Ex WM 323s at Northern

[crosscity]

Passed Allerton Depot this morning. 323243 could not be seen.

A photo of 323243 at Lime St on a test run appeared today on a 323/730 Facebook group.
Perhaps it was being revved up for its trip to Wolverton.

 

[Potteries 323]

323243 went to Wolverton today under its own power.Saw it at Crewe.

 

[Liam L]

List: 10/05/2024

323202: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323203: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323205: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323206: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323207: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323208: In Service | Northern Livery UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323209: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323210: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323212: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323213: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR / Northern Seat Covers
323217:In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323218: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323219: In Service| Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323220: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323241: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323242: In Service | Northern Livery | UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR
323243: Not Worked Since WMT | Northern Livery| UNREFURBISHED - WMR INTERIOR

Updates:
323243 finally fixed and has made the trip to Wolverton marking the end of the WMT Gold livery on the Northern Network (Unless the two more units are selected to go North from Long Marston)
323218 returns to Allerton for service.

The refurb program is expected to begin in September (?) So the units are now half way through their Northern makeover.

 

[crosscity]

323243 went to Wolverton today under its own power.Saw it at Crewe.

... and here it was passing through Rugeley TV.


10May2025. Rugeley TV. BR Class 323 EMU 323243. [P1220130] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

 

[Geeves]

Now we are in the new timetable era I though I would do my usual perusal of the 323 fleet. Here's how its looking today -

OUT - 22

205 - Liverpool LS - Wigan NW
206 - Liverpool LS - Wigan NW
207 + 227 - Blackpool N - Manchester Airport
208 - Piccadilly - Crewe
209 - Liverpool LS - Vic/Wigan NW/MIA
210 + 236 - Blackpool N - Manchester Airport
212 - Blackpool N - Manchester Airport
219 + 223 - Blackpool N - Manchester Airport
220 - Piccadilly - Stoke On Trent
224 - Piccadilly - Stoke On Trent
225 - Piccadilly - Crewe
226 - Liverpool LS - Wigan NW
228 - Piccadilly - Crewe
232 - Piccadilly - Crewe/Liverpool/Preston
234 - Piccadilly - Hadfield
238 - Piccadilly - Hadfield
239 - Liverpool LS - Wigan NW
241 - Piccadilly - Hadfield
242 - Piccadilly - Stoke On Trent

NOT OUT - 12

202 - Wolverton
203 - Longsight DMU depot
213 - Allerton
217 - Blackpool N CS
218 - Allerton
229 - Springs Branch
230 - Allerton
231 - Allerton
233 - Longsight DMU depot
235 - Allerton
237 - Allerton
243 - Wolverton

 

[td97]

212 - Blackpool N - Manchester Airport

Not good that there's still a short formed diagram, with 12 units stood down

 

[Liam L]

Presumably since it's been 2 weeks since the last wolverton move, 323202 should be due out at the weekend? If so, it will booked through Birmingham international, Aston etc with the Trent Valley block?

 

[The_Train]

Presumably since it's been 2 weeks since the last wolverton move, 323202 should be due out at the weekend? If so, it will booked through Birmingham international, Aston etc with the Trent Valley block?

Yes, via Stechford, Aston, Soho and Wolves

 

[Liam L]

Yes, via Stechford, Aston, Soho and Wolves

A guess a trip out to see a old friend may be on the cards for the weekend then...

 

[david l]

Not good that there's still a short formed diagram, with 12 units stood down

Depends on what you class as not good. Perusing the figures on the board at Horwich Parkway this morning, it said that for the latest period (whatever that is!!) the short forms on North Manchester services (again, what and where does that cover?) was 17.7% ( in my terms, that's nearly 1 in 5!!)- which is ridiculous.

 

[Liam L]

Path is in for 323202 at the weekend, via West Midlands due to the Trent valley block.

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1004 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 24/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1004 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 24/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[RailKnight786]

323241 has this plastered over refurb will be coming soon.

 

[3RDGEN]

323241 has this plastered over refurb will be coming soon.

A tender was recently issued for a "refresh" of the 17 exWM units, estimated start Oct 2025;

https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/025472-2025 - Scope of Procurement,

"Northern (NTL) has 34 class 323's with 17 of these transferred from West Midlands Railway which are required to be brought in line with Northern's branding. The core aspect of the tender will be for 17 trainsets (51 vehicles) to be refreshed in line with NTL's specifications."

It includes a possible return of two further units as cover for the refresh program and other works.

