BRITISH RAIL CLASS 321

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 (now used by First ScotRail) respectively. The bodyshell design was also used for construction of the Class 456 DC units.

Contents

Description

Class 321/3

Class 321/4

Class 321/9

Current operations

Northern Rail - formerly operated by Arriva Trains Northern

'one' - formerly operated by First Great Eastern

Silverlink / Central Trains

Class 321-operated Central Trains services

London Midland

Fleet Details

Description

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

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 first class seating; an intermediate motor coach with 2nd-class seating only; and an intermediate trailer with second class seating. The technical description of the formation is DTC+PMS+ATS+DTS. These units were delivered in two groups, with individual vehicles are numbered as follows:

	Units 321301-346	Units 321347-366
DTC	78049-78094	78131-78150
PMS	62975-63020	63105-63124
ATS	71880-71925	71991-72010
DTS	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-on-Sea, Ipswich, Southminster, Colchester and Braintree. 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

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:

	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 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 310s.

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 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. 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 were refurbished at Hunslet-Barclay, Kilmarnock from late 2006 - early 2007. The refurbishment included a new livery, and reliability improvements, similar to the Class 322. Silverlink County 321407 was initially hired in to strengthen the fleet however this has been replaced by sister unit 321423.

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 the Class 333.

'one' - formerly operated by First Great Eastern

First Great Eastern inherited all 66 Class 321/3 units and 11 Class 321/4 units.
Three 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.
These trains are primarily used for London Liverpool Street to Braintree, Southend Victoria, Southminster, Ipswich 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.

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 two separate 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. 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^[1].
Two of these trains are on hire to c2c as replacement for broken Class 357 trains. They are only used, however, at peak times although as of 20th April 2007, c2c have now taken on four units as 357s are trialed for regenerative brake systems.

Class 321-operated Central Trains services

Since May 2007, Central Trains have been using class 321s on some morning services from Birmingham New Street to Walsall.
There are currently four diagrammed turns that involve Silverlink 321's operating a Central Trains services booked for Class 350 traction. This is with a longer term view to maintain traction knowledge for the drivers depot based at Coventry.
It is likely with the formation of London Midland that prior to the introduction of the 37 'new' Desiro 350/2 units that there will be rationalisation of 321 services to maximise the units greater seating capacity and quicker dispatch times, where this leaves the 321 fleet operating remains to be seen.

London Midland

In November 2007 London Midland will take over operation of the Class 321 fleet currently being used by Silverlink and Central Trains and will use them on current services for the short term. The future of the Class 321 fleet is unclear, with an order being placed by London Midland with Siemens for 37 Class 350 'Desiro' EMU's to completely replace the Class 321s 'like-for-like' off their duties along the West Coast Main Line.
The future is still rosy though for these highly reliable and easy to maintain units - many TOC's including First Capital Connect are likely to take up the lease on units when they become available. Maintenance Depots such as Hornsey, Neville Hill and Ilford all have fitters with 321 knowledge ready should Bletchley close.

Fleet Details

Class	No. Built	Year Built	Number Range	Operator	No. in Traffic	Current Units
'Class 321/3'	66	1988-1990	321301-366	'One' Railway	66	321301-366
'Class 321/4'	48	1989-1990	321401-448	'One' Railway	11	321438-448
				Silverlink/Central Trains	37	321401-437
'Class 321/9'	3	1991	321901-903	Northern Rail	3	321901-903