Wabtec Awarded Contract For £60M Class 321 Refurbishment Project.

[D365]

On an other forum there was a suggestion that a GTR 321 was about to come over from Hornsey now that a fair few 387s are over there and in traffic?

That might make sense, as it would mean fewer Great Eastern 321s are taken out of traffic at a time.

 

[SprinterMan]

Five I think;

448 prototype (re-tractioned)
303 at Wolverton for retractioning
304 Donny
321 Donny
311 Donny

On an other forum there was a suggestion that a GTR 321 was about to come over from Hornsey now that a fair few 387s are over there and in traffic?

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/F46977/2016/11/22/advanced

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/F46980/2016/11/22/advanced

Could this be it?

 

[Wivenswold]

Any news on the return of the refurbed units. The shortage of 321s is getting to crisis point. I keep telling fellow disgruntled passengers that GA have a plan and more units are coming from from GN and Eversholt, plus it's leaf-fall season so trains will be queuing for the lathe. But the short forms are getting a bit annoying.

 

[Shunter_69]

304 is now at Ilford. 448 was back in service yesterday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Turns out 448 didn't go into service as the driver didn't sign it.

 

[387star]

How many are being fully refurbished by GA? ten?

the rest are getting a refresh too?

 

[samuelmorris]

304 is now at Ilford. 448 was back in service yesterday.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Turns out 448 didn't go into service as the driver didn't sign it.

Any news on why 448 had to return again?

 

[Wivenswold]

How many are being fully refurbished by GA? ten?

the rest are getting a refresh too?

I think it's still going to be 30 for the Renatus refurb. They'll need a significant number DDA compliant still for 2020 as the Aventra delivery and introduction will run past the deadline. Possibly into 2021 if there are any snags.

 

[Shunter_69]

448 has regenerative brakes and the rostered driver doesn't sign 448 because of it. Was under the impression that was why it had been down in Southend so long but guess someone got missed.

 

[jopsuk]

The press releases when GA were awarded the frnachise and when the new contract started stated that the Renatus project would continue to the original plan of 30 units. They also need, again the same source, to modify 27 317 for accessibility compliance, but it's clear this will be a straight up "do minimum" of toilet, information systems and door controls modification as far as I can tell.

 

[Wivenswold]

The press releases when GA were awarded the frnachise and when the new contract started stated that the Renatus project would continue to the original plan of 30 units. They also need, again the same source, to modify 27 317 for accessibility compliance, but it's clear this will be a straight up "do minimum" of toilet, information systems and door controls modification as far as I can tell.

Yes, all that. I've got an email from Burles admitting that they are simply doing the minimum to the 317s. He hinted that if they did any more they'd be accused of wasting money. He understands the no-win situation with some of his customers!

 

[samuelmorris]

Honestly, it's the right thing to do. Any high-level refurbishment applied to them would be of zero utility in under five years. Having met and had a reasonably lengthy conversation with Burles, he's pretty clued up and quite a friendly chap.

 

[Alfie1014]

For info 321448 rear unit on 15:18 LST - Clacton at the moment, should return on 17.05 off Clacton and the. 18:48 LST - Clacton if sticks to diagram.

 

[samuelmorris]

Damn I only missed that by 13 minutes! Any word on if it's out today?

 

[Alfie1014]

Damn I only missed that by 13 minutes! Any word on if it's out today?

Sorry was only able to post as was actually travelling on it, I've no access to any inside info I'm afraid.

 

[samuelmorris]

Fair enough, it wasn't long ago I posted a tops request to be told it was off back to Doncaster again so I was surprised to see it back again so soon. Will try and keep an eye out.

 

[Alfie1014]

There was a suggestion on another site that 448 was in the formation of the train that failed at Chelmsford during this morning's peak. I have to admit there was a certain amount of shuddering on the train last night especially when breaking. I think the refurbed units have regen? Certainly the breaking wasn't as smooth as normal and I think the railhead was pretty dry.

 

[43096]

There was a suggestion on another site that 448 was in the formation of the train that failed at Chelmsford during this morning's peak. I have to admit there was a certain amount of shuddering on the train last night especially when breaking. I think the refurbed units have regen? Certainly the breaking wasn't as smooth as normal and I think the railhead was pretty dry.

I'm not surprised that it failed if it was breaking....

Do you mean braking?

 

[samuelmorris]

There was a suggestion on another site that 448 was in the formation of the train that failed at Chelmsford during this morning's peak. I have to admit there was a certain amount of shuddering on the train last night especially when breaking. I think the refurbed units have regen? Certainly the breaking wasn't as smooth as normal and I think the railhead was pretty dry.

