LM class 321

[NXEA!]

Are the 322s definitely coming back to IL? The Dec 11 timetable is bid next month and has no planned diagrams for them at the moment - can't see them coming down to sit around doing nothing, although could of course be used as 321s if not enough have been glued together in time.

Well in the Class 380 thread others have said that they will be returned when the 380's enter traffic to North Berwick which is meant to be around March I think someone said because they've had an extension on their sublease? Yeah, I'd imagine there would be no new diagrams, they'd just allow for some extra slack in the fleet? With the extra 17 321's they've received pretty much all the services won't need an extra set, save for a few services. May be a stupid question but is it feasible to see a 321+321+322 formation for instance? Because when they returned for a short period I never saw them with other 321's and I don't recall a photo of 321's+322's working together? I know they're the same train, but I've never seen such an occurence.

 

[jopsuk]

How much of Ilford's allocation can actually be "at home" at once, in theory? Obviously a lot stables overnight elsewhere

 

[iphone76]

Because when they returned for a short period I never saw them with other 321's and I don't recall a photo of 321's+322's working together? I know they're the same train, but I've never seen such an occurence.

Yes - when they came back a few years ago, the 322s worked with the 321s - certainly on the Southend Vic line. I remember as I used to avoid them as the 2+2 seating meant less chance of a seat - plus the interiors were shabby compared with the ex-FGE units. Fast forward 4 or 5 years and now I avoid the ex-Silverlink units as compared with the ex-FGE units they are a bit grim. (In my opinion)

 

[NXEA!]

Yes - when they came back a few years ago, the 322s worked with the 321s - certainly on the Southend Vic line. I remember as I used to avoid them as the 2+2 seating meant less chance of a seat - plus the interiors were shabby compared with the ex-FGE units. Fast forward 4 or 5 years and now I avoid the ex-Silverlink units as compared with the ex-FGE units they are a bit grim. (In my opinion)

Ah, thanks for that. They'll probably be the nicest inside when they return though, bearing in mind they've only recently been refreshed by ScotRail. And well, I prefer the Silverlink ones as they have a table to a seating bay, but even better, I prefer getting the ex-first class seats on the Silverlink ones, far more comfortable and they have nice big tables, good for a paper or tea. But its down to person preference.

 

[iphone76]

Ah, thanks for that. They'll probably be the nicest inside when they return though, bearing in mind they've only recently been refreshed by ScotRail. And well, I prefer the Silverlink ones as they have a table to a seating bay, but even better, I prefer getting the ex-first class seats on the Silverlink ones, far more comfortable and they have nice big tables, good for a paper or tea. But its down to person preference.

Too true about the refresh. I attempted to sit in the ex-first class area on a LM train the other night - unfortunately, almost all the seats had gone ( been kicked ???) through their frames and one window was misted whilst the other had about 7" of water between the panels. Luckily it was a 12 car service so I could walk upto the ex-FGE unit.

 

[NXEA!]

Too true about the refresh. I attempted to sit in the ex-first class area on a LM train the other night - unfortunately, almost all the seats had gone ( been kicked ???) through their frames and one window was misted whilst the other had about 7" of water between the panels. Luckily it was a 12 car service so I could walk upto the ex-FGE unit.

Yeah, I have to admit the 321's are in dire need of a refresh/refurbishment, especially the ex-Silverlink ones. I know there will be some sort of reason, but why don't they give them an interior refresh/overhaul when they visit Doncaster for a C6 (or whatever overhaul it is)? Seems a waste of time when the unit is already out of traffic for the repaint. Even the 360's are beginning to look a little tired inside to me.