Description
In the early 1990s the Regional Railways sector of British Rail placed an order for new EMUs to both replace older units and to work services on the newly electrified Birmingham Cross-City Line. The contract was awarded to Hunslet Transportation Projects Limited of Birmingham, who were a new company set up by a team of engineers and managers that had left Metro Cammell. Metro Cammell were also at the time a Birmingham based renowned train builder. During the course of the project the company was acquired by Jenbacher transport system who supported the company in the hope of further orders for new trains but these units proved to be the last trains built by the company for the UK market. The trains were also some of the last constructed in the UK pre rail privatisation as Class 323 was in production just before the infamous 1,064 day gap in train orders. Hunslet TPL went on to deliver designs for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Class 81 EMU which was built under the company's control and Glasgow Underground Trailers which were assembled by sister company Hunslet Barclay. Presently the company continues in Birmingham as Transys Projects Limited they remain active in the rail industry providing consultancy, refurbishment and enhancements to rail vehicles both in the UK and internationally.
During the early 2000s (decade), all Class 323 units were fitted with extra passenger door control panels in the saloon, the set of passenger doors below the pantograph (PTSO), this was to make it easier for Guards to carry out customer service and revenue duties. Until this point the only passenger door controls were in the driving cabs, therefore there was only one location on the train a Guard could operate the passenger doors.
In December 2007 the Class 323 Units operated by Northern received a coveted industry award the Modern Railways "Silver Spanner" because a team engineers maintaining Northern Rail's 17 Class 323 trains had increased the service's reliability by over 100%.
Forty-three 3-car units were built, numbered in the range 323201-243. Each unit is formed of two outer driving motor vehicles (each equipped with four Holec DMKT 52/24 asynchronous traction motors), and a central intermediate trailer with a Brecknell Willis High Speed pantograph for collecting the overhead current of 25kV ac. The technical description of the unit formation is DMSO+PTSO+DMSO. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows:
- 64001-64043 - DMSO
- 72201-72239 and 72340-72343 - PTSO
- 65001-65043 - DMSO
In general, the last two digits of the vehicle number correspond to the last two digits of the set number, such that unit 323227 is formed of 64027+72227+65027. The last four PTSO vehicles are numbered in a separate range to avoid clashing with Class 365 vehicles.
When the electrification of the Leeds/Bradford - Skipton/Ilkley Airedale/Wharfedale Lines was confirmed in the early 1990s Regional Railways and West Yorkshire PTE applied to the government for 14 units to add onto the 43 units already on order. At the time government spending on the railways was restricted due to the looming privatisation and eventually, when funding was not forthcoming, the order was cancelled and 21 second-hand 308s from Network SouthEast were used in the interim before the 333s were delivered in 2000. The class 323's are known for making a distinctive sound from their three phase traction motors which is heard when powering up and down. This noise is particularly interesting during times of poor adhesion and wheel slip.
Read more about this topic: British Rail Class 323
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