British Rail Class 508 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 508 |
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Class 508 at Liverpool Lime Street
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| 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 |
The British Rail Class 508 is a type of electric train used in the United Kingdom. These trains were built by a company called BREL at their factory in York between 1979 and 1980. They were part of a group of trains designed in 1972 for suburban routes, meaning they were made to carry people on shorter journeys around cities.
Class 508 trains have mostly been used on the Merseyrail network since 1983. They are still running there today, after being updated and improved by a company called Alstom at Eastleigh Works.
Contents
What Are Class 508 Trains?
The Class 508 trains are special because they are electric. This means they get their power from electricity, usually through a "third rail" on the track. They were designed to be part of a family of similar trains, which included the 313, 314, 315, and 507 classes. In total, 43 of these Class 508 train sets were built.
Where Do These Trains Run?
Class 508 trains have worked for different train companies over the years.
- Merseyrail: This is where most Class 508 trains have spent their lives. They have been a key part of the Merseyrail network, serving passengers in the Merseyside area, including Liverpool.
- Southeastern: Some Class 508 trains also ran for Southeastern, serving routes in the south-east of England.
- London Overground: A few of these trains were also used by London Overground, helping people travel around London.
Key Features of the Class 508
These trains were originally built with four cars (sections) per train set. However, most of them were later changed to have three cars.
- Capacity: The trains can carry many passengers. Merseyrail's updated trains have 192 seats, while those used by Southeastern and London Overground had 230 seats.
- Speed: They can reach a top speed of 75 miles per hour (121 kilometers per hour).
- Power: Each train has 656 kilowatts of power, which helps them move quickly along the tracks.
- Refurbishment: Many of the Merseyrail trains were updated between 2002 and 2004. This made them more modern and comfortable for passengers.
See Also
Images for kids
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A Class 508 at Hampton Court in 1984, with its original number and livery.
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London Overground unit 508301 stands at London Euston in Silverlink Metro livery.
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508111 in The Beatles Story livery at Hillside railway station.
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508108 at Moreton displaying one of the Merseyrail Good Communications liveries.
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