Class 385 status

The plan is for 56 Class 385s to be assembled at Newton Aycliffe, while a further 14 will be built in Kasado (Japan) and shipped to the UK.

Currently three-car 385002 and four-car 385101 (both Kasado products) are in Germany following extensive testing. These will be moved to the UK soon before entering traffic.

In Scotland, 385001 and 385102 (also both Kasado products) have been undergoing main line tests for several months, with the latter unveiled to the press in December 2016 ( RAIL 817).

Four more Kasado sets (385015, 385103/104/122) have been released from Newton Aycliffe and sent to Scotland for tests.

Currently undergoing testing at the County Durham facility are 385004-010/014/016/031/033, 385123/124. Of these, 385014/` 016/031/033, 385123/124 are in full Scotland’s Railways livery, suggesting delivery is imminent. Those in SR colours are Kasado products.

Also at Newton Aycliffe and due to start testing soon are 385011-385013, while bodyshells for 385105-385111 have been delivered for assembly. As this issue of RAIL went to press, the bodyshells for 385112/113 were being delivered to Newton Aycliffe.

All ‘385’ bodyshells are fabricated in Japan using welding technology not available in the UK, before being dispatched to the UK for assembly.