Class 345

Class 345
Name	Class 345

Class 345 is a designation for a modern multiple-unit passenger train introduced in the 2010s for high-frequency suburban and regional services, developed to meet requirements set by major procurement bodies and urban transport authorities. The program involved collaboration between global manufacturers, national infrastructure managers, transit operators, and financing consortia, with acceptance testing overseen by regulatory agencies and safety certifiers.

Background and Development

The program emerged from procurement processes driven by agencies such as Transport for London, Department for Transport, Network Rail, European Investment Bank, and metropolitan combined authorities after capacity crises following expansions like the Crossrail project, the Thameslink Programme, and regional upgrades tied to events including the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Early design studies referenced rolling stock families produced by firms like Siemens AG, Bombardier Transportation, Alstom, and CAF (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) and drew on interoperability standards set by European Union directives, International Union of Railways, and national safety regulators such as the Office of Rail and Road. Procurement competitions involved bidders linked to consortia including MTR Corporation, Abellio, Stagecoach Group, Arriva, and finance partners like HSBC and European Investment Bank.

Design and Technical Specifications

The specification prioritized compatibility with infrastructure managed by Network Rail and power systems used across networks such as the Great Western Main Line, West Coast Main Line, and suburban sections near Paddington station and Liverpool Street station. Design features included aluminium carbody shells influenced by families from Siemens Desiro and Alstom Coradia ranges, regenerative braking systems complying with Rail Safety and Standards Board guidance, and onboard systems integrating signalling technologies such as European Train Control System alongside legacy train protection interfaces like AWS and TPWS. Passenger amenities followed standards influenced by accessibility legislation including the Equality Act 2010 with dedicated spaces for wheelchair users, information systems compatible with protocols used by Transport for London, and HVAC arrangements informed by research from Imperial College London and University College London.

Production and Entry into Service

Manufacturing was carried out at facilities associated with major constructors—drawing on production lines similar to those at Siemens Mobility plants, Bombardier Derby, and Alstom Widnes—with component supply chains involving firms such as Schneider Electric, Knorr-Bremse, and ZF Friedrichshafen. Entry into service required certification by bodies like the Rail Safety and Standards Board and approvals coordinated with regional franchises operated by companies including Great Western Railway, London Overground, TfL Rail, and private operators like MTR Corporation (London) and Arriva Rail North. Commissioning phases referenced test programs comparable to those used for Elizabeth line trains and incorporated testing at depots such as Old Oak Common and trial runs on routes including Reading station to London Paddington.

Operations and Deployment

Deployment plans aligned with timetable changes negotiated between franchise holders and authorities such as Transport for London and the Department for Transport, with services scheduled to integrate into corridors serving hubs like Liverpool Street station, Farringdon station, Bond Street station, and Canary Wharf. Operational roles encompassed high-frequency suburban services akin to those on London Overground and regional flows similar to Great Western Main Line suburban operations, with crew training programs developed in conjunction with unions including RMT (trade union) and ASLEF and human factors teams from institutions like University of Sheffield contributing to ergonomics studies.

Performance and Reliability

Performance metrics were benchmarked against fleets such as the Class 376, Class 700, and rolling stock used on the Elizabeth line, measuring availability rates, mean distance between failures, energy consumption per seat, and dwell-time impacts at nodes like Whitechapel station and Stratford station. Reliability improvements derived from preventive maintenance regimes using condition-monitoring systems from suppliers like Siemens and GE Transportation and asset-management approaches advocated by Rail Safety and Standards Board and case studies from operators such as Transport for London. During service, metrics informed timetable planning by bodies like Network Rail and operational adjustments negotiated in rail forums including the Office of Rail and Road engagement processes.

Variants and Modifications

Variants arose through retrofit programs coordinated with operators including Great Western Railway, London Overground, and private sector franchisees, introducing upgrades such as ETCS fitment influenced by European Train Control System deployments, passenger Wi-Fi and infotainment supplied by firms like Virgin Media O2, and interior reconfigurations guided by accessibility advocates including Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Campaign for Better Transport. Modifications also reflected lifecycle overhauls performed at depots like Ilford depot and Old Oak Common depot and spares management aligned with practices used by fleets from Bombardier and Alstom.

Category:Multiple units