British Rail Class 507

Class of electric multiple unit

British Rail Class 507 electric multiple units were built by BREL at York works from 1978 to 1979. They were the third variety of British Rail's then-standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles and five Classes (Class 313/314/315/507/508). The 507s were the first variant to be 750V DC third rail only. They have worked on the Merseyrail network from new, and continue to do so, now refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works.

British Rail Class 507
Merseyrail Class 507 at Bidston in 2023
The interior of a refurbished Class 507 unit
In service1 November 1978 – present
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Order no.
  • 30906 (BDMSO vehicles)
  • 30907 (TSO vehicles)
  • 30908 (DMSO vehicles)[1]
Built atHolgate Road Works, York
Family nameBREL 1972
Replaced
Constructed1978–1980[1]
Refurbishment2002–2005 at Alstom Eastleigh
Scrapped2023-present
Number built33
Number in service9
Number scrapped24
SuccessorClass 777
Formation
  • 3 cars per unit:
  • BDMSO-TSO-DMSO[1]
Diagram
  • BDMSO vehicles: EI202
  • TSO vehicles: EH205
  • DMSO vehicles: EA201[1]
Fleet numbers507001–507033[1]
Capacity
  • As built: 234 seats
  • As modified: 222 seats
  • As refurbished: 192 seats
Operator(s)Merseyrail
Depot(s)
Line(s) served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe and body frame, aluminium body and roof
Car length
  • DM vehs.: 19.800 m (64 ft 11.5 in)
  • Trailers: 19.920 m (65 ft 4.3 in)
Width2.820 m (9 ft 3.0 in)
Height3.582 m (11 ft 9.0 in)
Floor height1.146 m (3 ft 9.1 in)
DoorsDouble-leaf pocket sliding, each 1.288 m (4 ft 2.7 in) wide (2 per side per car)
WheelbaseOver bogie centres:
14.170 m (46 ft 5.9 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (120 km/h)
Weight
  • BDMSO vehs.: 37.06 t (36.47 LT; 40.85 ST)
  • TSO vehs.: 25.60 t (25.20 LT; 28.22 ST)
  • DMSO vehs.: 35.62 t (35.06 LT; 39.26 ST)[1]
Traction motors8 × GEC G310AZ
(82 kW (110 hp) each, 4 per motor car)
Power output656 kW (880 hp)
Train heatingElectric heating (ducted warm air)
Electric system(s)600–750 V DC third rail[1]
Current collection methodContact shoe
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
BogiesBREL BX1[1]
Minimum turning radius70.4 m (231 ft 0 in)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (disc) and rheostatic[1]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemTightlock
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Class 508
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in) standard gauge
Notes
Specifications as at August 1982[3] except where otherwise noted.
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References

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  1. 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 Fox, Peter (1994). British Railways Pocket Book No. 4: Electric Multiple Units (7th ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. pp. 85–86. ISBN 978-1-872524-60-3. OCLC 655645349.
  2. Marsden, C. J. (2008). The DC Electrics. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 978-0-86093-615-2. OCLC 318668763.
  3. Vehicle Diagram Book No. 210 for Electric Multiple Units (including A.P.T.) (PDF). Derby: Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Department, British Railways Board. August 1982. EA201, EH205, EI202 (in work pp. 10–11, 272–273, 388–389). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Barrowmore MRG.