The 318 is a 3 car version of the class 317 units running in England. 21 of these units were built in 1985 to operate on the newly electrified Glasgow to Ayr , Largs and Ardrossan Harbour Lines. These units were the mainstay of this line until 2001 when the new class 334s took their place allowing a cascade of 318s onto 303 territory and the 305's in Edinburgh leading to their ultimate demise.
The units have corridor connections throughout and have all electrical equipment including the pantograph on the middle vehicle. When working in multiple they gangway between the 2 units allows passengers to walk from one unit to the other. Inside the units have been modernised to include comfy new seats, brighter decor, tables and toilets(which remain locked when the units are in use on the Argyle Line to try and stop the fare dodgers from Bridgeton getting a free hurl) .
In 2004, some 318's are back working on the Wymess Bay and Largs services with the remainder on the North Clyde and Argyle Line services. 318's seem to operate on services which carry higher volumes of passengers e.g. 7:44 Lanark - Garscadden, 8:16 Motherwell - Dalmuir via Bellshill and 16:44 Dalmuir - Lanark express.
All 318s are painted in SPT Carmine and cream outside and blue at enterances inside.
318 Facts
*They are numbered 318250-318270 *
* They were introduced in 1985*
* They were built by BREL York *
* They are 195 ft long *
* They have 216 seats *
* They are corridor connected *
* They have toilets fitted *
* They have a maximum speed of 90 MPH *
* They have sliding doors *