British Rail Class 507

British Rail Class 507
Merseyrail Class 507 at Bidston in 2023
The interior of a refurbished Class 507 unit
In service1 November 1978  28 November 2024
ManufacturerBritish Rail Engineering Limited
Order no.
  • 30906 (BDMSO vehicles)
  • 30907 (TSO vehicles)
  • 30908 (DMSO vehicles)
Built atHolgate Road Works, York
Family nameBREL 1972
Replaced
Constructed1978–1980
Refurbished2002–2005 at Alstom Eastleigh
Scrapped2023–2025
Number built33
Number preserved1
Number scrapped32
SuccessorClass 777
Formation
  • 3 cars per unit:
  • BDMSO-TSO-DMSO
Diagram
  • BDMSO vehicles: EI202
  • TSO vehicles: EH205
  • DMSO vehicles: EA201
Fleet numbers507001–507033
Capacity
  • As built: 234 seats
  • As modified: 222 seats
  • As refurbished: 192 seats
OwnersAngel Trains
OperatorsMerseyrail
Depots
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe and body frame, aluminium body and roof
Car length
  • DM vehs.: 19.800 m (64 ft 11.5 in)
  • Trailers: 19.920 m (65 ft 4.3 in)
Width
  • Over Body: 2.820 m (9 ft 3.0 in)
  • Over Tread plates: 3.023 m (9 ft 11.0 in)
Height3.582 m (11 ft 9.0 in)
Floor height1.146 m (3 ft 9.1 in)
DoorsDouble-leaf pocket sliding, each 1.288 m (4 ft 2.7 in) wide (2 per side per car)
WheelbaseOver bogie centres:
14.170 m (46 ft 5.9 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (120 km/h)
Weight
  • BDMSO vehs.: 37.06 t (36.47 LT; 40.85 ST)
  • TSO vehs.: 25.60 t (25.20 LT; 28.22 ST)
  • DMSO vehs.: 35.62 t (35.06 LT; 39.26 ST)
Traction motors8 × GEC G310AZ
(82 kW (110 hp) each, 4 per motor car)
Power output656 kW (880 hp)
HVACElectric heating (ducted warm air)
Electric system(s)600–750 V DC third rail
Current collector(s)Contact shoe
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
BogiesBREL BX1
Minimum turning radius70.4 m (231 ft 0 in)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (disc) and rheostatic
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemTightlock
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Class 508
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications as at August 1982 except where otherwise noted.

The British Rail Class 507 electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger trains were built by British Rail Engineering Limited at Holgate Road carriage works in two batches from 1978 to 1980. They are a variant of British Rail's standard 1972 design for suburban EMUs derived from PEP stock, which eventually encompassed 755 vehicles over five classes (313, 314, 315, 507 and 508). They worked on the Merseyrail network from new until their retirement in November 2024. Between 2002 and 2005, all units were refurbished by Alstom's Eastleigh Works.

Following the withdrawal of the Class 313 fleet in 2023, the Class 507 fleet were the oldest units operating on the mainline rail network in Great Britain until their withdrawal in 2024. However, the even older 1972 Stock and 1973 Stock are still in service on London Underground's Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines.