The Class 322 units were built to the same basic design as the Class 321 units, which were still under construction for services on the Great Eastern Main Line and West Coast Main Line, but with a larger First Class area in the DTCO resulting in a different window arrangement.[9] Although the Stansted route fell under the jurisdiction of Network SouthEast (NSE), the units were delivered into service in a special white livery with a broad green band, instead of the more usual NSE blue/red/white livery.
Five 4-car units were built, numbered 322481–322485. Each unit consisted of two outer driving trailers, an intermediate trailer, and an intermediate motor coach, arranged and numbered as follows:
Driver's cab, Trailer car, Standard class (open saloon), Lavatory
63137–63141
MS
Motor car, Standard class (open saloon)
72023–72027
TSL
Trailer car, Standard class (open saloon), Lavatory
77985–77989
DTS
Driver's cab, Trailer car, Standard class (open saloon)
Originally the units had a lower density 2+2 seating arrangement in Standard Class appropriate to their use on airport traffic, but during their C6X refurbishment between 2005 and 2007 the units were converted to standard-class only and fitted with high-density 3+2 seating. The DTC and DTS vehicles were redesignated DTS(A) and DTS(B) respectively at this time. Following transfer from First ScotRail to Northern Rail in 2011, the first-class seating was refitted to the DTS(A) vehicles; but it was removed again in 2015 and replaced with a universally-accessible toilet.[9] At this point the DTS(A) and DTS(B) vehicles were respectively redesignated DTSL and DTS.
Operations
Network SouthEast
On introduction in 1990[2] the Class 322s were painted in a joint livery for Network SouthEast (NSE) and British Airports Authority consisting of a light grey and white body with green waist band lettered "Stansted Express" on one side and "Network SouthEast" on the other. Until opening of the Stansted Airport spur the units worked peak-hour services between Cambridge and Liverpool Street, but also found use on special trains wandering as far afield and York and Colchester.[9]
On the instructions of the Strategic Rail Authority, all returned to WAGN in March 2004 in preparation for the takeover of the franchise by One.[16][17] Under One, the Class 322s were using in a common pool with the Class 321s.[9]
First ScotRail
Having been deemed surplus by One, in July 2005 all returned to Scotland to operate with First ScotRail on the North Berwick Line,[18][19] while also being used on peak services to Glasgow and Carstairs.[9] To provide cover while its Class 321s were overhauled, 322484 was hired to Northern Rail to operate Doncaster to Leeds services.[20] In 2006/07, all were refurbished by Hunslet-Barclay, Kilmarnock with capacity increased from 252 to 293.[21][22]
^ ab
"Last Class 322s sent for scrap". Rail Express. No. 318. November 2022. p. 26.
^ abcdef"Class 322". London: Eversholt Rail Group. Archived from the original on 21 April 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
^Bevan Brittan LLC (26 March 2014). The Northern Interim Franchise Agreement(PDF). London: Department for Transport. M-10204941-1. Archived(PDF) from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
^ abc"Class 322". TheRailwayCentre.Com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abcdefSherlock, Greg (July 2015). "The Class 320s and their successors". Today's Railways UK. No. 163. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. pp. 55–57.
^"25 Years of ROSCOs". Rail Express. No. 281. October 2019. pp. 18–21.
^"NWT livery for Class 322 Stansted units". Rail Magazine. No. 329. 22 April 1998. p. 12.
^"FNW cuts Euston-Manchester service". Rail Magazine. No. 355. 21 April 1999. p. 13.
^"First North Western to axe Manchester-London service". The Railway Magazine. No. 1178. June 1999. p. 9.
^"ScotRail shuffles units as ex-Stansted 322s arrive". Rail Magazine. No. 427. 23 January 2002. p. 58.
^"Full 322 North Berwick service". Rail Magazine. No. 437. 12 June 2002. p. 10.
^"ScotRail's 322s to return south". Rail Magazine. No. 468. 20 August 2003. p. 9.
^"Class 322s return south". Entrain. No. 31. July 2004. p. 25.
^"Class 322s return north". Rail Magazine. No. 519. 3 August 2005. p. 28.