ALL 30 Class 379 Electrostars remain out of traffic more than a year after the last of the four-car electric multiple units were withdrawn by Greater Anglia.
In the past few weeks, further examples have been taken to Harry Needle Railroad Company’s Worksop site for secure storage.
Heading north from Ilford to Worksop behind Rail Operations Group No. 37601 Perseus on April 14, were Nos. 379009/027, and these were followed by Nos. 379002/016 (on April 19) and 379004/019 (on April 21), both moved by ROG No. 37608 Andromeda. The same ‘37’ took Nos. 379021/023 to Worksop on April 28.
Meanwhile, the last two sets at Wensum Sidings, Norwich, Nos. 379003/024, departed for Ilford on April 5, and a further two units (Nos. 379018/028) ran to Ilford from Harwich on April 25.
The Class 379s were constructed between 2010 and 2011 for use on Stansted Express and West Anglia services. They were allocated to Ilford, and the last sets were withdrawn in early 2022 and handed back to fleet owner, Akiem. Since then, the leasing company has been acquired by CDPQ (Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec), but, to date, no further work has been found for the 30 units. CDPQ did not respond to questions from Rail Express about the EMUs.
CLASS 379 – STORAGE LOCATIONS
Harwich Parkeston Quay: 379006/008/025/026
Ilford: 379001/007/010-013/015/017/018/022/024/028
Worksop: 379002-005/009/014/016/019-021/023/027/029/030
