D-Trains confirmed for Bletchley route
THREE Vivarail two-car Class 230 diesel electric multiple units (DEMUs) will enter traffic on the Bedford-Bletchley line from December.
The deal was finally confirmed on March 1. The DEMUs will replace two-car Class 150/1s and single-car Class 153 diesel multiple units currently used by West Midlands Trains (WMT).
Vivarail spokesman Alice Gilman told RAIL the company will make a separate announcement on maintenance contracts and where the ‘230s’ will be based. She also confirmed that negotiations are continuing on whether they will be leased to WMT or sold.
WMT said the ‘230s’ are the first trains to be introduced by the new franchise, which replaced London Midland on December 10 last year.
Vivarail Chief Executive Adrian Shooter said: “This is a big day for Vivarail. We have invested considerable time and money to bring our innovative D-Train to this point.”
The trains are rebuilt from redundant London Underground D-Stock trains at Long Marston, where Vivarail has its own workshop and test track. The company owns more than 200 D-Stock vehicles, and has also developed a battery unit that will be available for traffic later this year ( RAIL 847).
Shooter said: “As a West Midlands-based company, it will be extremely gratifying to see our trains running on local lines and we look forward to passenger feedback.”
WMT Customer Services Director Andrew Conroy said: “These trains are ideal for the Bedford to Bletchley route. I am sure our passengers will welcome the new look and feel of the carriages, and the extra space.”
Gilman confirmed Vivarail is also speaking with other train operating companies about supplying Class 230s. She said: “We’re banging on every door and in active discussions (with Non-Disclosure Agreements) for many interesting opportunities.”
Main line testing of 230001, a three-car DEMU, started in December 2016 but was curtailed when it caught fire at Kenilworth.
However, the train was repaired and carried its first passengers on June 21 2017, between Honeybourne and Long Marston as part of Rail Live last year.