Class 321 Profile and Models

Class 321

321903 at Leeds in April 2008. ©Hugh Llewelyn

The British Rail Class 321 is a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by British Rail Engineering Limited's Holgate Road carriage works in three batches between 1988 and 1991. The class uses alternating current (AC) overhead electrification. The design was successful and led to the development of the similar Class 320 and Class 322. Today the class is operated by Greater Anglia on an ad-hoc basis when required. Some have been converted to Class 320 and are operated by ScotRail. Three sub-classes were built. The first two were built for the Network SouthEast sector for operation on services from London Liverpool Street and London Euston, while the third was built for Regional Railways for use on West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive services from Leeds. The trains have been nicknamed "Dusty Bins" by some enthusiasts, after the TV game show "3-2-1". Most of the fleet has now been scrapped but some have been retained for extra capacity on some services when required. Others have also been earmarked for conversion into battery units and parcels trains.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

Electric Multiple Unit - 25kV 50Hz AC Overhead

Builder

BREL York Works

Build Dates

1988 to 1991

Total Built

117 sets

Coaches Per Unit

4-car

Power Output

1,438 hp

Top Speed

100 mph

Passenger Capacity

299 to 313 seats

Operated By

British Rail
Central Trains
First Capital Connect
First Great Eastern
Greater Anglia
London Midland
London Overground
National Express East Anglia
Northern Rail
Northern Trains
ONE
Renatus
Silverlink
Swift Express

Main Duties

Suburban Passenger

In Service Until

Present

Surviving Examples

15 sets
12 converted to Class 320