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British Rail Class 321

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British Rail Class 321
Class 321 unit No. 321404 at Euston railway station.
Specifications
Car length19.95 m (65.5 ft)[1]
Class 321/3, No. 321362 at Manningtree on 8th March 2003. This unit carries the original-version First Great Eastern livery, which is based on the old Network SouthEast livery.

The British Rail Class 321 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMU) were built by BREL York in three batches from 1986-1989. The design was very successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322 units for use by Strathclyde PTE and Stansted Express (now used by First ScotRail) respectively. The bodyshell design was also used for construction of the Class 456 direct current (DC) units. The Class 321s were nicknamed 'Dusty Bins', due to the class number sharing the same name as the game show 3-2-1. (This name has also been given to the diesel multiple unit (DMU) Class 153 No. 153321 for the same reason).

Description

Three sub-classes of unit were built. The first two were built for the Network SouthEast sector, whilst the final batch was built for services around Leeds.

Class 321/3

The first batch of 66 units, built from 1986 to 1988, were classified under TOPS as Class 321/3. Units were numbered in the range 321301-366, and had a maximum speed of 100 mph. Each unit consisted of four carriages; two outer driving trailers, one of which contained first class seating; an intermediate motor coach with standard class seating only, roof mounted Bracknell Willis High Speed pantograph and four Brush TM2141C traction motors (two per a bogie); and an intermediate trailer with standard class seating. The technical description of the formation is DTCO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. These units were delivered in two groups, with individual vehicles numbered as follows:

Units 321301-346 Units 321347-366
DTCO 78049-78094 78131-78150
MSO 62975-63020 63105-63124
TSO 71880-71925 71991-72010
DTSO 77853-77898 78280-78299

These units were built for outer-suburban trains on the Great Eastern Main Line, primarily from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria, Ipswich, Southminster, Clacton, Colchester and Braintree. They replaced the ageing slam-door Class 305, Class 308 and Class 309 units on trains to Clacton and Southend-on-Sea, and worked services on the newly electrified routes to Ipswich and Harwich. They also displaced many Class 312 slam-door units to the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway. Some of the Class 309 "Clacton Express" units were retained until 1994, and 24 of the newer Class 312 units were retained long-term to work services to Walton-on-the-Naze and peak services to Clacton, Ipswich and Witham. Units carried the distinctive Network SouthEast livery from new. 321361 was named 'Phoenix' in March 2008 at Ilford depot after it was refurbished at the disused Colchester shed to repair damage caused by an arson attack at Southend Victoria on the 10th July 2007. The first ever class 321 to be put in to the National Express 'connextions' livery 321303 has been released from Wabtec Rail, Doncaster Works. Also 321304 and 321321 'NSPCC Essex Full Stop' have both been repainted into the National Express 'connextions' livery.

The DTCO vehicle from Class 321/3 No. 321332 is the prototype experimental interior refurbishment test bed unit with two differing interiors, including eight seats in the First Class cabin featuring fabric seats and the other eight seats in leather trim, which is the same material and colour as new Travel Coventry and Travel West Midlands bus vehicles. In Standard Class, one version of the seating is a light grey moquette with the sanchlions painted in light grey. The other version matches the trim aboard new Travel Coventry and Travel West Midlands bus vehicles, which is dark grey seat trim and red sanchlions. There is a grey carpet in the First Class cabin and a grey 'easy to mop' hard wearing vinyl flooring in Standard Class accommodation.

Class 321/4

Class 321/4, No. 321410 at Birmingham New Street on 2nd November 2003. This unit is painted in Silverlink County livery.

The second batch of 48 units, built from 1988 to 1989, were classified as Class 321/4. Units were numbered in the range 321401-448, and again had a maximum speed of 100 mph. The formation of these units is identical to that of the first batch, each unit being formed DTCO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. They were delivered in two groups, with individual vehicles numbered as follows:

Units 321401-430 Units 321431-442 Units 321443-448
DTCO 78095-78124 78151-78162 78125-78130
MSO 63063-63092 63125-63136 63099-63104
TSO 71949-71978 72011-72022 71985-71990
DTSO 77943-77972 78300-78311 78274-78279

These units were built for outer-suburban services on the West Coast Main Line, from London Euston to Watford, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Rugby, Coventry and Birmingham New Street. Units 321438 to 321 448 were built for First Great Eastern services. Units were delivered in Network SouthEast blue, red and white livery. They displaced the recently cascaded Class 317 units dating from 1984 that had only just been introduced to the route to replace Class 310 units.

Class 321/9

No. 321903 at Doncaster. These units are used by Northern Rail on the Leeds - Doncaster stopping service.

