British Rail Class 322 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 322 |
|
|---|---|
322481 at Drem on a North Berwick to Edinburgh service.
|
|
| In service | 1989 - Current |
| Manufacturer | BRELYork |
| Number built | 5 trainsets |
| Formation | 4 cars per trainset |
| Operator(s) | Greater Anglia |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Weight | Total - 141.8 tonnes |
| Braking system(s) | Air (Westcode) |
The British Rail Class 322 trains are special electric trains. They were built a long time ago, between 1988 and 1990. These trains were made to carry passengers to and from Stansted Airport. They are called "electric multiple units" because they run on electricity and are made of several connected carriages that can move on their own.
Contents
About the Class 322 Trains
The Class 322 trains are a type of electric multiple unit, often called an EMU. This means they are powered by electricity and are made up of several carriages that are permanently joined together. Each carriage can have its own motors, so the train doesn't need a separate engine car. This design is great for passenger services, especially for routes with many stops.
These trains were built by a company called BREL, which stands for British Rail Engineering Limited. They were a big company that built many trains for the UK's railway system. The Class 322s were put together at their factory in York. Only five of these four-carriage trains were ever built.
Their First Job: Stansted Express
The main reason the Class 322 trains were built was for a special service called the Stansted Express. This service connected London Liverpool Street station directly to Stansted Airport. The trains were designed to be fast and comfortable for people traveling to and from the airport. They could reach speeds of up to 100 miles per hour (161 km/h).
Each train had four carriages. They were built to be reliable and efficient for the busy airport route. The Stansted Express was a very important link for travelers, and the Class 322s played a key role in making those journeys smooth.
Life After Stansted Express
After many years of serving the Stansted Express route, the Class 322 trains were eventually replaced by newer trains. However, their journey didn't end there! These trains were still in good condition, so they were moved to other parts of the UK railway network.
For a while, some of these trains were used in Scotland by First ScotRail. They helped carry passengers on routes like the one between Edinburgh Waverley and North Berwick. This showed how versatile and useful these trains continued to be.
Today, some of the Class 322 trains are operated by Greater Anglia. They continue to be a part of the UK's railway system, carrying passengers and proving their long-lasting design. It's pretty cool how trains built in the late 1980s are still running and helping people get around today!
Images for kids
-
The original interior of a Stansted Express Class 322
-
322484 in original livery at Stansted Airport
-
First ScotRail 322485 at Edinburgh Waverley in October 2007
.jpg)
