Creation of class 230 DEMUs from ex-LU D78s by Vivarail

[Skimble19]

Apparently mainline testing will be early this year according to their Twitter a few weeks back..

 

[The Ham]

If the ELR wishes to try and run the services themselves, is there anything stopping them doing so on their own metals?

Although as a commercially run service it probably wouldn't be viable, they maybe able to depending on how much was possible to be done by utilising volunteers.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Apparently mainline testing will be early this year according to their Twitter a few weeks back..

Where will this most likely to be expected to take place?

 

[WatcherZero]

If the ELR wishes to try and run the services themselves, is there anything stopping them doing so on their own metals?

Heritage lines have a speed cap of something like 40 mph for safety reasons. Other issues would be insurance/safety case and increased wear and tear.

 

[jimm]

Where will this most likely to be expected to take place?

As I said about two months ago - I can't be bothered to trawl back to find the post - on the Cotswold Line, probably between Evesham and Moreton-in-Marsh, after running down the branch line from Long Marston to Honeybourne. Presumably in the middle of the night when there's nothing else around.

 

[The Ham]

Heritage lines have a speed cap of something like 40 mph for safety reasons.

As such a train which could not go faster than 60mph would need to be limited to 40mph.

Other issues would be insurance/safety case and increased wear and tear.

Probably fairly small extra costs each.

 

[southern442]

Heritage lines have a speed cap of something like 40 mph for safety reasons.

I thought it was 25mph?

It should be at least 35 IMO. I think that some heritage railways like the Great Central have special permission to run faster than this - 60 I believe.

 

[The Lad]

Generally 25mph with passengers, faster for testing for some.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Generally 25mph with passengers, faster for testing for some.

Was that the figure that was quoted in the film by the railway line inspector at the end of the proving run on "The Titfield Thunderbolt" ?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Was that the figure that was quoted in the film by the railway line inspector at the end of the proving run on "The Titfield Thunderbolt" ?

This from memory and not from looking it up on google...

Mr Clegg the Railway Inspector: Average speed, 24.25 miles per hour. If I may hazard a comment, you were particularly fortunate. All other requirements having been satisfactory, it would have been a pity if your timing had let you down.

Rev Sam Weech: Fortunate?

Mr Clegg the Railway Inspector: Had you reached an average speed of 25 miles an hour, it would have exceeded the limits imposed on the light railway - Be more careful next time!

 

[Chris125]

I see that Claire Perry visited Vivarail yesterday.

They've also uploaded a video of a two-car set being tested, now with headlights.

https://twitter.com/Vivarail/with_replies

 

[asylumxl]

Seem alright in the video to me. Have they changed the interior? Thought I saw some high back seats.

Also, not a very flattering photo of Claire Perry...

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I'm just curious, with the regulation for yellow ends no longer required, will this be the only 230 with yellow ends?

 

[Domh245]

I'm just curious, with the regulation for yellow ends no longer required, will this be the only 230 with yellow ends?

AFAIK, those regulations don't come into effect until march, but these probably will be the only ones with yellow ends

 

[The Ham]

AFAIK, those regulations don't come into effect until march, but these probably will be the only ones with yellow ends

More likely, when the "test train" livery is replaced by a TOC's colours the yellow may also go (if the TOC wants to not have yellow fronts, as they can still opt to keep an area of yellow if they so wish).

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I see that Claire Perry visited Vivarail yesterday.

I have visited Chester Zoo in the past, but that did not mean that I intended to use the paddock area back home for a herd of Zebu cattle.

 

[Peter Sarf]

I have visited Chester Zoo in the past, but that did not mean that I intended to use the paddock area back home for a herd of Zebu cattle.

Ah but you might well be supplying them to a well known pub chain as an economical and reasonably good (alternative to) beef.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I'm just curious, with the regulation for yellow ends no longer required, will this be the only 230 with yellow ends?

AFAIK, those regulations don't come into effect until march, but these probably will be the only ones with yellow ends

More likely, when the "test train" livery is replaced by a TOC's colours the yellow may also go (if the TOC wants to not have yellow fronts, as they can still opt to keep an area of yellow if they so wish).

The relaxation in standards which allows the yellow ends to be dispensed with, only allows this if high-intensity headlights are provided. If the 230s (or any other units) don't have those headlights then they'll still need the yellow ends.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

The relaxation in standards which allows the yellow ends to be dispensed with, only allows this if high-intensity headlights are provided. If the 230s (or any other units) don't have those headlights then they'll still need the yellow ends.

With the very bright lights of 144012, could her yellow ends be dispensed with?

 

[swt_passenger]

The relaxation in standards which allows the yellow ends to be dispensed with, only allows this if high-intensity headlights are provided. If the 230s (or any other units) don't have those headlights then they'll still need the yellow ends.

But AIUI from the group standard the 'High intensity' headlights are a requirement for all newly introduced stock or new lighting installations after the rules change. If the 230s or even just their lights are considered 'new' for the purposes of this standard then the suitably high intensity headlights will have to be fitted as a matter of course, and that will automatically result in the yellow area becoming unnecessary.

 

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

I'm just curious, with the regulation for yellow ends no longer required, will this be the only 230 with yellow ends?

Some would say the last three words of the sentence are superfluous...

 

[The Ham]

Some would say the last three words of the sentence are superfluous...

...but so could quite a bit of the middle.

 

[philthetube]

I would not be surprised if one of the stock leasing companies were to take these on if no one wants them, I am sure that someone will end up short of dmu's and if the price is right then away they go.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I would not be surprised if one of the stock leasing companies were to take these on if no one wants them, I am sure that someone will end up short of dmu's and if the price is right then away they go.

If that be the case, noting the various interior option styles said to be made available by Vivarail, what would be the internal option chosen by a stock leasing company? Would it be the bare basic model, with refinements available at an extra cost?

 

[furnessvale]

If that be the case, noting the various interior option styles said to be made available by Vivarail, what would be the internal option chosen by a stock leasing company? Would it be the bare basic model, with refinements available at an extra cost?

Given the ability of airlines to strip the seats of passenger aircraft on a nightly basis for freight use, i would think that the last of their problems.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Given the ability of airlines to strip the seats of passenger aircraft on a nightly basis for freight use, i would think that the last of their problems.

on aircraft designed to do such and usually those are equipped with a large upper deck hatch / cargo door for such purposes

 

[MatthewRead]

I hope the converted trains get to find somewhere new wasn't there a plan to use on some Northern routes such as through Barnsley and see if the locals prefer them to Pacers

 

[southern442]

I hope the converted trains get to find somewhere new wasn't there a plan to use on some Northern routes such as through Barnsley and see if the locals prefer them to Pacers

I think that DafT were pretty keen on having brand new units for the Northern franchise.

 

[Clip]

I think that DafT were pretty keen on having brand new units for the Northern franchise.

Yes they were and we surely don't need another 10 pages of that discussion again do we? Youll have steam coming out of JCollins' ears!!!

 

[northwichcat]

I think that DafT were pretty keen on having brand new units for the Northern franchise.

Yes they were and we surely don't need another 10 pages of that discussion again do we? Youll have steam coming out of JCollins' ears!!!

I've only been pointing out:
a) what was in the ITT
b) that Pacers are used on routes which have 75mph paths and the trains get up to 75mph
c) that D-Trains have 18m carriages so aren't standard length which may mean the maximum D-Train length a line can take is shorter than the maximum Sprinter length.

Like has been said already apparently one person at DfT who is responsible for IEP wanted the cheapest possible solutions for both Northern and TPE due to how much IEP is costing but he didn't get his own way.