Possible Northern New EMU 3xx numbering?

[birchesgreen]

Moderator note - split from:

Possible ScotRail EMU shuffle

I've been speculating on how ScotRail's EMU fleet might be reshuffled once the 41 replacement units for the 318s/320s are in service. AIUI they are to be formed as 5 or 6 car units and my guess is that they will be concentrated on routes currently operated mostly be 6 car 318s/320s/334s and that...

www.railforums.co.uk

Not the main point, but I'd be surprised if 3xx numbering was used. I think 7xx is more likely unless they'll be more Hitachi AT200s (385s/386s/whatever).

The forthcoming Northern EMUs have 3xx numbers too, maybe they are just looking to fill the gaps.

 

[tfw756rider]

The forthcoming Northern EMUs have 3xx numbers too, maybe they are just looking to fill the gaps.

Do they? How did you find that out, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[birchesgreen]

Do they? How did you find that out, if you don't mind me asking?

Latest Modern Railways, the pure EMU is 381 i think, the MMU and BEMU will be 7xx (magazine is not with me so can't look it up!)

 

[tfw756rider]

Latest Modern Railways, the pure EMU is 381 i think, the MMU and BEMU will be 7xx (magazine is not with me so can't look it up!)

Wow, thanks. I better buy a copy! Interesting that 381 will be used, as it was previously a cancelled Networker class. So at least one class number has been decided before a manufacturer/platform has even been picked? That's a new one on me.

 

[birchesgreen]

Found the mag now, sorry misremembered the number slightly! The EMU is 382, MMU is 780 and BEMU 781.

 

[stadler]

Found the mag now, sorry misremembered the number slightly! The EMU is 382, MMU is 780 and BEMU 781.

I wonder if those class numbers are actually confirmed or just numbers made up by Northern for internal purposes or for use on artists impressions. A lot of TOCs have originally classified units as one thing when they were first being procured and then changed it to something else once they started being built.

The TL 700s were originally classified as 300s. The SWR 701s (5car) were originally classified as 705s. The SWR 701s (10car) were originally classified as 711s. The GN 717s were originally classified as 713s. The C2C 720s were originally classified as 711s. The EMR 810s were originally classified as 804s.

So i would not be surprised if these 382 and 780 and 781 classifications end up getting changed by time they start being built. We are still in very early stages and a manufacturer has not even been selected yet.

 

[tfw756rider]

No worries @birchesgreen!

Good point @stadler.

 

[Mamorin]

I wonder if those class numbers are actually confirmed or just numbers made up by Northern for internal purposes or for use on artists impressions.

Those Class numbers are the numbers reserved in TOPS for the fleets, so they are 100% not numbers made up by Northern for internal use.

The numbers could change before building starts though.

I think 780 and 781 may end up being final class numbers given the GA bi-modes are 755, the TFW Tri-modes are 756s and Northern's current bi-modes are 769s.

382 however I would say could change.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Oct 2025 ==

The TL 700s were originally classified as 300s. The SWR 701s (5car) were originally classified as 705s. The SWR 701s (10car) were originally classified as 711s. The GN 717s were originally classified as 713s. The C2C 720s were originally classified as 711s. The EMR 810s were originally classified as 804s.

If you want to go a lot further back, the 332s were originally classified as 331s.

 

[HSTEd]

There is precedent for a class number being assigned long before a manufacturer is chosen - see the Class 345 for Crossrail.

 

[Zomboid]

They may not end up being the final class numbers, but given they're largely arbitrary I don't see why they'd need to be changed either.

 

[ainsworth74]

There is precedent for a class number being assigned long before a manufacturer is chosen - see the Class 345 for Crossrail.

Yeah what was that? About twenty years from assignment to the first metal being cut on the production line?

 

[Brubulus]

Regarding the MMUs, will they all have diesel engines upon delivering? The ratio of diesel to battery trains seems very off given the analyses conducted many times on this forum, especially given that limited infrastructure interventions could enable no new trains to come with diesel engines.