The final batch of three Class 321/9 units were built in 1989 as an add-on to the main batches. These units have a similar formation to the earlier units, except that there is no first class seating. Therefore, the formation is DTSO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. Units are numbered in the range 321901-903, and individual vehicles are numbered as follows:

  • 77990-77992 - DTSO
  • 63153-63155 - MSO
  • 72128-72130 - TSO
  • 77993-77995 - DTSO

They were ordered by West Yorkshire PTE for the newly electrified Doncaster-Leeds route, and therefore carried the attractive West Yorkshire Metro maroon livery from new.

Due to a delay to the units entering traffic, five redundant Class 307 units were introduced on the route as a stop-gap measure in 1991. These elderly units continued in service until 1993, when the Class 321 units finally entered traffic. In 1994, they were joined by several Class 308 units, which were introduced on services around Leeds following electrication of the Airedale Line and Wharfedale Line routes from Leeds to Ilkley, Skipton and Bradford.

The Class 321/9 units were refurbished at Hunslet-Barclay, Kilmarnock from late 2006 to early 2007. The refurbishment included a new livery, and reliability improvements, similar to the Class 322 units.

Current operations

Following privatisation, the Class 321 fleet was divided between three franchises:

Northern Rail - formerly operated by Arriva Trains Northern

Arriva Trains Northern (previously Northern Spirit) inherited the three Class 321/9 units 321901, 321902 and 321903. These units operate on the Leeds - Doncaster service and occasionally on the Wharfedale and Airedale lines alongside Class 333 units.

National Express East Anglia - formerly operated by First Great Eastern & One

First Great Eastern inherited all 66 Class 321/3 units and 11 Class 321/4 units, which have now been fitted with dot matrix and audio passenger information systems. The Great Eastern main Line franchise has now been taken over by National Express East Anglia, previously branded 'one'.

These trains are primarily used for London Liverpool Street to Braintree, Southend Victoria, Southminster, Ipswich ,Clacton-on-Sea railway station and Colchester Town services, but can be seen running on any electrified route if other trains fail. These are usually formed from 4, 8 or 12 carriages on any routes.

London Midland - formerly Silverlink/Central Trains

Silverlink inherited the 37 of the 48 Class 321/4 units. The remaining 11 units had been transferred to the Great Eastern Main Line region some years previously.

In September 2004, London Euston - Birmingham local services were divided into two separate services: Silverlink retained Northampton - London, with Central Trains taking over all local services between Birmingham and Northampton. Initially, Central Trains hired in several Class 321 units from Silverlink to work their new services, but the arrival of the new Class 350 "Desiro" units means that very few Class 321 units are now required.

To accommodate this sub-lease, 3 Class 321/3 units were transferred from 'one' (since rebranded National Express East Anglia) to Silverlink. These were not permitted north of Northampton and therefore could not be used on Central Trains services (although they occasionally appeared on services to Rugby at weekends due to the line being closed between Rugby and Birmingham New Street). This ceased in late 2005 with the introduction of Class 350 trains on the Birmingham - Liverpool route. One of these sub-leased units was involved in a low-speed derailment at Watford Yard[2].

Since May 2007, Central Trains (now London Midland) have been using Class 321 units on some morning services from Birmingham New Street to Walsall.

There are currently four diagrammed turns that involve Silverlink Class 321 units operating Central Trains (now London Midland) services booked for Class 350 traction. This is with a longer term view to maintain traction knowledge for the drivers depot based at Coventry.

In November 2007, London Midland took over operation of the Class 321 fleet previously used by former TOC's Silverlink and Central Trains, and is using them on current services for the short term. An order has been placed by London Midland with Siemens AG for 37 Class 350/2 'Desiro' EMU's to completely replace the Class 321 units 'like-for-like' off their duties along the West Coast Main Line. Prior to the introduction of the new Class 350/2 units, it is likely that there will be rationalisation of services to maximise the Class 321 units' greater seating capacity and quicker dispatch times.

Future

It was announced on January 30 2008 that, as part of the Department for Transport's Rolling Stock Plan, the London Midland operated units would be split between 3 other train operating companies (TOCs) after the arrival of the 37 additional Class 350/2 'Desiro' units currently on order.[3]

They will be transferred as follows:

First Capital Connect recieved thier first unit, 321404, on the 5th March 2009.[4]

Fleet Details

Class No. Built Year Built Number Range Operator No. in Traffic Current Units
Class 321/3 66 1986-1988 321301-366 National Express East Anglia 66 321301-366
Class 321/4 48 1988-1989 321401-448 National Express East Anglia 11 321438-448
London Midland 37 321401-403, 321405-437
First Capital Connect 1 321404
Class 321/9 3 1989 321901-903 Northern Rail 3 321901-903

References

  1. ^ a b c Fox, Peter (2007). British Railways Locomotives & Coaching Stock 2007. Platform 5, Sheffield. ISBN 978 1902 336558. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Rail Accident Investigation Branch: Report022006
  3. ^ Department for Transport - Rolling stock plan
  4. ^ 321404 in Doncaster West Yard
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