British Rail Class 303

The British Rail Class 303 is a type of electric multiple unit. They are also known as "Blue Train" units. They were introduced in 1960 for the electrification of the North Clyde and the Cathcart Circle lines in Strathclyde. At first they were classified as AM3 units before the introduction of the TOPS classification system. They were the dominant EMU on the Glasgow suburban railway network for over 25 years. The final units were withdrawn from service in 2002.

British Rail Class 303
Class 303 at Milngavie in 1983
In service	5 November 1960–30 December 2002
Manufacturer	Pressed Steel Company
Built at	Linwood, Renfrewshire
Family name	BR First Generation Mark 1
Replaced	Various steam engines/early carriages
Constructed	1959–1961
Entered service	1960–1961
Refurbishment	1984 - c.1990
Scrapped	1974–2003
Number built	91
Number preserved	1
Number scrapped	90
Formation	3 cars per unit: DTS+MBS+BDTS (as built) DTSO+MBSO+BDTSO (rebuilt)
Capacity	236 seats (as built) 160 seats (rebuilt)
Operator	British Rail ScotRail (National Express)
Depot(s)	Glasgow Shields Road Hyndland Yoker Longsight Electric TMD Bridgeton
Line(s) served	North Clyde Line Cathcart Circle Lines Weaver Junction and Liverpool Line Crewe to Manchester Line Glossop Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Train length	199 ft 6 in (60.81 m)
Car length	63 ft 11.5 in (19.49 m) (DTS, BDTS) 63 ft 2.25 in (19.26 m) (MBS)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
Floor height	3 ft 7.5 in (1.1 m)
Doors	Twin leaf sliding, pneumatically operated
Articulated sections	3
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	124 long tons (126 t; 139 short tons) (set) 34.4 t (33.9 long tons; 37.9 short tons) (DTSO) 56.4 t (55.5 long tons; 62.2 short tons) (MBSO) 38.4 t (37.8 long tons; 42.3 short tons) (BDTSO)
Train heating	Electric
Current collection method	Pantograph
UIC classification	2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Bogies	Gresley ET3 (DTS, BDTS) Gresley ED3 (MBS)
Braking system(s)	Electropneumatic
Safety system(s)	AWS
Coupling system	Automatic drophead buckeye (outer) Automatic solid shank Alliance No.2 (inner)
Multiple working	Within class, and Class 311
Gauge

British Rail Class 303 Media

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  Class 303 at Kirkhill station in 1979

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  Class 303 in unrefurbished condition with TransClyde markings at Wemyss Bay in 1984

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  Refurbished Class 303 at Langside on a service to Newton in 1986

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  A Class 303 in service at Dinting in Greater Manchester PTE livery

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  Preserved Class 303 EMU set at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway