page_title: British Rail Class 307
section_title: Description
hierarchical_section_title: British Rail Class 307 / Description
caption_attribution_description: English: Refurbished British Railways class 307 train showing the special headboard carried at the launch of the first refurbished train.
context_page_description: The British Rail Class 307 electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh Works from 1954 to 1956. They were initially classified as AM7 before the introduction of TOPS.
context_section_description: Thirty-two of these 4-car units were built for services on the Great Eastern Main Line. The units were constructed to a similar design to the third-rail Class 415 (4EPB) units introduced by the Southern Region a few years earlier. However, there were several differences, most notably a slightly different front cab and a different seating arrangement.
  All units were formed of four cars. When originally built, units were numbered in the range 01s-32s and were composed of two outer driving trailers, an intermediate trailer composite (i.e. with some first-class seating) and an intermediate motor brake. The units were constructed to operate off the 1,500 V direct current (DC) overhead power system used on Eastern Region suburban lines from Liverpool Street to Shenfield and Southend Victoria. However, in the late 1950s / early 1960s, these lines were converted to the 6.25 kV/25 kV alternating current (AC) overhead system, which was adopted as standard and coincided with the introduction of new Class 302 (AM2) units. Therefore, from 1960 to 1962, the entire AM7 fleet was extensively rebuilt at Eastleigh Works to allow units to operate from the new voltage system. The work including moving the guard's compartment from the motor coach to one of the driving trailers. At the same time, units were renumbered into the range 101–132.
  From 1983 to 1984, the fleet was refurbished. Work involved replacing all compartments with open saloons and the fitting of gangways between vehicles within a unit. The first-class seating was also moved from the trailer to the non-brake driving trailer. During this period, units were renumbered under the TOPS system to 307101–307132.
  Details of the vehicle designations are shown below.
caption: Refurbished British Railways Class 307 train showing the special headboard carried at the launch of the first refurbished train.
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