British Rail Class 395 (Javelin) — High-speed EMU

Design and technical characteristics

Class 395 units are dual-voltage trains capable of drawing power from 25 kV AC overhead lines and 750 V DC third-rail supplies. This flexibility lets them run on the dedicated high-speed line and continue onto conventional electrified routes without changing traction. Typical features include modern passenger accommodations, luggage areas, accessible facilities and real-time passenger information systems.

• Manufacturer: Hitachi (A-train family)
• Power systems: dual-voltage (overhead and third rail) — see electrical systems
• Formation: fixed-length multiple-unit sets designed for high-speed running

History and development

The Class 395 project grew from the need to exploit the newly built High Speed 1 infrastructure for domestic services. Rather than modifying existing stock, a new fleet was commissioned to meet higher speed requirements, improved acceleration and passenger expectations. After construction and testing, units began regular operations in 2009 and later played a prominent role during large events such as the 2012 Olympic Games where faster cross-London connections were in demand.

Operation, uses and significance

Deployed primarily on services between London and towns in Kent, the trains reduced journey times compared with conventional services and increased capacity on key commuter and regional corridors. Their ability to operate seamlessly between dedicated high-speed track and legacy electrified routes makes them important for integrating new infrastructure with existing networks. For information on the route infrastructure they use, see High Speed 1.

Notable distinctions

Class 395 units are among the fastest regular domestic trains in Britain and marked a shift toward modern, high-speed domestic services. They illustrate a practical approach to running high-performance trains on mixed networks by combining dual-voltage capability with proven multiple-unit design principles.