Vivarail chosen for fast charging trial on the Greenford branch

[whole diary]

[grahame]

As I read it, it could be a pretty complete purchase. I wonder if this means we might get D76 stock on the Severn Beach line.  Just imagine the political gains - "We have brought the underground to Bristol"

[stuving]

The VivaRail staff won't have been TUPE^▸ (The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.)-D, because VivaRail was already in administration & therefore those staff already made redundant.

Also, I don't see why GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) would have needed DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) approval to buy those assets. Surely a risk taken completely by GWR needs no approval. From *their* ultimate owners (FirstGroup) very likely though.

DfT have huge powers over a TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company), so GWR will certainly need to agree this with them. The contract gives DfT explicit rights of approval when GWR (1) buy a train or (2) take on employees or workers. And despite this not being a franchise agreement, there is still a load of stuff about assets, franchise assets, primary franchise assets, etc. One clause gives the SoS the right to designate any asset as a franchise asset. Nanomanagement!

[TonyK]

The VivaRail staff won't have been TUPE^▸ (The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.)-D, because VivaRail was already in administration & therefore those staff already made redundant.

I am obliged.

As I read it, it could be a pretty complete purchase. I wonder if this means we might get D76 stock on the Severn Beach line.  Just imagine the political gains - "We have brought the underground to Bristol"

I am between spectacles, and read that as "might get D76 stuck on the Severn Beach Line". A prophecy if I ever saw one coming.

[johnneyw]

The ongoing Vivarail saga doesn't seem to have had an adverse impact on the introduction of hybrid Class 230s for Transport for Wales as the link below would seem to confirm.


https://news.tfw.wales/news/uks-first-hybrid-train-enters-service-on-borderlands-line

[TonyK]

The ongoing Vivarail saga doesn't seem to have had an adverse impact on the introduction of hybrid Class 230s for Transport for Wales as the link below would seem to confirm.


https://news.tfw.wales/news/uks-first-hybrid-train-enters-service-on-borderlands-line

Bit odd though. RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) shows most services between Bidston and Wrexham as being bustituted. On 6 April, 230010 arrived at Wrexham 0658 from Birkenhead EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) depot, before forming 2F50, the 0731 to Bidston. The return 0833 to Bidston leaves 7L, and isn't shown as being 230010 like the earlier service is. Whatever ran the service arrived at Wrexham at 0941, 9L, and the return service is cancelled out of Central, starting from Wrexham General at 0942, presumably not the same train. It looks like the train that arrived at Wrexham at 0941 returned empty to Bidston, leaving at 1209. The coming week's actual trains on the route are marked as DMUs^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit), then no service at all in w/c 17 April. Only from 25 April do the D-trains start to form the day's services. I can't tell whether it was issues with 230010 or other problems unrelated, but it doesn't seem to have been an entirely smooth entry into service, more like a tentative trip or two for the papers to start with.

[grahame]

Commercial opportunities with other TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) for the supply of maintenance etc.?

The biggest problem with the Bedford - Bletchley 230 units, and presumably the TfW version, was the diesel power pack reliability.  The DC^▸ (Direct Current) only SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) class 484 version is already maintained in house, hopefully spares provision was included.

So although without any firm evidence, I’d expect that the diesel power packs are completely irrelevant to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)’s aims for the trial and won’t have been included in the deal.

From The BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

A train route suspended after a maintenance firm went into administration will not resume services until the autumn, a rail firm has said.

The Marston Vale Line, which has 12 stations between Bedford and Bletchley, has been out of action since December.

Operator, London Northwestern Railway (LNR) said new trains was expected in June but drivers needed training.

A rail replacement bus service, in place since Vivarail's collapse, will continue to operate in the meantime.

[grahame]

The Daily Mail seems to think this is "Exclusive" ...

Mind the SCRAP! 1970s Tube trains are saved from the junkyard to be put back in service as London overground trains

EXCLUSIVE: Vivarail paid £2M for 150 District Line trains which were retired
Great Western Rail bought Vivarail out of liquidation to continue the plan

[anthony215]

230001 is now out testing on the mainline. Hopefully won't be too long before it moves to Reading.

https://youtu.be/dQ7EtCkGffc?si=gwgmE0teT1PLKNy6

[PrestburyRoad]

230001 is now out testing on the mainline. Hopefully won't be too long before it moves to Reading.

https://youtu.be/dQ7EtCkGffc?si=gwgmE0teT1PLKNy6

Oh the nostalgic sound of those motors.  I'm used to hearing it in subterranean London and now my brain feels pleasantly disoriented when I hear it pictured in rural Gloucestershire.

I guess the higher-pitched sound is something to do with the new control equipment needed for the battery power source.

[stuving]

230001 is now out testing on the mainline. Hopefully won't be too long before it moves to Reading.

https://youtu.be/dQ7EtCkGffc?si=gwgmE0teT1PLKNy6

Oh the nostalgic sound of those motors.  I'm used to hearing it in subterranean London and now my brain feels pleasantly disoriented when I hear it pictured in rural Gloucestershire.

I guess the higher-pitched sound is something to do with the new control equipment needed for the battery power source.

It's the inverters or motor drives, now a part of all train designs. Some of them sing, some warble, these do rather scream in chorus.

[anthony215]

230001 to make its way to Reading on Friday 16th February.  Testing showing its managing 70 miles before needing charging although batteries Re still said to have plenty of energy lefy

[DaveHarries]

230001 to make its way to Reading on Friday 16th February.  Testing showing its managing 70 miles before needing charging although batteries Re still said to have plenty of energy left

I would be surprised if it didn't have regenerative braking: if it doesn't then I wonder why not.

Dave

[stuving]

230001 to make its way to Reading on Friday 16th February.  Testing showing its managing 70 miles before needing charging although batteries Re still said to have plenty of energy left

I would be surprised if it didn't have regenerative braking: if it doesn't then I wonder why not.

Dave

You can hear it does. As the train slows for the stop, the inverters are running until the last few seconds, then cut out abruptly. From what I recall about it, running the inverters and supplying a field to the motors uses power, even if the field is in step with the motor and not driving nor braking it. At very low speeds the power available from regeneration is too low to make this worthwhile; also the braking force reduces with speed so friction braking has to be used right at the end anyway.

But the energy recovered isn't going to extend the battery life by much in any case.

[johnneyw]

Railadvent have a bit about the battery train's testing in west London this spring.  Link below:


https://www-railadvent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/02/battery-trains-to-be-tested-in-west-london-this-spring.html/amp?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17073910041782&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.railadvent.co.uk%2F2024%2F02%2Fbattery-trains-to-be-tested-in-west-london-this-spring.html

[anthony215]

Paths on realtime trains for 230001 to make its way to Reading depot tomorrow.

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/servic ... 6/detailed

Theres a lot of eyes watching this trial.all going to plan batterybtrains could appear on a few of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway)'s branch lines Chiltern are watching this trial too