The Class 357 was built to modernise services on the London, Tilbury & Southend line out of London Fenchurch Street [1]. Two batches of this EMU, part of the "Electrostar" family, were built which have the same front end of the Turbostar DMUs like the Class 168. They were built to replace Class 312s and allow other EMUs to be cascaded to other routes.
Information
Number built:
269 (74 4-car sets)
Built:
1999-2002
Builder:
Adtranz / Bombardier
Motor:
Adtranz traction motors (25kV AC OHLE)
Power:
2, 010 hp (1, 500 kW)
Formation:
Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+Motor Standard Open (MSO)+
Pantograph Trailer Standard Open Lavatory (PTSOL)+DMSO
The original batch of 46 sets is known as the 357/0 and were built in the late 1990s though production and reliability problems delayed their entry into service for a number of years. A second batch of 22 sets was ordered to replace the remaining 312s, these are the 357/2s and entered service in the early 2000s.
A number of these have been modified to 357/3 standard which includes more space by changing the 3+2 seating to 2+2 (reducing the number of seats of course) and with a revised interior design. All 357s have been upgraded with regenerative braking.
357 013 at Southend Central
All are operated by c2c, though some have been loaned to NX East Anglia for a time. They are due to be replaced by c2c in the early 2120s though could find new work elsewhere.
357 001 at West Ham
357 021 at Fenchurch St
357 314 at Limehouse
357 208 at Leigh-in-Sea
357 008 passes Shadwell
[1] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 272
