The first D-Train is entering the final phase of testing and approvals, ahead of running on the main line.
Vivarail’s D-Stock rebuild project is nearing the important milestone of being ready for passenger service in the summer, with 230001 being prepared for certification.
Testing so far has included crash tests (real-life and simulated), brake tests (tare and laden), noise tests, EMC tests, wheel tests, genset tests and speed tests.
Meanwhile evidence capture for the approvals process has been running in parallel - it is expected that all the necessary submissions will have been made to the authorised Notified Body by the end of April.
Vivarail hopes to receive an Interim Certificate of Verification and agreement with Network Rail on network compatibility by the end of May. This will enable main line testing and mileage accumulation ahead of authorisation for passenger service.
The company said in a statement: “It could be said that building a train is the easy part of the equation because, although it may run beautifully, without approvals it’s going nowhere!”
During testing, a new cab and strengthening work has been completed and a new interior fitted (this is just one example of the possible interiors for the new trains).
It had been expected that main line testing of the D-Train would take place by the end of 2015. Vivarail spokesman Alice Gillman told RAIL: “Yes, we are a bit behind schedule - one of the suppliers took longer to get their systems sorted than we expected. However, we plan to have it on the main line in service by late spring/early summer.”
Gillman said Vivarail has spoken to teams at London Midland and Centro about their requirements. The company is also exploring opportunities presented by upcoming franchises, and is in contact with the teams working on those bids.
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 18/04/2016 13:24
Would like to see some of the Class 230's being used on some rural lines in East Anglia with Abellio Greater Anglia to use some of the Class 230's on the Marks Tey-Sudbury line and also on the Norwich-Sheringham, Norwich-Great Yarmouth, Norwich-Lowestoft and Ipswich-Felixstowe lines and March-Wisbech & Cambridge-Haverhill lines could also use the Class 230's once the new lines are completed and fully opened. London Midland are also ordering some of the Class 230's to be used on Coventry-Nuneaton & Coventry-Stratford-upon-Avon services aswell Bletchley-Bedford service. Great Western Railway would use some of the Class 230's on the rural lines in Cornwall & Devon. Arriva Trains Wales are also hoping to use some of the Class 230's on rural lines in Mid Wales and in North Wales. Northern Trains may not have the Class 230's because they are ordering the Class 195's DMU and Class 331's EMU trains to replace the Pacer trains. Same applies for Transpennine Express that are also ordering new trains.
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. - 18/04/2016 17:42
Viva rail, surely TransitVanRail is more the point. Mind you they only have to be better than a Pacer and walking is better than eiding in one of them.
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FrankH - 24/04/2016 22:32
Also used in Land Rover.
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Adam Edward - 18/04/2016 19:23
Andrew is right. The released trains could then go on replacing expensive Class 37 hauling stock and lengthening other services. GWR could use them on the Crossrail branches to Henley, Windsor and Greenford.
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BigTone - 19/04/2016 17:26
I thought those GWR lines were being wired up then the Turbostars going down to the South West?
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FrankH - 24/04/2016 22:46
Which in turn releases the pacers and the150/0 and 1's. Some 150/2's are being kept.
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Andrewjgwilt1989 - 19/04/2016 22:09
Thanks Adam.
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IK Brunel - 18/04/2016 20:08
Pacer 2.0 fine trundling around tube tunnels, but completely unsuitable for any kind of mainline speed.
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Gizzy - 20/04/2016 13:53
I shouldn't think we will see class 230s on the March-Wisbech line as its reopening is only a proposal at the moment. And the Cambridge-Haverhill line is extremely unlikely to be rebuilt at the present time....
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Davy Dodds - 25/04/2016 20:56
Anniesland - Glasgow Queen Street all day long. Could use it to run from Anniesland down via Springburn - belgrove - city union - Broomloan depot - Govan and round the SPT subway and back the same route to Anniesland. That's real integration.
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