British Rail Class 323

The British Rail Class 323 electric multiple units were built by Hunslet Transportation Projects. They were built from January 1992 through to September 1995, although mock-ups and prototypes were built and tested in 1990 and 1991. Forty-three 3-car units were built for inner-suburban services in and around Birmingham and Manchester. These trains are used by Northern and London Midland.

Description

In the early 1990s the Regional Railways sector of British Rail placed an order for new EMUs both to replace older electric units around Birmingham and Manchester, and to work services on the newly electrified Birmingham Cross-City Line. In June 1990, the contract was awarded to Hunslet Transportation Projects of Birmingham, a new company set up by a team of engineers and managers who had left Metro Cammell. Metro Cammell was at the time a Birmingham-based train builder. They won the contract in competition with six other European train builders.^[4]

Initially 37 units were ordered, with the option for fourteen more, eighteen would be needed for the Cross-City Line, while the remainder would replace older units (such as the Class 304 and Class 310) in the event a total of 43 three-car units were actually built.^[4] When the electrification of the Leeds/Bradford - Skipton/Ilkley Airedale/Wharfedale Lines was confirmed in the early 1990s, Regional Railways and West Yorkshire PTE applied to the government for 14 units to add to the units already on order.^[5] At the time government spending on the railways was restricted due to the looming privatisation and eventually, when funding was not forthcoming, the order was cancelled, and 21 second-hand 308s from Network SouthEast were used in the interim before the 333s were delivered in 2001.^[6]

Current operations

London Midland

The former Central Trains inherited a fleet of 26 units from British Rail: sets 323201-222 and 323240-243. In November 2007, these were passed on to London Midland.

The units were delivered in 1993/94 painted in Centro green and white livery with a blue stripe. They were originally allocated to Bletchley Depot, but have since been reallocated to Soho when the elderly class 304s retired. Since the 323s moved there, a workshop has been built for maintenance and repairs.

It was intended for the units to be introduced on the newly electrified Cross-City Line from Redditch to Lichfield (via Birmingham New Street). However, all did not go according to plan, and initially the units suffered from reliability problems. This meant that the ageing fleets of Class 115, 116, 117, 118 and 119 diesel multiple units, which the Class 323 units were meant to replace, continued in service longer than planned. They were finally withdrawn in 1995 once the Class 323 units had become more reliable.

The units were also used on various other routes, including Coventry to Wolverhampton, and Birmingham to Walsall (Chase Line) suburban services, as well as longer distance Birmingham to Liverpool Lime Street services. On these services, they were used alongside the existing fleets of Class 310/1 and Class 312 slam-door units. The introduction of the new trains also allowed the withdrawal of the elderly Class 304 units, and the cascading of Class 308 units to operate suburban services around Leeds.

Refurbishment of London Midland units

Since being introduced, the units have undergone works attention, which included the fitting of CCTV surveillance equipment. They have all undergone a further internal refurbishment which has seen them receive new flooring, new harder seating (though keeping the London Midland trim). All units are also now receiving new external door controls.

In 2014 the London Midland fleet of 26 EMU's was equipped with DC Airco Cab Air Cooling equipment by Onyxrail; a company formed by two of the Original members of Hunslet TPL.

• 
  A Class 323 in the former Centro livery.
• 
  British Rail Class 323 EMU interior in the early 2000s (decade)

Future of London Midland Units

On 10th August 2017, it was announced that Abellio would replace Govia as the operator of the new West Midlands Trains franchise, which will start in December 2017. The 323's will transfer to this new company, however they will be displaced by new trains on the Cross City Line in 2020.^[7]

Northern

At the time of the privatisation of British Rail in 1997, the Regional Railways North West franchise was re-branded North Western Trains, and it inherited 17 of these units (323223-323239). North Western Trains became First North Western and its operations were taken over by Northern Rail in 2004.

They were used to replace older stock of Classes 304 and 305, although some of the latter were retained in reserve until 2000. The units are used on the Manchester electrified network, primarily to the south of the city. The 323s are set to leave Northern in December 2018.^[8][9] Some media reports have reported earlier dates and claim they will go to London Midland.^[10] However, neither the London Midland franchise agreement or the consultation on the next franchise indicates that the 323s will move to London Midland for certain.^[11]

Northern Rail refurbished Class 323 No. 323225 at Manchester Piccadilly

The interior of a Northern Rail refurbished Class 323

323223-323225 were originally dedicated to Manchester Piccadilly to Manchester Airport services and have additional luggage racks, but this was rarely achieved due to diagramming difficulties.

The fleet is maintained on behalf of Northern by West Coast Traincare Ltd at its Manchester Traincare Centre Longsight, a few miles south of Manchester Piccadilly, with units stabled at Stockport Edgeley carriage sidings where they receive overnight cleaning.

Damage to Northern Rail units

323235 spent six months out of action after derailing at Alderley Edge on 13 September 2008 when, shortly after operating the 23:31 Deansgate to Alderley Edge service, it ran ECS into the up siding and was returning to Stockport for overnight stabling. The driver passed a signal at danger, resulting in the train derailing on the points, causing wheel damage to one of the bogies and damaging the traction motor. The unit was travelling at about 10 mph (16 km/h) when the incident occurred. During the time it was out of service receiving repairs, it was also put through the fleet modification programme and was repainted in Northern Rail livery. It re-entered service on 24 January 2009.

323231 spent 16 months out of service after derailing at Congleton on 18 December 2008, after hitting a Land Rover which had rolled down Mow Cop on to the track close to the crossing below.^[12] It suffered a lot of underbody damage as well as losing its pantograph. The unit was repaired at Wolverton, and returned to Manchester on 14 April 2010. It returned to service shortly afterwards.

Fleet details

References

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