e320/Class 374 launch

Eurostar chose the 20th anniversary of their international railway services to launch their new Siemens e320/Velaro units with an unveiling at St. Pancras International Station on 13th and 14th November 2014. Half units 374011 and 374012 were on display in platform 5. Unfortunately, as the Southern Electric Group did not receive an invite nor are accredited as Press we had to settle for the very restricted views from the concourse. These photographs were taken on the morning of 14th November by Colin Duff.

374012 was at the "London" end, 374011 at the "country" end of the formation. They did not get to the station under their own power, Eurostar's MAK diesels being used for the hop from Temple Mills Depot.

(above) a sample external passenger information screen on car 7 of 374012.
(below) Because these units are for international service they carry the new European Vehicle number (EVN), this being on car 6 of 374012.
[digits 1-2] Interoperability capability and type of vehicle (93 = high speed EMU)
[digits 3-4] Country in which the rail vehicle is registered (UK = 70)
[digits 5-8] Technical characteristics/Class identification (374 0)
[digits 9-11] Serial number (12 6), i.e. digits 5-11 the more familiar 374012 car6
[digit 12] Check digit (5)

(below) Unfortunately the viewing possibilities at St. Pancras International afford only a minor advantage over what can be viewed at Temple Mills Depot, Stratford, from a passing Greater Anglia train running between Stratford and Tottenham Hale. The SEG Webmaster was until comparatively recently a regular Greater Anglia passenger and took this shot from a Class 317/6 passing Temple Mills on 9th April 2014.