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British Rail Class 508 facts for kids

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British Rail Class 508
508141-LiverpoolLS-01.jpg
Class 508 at Liverpool Lime Street
In service 1979 - Current
Manufacturer BREL York
Refurbishment 27 Merseyrail sets 2002-2004
BRML Eastleigh
Number built 43 trainsets
Formation 3 cars per trainset (originally 4 cars)
Capacity 192 seats (Merseyrail refurbished)
230 seats (Southeastern/London Overground)
Operator(s) Merseyrail
Southeastern
London Overground
Specifications
Car length 19.80 m
Width 3.58 m
Height 2.82 m
Maximum speed 75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight 104.5 t
Power output 656 kW
Electric system(s) 750 V DC 3rd rail
Track gauge 1,435 mm
508138 NewBrighton
508138 bearing the 'Revised' livery, one of six 508s to receive this colourful variant.
Norwoodjunction2
A Class 508 in Connex livery leaving Norwood Junction.
Silverlink 508
508301 arrives at London Euston in October 2007, one month before becoming part of the London Overground fleet.
508302 at South Hampstead
A Silverlink 508 at South Hampstead.

The British Rail Class 508 electric multiple units ("EMUs") were built by BREL at York works in 1979-80. They were the fourth variety of BR's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes (313/314/315/507/508). They have mostly worked on the Merseyrail network since 1983, and continue to do so, now refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works.

Related pages

BREL 1972 EMU design
Prototype:
Electric:
Class 313 • Class 314 • Class 315 • Class 507 • Class 508

Images for kids

  • Merseyrail Class 508, 508115, Birkenhead North railway station (geograph 4016710)

    Merseyrail Class 508 No. 508115 at Birkenhead North

  • 21.04.84 Hampton Court 508.018 (6500213341)

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

  • Class 508/1 diagram

    700px

  • Beatles train, Hillside Railway Station (geograph 2993523)

    The train in The Beatles Story livery at Hillside railway station.

  • New Livery Class 508, 508108, Moreton railway station (geograph 4012885)

    508108 at Moreton displaying one of the Merseyrail Good Communications liveries.

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