British Rail Class 397

{{short description|Class of electric multiple unit built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF}}

{{Infobox train

| name = British Rail Class 397
Civity

| image = Transpennine Express 397003 at Wigan North Western April 2019.jpg

| imagealt = Transpennine Express Class 397 at Wigan North Western in April 2019

| caption = Class 397 at {{stnlnk|Wigan North Western}} in April 2019

| background = #{{TPX colour|background}}

| interiorimage = Class397_StandardClassInterior.jpg

| interiorimagealt = Standard-class interior of a Class 397 unit

| interiorcaption = Standard-class interior of a Class 397 unit

| stocktype = Electric multiple unit

| service = 30 November 2019{{snd}}present

| manufacturer = CAF

| factory = Beasain, Spain{{cite magazine |last1=Clinnick |first1=Richard |title=First Picture: TransPennine Express Class 397 takes shape in Spain |date=6 September 2017 |url=https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/first-picture-transpennine-express-class-397-takes-shape-in-spain |magazine=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |publication-place=Peterborough |access-date=26 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108184704/https://www.railmagazine.com/news/network/first-picture-transpennine-express-class-397-takes-shape-in-spain |archive-date=8 November 2018 |url-status=live}}

| family = Civity

| replaced = Class 350/4

| yearconstruction = 2017–2019

| refurbishment =

| yearscrapped =

| numberconstruction =

| numberbuilt = 12

| numberservice = 12

| numberpreserved =

| numberscrapped =

| formation = 5 cars per unit:
{{abbr|DMFLW|Driver's cab, Motor car, First class (open saloon), Lavatory, Wheelchair space}}-{{abbr|PTS1|Pantograph, Trailer car, Standard class (open saloon)}}-{{abbr|MSL|Motor car, Standard class (open saloon), Lavatory}}-{{abbr|PTS2|Pantograph, Trailer car, Standard class (open saloon), }}-{{abbr|DMSL|Driver's cab, Motor car, Standard class (open saloon), Lavatory}}

| fleetnumbers = 397001–397012

| capacity = 286 seats {{avoid wrap|(22 first-class, 264 standard){{cite magazine |last1=Vosman |first1=Quintus |title=CAF Civity EMU for TransPennine Express on test at Velim |date=4 July 2018 |url=https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/caf-civity-emu-for-transpennine-express-on-test-at-velim.html |magazine=International Railway Journal |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing |publication-place=Falmouth |access-date=2 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901114941/https://www.railjournal.com/index.php/rolling-stock/caf-civity-emu-for-transpennine-express-on-test-at-velim.html |archive-date=1 September 2018}}}}

| owner = Eversholt Rail Group

| operator = {{ubl|Current:
TransPennine Express|Former:
First TransPennine Express}}

| depots = {{ubl|Longsight (Manchester)|Polmadie (Glasgow)}}

| lines = West Coast Main Line

| carbody =

| trainlength = {{convert|118|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite web |title=Civity Regional Train for TransPennine Express |url=http://www.caf.net/en/productos-servicios/proyectos/proyecto-detalle.php?p=286 |publisher=Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles |publication-place=Beasain |access-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201225250/https://www.caf.net/en/soluciones/proyectos/proyecto-detalle.php?p=286 |archive-date=1 December 2022 |url-status=live}}

| carlength = {{ubl|DM vehicles:
{{convert|24.026|m|ftin|abbr=on}}|Intermediate vehicles:
{{convert|23.35|m|ftin|abbr=on}}}}

| width =

| height =

| floorheight =

| platformheight =

| entrylevelorstep =

| doors = Single-leaf sliding plug {{avoid wrap|(2 per side per car)}}

| wheeldiameter =

| wheelbase =

| maxspeed = {{convert|125|mph|abbr=on|sigfig=2}}

| weight =

| axleload =

| traction = CAF Power AC
IGBT-VVVF

| traction motors =

| poweroutput =

| tractiveeffort =

| transmission =

| acceleration = {{convert|0.92|m/s2|abbr=on}}

| deceleration =

| aux =

| powersupply =

| hvac =

| electricsystem = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} overhead

| collectionmethod = Pantograph

| uicclass =

| bogies =

| brakes = Electro-pneumatic (disc) {{avoid wrap|and regenerative}}

| safety = {{ubl|AWS|TPWS|(plus provision for ETCS){{cite letter |first=Ian |last=Prosser |recipient=Paul Simmons (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) |subject=The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011, as amended – Authorisation of CAF Class 397 electric multiple units fitted with AWS and TPWS, GSM-R voice only, maximum speed of 125 mph, vehicle numbers 397001 to 397012 |date=19 July 2019 |id=UK/51/2019/0007 |url=https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/om/interoperability-authorisation-caf-rolling-stock-uk-class-397-units-2019-07-19.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Office of Rail and Road |place=London |access-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827194330/https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/om/interoperability-authorisation-caf-rolling-stock-uk-class-397-units-2019-07-19.pdf |archive-date=27 August 2021 |url-status=live}}}}

| coupling = Dellner

| multipleworking = Within class, {{avoid wrap|but not yet authorised{{notetag|The authorisation granted in July 2019 permitted single-unit operation only, until such time as testing of pantograph performance in trains of more than one unit confirmed compliance with the relevant Technical Specifications for Interoperability.}}}}

| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}

| notes = Sourced from {{cite web |title=Class 397 |publisher=Eversholt Rail Group |publication-place=London |url=https://eversholtrail.co.uk/fleet/class-397/ |access-date=16 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725002111/https://eversholtrail.co.uk/fleet/class-397/ |archive-date=25 July 2022 |url-status=live}} unless otherwise noted.

