British Rail Class 334
| Company type | Electric multiple unit train |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Founder | Alstom |
| Headquarters | Birmingham , United Kingdom |
Area served | Scotland (SPT electrified network) |
Key people | Eversholt Rail Group (owner), ScotRail (operator) |
| Products | Suburban passenger electric multiple units |
Number of employees | 40 units in service |
The British Rail Class 334 Coradia Juniper is an electric multiple unit designed for suburban passenger services, manufactured by Alstom at their Birmingham facility. As a member of the Coradia Juniper series, it shares its design framework with the Classes 458 and 460.
Currently operated by ScotRail, the Class 334 predominantly runs on the North Clyde Line, connecting destinations such as - Edinburgh, - , and - . It also occasionally serves the Argyle Line, operating routes between /Milngavie and ///. These trains were procured jointly by SPT and ScotRail under National Express to increase capacity on Glasgow's outer suburban rail corridors.
History
The introduction of the Class 334 marked the retirement of Glasgow’s final Class 303 "Blue Train" sets, which had been in service since 1960. Although deliveries commenced in 1999, operational deployment for passengers was delayed until 2001 due to technical challenges common among Juniper family trains.
Owned by Eversholt Rail Group, ScotRail leases a total of 40 units that are regularly assigned throughout the SPT’s electrified network. The inaugural service featured units 334010 and 334020 running to Gourock. Initially, these units served the Ayrshire Coast and Inverclyde lines but later gained prominence on both Argyle and North Clyde routes.
By mid-2011, the Class 334 was mostly supplanted on Ayrshire and Inverclyde services by the Class 380, though occasional deployments have persisted.
Relivery and refurbishment
In September 2008, Transport Scotland revealed plans for a new blue livery adorned with white Saltire emblems to be applied across all ScotRail trains, including Class 334s. The repainting process began in November 2010 in preparation for reopening the Airdrie to Bathgate line.
On 24 August 2011, ScotRail initiated a £4 million refurbishment initiative covering the entire Class 334 fleet, projected to span two years. Unit 334020 was the first to undergo refurbishment at Brodie Rail Works early in 2012, with completion of the final unit in November 2014.
Starting in early 2015, Eversholt contracted Alstom to execute a £36.1 million comprehensive upgrade aimed at improving passenger comfort and amenities. Enhancements included installation of full air conditioning, at-seat power outlets, wi-fi connectivity, passenger counting technology, dedicated bicycle storage areas, LED lighting upgrades, and advanced CCTV systems optimized for driver-only operations. Door performance was improved, and original Tightlock couplers were replaced with Voith Scharfenberg automatic couplers to enable compatibility with Class 380 units. This modernization concluded in 2017.
On 22 June 2021, coinciding with UK Pride Month celebrations, a Class 334 was adorned with a progress flag livery intended to remain until at least 2029 before requiring repainting.
In 2023, Alstom secured a £12 million contract from Eversholt Rail to carry out an overhaul of the entire Class 334 fleet at Polmadie Depot, with work scheduled to begin in January 2024.
Accidents
- On 16 January 2008, unit 334017 was involved in a low-speed collision while entering Glasgow Central station during the 08:24 Gourock to Glasgow Central service. It struck a stationary Class 318 at under . Four passengers sustained minor injuries; one required hospital treatment. The train itself sustained no damage.
- On 15 October 2015, unit 334016 collided with an abandoned stolen Toyota Hilux near Uphall station while operating the 16:39 Edinburgh to Milngavie service. Traveling at around , the train remained on track without derailing. One passenger suffered minor hand injuries caused by broken glass.
Fleet details
| Class | Operator | Quantity | Construction period | Cars per set | Unit numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 334 | ScotRail | 40 | 1999–2002 | 3 | 334001–334040 |