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Class 379 Electrostar
Thirty four-car Electrostars built at Derby in 2010–11 for the Stansted Express, with extra luggage space and first class at one end. Porterbrook bought them in 2024 after they came off lease from Greater Anglia, and they have run Great Northern trains out of King's Cross since February 2025.
Shown
Scale
Class 379 Electrostar · indicative drawing GB Trains · gbtrains.uk/stock/379/ · CC BY 4.0
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Liveries 1
Great NorthernGreat Northern (the Stansted Express white)Indicative body; the colours the 379s carry with Great Northern, from photographsShown aboveFormer liveries 1
National Express East Anglia, then Greater Anglia (Stansted Express)The same colours as the drawing above: white, navy doors and the orange line; only the operators' branding, which the site leaves off, differed.Former2011-03 to 2022-02Not drawn yet
- Type
- Electric multiple unit
- Builder
- Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom), Derby
- Family
- Electrostar, with Class 357 Electrostar, Class 375 Electrostar, Class 376 Electrostar, Class 377 Electrostar, Class 387 Electrostar
- Built
- 2010–2011
- In service
- since 2011 (stored 2022–2025)
- Operators
- Great Northern
- Formation
- 4 cars, 265 ft (80.77 m), walk-through, with first class in one driving car
- Trains in fleet
- 30
- Fleets
- Great Northern: 30
- Top speed
- 100 mph (161 km/h)
- Power
- 25 kV AC overhead · how it works
- Bogies
- Bombardier Electrostar bogies · drawn with the same bogie component as Class 357 Electrostar, Class 375 Electrostar, Class 376 Electrostar, Class 377 Electrostar, Class 378 Capitalstar, Class 387 Electrostar
- Train length
- 265 ft (80.77 m)
- Coupled
- 2 × 4 cars, about 530 ft (162 m) (the units’ lengths added)
- Profile
- main-line
- Walk-through
- Yes
- Air-conditioned
- Yes
- Seats per train
- 209
- Total capacity
- 20 first class and 189 standard seats as built, plus 2 folding seats (Akiem). DfT's 2016 franchise table also allows for 136 standing.
- Status
- In service with Great Northern (Govia Thameslink Railway, in public ownership under DfT Operator since 31 May 2026), leased from Porterbrook and maintained at Hornsey. The fleet has come back in stages: 12 units by May 2025, 22 expected by mid-November 2025 and the last eight during 2026 (RAIL, August 2025).
unverified Some of these figures haven’t yet been checked against an official source or a published history. What’s in doubt ↓
Sources
How we source figures → · Spotted a mistake? Tell us → (opens in a new tab)
Show the 39 sources from Wikimedia Commons, TheJRB, via Wikimedia Commons, RAIL and 13 more
- Govia Thameslink Railway brings in extra trains in readiness for improved December timetable GTR, 11 February 202530 four-car units leased from Porterbrook; originally built in 2011 for Stansted Express; first Great Northern service 10 February 2025 (379002 and 379022 as eight cars); reactivated at Hornsey
- Class 379s enter passenger service with GTR Porterbrook, 11 February 2025built at Derby Litchurch Lane, 2010–2011; first Great Northern service 10 February 2025; reactivated by Alstom
- Porterbrook acquires Electrostar fleet Porterbrook, 13 March 2024Porterbrook takes ownership of the 30 units, March 2024; built in 2011; previously Greater Anglia, off lease; for GTR's Great Northern
- Class 379 Electrostars begin new duties on Great Northern services RAIL, 12 February 202530 units built by Bombardier for Stansted Express, bought from Akiem in March 2024; Alstom overhaul at Crewe
- Govia Thameslink Railway begins cascade of Class 377s and 387s Rail, 13 February 2025allocated to Hornsey for King's Cross to Peterborough and King's Lynn
- Fleet accessibility information Great Northern (Thameslink Southern Great Northern Ltd), April 2026379s on King's Cross services to Peterborough, Cambridge and King's Lynn; accessible carriage, standard and accessible toilets, April 2026
- Class 379 (fleet page, with table of characteristics) Akiem, 2020unit length 265 ft (80.77 m); 25 kV; 160 km/h (99 mph); 4 cars with through gangways; doors at the 1/3 and 2/3 positions of each car; 189 standard and 20 first class seats and 2 folding seats; 1 standard and 1 accessible toilet; up to 3 units in multiple; air-conditioned; built 2011
- Bombardier signs Stansted airport train order Railway Gazette International, 2 April 2009120 cars (30 four-car units) ordered from Bombardier in April 2009, to be built at Derby; 160 km/h (99 mph)
- First new Stansted Express train rolls out Railway Gazette International, 14 October 2010first unit unveiled at Derby, October 2010; 25 kV 50 Hz, 160 km/h (99 mph); revised body structure and window spacing; 189 standard and 20 first class seats, first class at one end
