Class 321 - UK Fleet Summary


Class 321 Summary:



J Maxim. (C) Jan 2017 
During their lifetime,  321s have played a big role in getting commuters and leisure travellers alike between A and B, often in Suburban Locations. However, with new types of stock to be built, Class 321s are gradually being phased out and cascaded. This post will highlight their homes between now and 2020. 
Right: One of four 321s to transfer to Anglia during
 January 2017, still in FCC livery following their time at
 Gt Northern. Six further sister units will transfer to GA
from Great Northern during Spring 2017.

Greater Anglia lease 94 class 321s, numbered between: 321301-366 and 321421-448. 

30 of these 321s will receive the Renatus Overhaul, a partnership between leaser Eversholt and TOC Greater Anglia. Jonathan took a trip up to Doncaster in February to get some snaps - and this is how we were able to confirm that 321303/04 would be the first to receive this regime (03 is just away for the new traction package) - 321321 is allegedly next! Interior snaps here of the Renatus 321304. 

P Skuce (C). 1 of the 17 units (421-437) which received
a lighter overhaul at Clacton Depot 2013-2015.
321448 is of course the GA Demonstrator Unit - since 2014 - to gather feedback, and to trial out new systems (like the AC Traction System in May 2016, which is now being rolled out onto the Renatus Units)! 

421-437 (which underwent a mid-life overhaul in 2013 at Clacton Depot) retain 2+2 style seating in parts of the train, from when this section was used for First Class accomodation at the previous TOC.

These units will all get new seat covers, wall panels, grab rails and lighting, before 2018, meaning that approximately 67 of the 94 321 units will all be refurbished in one way or another.

Most (at least 40, but could be 53 according to Peter) of the remaining sister units then receive a light upgrade.  

Spring 2017: When London Midland didn't need their 321/4s anymore in 2015, after gaining 7 Class 319s, these EMUs went onto a short term loan to other operators. 411/413/414/417 (the latter unit was loaned to GA short term) have all now been overhauled and converted into 3-car ScotRail 320s.

Autumn 2016: 413 is now awaiting an overhaul too following a brisk spell on loan with 414 to London Overground and the final of the seven (416) is at Doncaster as we speak for this overhaul. 

The remaining 13 of  321 units (401-410/418-420) were based at Great Northern, for use on the London Kings Cross to Peterborough via Stevenage and London Kings Cross to Cambridge corridor, until January 2017.

By this point, at least 6 had cascaded to Greater Anglia, with the remainder to follow by Summer, but by 2021 are expected to be withdrawn or cascaded again as GA are getting a new fleet anyway.

Our Popular Posts....

07/02/17: Recent Goings On

Image
Harry Here, Summarising Some Of The Interesting Fleet News Between Oct 2016 and Spring 2017...... 10/2016: 142073 heads to  Doncaster for overhaul , as all ArrivaTrainsWales are going into the new livery gradually. 27/01/2017: 37423 and an extra DRS MK2 arrive at Norwich from  Derby, for Short Set usage.  Meanwhile, 68021 and 68016 arrive to take over duty's on the 68 Hauled Anglia Short Set, because 68025 and 68005 both need exams.  01/17: Virgin East coast finish the overhaul of all 45 trains! 
Read More....

Abellio Greater Anglia to Abellio East Anglia

Image
As Many Of You Are Aware, The AGA Franchise Renews This October For Services In East Anglia, Including To Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridgeshire. Abellio Continue The Franchise, But Renamed East Anglia Ltd.  Greater Anglia, as it was at first, began in February 2012 - operating the short term tender which was due to expire in July 2014. However, the Government later extended this franchise, and it then became the rebranded Abellio Greater Anglia.
Read More....

Reminder: Stock + Service Changes, Abellio East Anglia.

IN SUMMARY: - Free Wi-Fi on Many Trains and also an  improved WiFi service at stations .  - Additional seats on trains across the network, by increasing train lengths and capacity.  - CET toilets, so waste isn't flushed onto tracks. This is already on MK3s.  - Increasing train punctuality and performance. - Entire fleet replacement (stated below), so other units are displaced or withdrawn. - Norwich to Cambridge trains extended to Stansted, and Sudbury branch lines running to Colchester. - Lowestoft connections to London Liverpool Street reinstated, using the electro-diesel units, four times per day. - Trains half hourly to Great Yarmouth, plus later connections to Sheringham and Lowestoft.
Read More....

Exclusive ~ VirginTrains ~ Penguilino & Claus 91

Image
To get into the Xmas spirit, Virgin Trains have unveiled East Coast  82209 & 91128  and Virgin West Coast revealed Pendolino 390013 in their Winter-style livery, as designed by Madeleine Deakin (aged 11) and Amber Maxfield (age 9) whom won a competition earlier this season.  The units were unveiled at London Kings Cross this morning and will remain in the livery until January. Claus 91, as it's been named, operates on the East Coast mainline between Kings Cross and Scotland via Penguinborough, whilst the Penguilino can be found on Virgin Trains West Coast services between London Euston and The North (North Pole) via Ho Ho Crewe.
Read More....

SOUTH - Last Day of Class 458/0 Operations

Image
©Liam Jenkins Good Evening, Liam here, offering you a post regarding the last day of South West Trains Class 458/0 service. Enjoy! On Sunday 8th November 2015, South West Trains operated the last day of Class 458/0s on the units' final day of operations. These units are to be sent to Doncaster Works, where they will be refurbished with the Gatwick Express Class 460s into a new Class 458/5 class.
Read More....

Special - Rebuilding the 1960's Class 73's.

Image
It's Friday, and today's post is a special! Not as I'm here (Andy)... Class 73's were built in the 1960's and generally used in the Southern region. In 2013, it was announced that GB Railfreight would initially be re-building 5 Class 73's to make them Class 73/9's. The complete re stripping and rebuilding has taken place at Brush Traction in Loughborough.  The Class 73/9's first started testing in late 2014 (73 961 - 965) as there had been some issues, however they were all resolved pretty soon. The 73/9's are intended to work infrastructure trains (test trains under Network Rail) and also to be used on Rail Head Treatment Trains. As a result of the rebuild, it has given the Class 73/9's up to 25 years more in service, and more 73/9's are to be released over the coming months which should see them introduced on to the Serco Sleeper eventually!
Read More....

Peter Skuce Reports (6A)

Image
Chiltern 168. (C) P Skuce. Peter. Part A is for the Chiltern Line Modernisation. Part B will lead from this. During the 1960s British Railways built forty one, 4 carriage Class 115 DMU trains for the London Marylebone – Aylesbury Chiltern Line. One trailer carriage had entirely Standard Class accommodation with 106 seats, whilst the other trailer carriage was a composite, featuring First Class cabins with seating to the 2+2 layout and Standard Class with two toilets. They were powered by Leyland Albion engines, with mechanical transmission and their maximum speed was 70 mph. A new maintenance depot was built at Aylesbury to accommodate the trains.
Read More....