Class 508 Profile and Models

Class 508

508138 at Hall Road in August 2001. ©Steve Jones

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.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

750-850V DC 3rd-rail EMU

Builder

BREL York

Build Dates

1978 to 1980

Total Built

43 sets

Coaches Per Unit

3 or 4

Power Output

880hp

Top Speed

75mph

Passenger Capacity

192 to 320 seats

Operated By

British Rail
Merseyrail
Connex
Southeastern
Silverlink
London Overground

Main Duties

Local Passenger

In Service Until

Present

Surviving Examples

19 sets