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Mr Simon Maguire   19/12/2016 at 15:52

You can't polish a turd...

Andrew Gwilt   19/12/2016 at 16:26

The new-look refurbished and revamped Class 321's will feature-free wifi access (for laptops, androids, iphones/ios ect), plug sockets (for charging laptops, tablets, ipads, iphones, androids ect), air-Conditioning, new double glazed windows without the open hopper windows (as the 321's are fully air-conditioned), new heating, new seat covers and comfortable seats and layouts, new floors and interiors including lights, refurbished standard toilet, newly built disabled toilet, flip up seats, standing holders, improved and refurbished standard class, revamped 1st class, new brakes and new traction motors. Plus there is the need for 110mph operation if necessary as the Class 321's are limited to 90mph on the GEML and 70mph on other branch lines. A lot of work has gone into revamping and refurbishing the Class 321's that Greater Anglia are spending. But sadly they are going to be replaced by the new Bombardier Aventra EMU and Stadler Flirt EMU/EDMU (Bi-Mode) fleets from 2019 and I do think that the refurbished Class 321's could be used up in Scotland or in Northern England or sadly being entirely scrapped.

Andrew G   19/12/2016 at 16:33

I cannot wait to see the newly refurbished Class 321's that will soon be in service operating in/out of London Liverpool Street. The "reborn" of the Class 321's has just begun.

David   19/12/2016 at 18:05

Andrew, once again, Northern and Scotrail are purchasing brand-new rolling stock. No point speculating. And the Class 321s are not capable of 110mph operation.

Andrew Gwilt   19/12/2016 at 20:18

Fair point @David.

Jerry Alderson   20/12/2016 at 18:40

Re: future of 321s. There is, of course, potential for the 321s to be used to cater for growth in passenger numbers that are not currently foreseen (and therefore not in current plans) and, crucially, can be used on the network with the infrastructure available. Note: the refurb has not included the addition of external cameras for the driver. Not needed for GA, of course, but possibly for a future cascade. Probably no business case for doing it, so I wouldn't read anything into this. (In fact, probably not even worth me pointing it out!) With electrification projects going down the priority list, especially with the current fad for bi-modes, I think there is going to be a surplus of emus, unless we see them being loco hauled. It is worth considering that TOCs do change their mind. Great Northern was to have received cascaded 377s - instead it is getting cascaded 387s.

Andrew Gwilt   24/12/2016 at 22:37

The Class 379's that are to be replaced by the new "Aventra" trains for the West Anglia & Stansted Express services could also be cascaded to Great Northern to work alongside the Class 387's as Great Northern are receiving the Class 387's that are cascaded from Thameslink because of the Class 700's that are taking over the Thameslink network.