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Class 365
photograph by Michael Taylor
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| As recounted on our class 465/466
pages the Networker programme was conceived by
Network SouthEast as a family of new electrical multiple units to cover all
applications within their sector - inner suburban, outer suburban and long
distance, 750v DC, 25kV overhead and dual voltage/pickup. This family would
have provided all replacements for life expired EMU stock, and stock for the
Thameslink 2000 and CrossRail projects. Network SouthEast management took the
bold and imaginative decision to apply (the then) new advanced technology of
welded aluminium construction and GTO thyristor controlled three phase ac drive
traction motors. It was hoped that the economies of scale and the adaptability
of the traction package (dual voltage capability can be achieved much more
simply compared to the previous cumbersome engineering required) would provide
large new fleets economically. The class 465 (and the related two car class
466) was the first to be produced specifically for Kent inner suburban workings
and it was intended for the next design to be the class 371 Universal (dual
voltage) Networker for several longer distance applications including Kent
Coast, Great Northern and LT&S. However the prevailing financial strictures
of the time, internal politics within BR, relationships with the government and
rolling stock contractors, resulted in the promising Networker project failing
to take off, but not before a creative (but as history has proved an interim)
solution to the Universal Networker was devised. In September 1992 ABB proposed
that an existing 465 unit could be converted as a long distance demonstrator.
Then in his autumn statement he Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that
British Rail could acquire £150 million of new rolling stock - largely as
a concession to the plight of the fledgling privatized British railway
construction industry. Having swiftly devised a dual voltage traction package
ABB, along with the Network SouthEast management and design teams, moved
quickly to produce the Universal Networker demonstrator which was designated
N°465301.
On unit N°465301 one driving coach had a twelve seat first class compartment installed providing a two plus two layout. On the standard class car following this the accommodation was refitted to Networker Express specifications with carpeting and (as with the first class compartment) identical seating to that used on the successful Networker Turbo DMUs. With seats being aligned to the windows increased leg room over that available in the class 465 was achieved. 465 301 proved that a viable long distance unit could be developed from an inner suburban shell that 90% of the original specification of the alternative and expensive to develop completely from new option. The demonstrator went on display at Waterloo and the concept approved, though not to the extent that ABB had hoped. Only two batches of the now designated class 365 were built between 1994 and 1995. Sixteen DC units (but with provision for AC) were provided for Kent Coast services (numbered 365501-365516) and twenty five AC units (but with provision for DC) for Great Northern services out of Kings Cross (numbered 365517-365541). The first unit on the Southern started unit testing during April 1995 and the first public service (a special) was on 14th October 1996. Connex units have white roofs and are painted in Connex (blue, white and yellow) colours whereas WAGN units remain in NSE colours and have grey roofs except over their cabs (which are white). Some WAGN units also have an experimental cab air-conditioning unit disfiguring their otherwise attractive cab front design. |
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This page was last updated 17 May 2004
