In March 1998, Angel Trains ordered 16 three-carriage sets from Siemens Transportation Systems for Northern Spirit to replace the slam-door Class 308s on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square, Ilkley and Skipton.

[12][13] Construction of the trains was sub-contracted to CAF with Siemens Transportation Systems providing the traction equipment.

[17] In April 2000, a further eight trailer carriages were ordered with funding from West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive and inserted into the first eight sets in 2002.

[18][19][20] Subsequently a further order was placed with funding from the Strategic Rail Authority to increase the remaining sets to four carriages.

[26] When Arriva Rail North was awarded the Northern franchise in December 2015 plans were announced for the replacement of Class 333 units with a new fleet of 3-car trains,[27] though ultimately this did not occur.