British Rail Class 397

British Rail Class 397
Michael McNiven · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Class 397
Powertype	Electric multiple unit
Builder	CAF
Builddate	2014–2016
Totalproduction	12
Formation	5 cars per unit
Operator	TransPennine Express
Maxspeed	125 mph
Gauge	1,435 mm (standard gauge)

British Rail Class 397

The Class 397 electric multiple unit is a high-speed intercity train introduced to replace older fleets on northern England services. Built by CAF at Beasain for TransPennine Express, the type entered traffic to link major nodes such as Manchester Piccadilly, Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. The design emphasises passenger comfort, performance on the West Coast Main Line and East Coast Main Line-connected routes, and compliance with modern RSSB and ORR requirements.

Introduction

Commissioned to renew intercity capacity across northern routes, the Class 397 programme formed part of a wider rolling stock modernisation alongside projects involving Intercity Express Programme units and Class 800 derivatives. Ordered amid franchise changes affecting FirstGroup and Keolis operations, the fleet was procured to improve journeys between historic urban centres such as Liverpool, Sheffield, Hull Paragon, Carlisle, and York. The contract reflected transport strategies influenced by bodies including Transport for the North and regional transport authorities in Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire.

Design and Development

CAF's design for the Class 397 drew on prior experience with the Civity family and manufacturing at the Beasain plant, integrating lessons from projects delivered for Northern Trains and Transport for Wales. Development involved coordination with suppliers including Bombardier Transportation (systems integration partners), Siemens-type signalling suppliers, and interior designers with portfolios for operators such as Virgin Trains and East Coast. Compliance testing included dynamic trials on the electrified TransPennine route and endurance runs across the Settle–Carlisle corridor. Safety approvals were sought from the RAIB-associated processes and the ORR.

Technical Specifications

Each five-car Class 397 unit uses aluminium carbody construction and features regenerative braking compatible with National Grid-fed overhead line equipment used on the Great Western Main Line and northern electrified routes. Propulsion originates from power electronics and traction motors supplied by firms active on projects for Eurostar and Thalys fleets. Maximum speed is 125 mph (201 km/h), with multiple working and automatic couplers similar to those used on InterCity 225 and Class 91-hauled services. Passenger amenities include Wi-Fi installations comparable to systems deployed by Govia Thameslink Railway, accessible toilets meeting standards used by Age UK-advised schemes, and onboard CCTV aligned with British Transport Police information requirements.

Operations and Services

Operated by TransPennine Express under franchise arrangements evolved from Serco and First TransPennine Express histories, Class 397 units run intercity and regional express diagrams, replacing older Class 350 and Pacer-era timetables. Typical diagrams connect southern Scotland with Manchester Airport and central Manchester hubs, integrating with networks managed by Network Rail and subject to timetable coordination with Avanti West Coast and LNER services. During disruptions, units have been cascaded in contingency plans similar to those used in Timetable 2018 revisions, and have participated in charter work for events at venues such as Old Trafford and Hampden Park.

Fleet and Livery

The fleet of 12 five-car sets was delivered with a contemporary livery specified by TransPennine Express branding policies influenced by rail marketing campaigns of operators like Northern and CrossCountry. Each set carries unit numbers consistent with TOPS classification practice and is maintained at depots that service other modern fleets, such as facilities used for Class 185 and Class 397-compatible maintenance by subcontractors with experience on Hitachi and CAF fleets. Interior layouts mirror contemporary intercity arrangements found on Azuma and refurbished Voyager sets, including first-class sections and bicycle storage areas promoted by regional tourism partnerships in Cumbria and Northumberland.

Incidents and Accidents

During entry into service, units underwent operational incident reporting under RAIB procedures and ORR oversight; recorded occurrences included minor technical defects and service-affecting faults analogous to early-life issues seen on other new fleets such as the Class 800 series. Investigations referenced signalling interactions on routes controlled from centres like York ROC and drew on expertise from infrastructure teams at Network Rail and safety case assessors formerly involved with Rail Safety and Standards Board projects. No catastrophic accidents involving the type were recorded in public incident logs up to initial years in service.

Preservation and Future Plans

Given the recent build dates, preservation is not yet applicable, but long-term strategies mirror those for contemporary units such as planned mid-life refurbishments seen for fleets like Class 397-style peers and life-extension programmes executed on Class 390 and Class 221 sets. Future plans discussed by stakeholders including Transport for the North and TransPennine Express envisage interior refreshes, potential retrofits for alternative traction technologies promoted in Department for Transport decarbonisation roadmaps, and redeployment scenarios coordinated with national fleet strategies administered by Rail Delivery Group.

Category:Electric multiple units of Great Britain