Ex-'321' demonstrator to be hydrogen pioneer

The first Alstom Breeze Class 600 hydrogen multiple unit (HMU) will be converted from 321448.

The four-car electric multiple unit is owned by Eversholt Rail, which is working with Alstom on the project.

It was moved by road to Alstom’s Edge Hill depot near Liverpool in mid-October, ahead of a move to the company’s Widnes facility. Alstom has recently invested an extra £1 million in preparing the site for the Breeze conversion work.

Greater Anglia last used 321448 in 2018. The EMU was deemed non-standard as it had been refurbished internally with two interior designs (one suburban, one metro) and TSA AC traction motors, as part of an evaluation of plans for what would become the Renatus project that involved a substantial refurbishment and re-tractioning of 30 GA Class 321/3s.

• For the FULL story, read RAIL 919, published on November 18, and available digitally from November 14.