British Rail Class 320
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The British Rail Class 320 is an electric multiple unit train found on the SPT rail network in Central Scotland, and is used exclusively on the North Clyde Line between Helensburgh and Airdrie via Glasgow Queen Street.
The Class 320 units are a 3-car version of the more popular Class 321 type used on many commuter lines in the former Network SouthEast region of the BR network. Built in 1990 by BREL in York, 22 3-car sets were ordered by SPT to supersede the aging Class 303 and Class 311 stock which was by then 30 years old.
The units run on 25 kV AC overhead line supply via a pantograph, via Brush electrical gear. With much shorter passenger journeys in mind, the 320 units lack the toilets of the 321s and also have a lower speed capability (75 mph) due to the much closer spacing of stations on the North Clyde route. One distinctive feature is the interior decor, which includes paintings on the car ends of various landmarks and famous sights along the various SPT rail routes.
The units were originally supposed to operate on the Argyle Line also but after fears that the 320 could foul the tight tunnels of the Argyle meant that this plan was never realised, and the units have always been restricted to the North Clyde route, although they occasionally run special VIP trips from the high level platforms of Glasgow Central.
Like all SPT rolling stock of the period, the 320s were painted in the orange/black livery until 1999, when the carmine/cream livery was progressively phased in. Since 2003, the 320 fleet has undergone a major interior refurbishment, with new seat covers, floor coverings, and electronic and audible destination information systems being installed.
The units are expected to remain in service on the North Clyde Line until 2010 at least. Should the proposed new Airdrie-Bathgate extension be approved, services on the route will extend as far as Waverley station in Edinburgh. The extended new line will have an increased design speed of 80mph, which would in theory render the 320 unsuitable. One possibility is that the 320 stock will be cascaded onto the Cathcart Circle lines in south Glasgow to replace the current Class 314 stock, which ironically was originally used on both the North Clyde and Argyle routes. It is expected that the Class 320s will only operate on Glasgow Central to Neilston/Newton/Cathcart Circle services. This will mean a huge increase in accommodation on these routes. When Class 303 use to operate these routes, many of the services were operated by 6 car services, but when the Class 314 took over, many were reduced to 3 car services.
[edit] Named units
- 320 305
- Glasgow School of Art 1844-150-1994
- 320306
- Model Rail Scotland
- 320308
- High Road 20th Anniversary 2000
- 320309
- Radio Clyde 25th Anniversary
- 320310
- The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Glasgow
- 320312
- Sir William A Smith - Founder of the Boys Brigade
- 320322
- Festive Glasgow Orchid
[edit] External links
Photos of the 320 on Railfaneurope.net, The European Railway Server
