Pity it can't be used to extend a existing 4 car service to a 8 car service or a 8 car service to a 12 car service even if just temporary while the Abbey line improvements were ongoing....
St Albans Abbey to Watford Junction is not currently running so there is a spare 321 which has been put up at Rugby. 321415 was there a couple of weeks back, it swapped with 411 last weekend.
I photo'd it there yesterday (22nd) and exactly a week ago (15th) so it's definitely been there since before the weekend!
I photo'd it there yesterday (22nd) and exactly a week ago (15th) so it's definitely been there since before the weekend!
Yes-an'-no. On the one hand I see your point. On the other hand, the regular users would expect the service strengthening all the time even after the unit has to go back to its usual (Abbey line) workings.
The operators probably think it better to keep as a strategic reserve in case of failure rather than have it arriving at some far-flung outpost just when they need it!
Pity it can't be used to extend a existing 4 car service to a 8 car service or a 8 car service to a 12 car service even if just temporary while the Abbey line improvements were ongoing....
I think it stables at Rugby as LM have no other depot/siding space to accommodate it
This is indeed the reason. Another unit (414?) is out of service awaiting wheelsets, therefore an 8 car 321 diagram has swapped for an 8 car 350 diagram.....and with the use of all the 350/3's they are tight for space at Kings Heath.
Camden carriage sidings are full between the peaks, on a normal working day.
It's a shame it's out there, though. 321 reliability has been poor recently, it's hardly usable as a hot spare 100 miles from where it's needed.