Juniper (train) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alstom Coradia Juniper
Class 460 at London Victoria.
In service	2000 - Present
Manufacturer	Alstom
Family name	Coradia
Constructed	1998-2002
Number built	78 trainset
Operator(s)	South Western Railway Abellio ScotRail
Specifications
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC Overhead lines (334) 750 V DC third rail (458/460)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Coradia Juniper is a special type of electric multiple unit train. It was built by a company called Alstom Transport in Birmingham, England. These trains are used on the railway lines in Great Britain. They are part of the larger Coradia family of trains.

There are currently two main types of Juniper trains. These trains are used by different train companies. In total, 76 of these train units are in service. This includes 36 Class 458 trains and 40 Class 334 trains. All Class 460 trains have now been changed into Class 458/5 trains. These updated trains are used by South Western Railway.

What are Juniper Trains?

Juniper trains are a series of electric trains. This means they get their power from electricity. They do not use diesel fuel like some other trains. They are called "multiple units" because each train is made up of several connected carriages. These carriages can all be driven from one control cabin.

These trains are designed for passenger service. They help people travel across different parts of the country. They are known for being part of the modern Coradia family of trains. This family also includes diesel trains.

Types of Juniper Trains

The Juniper family includes a few different types of trains. Each type is given a special class number. These numbers help identify them easily.

Class 458 Trains

The Class 458 trains were first built for South West Trains. They were designed to run on lines that use a "third rail" system. This system provides 750 volts of direct current (DC) electricity. These trains have been updated over time.

Many Class 458 trains have been rebuilt. They are now known as Class 458/5 trains. This update made them more modern and efficient. These rebuilt trains are still used by South Western Railway.

Class 460 Trains

The Class 460 trains were originally built for the Gatwick Express service. This service connects London Victoria to Gatwick Airport. These trains were also electric. They used the same 750-volt DC third rail system.

However, all Class 460 trains have been changed. They are no longer used for Gatwick Express. Instead, they were converted into Class 458/5 units. This means they are now part of the Class 458 family. They now help carry passengers for South Western Railway.

Class 334 Trains

The Class 334 trains are another type of Juniper train. These trains are different because they use a different power system. They get their electricity from overhead lines. This system provides 25,000 volts of alternating current (AC).

Class 334 trains are used in Scotland. They are operated by Abellio ScotRail. They help people travel around the Scottish railway network. These trains show how the Juniper design can be adapted for different power systems.

Train Pictures

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  This is a Class 458/5 train. It shows how the Class 458 and 460 trains were rebuilt.

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  A Class 334 train at Edinburgh Waverley station.

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  A Class 458/0 Juniper train before it was updated.

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  A Class 460 train when it was still used for Gatwick Express.