"In addition to the 17x trainsets the tender will provide an option for 2x additional class 323 trainsets which NTL are looking at bring onto lease as to cover timetable requirements whilst various other fleets are being taken out of service for repair works outside of the scope of this tender. NTL cannot guarantee that these 2 units are going to go through refresh however NTL asks that bidders provide an optional price should these units be refreshed."

 

[swt_passenger]

A tender was recently issued for a "refresh" of the 17 exWM units, estimated start Oct 2025;

It includes a possible return of two further units as cover for the refresh program and other works.

This was also mentioned in post #242 last month.

 

[Mollman]

323241 has this plastered over refurb will be coming soon.

2+2 with tables would certainly be a revolutionary refurb for 323s!

 

[crosscity]

Path is in for 323202 at the weekend, via West Midlands due to the Trent valley block.

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1004 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 24/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1004 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 24/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I made the effort to see it, especially as it took an unusual route through the West Midlands. I managed to see it in three different places - Aston, Soho and Wolverhampton. I didn't think I'd see a 323 under its own power on the Crosscity line ever again! Here are three of my photos:

24May2025. Aston. BR Class 323 EMU 323202. [P1220220] by Ray Honke, on Flickr


24May2025. Soho. BR Class 323 EMU 323202. View from train. [P1220249-TPZ] by Ray Honke, on Flickr


24May2025. Wolverhampton. BR Class 323 EMU 323202. [P1220276] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 May 2025 ==

The last ex-WM 323 to be painted in Northern livery (323243) will return to Allerton from Wolverton this Saturday 31May. Like 323202 last Saturday it will be routed through the West Midlands, although an hour earlier and will miss out Wolverhamption.

Realtime Trains | 5N36 0904 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 31/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 0904 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 31/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Liam L]

The last ex-WM 323 to be painted in Northern livery (323243) will return to Allerton from Wolverton this Saturday 31May. Like 323202 last Saturday it will be routed through the West Midlands, although an hour earlier and will miss out Wolverhamption.

Realtime Trains | 5N36 0904 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 31/05/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 0904 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 31/05/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

I don't think it will run as went in a week late (3 weeks ago) and it's usually a month turnaround per unit.

 

[crosscity]

I don't think it will run as went in a week late (3 weeks ago) and it's usually a month turnaround per unit.

It didn't run. Presumably it will next Saturday, but not through Birmingham. I was living in hope at Coventry today!

 

[Potteries 323]

Looks like 323243 went from Wolverton to Allerton this morning.

 

[Liam L]

Looks like 323243 went from Wolverton to Allerton this morning.

Id imagine if there isn't anymore work to be done on it, it seems likely it may enter service in coming days / weeks

 

[Starmill]

Enormously frustrating there's not yet been any evidence of the public address system being improved so the conductor can actually be heard. Unless I'm missing it? Has been months now. I know it was said there was a warranty issue with the class 170s but I'm not sure if that affects the 323s?

 

[Geeves]

Enormously frustrating there's not yet been any evidence of the public address system being improved so the conductor can actually be heard. Unless I'm missing it? Has been months now. I know it was said there was a warranty issue with the class 170s but I'm not sure if that affects the 323s?

Starmill, I'm unsure on the warranty front but as I'm sure you know TrainFX doesn't like working in multiple with any other system, so either it's so quiet you can't hear it or so loud the next town can! I'm interested myself to see if that's part of the upgrades happening at Wolverton.

Let's keep our fingers crossed! 202 still seems to be at Wolverton unless I've missed it so it does seem like it's getting a full job.

 

[crosscity]

Let's keep our fingers crossed! 202 still seems to be at Wolverton unless I've missed it so it does seem like it's getting a full job.

Unfortunately, you missed it! 202 returned from Wolverton to Allerton on 24May. It ran an odd route via Coventry, Aston, Soho and Wolverhampton.

Here is one of my photos of it:

24May2025. Wolverhampton. BR Class 323 EMU 323202. [P1220276] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

 

[superkev]

Is that just 323209 and 243 left to enter service.
Thanks
K

 

[Liam L]

! I'm interested myself to see if that's part of the upgrades happening at Wolverton.

Wolverton are only doing repaints.

The refurb is planned to happen at Manchester international.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: Yesterday at 11:32 ==

Is that just 323209 and 243 left to enter service.
Thanks
K

Just 243 now

 

[Geeves]

Unfortunately, you missed it! 202 returned from Wolverton to Allerton on 24May. It ran an odd route via Coventry, Aston, Soho and Wolverhampton.

Here is one of my photos of it:

24May2025. Wolverhampton. BR Class 323 EMU 323202. [P1220276] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

Thank you Crosscity and all. Well I guess it will be a little longer listening to deafeningly loud announcements in a strong Yorkshire accent