Welsh hybrid ‘230’
Transport for Wales takes delivery of its first diesel-battery hybrid Class 230 D-Train from Vivarail, ready for driver training.
Transport for Wales has taken delivery of its first hybrid Class 230 D-Train from Vivarail.
Three-car 230006 arrived at Wrexham on July 20, and will be used for driver training ahead of its introduction onto WrexhamBidston trains.
TfW has yet to reveal when the ‘230s’, which will also be used on the Crewe-Chester route, will enter service.
These are the first diesel-battery hybrid trains for passenger traffic in the UK. Each three-car set is fitted with two lithiumion batteries in the two driving vehicles, while a diesel genset is fitted to the centre car.
The TfW sets have also had their gensets ‘eco-fenced’, which means they will not be running in stations or designated built-up areas.
Five trains were ordered by TfW to enter traffic last year, but delays in the refurbishment progress caused that to slip. Completely rebuilt from former London Underground D-Stock, they had been announced as part of TfW’s plans for the franchise after it replaced Arriva Trains Wales ( RAIL 855).
The ‘230s’ have been equipped with fully accessible toilets, power sockets, electric passenger information systems, WiFi, cycle racks and air-conditioning. Each train has 125 seats and an overall capacity of 293 passengers.
Main line testing from Long Marston is under way with the second set (230007), and this included running as a pair with the first TfW ‘230’ prior to its dispatch to Wrexham. Testing of 230008 is also under way within the confines of Vivarail’s Long Marston base.
Three Class 230s have been delivered to London Northwestern Railway (230003-230005) - these are diesel versions of the D-Train. There are also five two-car electric-only Class 484 D-Trains being manufactured by Vivarail for South Western Railway’s Island Line operation.