British Diesels and Electrics: Class 375 Electrostar

The Class 375 is part of the huge Electrostar family of electric multiple units built in the early 2000s to replace the likes of slap-door stock such as the Class 411 4-CEP on the ex-Southern region third rail DC routes [1]. Most of the Class 375 fleet is third-rail only, though the 375/6 sub-class also has provision for AC overhead electric collection. Twenty eight trainsets have been converted to the Class 377/3 sub-class.

Southeastern 375 629 departs Headcorn

Information
Number built:	438 (10 3- and 102 4-car sets)
Built:	1999-2004
Builder:	Adtranz/Bombardier
Engine:	6 or 4 Adtranz traction motors (750v DC third rail / 25kV AC OHLE)
Power:	375/3 : 1, 341 hp (1, 000 kW) Other subclasses : 2, 012hp (1, 500kW)
Formation:	375/3 : Driving Motor Composite Open (DMCO)+Trailer Standard Open (TSO)+DMCO 375/6 : DMCO+Motor Standard Open (MSO)+Pantograph Trailer Standard Open (PTSO)+DMCO Other subclasses : DMCO+MSO+TSO+DMCO

There are five sub-classes. As mentioned above, the 375/6 is dual-voltage with all others being DC third rail only, the 375/3 are 3-car sets with the other sub-classes all being 4-cars though space has been retained for a pantograph if needed in future.

The 375/9 are high-density sets for outer suburban services with the 375/7 and 375/8 being officially designated as express stock. All Class 375s serve with Southeastern and forms the backbone of their fleet. Southern also did operate the type at one stage though these 375s were converted to Class 377s.