The Class 323s were the last trains to enter service before the privatisation of British Rail in the 1990s, being introduced to Regional Railways on inner suburban commuter lines in and around Birmingham and Manchester in 1994. Their introduction was not without problems with various issues taking several years to resolve. The Birmingham Cross City line was electrified in 1992, two years before their introduction, so a selection of Class 304, Class 308 and Class 310 units were thus drafted in to fill the gap before 26 units entered service in the region. The allocation of 17 North West units however were always intended to replace existing Class 304 and Class 305s which were retained until 1994, however some were retained in reserve until 2000. These issues also meant an additional order for Class 323s to operate in the Leeds area was cancelled, with WYPTE choosing instead to make use of Ex Network SouthEast Class 308 units.

Following remedial work during the 1990s, the units have had a long and successful career. In 2018 however the first units were slated for withdrawal, being replaced in the Manchester area by the then new Class 331s, however the decision was made by Northern to retain the units for use on the continually expanding electrification across the North West. The first for withdrawal then were the West Midlands units, which operated until 2024 when they were replaced by the Class 730s on the Birmingham Cross City line. Thanks to Northern retaining their original North West allocation of Class 323s, they were able to take on a few of these West Midlands units starting in 2023, increasing their pool of units from 17 to 34. There are however still 9 units in storage, and with the large amount of more modern EMUs currently without use these may never see revenue earning service again.

323221 was returned to Regional Railways ‘Centro’ livery in 2023, following the removal of the existing British Transport Police vinyls applied to the unit by London Midland, to celebrate the unit’s 30th anniversary and impending withdrawal. 323221 was one of the two units to work the farewell tour, and is now in storage pending an uncertain future.

Porterbrook Leasing, who have the unit in storage following it’s withdrawal by West Midlands Railway, have confirmed that Class 323 323221 will be attending ‘The Greatest Gathering’ in August.

(1) Northern 323236 & 323212 approaching Salford Crescent. (2) West Midlands Railway 323212 at Aston. (3) Northern 323234 at Cheadle Hulme. (4) West Midlands Railway 323203 at Longbridge. (5) Northern Ex-WMR 323207 at Manchester Piccadilly.

More information on the Class 323

Motion History:  The Bumpy Ride of the Class 323

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-ZkPwPPEmE