Hydrogen D-Train
Vivarail announces plans to build a four-car hydrogen-powered Class 230 D-Train able to accommodate extra seating.
Vivarail has announced plans for a four-car hydrogen D-Train.
The company says the modular design of the Class 230s allows a hydrogen-powered set to have more seats. It has also confirmed that trains entering traffic with diesel gensets can be modified to be hydrogen-powered.
Its hydrogen-powered ‘230’ D-Train will follow the design of five ordered by Transport for Wales, by having two driving vehicles powered by Hoppecke batteries. The difference is that rather than a diesel genset beneath the two intermediate vehicles, hydrogen tanks and fuel cells will be housed there. This means that seats and the interior will not be compromised.
Vivarail says its experience of building 230001 means it can use practices from other industries to develop and build the hydrogen ‘230’. It adds that battery-powered 230002, which carried passengers at the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway last October, will be used during trials because it can be reformed with the hydrogen-fitted intermediate vehicles. It says the train will have a range of 650 miles and feature regenerative braking.
So far, Vivarail has built dieselpowered 230001 for demonstration purposes, and battery-powered 230002 for similar duties.
Three diesel sets are on order for London Northwestern Railway to operate on the Bedford-Bletchley route (230003-005). However, their entry into traffic has been delayed, with only 230003 delivered for training and mileage accumulation.
A further five three-car battery sets have been ordered by Transport for Wales for the TfW franchise, and these are due to enter traffic this year.