The Ten Best EMUs in Britain: Ranking every Electric Multiple Unit (Part 3)

In the final of this miserable three part series, I give my views on what I believe to be the ten best electric multiple units in the UK. I am never making one of these again, the next video should be a lot more fun!

Credits:

Photography:

TheFrog001, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Peter Trimming / Pendolino at Brandon Wood

47soton

Transpennine Express

BB 22385 / Rame 4023-24 E320 détourné par la gare de Longueau / Wikimedia Commons

Design Week

Music:
Dawn - KV

[profmargins]

i feel bad for the 800s on gwr - DfT ruined the initial perception of them with the botched electrification projects and the governments shortsightedness

[insertusernamehere]

The 450s are usually under appreciated, they are my local trains. As you said, “they tick off all the boxes.” I couldn’t agree more.

[connorpearson]

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series. A well deserved 3rd for the class 397 too, rode them for the first time just before and after Christmas to visit family and was very pleased with the experience, great trains

[BritishTrainspotting]

The 140mph speed limit of the 80x IEP trains is only their potential top speed. In practice, they are limited to 125mph due to the lack of in-cab signalling, and physical track restrictions that should've been fixed with British Rail's modernisation plan many decades ago.
However their top speed is still a big factor in acceleration, as a vehicle will accelerate faster at the same speed if it has a higher potential top speed, as the acceleration curve tends to flatten off closer to the top speed.

[jos]

444s are some of my favourite trains in the uk so it's nice to see them place 1st (honestly all the classic desiros deserved the high ranking they've gotten, they're just very good trains). they're so perfect for what they do and they are REALLY good looking. taking one from clapham junction to weymouth was a very pleasant experience.

[EGPFAviation]

This is a great series I'm sure we all loved it. Great work as always GW!

[mikeblatzheim]

An interesting video series could be a ranking of all the private operators past and present since BR privatisation.

[KerbalRocketry]

Odd I disliked your take on the 313 so much yet 100% agree on the 444, amazing class of trains. love them

[MatthewHarding]

i love the class 397 and i hope 1 day they come through stalybridge

[blight]

444s are perfect imo, they don’t need to be flashy or overly fast, they are simple and get the job done and when you’re in Portsmouth it’s quite literally the only class (other than 450) they use because as said “ they just work”. I’m gonna try and build a 5” gauge model of one at some point because I find them to be so under appreciated by some people.

[Andrewjg_]

More and more new trains and rolling stocks are coming into service next year. Including Avanti West Coast Class 805 and Class 807 AT300. East Midlands Railway Class 810 “Aurora” AT300. Transport for Wales Class 231, Class 398 Tram-train and Class 756. Tyne and Wear Metro Class 555. New Glasgow Subway stocks. South Western Railway Class 701 “Arterio”. c2c Class 720/6 and many more new trains coming into service from 2023.

Also I do think that the Class 379s should go to ScotRail to replace the Class 318 and Class 320 used on the Strathclyde suburban routes around Glasgow as they are at storage and are like 12 years old.

[spiritofcantaolisboa-p]

Siemens electric trains are the best in my oppinion regardless the interiors configuration. Second place goes directly for Bombardier Derby familly of trains specially Turbo and Electrostar units that ar the predecessors of Aventras. Thank you for sharing your very interesting work.

[jefffranklin]

Loved the 379, took it all the time when heading to college at Stansted, very comfortable to the point where i fell asleep and ended up late as i went back in the other direction a few times

[ireallyamanengineer]

7:17 well, we have a ton of these in regular high speed rail service in germany. they are almost the exact same thing (some electrical systems are different, and the german units only have 8 coaches/unit), and have a really nice ride quality, especially because the newer units have things like tablet/phone holders and large tables at every seat. the buffet car looks a bit different, and the passenger information system is different, but they are really nice trains.

[leighmenzie]

About the Windows I can confirm why they are so small cos my friends dad works for avantia ad a guard he said the trains are built like tanks and the windows have to be small incase of stone flicking up to the windows

[abdullahsarker]

I more or less agree with this! Great video by the way. The only points of disagreement I have are (surprise surprise) with the Class 80Xs. They look really good in my opinion, but they're incredibly underwhelming. The interior ambience and passenger comfort are my biggest gripe (looking at you GWR). Now, LNER does dilute the infamy of the horrid interiors a smidge but honestly not by much. I'm certainly not giving passenger comfort a 7/10 but probably a 6/10 instead. The first-class seats aren't bad, but definitely, a big step down, and the standard class seats (ones that aren't by GWR) are mediocre but still a slight step down too. I certainly prefer the Mark 3 and 4 coaches more, but the Class 801 and 803 are still decent trains. The Class 800s and 802s are appalling and race their way down to the worst 10 EMUs in modern history. Build quality on them is poor, and passenger comfort is close to being nonexistent. GWR should really snap up those retired Mark 4s and bring back a touch of nostalgia. The Class 390 and 397 rightly bag the top spots as they're superb EMUs, in my opinion, 125mph on a Pendolino feels a lot faster than 125mph on any other train capable of that. Props to the buttery smooth performance, and tilting function I suppose.

[TrainsOfDorset]

I don't think anyone understands how happy I am that the 444 is top 🤣

[oldtechnobodycaresabout]

Next do sets of locomotive + coaches video

[MatthewK]

In my personal opinion the Class 390 is at the top, but apart from that I can pretty much agree with what you said in the video

[ThePennineWanderer]

Although i think the 444 should be lower ranked, great video