Southern's Class 377 Interiors

When it came to replacing slam door rolling stock the train operating companies of the former Southern Region had a different approach. The Stagecoach Group's South West Trains selected from the German/Austrian-built Siemens Desiro range of units whilst the then British branch of the Connex Group went for the British-built Bombardier Electrostar range. The slam door units being replaced where the long distance 4 Cep and 4 Cig types and outer suburban 4 Vep type. Long distance slam door units were clearly distinguishable externally from outer suburban units by their door and window layout which in turn gave a clue to the seating layout and level of comfort within. The Siemens Desiro units specified by South West Trains continued the tradition of different body styles, plus with the added advantage of using different liveries, however the Bombardier Electrostar units selected by Connex for both their South Eastern and South Central franchises had a single external body style for long distance and outer suburban units. (Note the later Class 376 inner suburban Electrostar units selected by Southeastern, whilst built from a similar body shell, do have a discernably different appearance.) However, the internal accommodations of Electrostar units are not identical and this has led to both confusion and disappointment from passengers. Add to which, for passengers on South Central, a change of franchisee to the Govia Group's Southern company which brought a change of internal specification and also detail variations between subsequent order/batches even within the same sub-class. Given that the Southern internal specification was of reduced comfort compared to the earlier Connex specification, this has led to regular travelers with otherwise no interest in trains becoming train spotters because the location of the more comfortable seats is governed by unit number!

It is the purpose of this feature to clarify internal detail differences between Southern Class 377 units and over time to illustrate these as pictorial contributions become available.

The following records details in late 2005:

Class 377/1

377101-377119

4 car units, DC only, ordered by Connex
Connex interior specification
2+2 seating throughout
First class - one row of facing seat pairs with table between and one row of airline seat pairs
orange grab rails, mixed dark grey, maroon and blue seating, cream/white doors
seat-back grab handles - "knob" type to 377109, "ear" type from 110

377120-377139

4 car units, DC only, ordered by Connex, amended by Govia
in each car 2+2 seating between ends and doors, 3+2 seating between doors
First class - one row of facing seat pairs with table between and one row of airline seat pairs
orange grab rails, mixed dark grey, maroon and blue seating, cream/white doors
seat-back grab handles - "ear" type on 2+2, "doughnut" type 3+2 seating

377140-377164

4 car units, DC only, ordered by Govia
Southern interior specification
Driving cars 2+2 seating, centre cars 2+2 seating between ends and doors but narrow seats with spacers between pairs, 3+2 seating between doors
First class - one row of facing seat pairs with table between and one row of airline seat pairs
yellow grab rails, coarser green moquette 'astroturf' seating, dark grey doors, originally light grey carpet which became dirty quickly, replaced by dark grey carpet or delivered with dark grey carpet
seat-back grab handles - "doughnut" type

Class 377/2

4 car units, AC/DC dual voltage fitted with pantograph, ordered by Govia
Southern interior specification
Driving cars 2+2 seating, centre cars 2+2 seating between ends and doors but narrow seats with spacers between pairs, 3+2 seating between doors
First class - one row of facing seat pairs with table between and one row of airline seat pairs
yellow grab rails, coarser green moquette 'astroturf' seating, dark grey doors, dark grey carpet
seat-back grab handles - "ear" type

Class 377/3

3 car units, DC only, ordered by Connex
Originally Class 375/3
Connex interior specification
2+2 seating throughout
First class - one row of facing seat pairs with table between and one row of airline seat pairs
orange grab rails, mixed dark grey, maroon and blue seating, cream/white doors
seat-back grab handles - "knob" type

Class 377/4

4 car units, DC only, ordered by Govia
Southern interior specification
Driving cars 2+2 seating, centre cars 2+2 seating between ends and doors, 3+2 seating between doors
First class - one row of facing seat pairs with table between and one row of inward facing single seats
yellow grab rails, coarser green moquette 'astroturf' seating, dark grey doors, originally light grey carpet which became dirty quickly, replaced by dark grey carpet or delivered with dark grey carpet
seat-back grab handles - "ear" type on 2+2, "doughnut" type 3+2 seating
horizontal grab rail above doors
glass screen between first and standard class, and glass partition mid car

So if you want the most comfortable seats and do not want to become a train number spotter, with a 3 car unit you can sit in any car, if a 4 car unit the safest place to aim for is the outer ends of the driving cars!

If any of the above is incorrect due to inaccurate supplied information or subsequent changes you are welcome to alert the webmaster (who does not commute on Southern so cannot regularly check for himself).

Class 377/4


(top left) glass partition into the first class area of DMCO 73474 of 377474 (top right) first class seating in DMCO 73474 of 377474 (above left) 2+ 2 seating in the DMCO 73474 of 377474. Three photographs by Colin Duff (above right) dark grey coloured doors in a 377/4 unit. Photograph by Hectar Bradbury


(top left and right) 3+2 seating in MSO 78874 of 377474. Photographs by Colin Duff (above left and right) wheelchair accessibile lavatory and wheelchair area in a 377/4 unit. Photographs by Hectar Bradbury