- First new Class 379 train for Stansted Express unveiled at preview event National Express East Anglia, October 2010100 mph (161 km/h); 20 first class and 189 standard seats per four-car train
- Passengers benefit from early arrival of all 30 of NXEA's new Class 379 trains National Express East Anglia, 2011all 30 in service by 2011; built at Derby by Bombardier; 100 mph (161 km/h); 20 first and 189 standard seats; air-conditioned
- National Express launches Class 379s on Stansted Express service (Railway Herald, issue 260) Railway Herald, 21 March 2011, p. 3first public service 8 March 2011 (379005 and 379006); official launch 17 March 2011
- Stansted stock stands up to the test RAIL (Richard Clinnick), 27 July 2011built at Derby Litchurch Lane; in service from March 2011; first class in one coach; two toilets, the accessible one in car 61913; gangways between cars
- East Anglia Franchise Agreement (public register copy, version 5.8X): Appendix to Schedule 1.6, Table 1, Original Rolling Stock Department for Transport, 23 August 2016, as amended to 2020, p. 218120 vehicles, 30 x 4 cars; 189 standard seats, 136 standing, 20 first class, 2 wheelchair spaces per unit; owner Macquarie
- Great Northern Class 379 photographs (379028 and 379010 at Finsbury Park, 29 May 2025; 379024 at Hornsey depot, 4 April 2025) Wikimedia Commons (Southsea_Matt, CC BY-SA 4.0; Tom Page, CC BY-SA 4.0), 2025photograph check: double-leaf sliding doors, two per side on each car; drawing: livery colours sampled (379028 at Finsbury Park), first-class band
- British Rail Class 379 Wikipediacar types and formation; withdrawal in 2022 (cross-check); bogies P3-25 and T3-25 (citing Platform 5, 2012)
- King's Lynn station Norfolk class 379 and 387 (379028 side on, from the DMCO's cab end; photograph) Wikimedia Commons (Norfolks disused railways, CC BY 4.0), 27 February 2025drawing: livery layout (navy doors, yellow door foot, first-class band, cantrail line), window bays, colours
- 379018 at Kings Cross (the cab front close up; photograph) Wikimedia Commons (Three76Five43Nine72, CC BY 4.0), 31 July 2026drawing: the front, the cab-end coupler in its recess, front colours
- 379027 & 379006, Letchworth, May 29th 2025 (photograph) Wikimedia Commons (Southsea_Matt, CC BY-SA 4.0), 29 May 2025drawing: window bays, gangways between cars, no inter-car fins
- GA Class 379 w-pantograph (side diagram of a Greater Anglia Class 379) Wikimedia Commons (WestRail642fan, CC BY-SA 4.0), 3 April 2019drawing (layout only): pantograph on the PTSO at its MSO end, unglazed panels
- 377 side on (Southern Class 377 driving car) Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0), 29 February 2016the yellow at the cab front, side on (job yellow, 13 October 2026)
- GWR Class 387.png (side diagram, 2017, CC BY-SA 4.0) Wikimedia Commons, 2017the windscreen's wrap pane and the yellow below it, seen side on (set ESW)
- Twyford - GTSR 387205 coupled to GWR 387146.JPG (photograph, 5 October 2021, CC BY-SA 4.0) Wikimedia Commons, 5 October 2021the windscreen's wrap pane and the yellow below it, seen side on (set ESW)
- 357 029 Shadwell.jpg (photograph, CC BY 4.0; uploaded June 2026) Wikimedia Commonsthe windscreen's wrap pane and the yellow below it, seen side on (set ESW)
- Southeastern Class 375 photographs: 375622 at Longfield (Matt Taylor, CC BY-SA 4.0, 2024), 375830 at St Johns (kitmasterbloke, CC BY 2.0, 2024), 375307 at Allington Quarry (John K Thorne, public domain, 2023), 375920 (Samson Ng, CC BY-SA 4.0, 2025), 375304 at East Farleigh (John K Thorne, public domain, 2021), Whitstable (ClemRutter, CC BY-SA 4.0, 2018) Wikimedia Commons, 2018-2025the windscreen's wrap pane and the yellow below it, seen side on (set ESW)
- Class 375 exterior livery sheets EVL-C1-2018859 G (DMOS), 2018861 F (MOSL), 2019035 A (MOSL 375/9), 2018860 E (PTOSL) Eversholt Rail (released by Southeastern under FOI: 'Livery Designs'), 2021the windscreen's wrap pane and the yellow below it, seen side on (set ESW)
- Stansted Express at Liverpool Street.jpg (photograph, CC BY-SA 2.0) TheJRB, via Wikimedia Commons (Flickr), 26 June 2013layout of the underframe equipment on the PTSO (layout only)
- 379001 Passes Stratford.jpg (photograph, CC BY-SA 2.0) TheJRB, via Wikimedia Commons (Flickr), 4 February 2015a check of the PTSO's underframe order (layout only)
- 379026 Passes Stratford.jpg (photograph, CC BY-SA 2.0) TheJRB, via Wikimedia Commons (Flickr), 6 June 2015layout of the underframe cases on the MSO (layout only)
- Reading - GWR 387150 coupled to GTSR 387206.JPG (photograph, CC BY-SA 4.0) Wikimedia Commons (Geof Sheppard), 4 October 2021the cab's Dellner coupler: where it stands and its heads' heights (set BC2, 20 October 2026; layout only)
