British Rail Class 373 Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 373 "Eurostar"
A Eurostar train leaving Chambéry in France
In service	Built 1992-1996 In service 1993 - Present
Manufacturer	GEC-Alsthom
Family name	TGV
Number built	31 trainsets (Three Capitals) 7 trainsets (North of London)
Formation	20 cars (Three Capitals) 16 cars (North of London)
Capacity	750 seats (Three Capitals) 558 seats (North of London)
Operator(s)	Eurostar SNCF
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	18.7 m
Width	2.81 m
Maximum speed	334.7 km/h (Record) 300 km/h (Service)
Weight	752 t (Three Capitals, empty) 815 t (Three Capitals, loaded) 665 t (North of London)
Power output	12.2 MW (25 kV) 5.7 MW (3000 V) 3.4 MW (675/750 V)
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC 675/750 V DC 3000 V DC 1500 V DC
Track gauge	Standard gauge - 4 ft 8½ (1,435 mm)

The British Rail Class 373 train, also known as the TGV-TMST, is a special electric multiple unit (EMU). It is famous for being the train that runs Eurostar's high-speed rail service. These trains connect Britain, France, and Belgium. They travel through the amazing Channel Tunnel under the sea.

This train is part of the TGV family, which are very fast French trains. However, the Class 373 was built a bit differently. It has a smaller shape to fit on older British railway lines. It was also designed to work on the UK's special third rail power system. Plus, it has extra fireproofing for safety when it goes through the long Channel Tunnel. It's one of the longest and fastest trains used for passengers in the UK.

What Makes the Eurostar Train Special?
Images for kids
See also

What Makes the Eurostar Train Special?

The Eurostar Class 373 trains are designed for international travel. They can handle different types of railway tracks and power systems. This is important because countries use different ways to power their trains.

How Fast Can the Eurostar Go?

These trains are built for speed!

They can reach a top speed of 300 kilometers per hour (about 186 miles per hour) during normal service.
The fastest speed ever recorded by a Class 373 train was 334.7 km/h (about 208 mph). This shows how powerful they are.

Different Eurostar Train Types

There are two main types of Class 373 trains:

"Three Capitals" trains: These are the longest, with 20 cars. They connect London, Paris, and Brussels. They can carry up to 750 passengers.
"North of London" trains: These are shorter, with 16 cars. They were planned for services to other UK cities but were mostly used for different routes later. They can carry 558 passengers.

Built for Safety and Comfort

The Eurostar trains were built between 1992 and 1996. They started service in 1993 and are still running today. Each train is very long, about 394 meters (1,293 feet). This makes them one of the longest passenger trains.

The trains have special features for safety, especially for the Channel Tunnel. The extra fireproofing helps protect passengers in case of an emergency. This makes traveling through the tunnel very safe.

Powering the Eurostar

The Class 373 trains are electric. This means they get their power from electricity. They can use different types of electricity:

25,000 volts AC (Alternating Current)
675/750 volts DC (Direct Current)
3,000 volts DC
1,500 volts DC

This ability to switch between different power systems allows them to travel across different countries' railway networks without stopping.

Images for kids

Class 373 trains in their original Eurostar colors at the former Waterloo International station.
A Regional Eurostar train at London King's Cross station in 2004.
A Eurostar train working for SNCF passing Étaples - Le Touquet.
A Thalys TGV train with a Eurostar set at Paris (Gare du Nord).
Eurostar trains at London St Pancras International.
A Eurostar train passing Wandsworth Road in London.
A Eurostar train on the LGV Interconnexion Est line in France.
A Class 373 train passing Herne Hill station.
A Eurostar train next to other trains at a Rotterdam Centraal open day in 1996.