Countdown to 321 demonstrator entering passenger service
Eversholt Rail unveiled its class 321 demonstrator to the press at Wabtec’s Doncaster plant on October 30.
The train leasing company has installed 2 different passenger interiors, metro or suburban along with a new look first class with new leather seats and power sockets, to 321448 so that passengers on the Greater Anglia network will be able to evaluate and offer feedback on the design and their prefere
nces for future refurbishment of the fleet.
Eversholt hope to demonstrate that a high specification refurbishment of older rolling stock is not only significantly cheaper than purchasing new trains, but can offer passengers a ‘new train’ feel that will enhance their travelling experience.
The project cost for the demonstrator class 321 is £4-5 million and it will go from Doncaster to Ilford depot in November before entering passenger service, for a 12 month period, in December.
In addition the fleet will also receive new a new traction package including a new transformer, individual inverter drives and new AC traction motors. The demonstrator 321 will have this fitted next year and undergo a series of tests before entering passenger service in December 2015.
Work on refurbishing the entire fleet of 94 sets will commence in 2015 with an envisaged completion date of 2019.
Report by Jonathan Webb