320316 at Hyndland 12.6.09 The class 320s were built at the BREL works in York in 1989 as a three car version of the class 321 and 322 fleets, which operated in England.

 

22 3 car units were built and had a maximum speed of 75mph, were outshopped in the Strathclyde Transport 'Red' livery (orange and black with white trim) and had a seating capacity of 230 seats and formed of 2 driving trailers with a motor coach in the centre.   The interior was bright, airy and spacious with artwork of various locations adorning  

 

The class 320 replaced the remaining unrefurbished class 303 fleet and 19 class 311s on the North Clyde routes from Drumgelloch - Helensburgh Central, Airdrie - Balloch and Springburn - Milngavie.  

 

Initially, the intention was to use the Class 320s on the Argyle Line services from Dalmuir - Motherwell, Coatbridge Central and Lanark, however due to clearances in the tunnel section between Dalmarnock and Anderston, the decision was taken that they would only be used on this section of line for ECS workings between Shields Depot and Yoker Depot.

 

The 320s were reliveried into the Strathclyde Passenger Transport Carmine and Cream livery from 1996 onwards with a further relivery in 2005 to update it with Cream doors for DDA purposes.   At the same time as the 2005 livery update, an internal refresh was carried out with seats cushions changed over to SPT green, interior walls repainted (with the exception of the artwork panels), new flooring and the fitting of passenger information displays.

 

320317 at Greenfaulds320317 pauses at Greenfaulds with 2V54 Dumbarton Central - Cumbernauld 23.3.18 A further refurbishment took place from 2011 with an external relivery to the new Scotrail Saltire livery, internal repaint, seat cushions changed over to Scotrail Saltire, new flooring and the installation of a toilet and retention tanks in one of the driving trailers. Mechanical works also included the fitting of yaw dampers to allow the unit's maximum speed to be increased to 90 mph.  320314 was the first unit to be treated, with 320310 the last to be treated.

 

The increase in the maximum speed of the class 320s was to coincide with the introduction of the class 380s to the Ayrshire lines, which resulted in a cascade of units with class 334s being transferred to the North Clyde Line, which had been extended via the newly opened Airdrie - Bathgate line in to Edinburgh Waverley.  The 334s took over the 320s former duties between Helensburgh Central and Drumgelloch (now extended out to Edinburgh Waverley).   The 320s were then allowed to operate on the Argyle Line services and couple also couple to the mechanically similar class 318s and operate as 6 car trains, the 90mph upper speed limit now allowing them to travel on the fast section of West Coast Main Line between Carluke and Lanark Junction.

 

Appearances by the 320s to Glasgow Central High Level had been rare up until December 2014, when with the electrification of the Whifflet line, services on the Argyle Line were reorganised, with Whifflet services being switched to Glasgow Central Low Level and being operated by 318s and 320s, with Lanark services being switched to Glasgow Central High Level, also operated by 318s and 320s.  

    

 

320416+320412 at CartlandLondon Midland liveried 320416+320412 (formerly 321416+321412 and reduced from 4 vehicles to 3 vehicles) heads north through Cartland with 2B95 Lanark - Glasgow Central 28.3.16 With an increase in duties for the class 320s (and 318s), further units were required. In 2016, 7 class 321/4s, which had gone off lease with London Midland, were acquired, having been reduced from 4 cars to 3 cars, with the removal of a trailer.   The first three units to arrive, 320411, 412 & 416, were still unrefurbished and still in London Midland Livery.  The first refurbished unit to arrive was 320414, with 411, 412 & 416 being refurbished after the remaining units arrived.

 

Following the introduction to service of the class 385s in 2018, less class 318s and 320s were required for Lanark services meant only a pair of 318s or 320s were required for that particular working.  Meanwhile in Glasgow, the class 314 fleet were being withdrawn, with the final sets being withdrawn in 2019. The 318s and 320s would take over many of the 314s former duties on the Cathcart Circle, Newton and Neilston lines, the Paisley Canal branch and some services to Gourock and Wemyss Bay.

 

A further 5 class 321/4s became available and were converted to class 320/4s once again in the early 2020s with the removal of the central trailer coach.  

 

As the class 320s are over 35 years old, tendering is currently underway for their replacement (along with the class 318s) by new build EMUs and Battery EMUs.  It is likely to be at least 2031 before the fleet is replaced though.

 

 

320401+320322 at NewtonScotrail Saltire liveried 320401+320322 pause at Newton with 2L02 11.47 Dalmuir - Motherwell service 31.8.24 The 320s work on the following services, often in multiple with another 320 or with class 318s:  

 

Airdrie - Balloch

Springburn - Milngavie

Dalmuir - Motherwell

Dalmuir - Whifflet

Dalmuir - Cumbernauld

Dalmuir - Larkhall

Glasgow Central - Lanark

Cathcart Circle

Glasgow Central - Newton

Glasgow Central - Neilston

Glasgow Central - Paisley Canal

Glasgow Central - Gourock

Glasgow Central - Wemyss Bay