Dapol OO 4D-323-001 BR 323203 Regional Railways Centro Class 323 3 Car Electric Multiple Unit
The British Rail Class 323 is a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by Hunslet Transportation Projects and Holec. All 43 units were built from 1992 through to 1995 for British Rail’s Provincial Sector. Entering service in 1994, the 323s were among the last trains to enter service with British Rail before its privatisation in the mid-1990s. The units were designed to operate on inner-suburban commuter lines in and around Birmingham and Manchester with swift acceleration and high reliability. Of the 43 units built, 26 are in operation with West Midlands Railway and 17 with Northern Trains.
From 2018, the units received new, accessible toilets and upgrades to their internal Passenger Information Display Systems.
With the introduction of new Class 730 units, the West Midlands Trains Class 323s will transfer to Northern, joining the existing fleet in the Manchester Area.
The units are known for the distinctive sounds that can be heard during acceleration or deceleration. These sounds are generated by the traction electronics and we are working on reproducing this for our DCC sound fitted models.