The class 334 is part of the Juniper range offered from Alstom. The 40 strong fleet are being put into service by Scotrail with all sets now in service. The fleet were supposed to have been delivered at the end of 1999 but serious problems with these units have kept them out of service or delayed delivery to Scotrail leaving the 42 year old class 303s to soldier on. At one point the Daily Record reported that the 303s which the 334s eventually replaced were more reliable in service than the 334s!!!!
The first 334s started to appear in service in April 2001 allowing the first of the 318s to appear on the Argyle line in May that year. 334010 and 334020 were used to operate the first 334 operated service on the 3rd April 2001 operating on the Gourock Line.
The 334s reached the Cathcart Circle in late 2001 operating when short of 314s to operate these services.
North Clyde and Argyle Line were reached in September 2002 where for 3 months it was possible to catch both a 303 and a 334. However the 334s seem to be confined to peak time services with 318s and 320s being used off peak on these lines.
December 2002 saw a special trip to Ayr by 334024 to finally properly accept the 334s in service. This trip was for the press and special guests. This month also saw the introduction of sets 001,002,009,039 and 040 which allowed SPT to withdraw the final 6 303s (001,003,004,011,043 and 088).
March 2003 saw 334001 being named Donald Dewar after the Late "First" First Minister of Scotland.
The 334's are painted in a modified SPT Carmine and Cream and blue livery.
There are some good points and bad about the 334s
Good
comfy seats, bright lighting, smart interior, nice livery, fast
Bad
motors and brakes make a loud whining noise which sound like a cat being strangled.
some sets when passing over a dead section of overhead line, most of the lights go out and sometimes dont come back on.
low capacity and not alot of space for standing.
The annoying announcer or "annoying Annie" as she is known who speaks in a monotone voice, sounds fed up and there are a few blips and errors such as,
Wymess Bay is called "We Mess Bay", When approaching Motherwell she says
"We are now approaching Motherwell, this is an interchange station for east and West Coast mainline services, services to Whifflet, Coatbridge Central, Coatbridge Central, services to Lanark."
she is also known to be 3 stops behind where the train actually is on some occasions for example when you are at Motherwell she is at Cambuslang
334 facts
* The fleet are numbered 334001-334040 *
* First in Service 2001 *
* They were built by Alstom, Washwood Heath *
* They have 183 seats *
* They have corridors and toilets *