Class 321/4s to be reformed ready for Scottish duties

Three Class 321/4s stored at Leicester are due to be refurbished and reformed as Class 320/4s.

The electric multiple units (321401/403/404) are fourcar trains last used by Govia Thameslink Railway and sent off-lease earlier this year. Owned by Eversholt Rail, they were moved to UK Rail Leasing’s depot for safe storage, with Rail Operations Group contracted to keep them in an operational condition.

The ‘321s’ are destined for ScotRail, but like seven classmates cascaded from London Midland to SR (321411-321417) they will be converted to Class 320/4s by the removal of a Trailer Standard Open Lavatory (TSOL) vehicle. They would then likely be renumbered 320401/403/404.

The TSOLs removed from those EMUs that have already moved to ScotRail have been taken to Long Marston for further storage (71959-71965), but are expected to be scrapped.

A further two Class 321/4s are to be sent off-lease by Greater Anglia by February 14 2018 ( RAIL 826), as per GA’s franchise agreement. These are on a short-term lease to cover for various Class 321 improvement programmes.

RYAN TRANMER. On May 3, former Govia Thameslink Railway 321403 stands stored at Leicester depot. To the right are UK Rail 56018, Rail Operations Group 47847, 47843, UKRL 56104 and ROG 47812. The ‘321/4’ is destined for ScotRail, but as a three-car electric multiple...