scot-rail.co.uk...

Sixteen 3-car Class 314 EMUs were ordered from BREL York for use on the re-opened Argyle Line (Partick to Rutherglen via Glasgow Central Low Level), which opened in 1979. In later years they operated suburban services out of Glasgow Central High Level.
The final Class 314s were withdrawn from service in December 2019.

• When the Cross-Glasgow Argyle Line was being re-opened in 1979, Trans Clyde required more EMU's to supplement the 91 Class 303 and 18 Class 311 units.
• BREL York Works built 16 units numbered 314201-216.
• These units were initially based at Hyndland depot and operated Argyle Line through to Hamilton and Motherwell and some North Clyde services between Airdrie and Helensburgh Central. However they shared these routes with 303's. The first unit in service was 314202 on November 9th 1979. As time went by the 314's were pushed out of the North Clyde services and remained on the Argyle Line.
• Hyndland depot closed in May 1987, replaced by Yoker carriage sidings, but with the units allocated to Shields Depot for maintenance.
• In the early 1990s the class was converted to Driver-Only Operation.
• From 1999 the Class 314's were moved to work out of Glasgow Central High Level, primarily the Cathcart Circle, Neilston and Newton services. The remaining Class 303's operated Inverclyde, Argyle and North Clyde services with the Class 318s and Class 320s.
• When the Class 303 were retired the 314's started operating a diagram on the Inverclyde services and eventually operated most Sunday Wemyss Bay services.
• On a few occasions Class 314 units worked the Ayrshire line.
• Class 314s operated the on the Paisley Canal line after Electrification in November 2012.

Livery Changes

Class 314 Livery changes through the Years
BR Blue & Grey with Trans-Clyde branding	Orange and black with Strathclyde Transport Branding	Orange and black with SPT branding	SPT Carmine & Cream	SPT Carmine & Cream, Cream doors	ScotRail Saltire Blue

• When new in 1979 new class 314 units were painted in British Rail blue & Grey livery, with Trans-Clyde branding.
• In August 1983, unit 314216 became the first mainline train in Strathclyde Transport orange and black livery. The other Class 314s were painted by the end of 1984.
• 314215 was the first of its class in SPT Carmine and Cream livery, being painted at Glasgow Works during August 1997.
• Five units (201/202/207/209/214) were still in orange and black livery in 2002.
• In February 2004, 314209 was the first to appear from overhaul in SPT livery with cream painted doors.
• 314202 the last mainline train in Strathclyde Orange and Black livery, went into Glasgow Works on 23rd November 2006, for refurbishment and repainting into in SPT Carmine and Cream livery.
• Seven units (203/204/208/209/211/212/214) were painted into ScotRail Saltire blue livery from 2011.
• Nine units (201/202/205/206/207/210/213/215/216) remained in carmine and cream livery until withdrawal.

Refurbishment

The sixteen class 314s went through a life extension programme with OTMR data recorders being fitted, starting in January 2011, the last major refurbishment programme the Class will got, and saw 5 of the class painted in the blue ScotRail saltire livery. (Two more units were painted in 2017).

Accidents

• Collision at Hyndland on 5th June 1980, between 314203 and 314215.
• Collision at Bridgeton Central Depot on 11 September 1986, between 303026 and 314210, with a driver and guard killed.
• On Sunday the 21st July 1991 314203 departed Newton heading for Balloch passing a signal at danger. A terminating train was expected to cross over the line into the path of the 314. The trains collided head on and killed 4 and injured 22 people.
  • Class 314 vehicle 64588 was destroyed. A class 507 vehicle 64426 was converted in 1996 to replace it, taking the former's running number.

Withdrawal

• On 21st September 2018, three units 314207/212/213 were withdrawn from service following a cascade of Class 380s to Inverclyde services after the introduction of the Class 385s. Although 207/213 were reinstated on 05/10/18.
• Five units withdrawn by December 2018 (314201/204/206/212/213).
• Six units withdrawn during 2019 (314203/207/208/211/214/215)
• Final five units withdrawn in December 2019 (314202/205/209/210/216)

• 14th December 2019, the last public passenger service was the 1735 Paisley Canal to Glasgow Central operated by 314216, with 314210 operating the previous service before both ran ecs to Corkerhill CSD to pick up 314209 to operate to Yoker CS to await movement for scrapping.

• 314202 and 314205 operated the farewell railtour from Glasgow Central to Ayr, Glasgow Central to Cumbernauld via Carstairs and Glasgow Central to Helensburgh Central on Wednesday 18th December 2019, bringing to an end the operation of the Class 314.

Scottish Hydrogen Train Project

• After withdrawal from Service 314209 remained stored at Yoker Depot until 16 December 2020 when it was moved to Shields Depot as 5V05, sandwiched between 318253 and 320414 <YouTube>. It was then moved by road to Bo'ness over the next couple of days.
• On 27/10/21 the set number was changed from 314209 to 614209, and body-side vinyls promoting the project applied, on top of the ScotRail Saltire livery.
• Conversion work took place at Bo'ness, with hydrogen technology specialists Arcola Energy, to power the train using Hydrogen fuel cells.
• The work was not yet complete when the train was presented at Bo'ness station during a COP26 event in November 2021.
• However the following year, train did make did make its first self-powered demonstration runs, from Bo'ness to Kinneil in August 2022.
• The train was decommissioned in January 2023, with all hydrogen equipment removed.

See also...

• Class 314 Formations - last passenger workings and scrapping details.
• Class 314 C5E Overhaul 2009-2010
• Class 314 Relivery and Overhaul 2011-2013
• Diagrams:Class 314 May 2011
• Electrification
• Class 314 questions thread

External Links

• Wikipedia - BR Class 314
• Rail Engineer magazine - Scotland's Hydrogen Train
• Realrail.smugmug - photos of Scotland's Hydrogen train
• Flickr - 614209 at Bo'ness July 2024