British Rail Class 320

Infobox EMU
name = British Rail Class 320


imagesize = 300px
caption = Class 320 no. 320308 "High Road" photographed at Glasgow Queen Street railway station.
background = #662C21
Manufacturer = BREL York
Formation = 3 cars per trainset
Built = 22 trainsets
InService = 1990 - Current
Weight = Total -114.5 tonnes
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = 75mph (121 km/h)
Gauge = Standard gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Brakes = Air (Westcode)
Engine =
Operator = First ScotRail

The British Rail Class 320 is an alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) train found on the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) rail network in Central Scotland, and is used exclusively on the North Clyde Line between Helensburgh and Airdrie, North Lanarkshire via Glasgow Queen Street railway station.

The Class 320 is effectively a 3-car derivative of the Class 321 units found in and around London and the South East. 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 were 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 Class 320 units lack the toilets of the Class 321 units 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 of various landmarks and famous sights along the various SPT rail routes on the car ends.

The units were originally supposed to operate on the Argyle Line but concerns that the longer Mark 3-based bodyshell of the Class 320 would foul the tight tunnels of the Argyle Line 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 railway station.

Like all SPT rolling stock of the period, the Class 320s were painted in the orange/black livery until 1999, when the carmine/cream livery was progressively phased in. Since 2003, the Class 320 fleet has undergone a major interior refurbishment, with new seat covers, floor coverings, and electronic and audible destination information systems being installed. In September 2008 the Scottish Government's agency Transport Scotland announced that all "ScotRail" trains (including from the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport) would be eventually repainted in a new, blue livery with white Saltire markings on the carriage ends. This will also affect all the Class 320s. [http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/ScotRail-25th-anniversary]

The units are expected to remain in service on the North Clyde Line until 2010 when the new Airdrie-Bathgate Rail Link extension is completed. Beyond this date, services on the route will extend as far as Edinburgh Waverley railway station. The extended new line will have an increased design speed of 80mph, which would in theory render the Class 320 units unsuitable.

One possibility is that the Class 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 passenger capacity on these routes. When Class 303 units were used to operate these routes, many of the services were operated by 6 car sets, but when the Class 314 units took over, many were reduced to 3 car sets, resulting in overcrowding problems.

The Class 320 units are currently being fitted with GSM-R cab radios and will take part in the GSM-R trial in the Strathclyde area.

Named units

*320305: Glasgow School of Art 1844-150-1994
*320306: Model Rail Scotland
*320308: High Road 20th Anniversary 2000
*320309: Radio Clyde 25th Anniversary
*320311: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
*320312: Sir William A Smith - Founder of the Boys Brigade
*320321: Rt Hon John Smith QC MP
*320322: Festive Glasgow Orchid

External links

Photos of Class 320 units can be found on [http://www.railfaneurope.net/pix/gb/electric/emu-ac/320/pix.html Rail Fan Europe.net] .