part of a family of similar trains. This family included the Class 313, 315, 507, and 508. All these trains shared a similar basic design.
Images for kids
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Unit 314202 at Gourock in Strathclyde Partnership for Transport orange and black colours at Gourock in September 2006
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Unit 314207 in SPT red and cream colours at Gourock in May 2006
