British Rail Class 321

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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 electric multiple units were built by BREL York in three batches from 1988-1991. 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 respectively. The bodyshell design was also used for construction of the Class 456 DC units.

[edit] 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, no. 321334 "Amsterdam" at Colchester on 12th June 2003. This unit carries the revised-version First Great Eastern livery as applied to overhauled units.

[edit] Class 321/3

The first batch of 66 units, built 1988-1990, were classified 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 1st-class seating; an intermediate motor coach with 2nd-class seating only; and an intermediate trailer with 2nd-class seating. The technical description of the formation is DTCO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. These units were delivered in two groups, with individual vehicles are numbered as follows:

These units were built for outer-suburban trains on the Great Eastern Main Line, primarily from London Liverpool Street to Southend-on-Sea, Ipswich, Harwich, Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea. They replaced the ageing slam-door Class 305, Class 308 and Class 309 units on trains to Clacton and Southend, and worked services on the newly electrified routes to Ipswich and Harwich. They also displaced many Class 312 slam-door units to the LTS Line. 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.

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

[edit] Class 321/4

The second batch of 48 units, built 1989-1990, 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. Thus each unit was formed DTCO+MSO+TSO+DTSO. These units were delivered in two groups, with individual vehicles numbered as follows:

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 were delivered in Network SouthEast blue, red and white livery. They displaced the slam-door Class 310 units dating from 1965, and Class 312 units dating from 1977. Both of the displaced types moved to the LTS Line.

Class 321/9, no. 321901 at Doncaster on 3rd June 2004. This unit is now operated by Northern Rail and is painted in obsolete West Yorkshire Metro livery.

[edit] Class 321/9

The final batch of three Class 321/9 units were built in 1991 as an add-on to the main batches. These units have a similar formation to the earlier units, except that there is no 1st-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. They therefore carried the attractive West Yorkshire Metro maroon livery from new.

Due to a delay in 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 serviced around Leeds following electrication of the Aire Valley routes to Ilkley, Skipton and Bradford.

The 321/9s are now undergoing refurbishment at Hunslet Barclay, Kilmarnock. 321902 is now back in service, following refurbishment and a new livery, with 321901 at Kilmarnock works. A Silverlink County unit is currently hired in to strengthen the fleet.

[edit] Current operations

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

[edit] Arriva Trains Northern / Northern Rail

Arriva Trains Northern (previously Northern Spirit) inherited the three Class 321/9 units 321901, 321902 and 321903.

[edit] First Great Eastern / 'one'

First Great Eastern inherited all 66 Class 321/3 units and 11 Class 321/4 units.

3 Class 321/3 units have since been transferred to Silverlink to accommodate the loan of units to Central Trains.

These are progressively being fitted with dot matrix and audio passenger information systems.

[edit] 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 region some years previously.

In December 2004, London Euston - Birmingham local services were divided into 2 self contained services: Silverlink retained Northampton - London, with Central Trains taking over all local services between Birmingham and Northampton. To begin with Central hired in several Class 321s from Silverlink to work their new services, but with the arrival of the new Class 350 "Desiro" units, very few units are now required.

To accommodate this sub-lease, 3 Class 321/3 units were transferred from 'one' to Silverlink. These are not permitted north of Northampton and therefore cannot be used on Central Trains services.

Eventually, a handful of Class 321 units will be transferred from Silverlink to Central Trains to operate the local Birmingham-Wolverhampton services releasing Class 323 units for work elsewhere.

[edit] Fleet Details

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