West Midlands Class 323 - the final countdown

[JW4]

219 and 240 working together

 

[crosscity]

Unit	Name/Note	Last seen in WM service	Source	Future	Date left WM or withdrawn
Report for	Mon 05Feb2024
323201	Duddeston	Tue 30Jan2024	RailUK
323202	Butlers Lane	Mon 22Jan2024	RailUK	Northern
323203	Aston	Mon 01Jan2024	RailUK	Northern
323204	Selly Oak	Mon 22Jan2024	RailUK
323205	Blake Street	Mon 29Jan2024	RailUK	Northern
323206	Barnt Green	Tue 30Jan2024	RailUK	Northern
323207	Bournville	Wed 24Jan2024	RailUK	Northern
323208	Five Ways	Transferred		Northern	Sat 28Oct2023
323209	Birmingham New Street	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323210	Shenstone	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323211	Four Oaks	Wed 03Jan2024	Ray
323212	Bromsgrove	Wed 27Dec2023	RailUK	To Wolverton, then Northern Wed 10Jan2024	Thu 04Jan2024
323213	Sutton Coldfield	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323214	Wylde Green	Tue 26Dec2023	RailUK		At Wolverton for repairs
323215	Gravelly Hill	Tue 30Jan2024	RailUK
323216	University	Tue 09Jan2024	RailUK
323217	Chester Road	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323218	Lichfield City	Tue 30Jan2024	RailUK	Northern
323219	Kings Norton	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323220	Lichfield Trent Valley	Wed 27Dec2023	RailUK	To Wolverton, then Northern Wed 10Jan2024	Sat 06Jan2024
323221	Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery)	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK
323222	Redditch	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK
323240	Erdington	Mon 05Feb2024	RailUK
323241	Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service.	Wed 10Jan2024	Ray	Northern
323242	Alvechurch	Wed 10Jan2024	Ray	Northern
323243	Longbridge	Wed 10Jan2024	Ray	Northern
END

Other than two strike days and the green one being out on its own, there isn't much to report on the WM front.
Until more units start going North, I've decided to report fortnightly rather than weekly. I will, of course keep the spreadsheet up-to-date with your sightings.

 

[DJH1971]

Just seen 323220 at Huyton heading towards Liverpool and still in WM livery.

 

[JW4]

323203
323216
323222
Out today
323221 Centro out again as well
323201 & 323202

 

[Liam L]

Been on 323203 & 204 and 219 & 240 today
323221 running solo
323216 and 323222 in a pair
323243 running solo too

 

[JW4]

I wonder where 211 is

 

[Liam L]

I wonder where 211 is

On Soho.. I heard that some sets are awaiting spares. I think this is one of them.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Any more going the 2 hours north to Merseyside soon?

 

[Geeves]

208 and 218 are still out on training between Blackpool and Preston.

220 is on Piccadilly - Airport - Crewe work today finishing back at Allerton tonight

 

[GhostManDN91]

Like I said it's about time more depots are getting trained on the 323s up North. Should have been done a long time ago.

 

[JW4]

Sunday 11 February
323201 & 323202 still together
323205

 

[childwallblues]

Like I said it's about time more depots are getting trained on the 323s up North. Should have been done a long time ago.

Which depots are you referring to?

 

[superkev]

What's the current hold up for sending more units to Northern.
Thanks
K

 

[Mordac]

What's the current hold up for sending more units to Northern.
Thanks
K

The 730s haven't entered service on the CrossCity line yet.

 

[Geeves]

Like I said it's about time more depots are getting trained on the 323s up North. Should have been done a long time ago.

Wigan and Blackpool are learning them currently, Vic is on the cusp. Only so many folks can be released each week.

208 and 212 have been ferrying up and down between Blackpool and Preston for the last few weeks.

 

[JW4]

Monday 12 February
323205 working alone again
323203 working with another unit
323207 and 323215 working together
323210 also out with another unit.
Wednesday 14 February
323241 working alone
323240 working with 323216
323205 still alone
323222 working with 323202
323207 and 323218 working together
323221 is out again.
Saturday 17 February
323210 + 323217
323203 + 323204

 

[Geeves]

Something interesting I heard to today is that the unwanted 323s could potentially be fitted with batteries and would provide the traction from Wigan Wallgate (which would remain unwired) and provide services to Headbolt Lane and Southport displacing the older 769s.

Anyway back on topic 323220 is still on Allerton and hasn't moved for a few weeks. 208 and 212 still at Preston also not moving

 

[Liam L]

323209 working 11:18 wolves to walsall (can find the rest of the diagram if you want it)

I believe they be running on the stour valley for the next few Sundays.

 

[xtpe]

Wigan and Blackpool are learning them currently, Vic is on the cusp. Only so many folks can be released each week.

208 and 212 have been ferrying up and down between Blackpool and Preston for the last few weeks.

Only Wigan are learning them currently

 

[AJDesiro]

According to a certain dispatcher, since wolves dispatchers have lost their competency on 323s, they can't leave in passenger service, so the 323 on Walsall-Wolves started at Coseley instead

 

[JW4]

According to a certain dispatcher, since wolves dispatchers have lost their competency on 323s, they can't leave in passenger service, so the 323 on Walsall-Wolves started at Coseley instead

This one?https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:C72620/2024-02-18/detailed

https://x.com/downonthestour/status/1759206105706594307?s=46&t=jQQaqwHbKOFG2nnwAsRb8A

Managed 1 & half trips it has now been swapped for 350408

323221 and 323241 are running as a pair today apparently

 

[Liam L]

According to a certain dispatcher, since wolves dispatchers have lost their competency on 323s, they can't leave in passenger service, so the 323 on Walsall-Wolves started at Coseley instead

Been swapped for 350408 now.

 

[The_Train]

According to a certain dispatcher, since wolves dispatchers have lost their competency on 323s, they can't leave in passenger service, so the 323 on Walsall-Wolves started at Coseley instead

You'd think planners would have details of where competency for units is available so things like this don't happen

 

[AJDesiro]

You'd think planners would have details of where competency for units is available so things like this don't happen

Wolves isn’t a mandatory dispatch station, so it all seems rather odd.

 

[JW4]

https://x.com/downonthestour/status/1759236479321071720?s=46&t=jQQaqwHbKOFG2nnwAsRb8A

323209 powering away from Wolverhampton ECS to Coseley.

 

[Russel]

According to a certain dispatcher, since wolves dispatchers have lost their competency on 323s, they can't leave in passenger service, so the 323 on Walsall-Wolves started at Coseley instead

Dispatchers need stock competency?

Can the guard not do it?

No wonder the railway costs an eye watering amount to run.

 

[thecrofter]

Dispatchers need stock competency?

Can the guard not do it?

No wonder the railway costs an eye watering amount to run.

The Guard can but not at a Station where it is mandatory for a Dispatcher to do so. Hence why it was able to start from Coseley (unstaffed Station). Beggars belief really.

 

[The_Train]

Wolves isn’t a mandatory dispatch station, so it all seems rather odd.

I'm pretty sure it is. They have recently had periods of P4 being out of use because of low staff levels meaning they couldn't dispatch off that platform

 

[JW4]

Monday 19 February
323210 working alone
323202+323240
323221+323241
323203
323207

 

[Liam L]

I'm pretty sure it is. They have recently had periods of P4 being out of use because of low staff levels meaning they couldn't dispatch off that platform

There is a sign on P4 which indicates if the platform is staffed or not.