British Rail Class 379

Bombardier Transportation

Industry	Rail vehicle manufacturing
Headquarters	Derby , United Kingdom
Products	Electric multiple units (including Class 379 Electrostar)

British Rail Class 379 Electrostar

The British Rail Class 379 Electrostar represents an electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train crafted by Bombardier Transportation. It is a member of Bombardier's broad Electrostar series.

Plans for new rolling stock emerged in 2007 to enhance capacity on the West Anglia Main Line (WAML) and to replace older units such as the Class 317 EMUs. In 2009, a contract worth £155 million was secured for 30 four-car Electrostar EMUs, which entered service in 2011 under the Class 379 designation. These trains became the mainstay of the Stansted Express route, connecting , , , and . Initially operated by National Express East Anglia (NXEA), the fleet was subsequently transferred to Greater Anglia.

By early 2022, Greater Anglia retired the fleet due to elevated leasing expenses, placing the units into prolonged storage. The Class 379s resumed operations in 2025 with Govia Thameslink Railway, serving Great Northern lines.

Background

At the dawn of the twenty-first century, investment in the West Anglia Main Line (WAML) lagged behind that allocated to routes such as the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) and lines servicing Tilbury and Southend. These other corridors benefited from substantial infrastructure enhancements and new trains enabling nonstop services at speeds reaching , whereas the WAML continued using mostly two-decade-old Class 317 electric multiple units (EMU). The line's infrastructure restricted speeds to and primarily supported stopping services.

In 2007, a government-issued white paper proposed upgrades for the WAML, including £185 million earmarked for operator National Express to deliver improved facilities alongside revised timetables. Immediate measures involved reallocating trains from other routes to increase capacity, while longer-term goals focused on introducing a newly manufactured fleet.

The £155 million order placed with Bombardier Transportation in 2009 procured 30 EMUs later classified as Class 379. These vehicles formed part of NXEA’s Service Improvement Plan aimed at expanding capacity on heavily trafficked routes into London Liverpool Street. Rather than replacing existing stock, the Class 379s augmented it significantly, with primary deployment on the Stansted Express, which accounted for approximately one-fifth of National Express East Anglia's revenue.

Produced at Bombardier’s Derby Litchurch Lane Works facility, the inaugural unit was revealed on 13 October 2010. Testing commenced shortly thereafter, followed by final assembly in Derby. Deliveries proceeded steadily until August 2011, when the final Class 379 unit was delivered.

Design and features

The Class 379 electric multiple-unit train belongs to the Bombardier Transportation Electrostar series, integrating advancements from the newer Aventra platform. In contrast to the older Class 317 units it replaced, the Class 379 incorporates regenerative braking technology to enhance energy efficiency. It is also equipped with Bombardier's Orbita system for predictive fault detection, which improves maintenance processes, alongside roof-mounted CCTV cameras that oversee the pantograph, thereby boosting operational reliability. The train is recognized for delivering a smooth journey even with its rapid acceleration capabilities.

Seating arrangements feature a 2+2 layout in standard class and a 2+1 configuration in first class, providing typically 189 standard and 20 first-class seats per four-car set. Standard-class seats primarily resemble airline-style chairs, complete with flip-down tables, coat hooks, and individual power outlets. Each unit contains two restrooms, including one larger facility equipped with baby-changing stations and accessible features for passengers with disabilities. Ample luggage storage is available through large racks designed for airport travelers, supplemented by smaller overhead compartments and multiple bins aimed at minimizing litter and facilitating cleaning.

Every carriage offers Wi-Fi connectivity supplied by Swedish company Icomera, enabling passenger internet access and linking onboard systems such as reservations, CCTV, passenger information displays, and various sensors. This network supports real-time transmission of condition data to operators to optimize service management and upkeep. A digital announcement system activates exclusively during station arrivals or departures. Interior illumination, provided by Teknoware, complies with GM/RT 2130 emergency lighting standards. Additionally, the trains are fitted with air conditioning for passenger comfort.

Operations

The phased introduction of Class 379 units into revenue service commenced in early 2011. On 17 March, the initial two trains, numbered 379005 and 379006, were unveiled at a high-profile event attended by Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond. Unit 379005 received the name Stansted Express during a ceremony at . Over the subsequent three months, eighteen additional sets were deployed to operate Stansted Express services in formations of eight and twelve cars. The rollout proceeded largely without major issues, with minor problems addressed promptly.

By mid-2011, the remaining ten Class 379 units began service on the Cambridge line, completing full fleet deployment two months ahead of schedule. This enabled all Stansted Airport services to be operated by eight-car Class 379 trains while older Class 317 units were reassigned. The December 2011 timetable introduced twelve-car formations on peak routes from Liverpool Street to , , , , and , along with select services from . These longer trains served express routes over greater distances. Maintenance responsibilities were managed by Bombardier at Ilford EMU Depot.

Following the conclusion of National Express East Anglia's franchise, operation of the Class 379 fleet transferred to Greater Anglia. In September 2016, Greater Anglia placed an order for new Stadler FLIRT EMUs (Class 745) intended to replace all Class 379 units by late 2019. The first Class 745/1 entered passenger service on 28 July 2020. Due to elevated leasing expenses, Greater Anglia withdrew the entire Class 379 fleet in February 2022 and placed the trains into storage.

Originally under ownership of Macquarie European Rail, the fleet was transferred to Akiem in April 2020 following Akiem's acquisition of Macquarie's rail assets. In March 2024, ownership passed from Akiem to Porterbrook, with plans by Govia Thameslink Railway to deploy these units on Great Northern services. By November 2024, Great Northern confirmed acceptance of all Class 379s into their operational fleet. Service on Great Northern routes commenced on 10 February 2025.

Trial of battery-electric multiple unit

In 2013, the infrastructure manager Network Rail selected unit 379013 to serve as an experimental platform for a prospective battery electric multiple unit. Following its modification and evaluation, it commenced passenger operations on the Manningtree–Harwich Town route starting 12 January 2015. Over a five-week testing period, results indicated the unit was capable of running solely on battery power for up to one hour, with a pantograph-based recharge time of approximately two hours.

Fleet information

Class	Operator	Quantity built	Manufacture year	Cars per set	Unit numbers
Class 379	Great Northern	30	2010–2011	4	379001–379030

Units with names

The following units were assigned names:

• 379005 Stansted Express (name removed)
• 379011 Ely Cathedral (name removed)
• 379012 The West Anglian (name removed)
• 379015 City of Cambridge (name removed)
• 379025 Go Discover (name removed)