News - D-train
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Henry Posner III discusses how rebuilt trains can be used to quickly make the case to reopen disused lines. A D-Train owned by Vivarail, Britain, is running in central Pennsylvania as the company seeks to demonstrate its Pop-Up Metro offer to the United States. The two-car battery train was shipped to Baltimore in April and taken by road to a tramway museum, where it is being used to showcase the rebuilt former London Underground train and what it can offer the United States. It began operating in July with the delay caused by the travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic.
(Permalink) D-Train Vivarail |
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The Office of Rail & Road has given authorisation for battery and diesel-battery versions of Vivarail's Class 230 D-Train multiple-units to be used in passenger service.
(Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Vivarail  Bo^ness: Battery powered Vivarail D-train 230002 moves out of the yard at Boness on 9th October 2018. The unit took a power charge before public demonstrations the following day.
 Long Marston: 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].  Long Marston: 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 ... |
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Ben Jones visits Long Marston to find out how redundant District Line trains are being rebuilt to provide cheaper and greener alternatives to brand new multiple units and how Vivarail is looking to the future with new methods of propulsion.
(Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Long Marston Vivarail  Kensington Olympia: Penny for them... Awaiting departure time at Kensington Olympia on 22 July 2005, the driver of D Stock unit 7121, forming a District Line service to High Street Kensington, studies his newspape ... Bo^ness: Battery powered Vivarail D-train 230002 moves out of the yard at Boness on 9th October 2018. The unit took a power charge before public demonstrations the following day.
Long Marston: 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 ... |
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The first example of Vivarail's refurbished D-Trains is carrying passengers on West Midlands Trains.
The inaugural service left Bedford at 05.16 this morning, bound for Bletchley. Three of the Class 230 units will soon be operating on the Marston Vale line, which is part of the future East West Rail link, (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Vivarail Bo^ness: Battery powered Vivarail D-train 230002 moves out of the yard at Boness on 9th October 2018. The unit took a power charge before public demonstrations the following day.
Long Marston: 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 ...  Bedford St Johns (New): A view from the road above of the 'new' St Johns station on the Bedford to Bletchley line. The vehicle recovery yard on the right contains four Standard cars - probably one of the largest collections ... |
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Battery powered Vivarail D-train 230002 was charged at Boness on the 9th October 2018 before public demonstrations the following days.
(Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Vivarail  Manuel: The 'D-train' battery powered 230002 halted at Manuel in October 2018. Bo^ness: Battery powered Vivarail D-train 230002 moves out of the yard at Boness on 9th October 2018. The unit took a power charge before public demonstrations the following day.
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The first Class 230/0 for London Northwestern Railway was unveiled at Long Marston on August 21, as the deal for three two-car trains was confirmed.
They will start running between Bedford and Bletchley from December, with testing to start in the next few weeks. (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Long Marston Vivarail  Fenny Stratford: Platform view at Fenny Stratford station on the Bedford to Bletchley line, looking west towards Bletchley on 24 February 2007. Long Marston: 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 ... Bedford St Johns (New): A view from the road above of the 'new' St Johns station on the Bedford to Bletchley line. The vehicle recovery yard on the right contains four Standard cars - probably one of the largest collections ... |
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Vivarail has reached an agreement to supply three two-car Class 230 D-Train diesel-electric multiple-units to West Midlands Trains for operation from December on the Marston Vale Line between Bedford and Bletchley.
Vivarails D-Train uses aluminium bodyshells and bogies from former D78 metro trainsets withdrawn from service by London Underground. (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Vivarail  Millbrook (Beds): Two class 31s and two coaches forming the 14.00 Bedford - Bletchley train calling at Millbrook in September 1998.  Ridgmont: Services for Bletchley (left) and Bedford (right) cross at this lonely stop on the remnant of the Oxford - Cambridge 'Varsity line' in February 2012. see image [[37613]]  Bedford St Johns: Remains of the old station at Bedford St Johns on the Oxford - Cambridge line, seen around 1976 looking east towards Sandy. The station was closed in 1984 when a replacement was opened on the spur run ... |
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Vivarail has confirmed that the companys first two completed D-Trains will be available for delivery early next year.
Construction of the two trains is under way at the companys workshop at Long Marston, where they will be made available as either two- or three-car units, and as either diesel or battery-powered variants. [From Mark Bartlett] (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Vivarail  Long Marston: Vinyl-applied design on the test power car of the D-Train at Long Marston on 17 August 2015.  Long Marston: D-Train conversion work in progress at Long Marston in August 2015. See image [[52425]] |
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Ten people have been evacuated from a train which caught fire.
Smoke could be seen billowing out of the three-carriage train at the old railway station in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The engine at the front of the train set alight, the fire service said. Operator Vivarail said it was a test train and all staff were safe. National Rail's website said trains will not run between Coventry and Leamington Spa for the rest of the day. Services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bournemouth will divert via Solihull and not call at Birmingham International and Coventry. (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Fire Kenilworth Vivarail Long Marston: 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]. Long Marston: 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 ... |
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The Vivarail Class 230 train will now not begin its trial runs on the Coventry to Nuneaton (NUCKLE) line until next February because of problems with the approval process.
The innovative three-car D Train is built from upcycled bodyshells and bogies from London Underground rolling stock, and seats 300 passengers. The train is due to be operated by London Midland on the NUCKLE line, replacing a single car Class 153 train. (Permalink) Class 153 Class 230 D-Train Vivarail  Bedworth: An unusually green view of Bedworth in July 2012, as the 18.53 Coventry - Nuneaton continues its journey north. The hourly passenger service on this line is supplemented by lots of heavy freight see i ... Long Marston: 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]. Long Marston: 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 ... |
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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 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. (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train Vivarail  Coventry Arena: 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 whet ... Long Marston: 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]. Long Marston: 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 ... |
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Vivarail has begun dynamic testing of its prototype D-Train DMU on the test track at its base at Long Marston in central England.
The project involves rebuilding former London Underground D78 metro cars rendered surplus by the introduction of new Bombardier trains on the District Line. (Permalink) Class 230 D-Train D78 Vivarail |
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