Eurostar prepares to scrap 186mph Class 373s

Eurostar is to send the first of its 186mph Class 373 trains for scrap after just 22 years in service, even though older and slower intercity trains will remain in service in Britain.

The 18-car trains will be scrapped by European Metal Recycling (EMR) at Kingsbury. The first train was due to move to EMR’s Midlands site as this issue of RAIL went to press.

GB Railfreight has been contracted to move the trains, and must use a Class 66 for the work as these are fitted with specific coupling equipment enabling the ‘373s’ to be hauled on their final journeys. It is expected that when they arrive at EMR, it will take two days to shunt the trains due to their articulation which means the doomed carriages must be put on jacks to move into the EMR yard for disposal.

Eurostar spokesman Lucy Treble told RAIL the company will retain eight e300s (as it is rebranding the older trains) and will use 17 e320s that are being introduced.

Treble said Eurostar was unable to confirm which of the older trains would remain in traffic. It is understood 373005/3006 will be moved first.

The deal to move the trains could last up to four years. The Class 373s were introduced by Eurostar when the Channel Tunnel opened to passengers in 1994. They were built by GEC-Alsthom in 19921995, and currently being replaced by Class 374s built by Siemens (the Velaro e320s).

Eurostar had already removed a number of the trains from crossChannel duties. 373203/204/225228 were used on Paris-Lille trains, but were later withdrawn. 3733013/014/017-020, 3101/102, 3207/208 have also all been removed from traffic. The shorter 14-coach North of London sets were hired to French National Railways (SNCF), but have since been removed from traffic, and most are stored in France, although a power car from 373308 is at the National Railway Museum in York.

Eurostar has denied that construction of the Class 374s has been delayed. It says the first of the next order of seven trains, 374021/022, is on test and that all seven will be delivered as planned.