THE CLASS 323 trains which became a familiar sight on Birmingham’s Cross-City route have finally ended their 30-year association of working on the midlands rail network, writes Neil Gordon.
Last Friday (September 27) saw the final two 323-electric trains working Cross-City services after the class was phased-out in favour of new trains.
Three-coach units 323222 and 323240 worked the final 323-operated Cross-City diagram on Friday beginning with the 6.06am departure from Birmingham New Street to Lichfield. The pair then worked six round-trips between Lichfield and Bromsgrove before signing-off with the 11.31pm Bromsgrove to Birmingham New Street service.
Rail enthusiasts photgraph one of the last 323-operated Cross-City services. Picture Neil Gordon Media.
From Birmingham the trains ran empty to a depot and will now join other class members in Manchester.
During Friday people took the opportunity to travel on and photograph the trains including some rail enthusiasts who arrived at Bromsgrove late morning. Here they photographed the trains before re-boarding moments later for another ‘final’ journey.
The demise of 323s working on one of Britain’s busiest commuter routes follows investment in new rolling stock, with class 730 trains now working Cross-City services.
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