The Class 321 Story

The story of the Class 321 begins as the newly formed Network SouthEast desperately needed a new fleet of electric trains to replace aging Mk1 derived electric multiple units dating back to the 1950s, as well as diesel multiple units on routes that were soon to be electrified. The Class 321 was based on the already popular Mk3 derived family of multiple units, however many of the previous units featured a more flat front design with an end gangway. The electric Class 317, 318 and 455 as well as the diesel Class 150 all being variations on this original design. The Class 321 features a distinct cab end design created specifically for the class, and eventually used as well on the Class 320 and 322 units with a variation fitted with a front end door appearing on the Class 319.

The Class 321s were the first new units to be ordered by the new Network SouthEast sector, with the order for initially 46 units placed in 1987 to replace the aging Class 302, 307, 308 and 309 units operating services on the Great Eastern Main Line out of London Liverpool Street, a route they would be associated with for their entire career. The class 321 and its derivatives would be delivered in several batches during the 1980s and 1990s, with British Rail Engineering Limited contstructing the units in the historic Holgate Road carriage works in York. All units were initially outshopped in the distinct NSE Red White and Blue ‘toothpaste’ livery upon delivery to Network SouthEast starting in 1988.

The first batch, the Class 321/3, entered service on the Great Eastern Main Line in 1988 initially operating on routes from London Liverpool Street to Cambridge and Southend Victoria. Southend Victoria was the first of the routes on the Great Eastern as services on that route were operated by the Class 307s, a fleet of units which were a fair a fair few years older than other units in service across the rest of the Great Eastern Main Line. In addition the new Class 321s coincided with the completion of electrification of the West Anglia Main Line as far as Cambridge in 1987, so much of the traction they replaced on the route was diesel locomotives and multiple units. Once all units were in service, eventually a fleet of totalling 66 321/3 units, a much more unified fleet had been created with only the Class 312s retained from the legacy slam door fleets of the previous several decades, and the Class 302s, 307s, 308s and 309s removed from service on Network SouthEast.

The second batch, the Class 321/4, was destined for West Coast Main Line services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street via Milton Keynes, Northampton and Rugby. These units began operation in 1989, superseding the Class 317 units which in turn replaced the Class 310s only a few years previous. These 321/4 variants were different to the original units with the addition of a larger first class section fitted in the DTCO, now using half of the available space in the vehicle as opposed to the quarter dedicated to first class passengers in the original design. Upon completion 48 units of this batch were delivered to operate on the WCML, although it had been planned initially some would see use alongside the Class 321/3s on the GEML.

The final batch, the Class 321/9, was delivered in 1991. These units differed dramatically from the original two sub classes being ordered for Regional Railways services in the Leeds area. Regional Railways had phased out first class on many services, so these units were ordered standard class only. Initially these units would operate the route between Leeds and Doncaster, which in the early 1990s was the extent of the electrification. Only 3 units were built to this design specification, with further electrification on the Airedale and Wharfedale lines making use of cascaded units.

Following the Class 321 was a few derivatives, initially the Class 320, then the Class 322. The Class 320/3 was ordered to operate ScotRail local services in the Glasgow area under the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport. A total of 22 units were built to this specification, differing as these 320 units were only three coaches in length. The Class 322 was ordered to further the expansion of the Great Eastern fleet, however were designed specifically for work on the then brand new extension to Stansted Airport. 5 units were built to this specification, being one of the few units to be delivered to Network SouthEast to not be in the NSE red white and blue livery, instead receiving a unique Stansted Express livery.

TOP (1) Network SouthEast 321415 at Bletchley station (Credit: British Rail). (2) Class 321 Network SouthEast interior. (3) Network SouthEast Class 321 PMSO (Credit: British Rail).

BOTTOM (1) Network SouthEast 322484 at Stansted Airport station (Public Domain). (2) Strathclyde Passenger Transport 320303 at Airdrie station (Public Domain).

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