One of the times I was on 448 there was what certainly felt like a full service brake application, I had no idea 321s could stop so fast. It resumed in service a short while after but the two units were definitely not braking 'in step' and the quality of ride was awful, juddering so bad I could barely stay in my seat. I believe I mentioned it at the time and was told it was due to 448's (at the time presumably unaltered) brakes being less effective than other units due to the additional weight. Unsure if that's still an issue.

 

[Shunter_69]

448 is currently at Ilford and unfit for service. Not sure what the issue is though.

 

[ginger]

Despite being appallingly late (10 due in service by the end of the last franchise and managed none) the PR machine trundles on.......

QUOTE

Eversholt Rail, Greater Anglia and Wabtec would like to invite you to join them on Friday 16th December for the launch of the Class 321 Renatus into passenger service on the Greater Anglia network, with opportunities to view and travel on the train at London Liverpool Street, Southend, Colchester and Ipswich. The significant train refurbishment project sees 30 Class 321 units benefitting from a major upgrade with new seats, flooring and windows alongside improved lighting, new toilets and the fitting of air conditioning, wi-fi and power sockets - in other words, a complete transformation, intended to markedly improve the passenger experience on Greater Anglia services, as the first of a number of major rolling stock initiatives Greater Anglia will be rolling out during its new franchise.



The day begins with a chance to look around a fully refurbished Class 321 Renatus unit at London Liverpool Street Station on Platform 10 from 10.00 hours. The train then leaves at 10.25 and travels to Southend where it pauses for half an hour (11.17 - 11.47). The journey will continue via Shenfield, Chelmsford and Witham to Colchester, for a pause of 50 minutes (13.06 - 13.55). The final leg of the outbound trip takes us via Manningtree to Ipswich, where it pauses for another half an hour (14.21 - 14.48), before coming back to London (calling at Manningtree, Colchester, Witham, Chelmsford and Shenfield), arriving at 16.03.



You are welcome to join us at any of the viewing points (London, Southend, Colchester or Ipswich) or to travel for all or any part of the trip around much of the Class 321's core operating area.



The full itinerary is as follows:



09.00 Breakfast reception in the Bishopsgate Room, Andaz Hotel, 40 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 7QN

10.00 Opportunity to view the Class 321 Renatus at London Liverpool Street on platform 10

10.25 Train departs for Southend

11.17 Train arrives Southend

11.47 Train leaves Southend

12.08 Train arrives Shenfield

12.27 Train leaves Shenfield

12.37 Train calls at Chelmsford

12.50 Train calls Witham

13.06 Train arrives Colchester

13.55 Train departs Colchester

14.06 Train calls at Manningtree

14.21 Train arrives Ipswich

14.48 Train departs Ipswich (calls Manningtree at 14.58, Colchester 15.08, Witham 15.20, Chelmsford 15.30 and Shenfield 15.41)

16.03 Train arrives London Liverpool Street - event ends



We really hope that you are able to join us but, if not, please feel free to nominate a colleague and forward on our invitation, letting us know.

UNQUOTE

Will be going along to see if it actually works! Which it wont of course.......

 

[samuelmorris]

Bit odd to run a press day so long after the units have sporadically been in public use, but there you go.

Have we established which unit this actually is yet? The modified demonstrator or the first production unit? One would assume the latter but I wasn't sure if it had been re-tractioned yet.

 

[Shunter_69]

309 has gone off to Doncaster today. Not sure if it was due to go next or has been bumped up the list due to the damaged front end.

 

[Wivenswold]

I assume refurbs will be ramped-up once the GN 321s enter service.

Does anyone have any news on how many have come across, which ones and whether they'll be just getting AGA branding or a repaint before entering service?

 

[306024]

There were two 321s sitting in the yard at Ilford recently. But while the Crossrail work is taking place at Ilford and Shenfield, stabling capacity is at a premium on the GE.

 

[Shunter_69]

420 and 408 (iirc) arrived and 3 others left for Colchester yesterday having spent the New Year at Ilford.

 

[Alfie1014]

Others at Clacton include 402 and 418.

 

[Shunter_69]

The 2 at Ilford left for Clacton this morning.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
407 and 406 have just arrived at Ilford replacing the 2 that have left for Clacton

 

[Alfie1014]

321420 and 408 passing Wivenhoe woods this afternoon on the way to Clacton. http://www.railforums.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=30091&stc=1&d=1483636201

 

[samuelmorris]

448 still languishing at the back of Ilford in the same place for weeks. Any news on why it's still dormant?

 

[321over360]

Bit odd to run a press day so long after the units have sporadically been in public use, but there you go.

Have we established which unit this actually is yet? The modified demonstrator or the first production unit? One would assume the latter but I wasn't sure if it had been re-tractioned yet.

321304 is the unit they used for the publicity as was in the GA video on youtube as the front had 321304 on it as it comes into LST