Sad but not surprising given the difficulties they've had on many projects. Shooter had a vision which unfortunately was probably rooted in the BR way of make do and mend which it was brilliant at due to managers like Adrian implementing it but too many people today expect something a lot more but reality is the railway can no longer afford that approach if it wants to provide something better for its passengers.With the news today that Vivarail has filed a notice of intention to enter administration I suspect this project may be in trouble.
Crikey. They have at least a few patents holed up in their ’fast-charge’ battery technology, but I suspect that [if this news is true] it may be the lesser of their woes.With the news today that Vivarail has filed a notice of intention to enter administration I suspect this project may be in trouble.
Sad but not surprising given the difficulties they've had on many projects. Shooter had a vision which unfortunately was probably rooted in the BR way of make do and mend which it was brilliant at due to managers like Adrian implementing it but too many people today expect something a lot more but reality is the railway can no longer afford that approach if it wants to provide something better for its passengers.
Sad but not surprising given the difficulties they've had on many projects. Shooter had a vision which unfortunately was probably rooted in the BR way of make do and mend which it was brilliant at due to managers like Adrian implementing it but too many people today expect something a lot more but reality is the railway can no longer afford that approach if it wants to provide something better for its passengers.
While I'm very much speculating here, I can foresee the battery expertise being retained by a smaller organisation.I wonder where this will leave this project and the TfW units? Would someone else want to take on this research aspect (rather than the lines of Tube train scrap)?
More importantly I believe Vivarail own those units and lease them to the TOC.That's quite sad to hear. I wonder how this will affect the longevity of the 230s on the Marston Vale, given that there'll presumably no longer be manufacturer support?
Island Line will have the same concern. No engines on IoW, but the new TSA traction packages require ongoing software & hardware support.More importantly I believe Vivarail own those units and lease them to the TOC. Screenshot of a staff notice that’s in public domain explaining that vivarail have filed intention to administration and the toc are awaiting more information on what affect this Will have.
Battery and hybrid train manufacturer, Vivarail, has announced its intention to appoint administrators.
Correct - big worry must be on going engineering support. I suspect Shanks Pony Rail will be back again very soon.The big issue for the Marston Vale units was that they just plain didn't work. They do now, but that very long period with fires and breakdowns must have done serious reputational damage to the idea. Which is a shame as for the line they're a lovely little quirk when they're working, which they mostly are now.
They did with the chugs often enough* I'm sure, for instance, Tyseley can manage to hit it with their big hammer and gaffer-tape back on any bits that fall off, as I believe was their reputation in some quarters.
shame. Hoping we might replace them with, say, a couple of 37's and a carriage or 2So the 230s might well soldier on just fine.
shame. Hoping we might replace them with, say, a couple of 37's and a carriage or 2
Tbh there's probably a few garages in Bletchley that'll have a look at them if you can get it to them early* I'm sure, for instance, Tyseley can manage to hit it with their big hammer and gaffer-tape back on any bits that fall off, as I believe was their reputation in some quarters.
Presumably the Intellectual property of VivaRail can be bought up as part of the administration deal, so hopefully the R&D already completed doesn't go to waste. Even if it means the DfT setting up a shell company for a bit until they can find a private sector buyer. The fast charge system was going to be very interesting to monitor on the Greenford branch.
Significant part of this was the constant barrage of "other people's cast offs", or "why should we have London's scrapheap" and other negative comments, including on here. This commonly for trains on services where the vast majority of the cost is borne from public funds. And the ambience is perfectly pleasant, such comments often being made by those who have never even ridden in them (or politicians who don't use the train at all). Good idea, killed by negativity.
TSA is a different sort of firm entirely isn’t it? Austrian with worldwide use of their products?Island Line will have the same concern. No engines on IoW, but the new TSA traction packages require ongoing software & hardware support.
Yes, and they do OEM support, so there will still be people who support the new traction equipment.TSA is a different sort of firm entirely isn’t it? Austrian with worldwide use of their products?
Yes, but Vivarail purchased their kit and designed/installed it onto the D-Train. So I’m not sure what support TSA will be able to provide.TSA is a different sort of firm entirely isn’t it? Austrian with worldwide use of their products?
Which is why they tried to move away from it.Indeed the whole original concept of sticking van diesel engines underneath a District Line train from the 70s was a bit flawed.
Indeed, and they were posting on Linkedin until very recently!They only appointed a new Business Development Director 2 weeks ago...
Vivarail appoints new Business Development Director to drive battery technology - RailAdvent
As a daily user of these trains am I allowed to comment or do you only want positivity and comforting lies?Significant part of this was the constant barrage of "other people's cast offs", or "why should we have London's scrapheap" and other negative comments, including on here. This commonly for trains on services where the vast majority of the cost is borne from public funds. And the ambience is perfectly pleasant, such comments often being made by those who have never even ridden in them (or politicians who don't use the train at all). Good idea, killed by negativity.
But that is exactly what happened on the Marston Vale. the BR units were cascade elsewhere and the 230's were the only only replacement available.The carefully planned cascades of BR days which spread some improvement across the network at the lowest cost and got the best out of trains over their lifetime is probably regarded as ridiculously old fashioned nowadays.
You know what the issues are, do you? Because TfW have been utterly inept.but then the issues getting the TfW units in service iced the cake.
Hunslet TPL failed pretty much at the moment their class 323s started work on BR.That's quite sad to hear. I wonder how this will affect the longevity of the 230s on the Marston Vale, given that there'll presumably no longer be manufacturer support?
Yes I hope so too. They had some interesting projects in the pipeline.With any luck as there is an (admittedly small) order-book and some IP, someone like Stadler may look to purchase the remains of the business.
The traction package supply part of Holec was bought by Alstom. That explains in large part why the 323 re-tractioning used Alstom IGBT kit.Holec, who supplied the traction package, are in there somewhere, now part of Eaton.