Class 508 Profile and Models
508138 at Hall Road in August 2001. ©Steve Jones
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The British Rail Class 508 (or 4PER) is a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited, at Holgate Road carriage works, York, in 1979 and 1980. They were the fourth variant of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs, eventually encompassing 755 vehicles and five classes (313/314/315/507/508). They have worked mostly on the Merseyrail network since 1983 and continue to do so, having been refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works. The Class 508 unit is now 44 years old. |
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Type of Unit |
750-850V DC 3rd-rail EMU |
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Builder |
BREL York |
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Build Dates |
1978 to 1980 |
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Total Built |
43 sets |
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Coaches Per Unit |
3 or 4 |
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Power Output |
880hp |
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Top Speed |
75mph |
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Passenger Capacity |
192 to 320 seats |
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Operated By |
British Rail Merseyrail Connex Southeastern Silverlink London Overground |
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Main Duties |
Local Passenger |
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In Service Until |
Present |
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Surviving Examples |
19 sets |