The Class 314 story

For over 40 years, the ‘314s’ were an everyday sight on the Strathclyde network. David Russell takes a look back at the history of this small fleet, the last examples of which were withdrawn in December.

- David Russell

AN expansion of the rail network in Glasgow in 1979 brought with it a need for additional rolling stock. A fleet of over 100 Class 303 and 311 units already operated on the Strathclyde network, but there were insufficient spare sets available to cover the new services.

The answer to the EMU shortage in Scotland was a fleet of 16 three-car units based on the ‘PEP’ stock that had been developed by British Rail in the early 1970s. These suburban trains had been constructed at York Works between 1970 and 1972 and were trialed in service from 1973. They formed the basis for several fleets of new stock: Classes 313, 314, 315, 507 and 508.

The Class 314s were effectively an AC-only version of the dual-voltage Class 313s, which had been constructed for use on Great Northern suburban services out of King’s Cross and Moorgate in 1976-77. Other differences included a thyristor control system and a slightly lower seating capacity to allow more standing space around the doors. Additionally, problems with the power-operated sliding doors on the ‘313s’ saw the passenger controls, which had taken the form of handles to pull, discontinued. Instead, the train crew released and opened/closed all the doors at each stop, although one unfortunate consequence of this was it meant all doors were opened at every station, even in cold weather when there was nobody to board or alight.

The new units for Glasgow were the third variation of production ‘PEP’ stock to be built at BREL’s York Works. After the construction of the aforementioned ‘313s’ in 1976-77, a batch of third-rail DC-only units were ordered for use in Merseyside, these being the Class 507s. The Class 314 build of 16 units was slotted in among the production of the Merseyrail sets, which began entering service in November 1978 and were completed a year or so later.