Following the Electrification of the lines from Glasgow Central to Gourock and Wemyss Bay in 1967, additional Electric Multiple Units were required for these services and 19 Class 311 multiple Units were bought from Cravens. They were almost identical to Class 303s with the only difference being that vents were visible on the side of 311s motor coaches. Inside the decorations were more modern than that of the 303s but on the outside the sets were painted the same as the 303s.

The 311s were not refurbished in 1984 along with the 303s and remained in their original state and without gangways until withdrawal with the only change being to paint some of them orange and black, the Strathclyde Transport Colours of the time.

The 311s and the remaining unrefurbished 303s were with drawn in 1990 when the class 320s were brought into use on the Balloch, Helensburgh- Airdrie/ Drumgelloch Line. Most were scrapped however two sets were remained in Scotland as Sandite units, but these have now been withdrawn.

311103 seen at Summerlee prior to preservation photo by Chris Adams

The Set 311103 is being preserved / restored at Summerlee Heritage Park in Coatbridge and 311104 is in store at Derby Etches Park.

311 fleet list

Facts

* The 19 311s were numbered from 311092-311110 *

* They were originally known as AM11 *

* They were built in 1967 by Cravens*

* They were in 3 a car formation*

* Each 3 car set was 200ft long *

* They had 236 seats *

* There was no corridor connection between them *

* They had a maximum speed of 75 MPH *

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