}}

The British Rail Class 397 Civity{{cite magazine |last1=Haigh |first1=Philip |title=Is it time for the railway to standardise on fewer types of trains, to cut costs? |magazine=Rail Magazine |publisher=Bauer Consumer Media |publication-place=Peterborough |date=20 July 2016 |issue=805}} is a class of electric multiple unit built by Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF for lease to TransPennine Express by Eversholt Rail Group.{{cite magazine |title=Our northern stars |magazine=Together |issue=3 |pages=8–9 |publisher=First TransPennine Express |publication-place=London |url=https://issuu.com/transpennineexpress/docs/together_issu/ |access-date=3 January 2020 |via=Issuu}} A total of twelve five-car units were built to operate services on TransPennine North West services between Liverpool Lime Street/{{rws|Manchester Airport}} and Edinburgh Waverley/{{rws|Glasgow Central}}.{{cite news |url=https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/media-centre/news/2016/may/more-new-trains-for-the-north-and-scotland |title=More New Trains for the North and Scotland |date=20 May 2016 |publisher=First TransPennine Express |publication-place=London |access-date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906225158/https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/media-centre/news/2016/may/more-new-trains-for-the-north-and-scotland/ |archive-date=6 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}{{cite news |url=https://railuk.com/rail-news/transpennine-express-class-397-fleet-taking-shape/ |title=TransPennine Express Class 397 fleet taking shape |work=Rail UK |date=6 September 2017 |publisher=Rail Media Group |publication-place=Coalville |access-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201234651/https://railuk.com/rail-news/transpennine-express-class-397-fleet-taking-shape/ |archive-date=1 December 2022 |url-status=live}}

TransPennine Express has branded all of their new fleet under the general name Nova, with the Class 397 units branded as Nova 2. The first unit entered service on 30 November 2019.{{cite news |title=Nova 2 enters service at last |work=Rail Business UK |publisher=DVV Media International |publication-place=Sutton |date=2 December 2019 |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/nova-2-enters-service-at-last/55261.article |access-date=3 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219114750/https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/nova-2-enters-service-at-last/55261.article |archive-date=19 December 2019}}

History

The announcement of new trains was made by FirstGroup when it was confirmed that they would become the next operator of the TransPennine Express franchise from 1 April 2016.{{cite news |title=New TransPennine Express franchise launches |url=https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/news/2016/04/new-transpennine-express-franchise-launches/ |publisher=First TransPennine Express |publication-place=London |date=1 April 2016 |access-date=23 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160612171940/https://www.tpexpress.co.uk/news/2016/04/new-transpennine-express-franchise-launches/ |archive-date=12 June 2016 |url-status=dead}} In May 2016 it was announced by TransPennine Express that they had ordered 12 five-car electric multiple units from CAF to replace the fleet of ten four-car Class 350/4 Desiro units which previously operated TransPennine Express services between Liverpool, Manchester and Scotland.

Testing of the first set began at the Velim railway test circuit in July 2018.

An option for up to 22 extra units was available to TransPennine Express, but it was not exercised.{{cite book |author1=Eversheds LLP |title=Franchise Agreement – TransPennine Express (Execution Copy)|date=22 December 2015 |publisher=Department for Transport |location=London |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/594500/tpe-franchise-agreement.pdf |access-date=21 July 2018 }}

In May 2023, 397011 received special Eurovision branding to celebrate the event taking place in Liverpool.{{Cite news |title=TransPennine Express' Eurovision train revealed by singing soprano |url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/05/transpennine-express-eurovision-train-revealed-by-singing-soprano.html/amp |access-date=2023-05-05 |work=RailAdvent|date=3 May 2023 }}

Operation

The Nova 2 was launched officially by TPE at Liverpool Lime Street with other members of the Nova fleet.{{cite news |date=25 November 2019 |title=TransPennine Express launches Nova fleet |work=Rail Business UK |publisher=DVV Media International |location=Sutton |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/transpennine-express-launches-nova-fleet/55207.article |access-date=25 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219114756/https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/transpennine-express-launches-nova-fleet/55207.article |archive-date=19 December 2019}} The first unit entered passenger service on 30 November 2019.

Fleet details

class="wikitable"
Class !Operator !Quantity !Year built !Cars per unit !Unit nos.
397 \|TransPennine Express \|align=center\|12 \|align=center\|2017–2019 \|align=center\|5 \|397001–397012

class="wikitable"

Class

!Operator

!Quantity

!Year built

!Cars per unit

!Unit nos.

397

|TransPennine Express

|align=center|12

|align=center|2017–2019

|align=center|5

|397001–397012

The units were designed as an intercity train. This included the addition of single doors at the ends of the coach, a maximum speed of {{convert|125|mph|abbr=on}} and first class with catering provision from the on-board galley kitchen. Wi-Fi and seat reservations are also available on the train. These trains were also awarded the Golden Spanner Award for maintenance reliability.

=Named trains=

class="wikitable"

|+ style="text-align: left;" |TPE Class 397 units with special names or liveries

!Unit number

!Date

!Name

397011

|3 May 2023

| Eurovision 2023 / Welcome to Liverpool{{Cite web|date=3 May 2023|title=TransPennine Express' Eurovision train revealed by singing soprano|url=https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/05/transpennine-express-eurovision-train-revealed-by-singing-soprano.html|access-date=3 May 2023|website=RailAdvent}}