- 387129 working 1N25 Southampton Central to Brighton at Cosham 26 04 25 (54477933929) Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)the cab's Dellner coupler: where it stands and its heads' heights (set BC2, 20 October 2026; layout only)
- 377 133 coupled to 377 522.jpg (photograph, CC BY 4.0) Wikimedia Commons (Three76Five43Nine72), 3 May 2026the cab's Dellner coupler: where it stands and its heads' heights (set BC2, 20 October 2026; layout only)
- King's Lynn station Norfolk class 379 and 387 (379028 side on, from the DMCO's cab end; photograph) Wikimedia Commons (Norfolks disused railways, CC BY 4.0), 27 February 2025the cab-side window, 2 ft 11 in to 4 ft 5 in × 7 ft 9 in to 9 ft 10 in (880-1,345 x 2,370-2,995 mm; set TFF, Kyle, 26 October 2026)
- 379018 at Kings Cross (the cab front close up; photograph) Wikimedia Commons (Three76Five43Nine72, CC BY 4.0), 31 July 2026no window on the cab-right side (set TFF, Kyle, 26 October 2026)
- Electrostars get new lease of life at Hornsey depot RAIL, 7 August 2025the fleet's staged return: 12 units in traffic by May 2025, 22 expected by mid-November 2025, the remaining eight through 2026; stored at Worksop before the overhaul
- Britain's biggest train operator enters public ownership Infrastructure Intelligence (ACE), 1 June 2026GTR, Great Northern with it, in public ownership under DfT Operator from 31 May 2026
- King's Lynn station Norfolk class 379 and 387 (379028 side on, from the DMCO's cab end; photograph) Wikimedia Commons (Norfolks disused railways, CC BY 4.0), 27 February 2025the square leaf and cab-door windows, the cab door's drop-light bar, square group frames, the driving cars' first group (8 ft 6 in to 16 ft 2 in (2,597-4,919 mm)), the first-class band (8 ft 5 in (2,575 mm) on, 10 ft 4 in to 10 ft 7 in (3,160-3,225 mm)) and the grilles (set T8, Kyle, 27 October 2026)
- Stansted Express at Liverpool Street.jpg (photograph, CC BY-SA 2.0) TheJRB, via Wikimedia Commons (Flickr), 26 June 2013the leaf windows' corners, square group frames and the grilles above the panes, about 1 ft 1 in × 5 in (330 x 125 mm) at 9 ft 8 in to 10 ft 1 in (2,945-3,070 mm; set T8, Kyle, 27 October 2026)
- A Guide to Overhead Electrification (132787-ALB-GUN-EOH-000001, rev 10) Network Rail (prepared by Alan Baxter), February 2015, p. 39the contact wire in the In operation drawing: 15 ft 5 in (4.7 m) above rail, Network Rail's normal height
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unverified
- The car order and car types, DMSO-MSO-PTSO-DMCO (Wikipedia, citing Platform 5's 2012 stock book). Railway Gazette puts first class at one end of the train, and RAIL's 2011 review puts the accessible toilet in car 61913 and the other toilet in a '619xx' car, so both toilets are shown in the pantograph trailer
- Car lengths, height and width: not published by Akiem, Porterbrook or GTR, and Wikipedia gives none. Bombardier gives 9 ft 2 in (2.80 m) wide and 66 ft 11 in (20.395 m) and 65 ft 7 in (19.990 m) cars for other four-car Electrostars, but the 379's body structure was revised (Railway Gazette), so these aren't used
- First class: 20 seats as built (NXEA, Railway Gazette, Akiem and DfT), but RAIL's 2011 review counted 22. No source says whether GTR still sells first class on the 379s
- How many are in traffic in 2026: RAIL (August 2025) expected 22 of the 30 by mid-November 2025 and the rest during 2026; no later count found
- Greater Anglia's withdrawal of the fleet in February 2022, because of high leasing costs (Wikipedia, citing Today's Railways UK). Porterbrook says only that the trains came off lease
- The drawing (indicative): the Class 387's body and cab stretched to the 379's 265 ft (80.77 m), since no 379 drawing or car length is published; car lengths 66 ft 11 in (20.40 m) and 65 ft 7 in (19.99 m) are estimates. The window bays, door and livery layout are from photographs; the pantograph's end (the PTSO's MSO end) and the two unglazed panels are from a Commons side diagram only, not confirmed in a photograph
- The bogies, Bombardier P3-25 (motor) and T3-25 (trailer): Wikipedia, citing Platform 5's 2012 stock book
- The underframes: the PTSO read off one near side-on photograph (positions and heights to about 100 mm) and checked for order on a second; the MSO read off one very oblique photograph, its cases' set-in estimated (positions to about 300 mm, heights to about 100 mm), and only its grey cases drawn; which side of each unit the photographs show isn't known
- The first Great Northern train: GTR's release gives the 17:24 King's Cross to Letchworth Garden City, Porterbrook's the 17:42
- The years of the former liveries come from Wikipedia's class article and the other sources listed, and haven't been checked against a second source.
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