British Rail Class 316 (Picc-Vic)

The British Rail Class 316 (Picc-Vic) was a proposed electric multiple unit (EMU) train intended for the Picc-Vic line, a planned underground railway line beneath Manchester city centre. This line was designed to connect the Picadilly and Victoria stations and provide improved cross-city rail services.

The Class 316 was envisioned as a purpose-built EMU specifically tailored to the Picc-Vic line's requirements. Design specifications included a compact profile suitable for operation within the tunnels, and potentially, features for rapid acceleration and deceleration necessary for frequent station stops on an underground line.

The Picc-Vic line project was ultimately cancelled in the 1970s due to funding constraints and changing transport priorities. As a result, the Class 316 was never built. No physical prototypes were ever constructed, and the design remained solely on paper. Consequently, detailed technical specifications and performance characteristics of the proposed train are limited to historical documentation and planning reports related to the Picc-Vic project.

The cancellation of the Picc-Vic line and the associated Class 316 represents a significant turning point in the history of Manchester's transport planning. The unbuilt train serves as a reminder of ambitious infrastructure projects that were never realized and the potential impact they could have had on the region's rail network.