Date: 30/07/2016

An unusual project to convert retired London Underground District line cars into diesel-powered units may be about to pay off, after London Midland announced that a ^D-Train^ could enter service on its local route between Coventry and Nuneaton this year.
The line has been in the news after attempts to cater for sports crowds at the Ricoh Stadium in Coventry with hired rolling stock failed to pay their way, with fans being advised to use road transport instead because the usual single-car unit on the line would not be able to cope.
London Midland had also said that there were no guarantees that more rolling stock would necessarily be available on match days unless it was specially hired, and so it was reluctant to advertise extra services.
The three-car ^D-Train^ may help to solve the problem, and also provide more capacity for regular passengers. It has been developed by Warwickshire-based Vivarail, which has bought redundant D78 stock from London Underground.

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Converted Underground train could be running soon

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AN unusual project to convert retired London Underground District line cars into diesel-powered units may be about to pay off, after London Midland an...

Related images

Vivarail D-Train in the short platform at Long Marston on 17 August 2015. The D-Train, rebuilt around former LU D78 stock, is currently undergoing testing here [see recent news item].
Location: Long Marston
Company: Stratford-on-Avon Branch (Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway)
17/08/2015 Ian Dinmore

Ex-LU D78 car with 'modified front end' in the yard at Long Marston on 17 August 2015. The 'modification' resulted from a controlled crash into a 3 tonne tank of water during testing of the bodyshells, which are being converted to low cost 'D-Train' units by Vivarail.
Location: Long Marston
Company: Stratford-on-Avon Branch (Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway)
17/08/2015 Ian Dinmore

This recently opened station would be handy for the Ricoh Arena, if it was open before and after sporting events. See image [[54104]] I await the next trade show, e.g. for computer gamers, to see whether the railway accommodates geeks more readily than sports fans. The train is the 1346 to Nuneaton; which at weekends comprises two carriages.
Location: Coventry Arena
Company: Coventry to Nuneaton (London and North Western Railway)
31/01/2016 Ken Strachan

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Tags: x D-Train x Class 230 x Vivarail