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Aiming to travel on Class 321 units

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class321

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fishquinn said:
Why? I've had to travel on both refurbed and unrefurbed 321s many times and the renatus ones are far, far nicer to the point where I actually get annoyed if an unrefurb turns up. 1st class in particular on the Renatus ones is much better than most local trains in the London area.
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Its subjective to each person. I prefer the non refurb over the renatus. I skip the renatus and wait for the old one.
 
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Islineclear3_1

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class321 said:
Its subjective to each person. I prefer the non refurb over the renatus. I skip the renatus and wait for the old one.
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An old friend of mine and I used to chuckle about this when the Southern 4 Ceps were going to Swindon for refurbishment. People would walk past the refurbished unit and sit in the unrefurbished unit. However, back in those days, the unrefurbished units really were nicer and more comfortable

I do find the interiors of the Renatus units a bit bland and clinical but at least they are tidier than the non-Renatus ones. I used to prefer the '4s with their larger former first class compartments (downgraded of course). But the former Great Eastern Railway used to (generally) look after them; GA have let them go to rot, presumably because they knew in the not-to-distant future, new stock would be on the horizon

But when the 321s were first introduced, I preferred the stock they replaced but really grew to like them over the years until I stopped travelling on them regularly from the late 1990s.
 
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Islineclear3_1 said:
An old friend of mine and I used to chuckle about this when the Southern 4 Ceps were going to Swindon for refurbishment. People would walk past the refurbished unit and sit in the unrefurbished unit. However, back in those days, the unrefurbished units really were nicer and more comfortable

I do find the interiors of the Renatus units a bit bland and clinical but at least they are tidier than the non-Renatus ones. I used to prefer the '4s with their larger former first class compartments (downgraded of course). But the former Great Eastern Railway used to (generally) look after them; GA have let them go to rot, presumably because they knew in the not-to-distant future, new stock would be on the horizon

But when the 321s were first introduced, I preferred the stock they replaced but really grew to like them over the years until I stopped travelling on them regularly from the late 1990s.
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Nice, I was born in 2004 so I never got to experience the old trains. I do prefer the /4s over the /3's, but only 17 of them had the extended first class area. These 17 (421-437) units have had those extra seats remain in first class style unlike 401-420 which got rid of them. But all 321 units are great. I will definitely take a renatus unit over a 720. Some trains in India have similar motors to the 321 too I've noticed when I go on holiday too. However, none of them match up to the prestige of the 321.
 
TT-ONR-NRN

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I only need to travel on 307 to have been on all 66 /3s. I only hope it’s not withdrawn soon - I plan to be out many times week commencing April 12th and will try and find it then. I’m lucky it’s a Renatus which makes it likely to be around a bit longer.
 
Class360/1

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I’m hoping to ride on some 321’s and 720’s today, will do my best to record the numbers
 
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Class360/1

Class360/1

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Saw 3214xx, coupled to a renatus
321323 and 321305,
321332 and 321316,
321428 and 321407,
321322 and 321438,
321436 and 321324,
322484 and 321338,
321313 and 321339,
745001,
745104,
755326,
and 37608,
All at Marks Tey and Witham
 
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class321

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Class360/1 said:
Saw 3214xx, coupled to a renatus
321323 and 321305,
321332 and 321316,
321428 and 321407,
321322 and 321438,
321436 and 321324,
321484 and 321338,
321313 and 321339,
745001,
745104,
755326,
and 37608,
All at Marks Tey and Witham
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Nice, 438 has gone to scrap and 484 is non existent, I think you mean 424 or 434 not 444 as that's in storage.
 
Class360/1

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class321 said:
Nice, 438 has gone to scrap and 484 is non existent, I think you mean 424 or 434 not 444 as that's in storage.
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Thanks, it was hard to note down the units as they didn’t stop for long, the northern trains units had confusing numbering, that is what I meant by 484.

UPDATE: just checked ukraillog and it was actually a 322
After doing a closer inspection of the pictures I took, I mistook 321438 for 321436
 
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class321

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Class360/1 said:
Thanks, it was hard to note down the units as they didn’t stop for long, the northern trains units had confusing numbering, that is what I meant by 484.

UPDATE: just checked ukraillog and it was actually a 322
After doing a closer inspection of the pictures I took, I mistook 321438 for 321436
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438 has red doors and 436 has blue doors :)
 
Class360/1

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class321 said:
I have been on 424 but I am seeing a large amount of them renatus units. How frequent were trains?
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At the moment, Colchester to Walton is 1 train per 2 hours and London to Clacton is 1tph. Greater Anglia are definitely prioritising the use of its renatus sets.
Note that Greater Anglia is planning to increase most service frequencies to 1tph off (peak).
 
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Class360/1 said:
At the moment, Colchester to Walton is 1 train per 2 hours and London to Clacton is 1tph. Greater Anglia are definitely prioritising the use of its renatus sets.
Note that Greater Anglia is planning to increase most service frequencies to 1tph off (peak).
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I guess I'll be out for a long time tomorrow looking for non PRM units. By any chance, I'm not sure if I asked you this, but do you have access to TOPS?
 
Class360/1

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class321 said:
I guess I'll be out for a long time tomorrow looking for non PRM units. By any chance, I'm not sure if I asked you this, but do you have access to TOPS?
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Nope, unfortunately I don’t have access to TOPS data, but you could tag the Greater Anglia Twitter account.
 
Class360/1

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class321 said:
So they would actually respond if I ask for info on a specific unit, nice :) . They have 30 renatus units right?
How many non PRM are around do you think are around?
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Yes, there are 30 renatus units. I recon there are at least 20 non PRM compliant units in service, and many more units are going to be brought back in the next timetable change, unless more 720's enter service.
 
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Class360/1 said:
Yes, there are 30 renatus units. I recon there are at least 20 non PRM compliant units in service, and many more units are going to be brought back in the next timetable change, unless more 720's enter service.
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So the class 321s in warm storage are coming back into service. I heard that greater anglia is increasing services after Friday 2nd April 2021. According to UK rail log, there are 39 non PRM units left. How many 720s are left?
 
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Class360/1

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class321 said:
So the class 321s in warm storage are coming back into service. I heard that greater anglia is increasing services after Friday 2nd April 2021. According to UK rail log, there are 39 non PRM units left. How many 720s are left?
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Good question, I’m. Not sure but some will anyway
 
Islineclear3_1

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If there are enough units sat around in sidings over the Easter period, with the young scrotes teenagers being on Easter holidays, what are the chances of some of these being graffitied? GA might not be in a rush to return these to service ...
 
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