Abellio Greater Anglia
What operated British Rail Class 315 between Mar 2014 and Jul 2014?
British Rail Class 315 The British Rail Class 315 alternating current ( AC ) electric multiple units ( EMU ) are National Rail units currently in operation on suburban lines in London . They were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road carriage works from 1980 to 1981 , and they were the fifth and final variant of British Rails then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs , which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes ( Class 313/314/315/507/508 ) . They operate on the 25 kV overhead line and work inner-suburban Transport for London-run services on the Shenfield Metro for TfL Rail , on weekdays only . Description . Each complete Class 315 unit is formed of four vehicles with them running for the majority in an 8 car formation with 12 car formations being common if demand is high or the route they are taking is long , such as ones to Southend Victoria or Southminster ( operated by Greater Anglia ) . The vehicles include : Driving Motor Standard Open ( DMSO ) , Pantograph Trailer Standard Open ( PTSO ) , Trailer Standard Open ( TSO ) , and Driving Motor Standard Open ( DMSO ) . Each DMSO carries four traction motors ( 315801-841 originally had Brush TM61-53 and 315842-861 had GEC G310AZ , but these motors are interchangeable and nowadays any type can be found on any unit ) rated at each and a main compressor and air reservoir which carries air for the brakes and suspension . The original pneumatic door system has been replaced by an all-electric door system . The PTSO carries the main and auxiliary transformers , batteries and battery charger , Stone Faiveley AMBR Mk.1 pantograph , vacuum circuit breaker and auxiliary compressor . The TSO carries no equipment other than that which is standard to all coaches . The coaches only contain standard seating and have no toilet facilities . Car numbering is as follows : - 64461-64582 - DMSO - 71281-71341 - PTSO - 71389-71449 - TSO Each four-car set is able to seat 318 passengers . The Class 315 units replaced the Class 306 units . Operations . Historical services . Following the privatisation of British Rail , the Class 315s were divided between First Great Eastern ( 43 units ) and West Anglia Great Northern ( 18 units ) . The leasing company Eversholt Rail Group has owned the entire Class 315 fleet since privatisation . From April 2004 , National Express East Anglia ( NXEA ) ran the inaugural Greater Anglia franchise , which combined the previous operations of both First Great Eastern and West Anglia Great Northern , meaning the two Class 315 fleets were combined . The franchise was initially known as One but was rebranded National Express East Anglia ( NXEA ) in February 2008 . A refurbishment programme commenced from mid-2004 , when National Express East Anglia ( then One railway ) contracted Bombardier to carry out the refurbishment of all 61 units , starting with the ex-First Great Eastern examples . The low-back 3+2 seating is retained , so the capacity stays the same . The Class 315 fleet transferred to new operator Abellio Greater Anglia in February 2012 . Abellio repainted the trains in its own livery , and undertook a refresh of the fleet , including a Passenger Information System and a flexible space for wheelchairs and cycles which includes tip-up seating and call to aid buttons . Abellio used the fleet for local services out of to ( the popular Shenfield Metro service ) on the Great Eastern Main Line and , and on the Lea Valley Lines . They were also seen on the Romford–Upminster line between and , a duty shared with Class 317s . However , until the end of operation by Abellio Greater Anglia , a number of them were found running further afield , running on the Great Eastern and West Anglia Main Lines at peak times only to Bishops Stortford , Broxbourne , Southminster and Southend Victoria . Initially , the Shenfield Metro and Upminster Branch Line services used only units 315801-843 and the Lea Valley Lines only 315844-861 , reflecting the allocations of the former franchises . All 61 units were then used interchangeably , operating out of Ilford EMU Depot . Current services . The current operator of the fleet is TfL Rail , who operate the units on Shenfield metro services on weekdays only . Most of the withdrawn Class 315s were scrapped , but some TfL Rail Class 315s were temporarily moved to London Overground as a temporary measure and were in operation until the Class 710 was fully introduced . Replacement . In July 2015 , TfL confirmed that it would place a £260m order for 45 units Class 710 Aventra trains , which would replace London Overground Class 315 . The Class 710 Aventra would be introduced on the West Anglia Routes , taken over from Abellio Greater Anglia in May 2015 , in 2018 . The first units on the Lea Valley lines entered service on 3 March 2020 after a first attempt on 24 February 2020 . Additionally , TfL Rail Class 315s were replaced by new Class 345 Aventra trains from August 2017 . On 20 October 2018 , the first retired unit , 315850 , was hauled to C F Booth of Rotherham to be scrapped . Fleet details . Named units . Some units have names , these are as follows : - 315817 : Transport for London ( unit scrapped ) - 315829 : London Borough of Havering Celebrating 40 years ( unit scrapped ) - 315845 : Herbie Woodward ( unit scrapped ) - 315857 : Stratford Connections ( denamed )