Class 387

Class 387
Name	Class 387
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Family	Electrostar
Yearservice	2014
Numberbuilt	107
Formation	4 cars
Operator	multiple

Class 387 is a British electric multiple unit built by Bombardier Transportation at Derby Litchurch Lane Works as part of the Electrostar family, introduced into passenger service in the mid-2010s. It was procured to replace aging fleets on commuter and regional routes operated by groups such as Great Western Railway, Thameslink, and Southern. The design emphasizes interoperability with UK rail electrification standards and compatibility with multiple platform and depot environments across the National Rail network.

Design and Specifications

The unit's core structure derives from the Electrostar platform, developed alongside models like the Class 357 and Class 375, sharing aluminum carbody construction, steel underframe, and plug doors to meet Rail Safety and Standards Board directives, Office of Rail and Road regulations, and Technical Specification for Interoperability modules. Traction uses AC motors supplied through onboard inverters, with regenerative braking compatible with UK electrified railway infrastructure and substation arrangements found on routes managed by Network Rail. Passenger amenities include 2+2 seating, air conditioning, and compatibility with PRM-TSI accessibility requirements under European interoperability frameworks. Bogies and suspension systems were engineered for compatibility with multiple braking regimes, including disc brakes and blended electrodynamic systems used in fleets across Greater Anglia and FirstGroup operations.

Variants and Subclasses

Several subclasses emerged, reflecting differing customer specifications: units configured for airport express services with luggage racks commissioned by operators serving Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport; others modified for outer-suburban work for operators running services to Reading and Bognor Regis. Subclass distinctions were influenced by depot acceptance trials conducted at locations such as Ilford Depot and Eastleigh Works, and by compatibility tests with signaling systems used on routes controlled from Romford and Clapham Junction workstations. Variants incorporated different seating layouts and on-train information systems adaptable to franchise requirements set by the Department for Transport and passenger groups including Transport Focus.

Service History

The fleet entered service following acceptance trials and approval processes involving Rail Accident Investigation Branch criteria and AAR-aligned test protocols. Early deployments targeted commuter corridors serving London Paddington, London Victoria, and London Bridge, replacing older EMUs previously operated by companies such as First Capital Connect and South West Trains. Over time, units were reallocated in response to franchise changes involving Govia Thameslink Railway, South Western Railway, and TransPennine Express style timetable restructurings. The introduction affected rolling stock cascades that involved families like the Class 365 and Class 321, with transfers coordinated at hub depots including Feltham and Clapham High Street.

Operations and Operators

Operators procuring or leasing these units included national and regional rail companies such as Great Western Railway, Gatwick Express, Heathrow Connect-era entities, and private rolling stock companies like Angel Trains and Eversholt Rail Group. Services ranged from airport links to suburban commuter patterns on lines connecting Brighton to London Victoria and cross-London services through Thameslink corridors. Operations required crew training aligned with certifications from trade unions including RMT (trade union) and regulatory oversight by Department for Transport franchising teams. Depot maintenance cycles were synchronized with major overhauls at facilities like Brush Traction and specialist overhaul sites in Doncaster.

Refurbishments and Upgrades

Mid-life refurbishments focused on passenger experience and systems integration, with upgrades to Passenger Information Systems sourced from suppliers that have worked on fleets such as Class 700 and Class 801. Projects included retrofitting enhanced Wi‑Fi, power sockets, and CCTV systems meeting standards used on fleets by Great Western Railway and Southern. Technical upgrades addressed interoperability with new signaling projects such as European Rail Traffic Management System trials on UK routes and compatibility with TPWS and ERTMS components installed during Railway Upgrade Plan programs. Contracts for interior refits were awarded to firms experienced with refurbishing units like the Class 458 and Class 450.

Accidents and Incidents

The fleet experienced a limited number of operational incidents investigated by bodies like the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, with inquiries focusing on factors familiar from cases involving King's Cross fire inquiry-era safety reforms and braking performance issues similar to investigations of other EMUs. Notable events prompted temporary service suspensions and technical inspections at depots such as St Philip's Marsh and Stewarts Lane, and corrective actions coordinated with manufacturers and leaseholders including Bombardier Transportation and Angel Trains. Industry response involved updating maintenance schedules and crew procedures in line with findings reported to Office of Rail and Road.

Category:British Rail EMUs