British Rail Class 333

British Rail Class 333 electric multiple units built by Siemens and CAF are based on the Class 332 units operated by Heathrow Express.

Description
Sixteen three-car units were introduced in 2000 by Northern Spirit, later Arriva Trains Northern and now Northern Rail. They replaced the Class 308 units on the Wharfedale and Airedale lines in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England (between Leeds, Bradford Forster Square, Ilkley and Skipton). They are based at the Neville Hill depot in Leeds and painted in the livery of West Yorkshire Metro, the local passenger transport executive.

Due to increased passenger numbers, the units were lengthened to four cars, 333001 - 333008 in 2002 and 333009 - 333016 in 2003, funded by Metro and the Strategic Rail Authority. However, this funding ran out in 2007 and as a consequence of this the fourth cars could have been removed. Had this happened the four-car class321s would have been removed from Doncaster services to Wharfedale and Airedale services. This means that the fourth cars are now funded by South Yorkshire PTE, despite rarely running in the South Yorkshire, to ensure that four-car units are available on Doncaster services.

Despite changes to the franchise, until 2008 the units still carried the combined Northern Spirit and Metro livery of all-over red with a large N vinyl. From summer 2008 a new livery was introduced, combining the current operator (Northern) and Metro. 333 002 and 333 004 received the new livery by September 2008 but the finish of the vinyls was unsatisfactory. New vinyls were acquired and the whole fleet was reliveried by mid 2009.

Performance
The units are capable of 100 mph, but the maximum speed on their routes is 90 mph; their brisk acceleration and high power makes them well suited to commuter services with generally short distances between stations in the hilly part of Yorkshire. They have Standard class only 2+3 high-density seating, and each set has one toilet.