Built by Hunslet in the early 1990s for BR’s Provincial Sector, the Class 323 electric multiple units were among the last trains to enter service before privatisation. A total of 43 three-car commuter sets were assembled, with the fleet being split between the Birmingham and Manchester areas.
Offering a smooth, quiet ride, the trains have proven successful and, as newer EMUs are coming on stream in the West Midlands, it is planned for the ‘323’ fleet to be consolidated with the Northern franchise for operations around Manchester and the North West.