Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Is the thread slipping away from what is described as its title?
-
Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Creation of class 230 DEMUs from ex-LU D78s by Vivarail
- Thread starter pemma
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Unconfirmed reports 230003 was in service over the weekend. Will try and find out
DarloRich
Veteran Member
It seems that there may now be 2 x230 in service on the vale. Has the 153 gone
6Gtraincrew
Member
- Joined
- 22 Feb 2018
- Messages
- 439
Just checked and yes, 004 and 005 are both out
causton
Established Member
Not intentionally! The 153 failed yesterday while en route to Bletchley, so they just cancelled the move and apparently VivaRail said they could get 2 230s working. It remains to be seen for how long though!!
Agreed.
If anyone wants to speculate on routes that could use these trains, please use this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/which-lines-do-you-think-could-use-vivarail-class-230s.182661/
For anything else, please create a new thread if there isn't one already.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
no spare 153 on Bletchley this morning so hopefully for a while! Any word on 230003?
are we ok talking about Bedford > Bletchley usage on this thread?
Spartacus
Established Member
- Joined
- 25 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 2,917
Just 004 out on Saturday.
causton
Established Member
003 was out to drag a poorly 005 to the TMD as far as I'm aware that's about it!
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Last edited:
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Best get the buses warmed up...
Silverlinky
Member
- Joined
- 3 Feb 2012
- Messages
- 683
This information is indeed correct.
I had a day out on the Marston Vale line on Saturday. I parked near Bedford Midland and got the 14.55 to Bletchley. I had a window seat at a table, with Wifi and a power socket. I was a bit underwhelmed by the acceleration, and then realised its because its less than a mile to St Johns, followed by squealing wheels around the tight curve. At this point it felt like a trundle along a preserved line. Thats the line, rather than the train though. Out in the country, it sped up a bit. Its a nice little train, with a variety of seating and a pleasant environment.
I got a ticket to Milton Keynes and planned to come back after a couple of hours. I then realised the Cineworld was showing the Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace film, so I stayed for that. The film was great, but it finished at 8.20, giving me time for a brisk walk back to Milton Keynes to get the 8.50 and five minutes to connect to the last 9.01 train from Bletchley, with a 153.
I got a ticket to Milton Keynes and planned to come back after a couple of hours. I then realised the Cineworld was showing the Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace film, so I stayed for that. The film was great, but it finished at 8.20, giving me time for a brisk walk back to Milton Keynes to get the 8.50 and five minutes to connect to the last 9.01 train from Bletchley, with a 153.
Looks like a new engine is in the pipeline going by the latest tweet from VivaRail:
https://t.co/dDa0b7oCBs (links to mailchimp)
https://t.co/dDa0b7oCBs (links to mailchimp)
I wonder if this will be offered alongside the current Transit-based option, or if it will be a replacement.
Aictos
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 Apr 2009
- Messages
- 10,403
The Class 230s have wifi? 
I had the misfortune to view the cheap crate 230003 on Friday in platform 1a on Friday afternoon which is the first one I have seen and I really wish I hadn't. Easy to believe it was in service viewing it in the correct platform at Bedford for Bletchley bound passengers.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Any train rebuilt from D78 stock is cheap in my view and I don't need to go inside one to have the opinion that it is second hand.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
so the answer to my question is no. Frankly you have no idea. it is so frustrating to come up against such entrenched views based on personal bias and no substance. Why not go for a ride on the train and see what it is like. Try and keep an open mind.
Personally as a daily user these new trains are a vast improvement on the 150 and 153. They are clean, bright, comfortable, quick, well appointed and well put together.
All of these things would be visible if you actually tried one...................
Last edited:
What has my opinion got to do with you?
swt_passenger
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 31,382
Especially as quite a reasonable number of people (presumably with no preconceptions) have been on them and have taken the trouble to post fairly positive reports here...
DarloRich
Veteran Member
nowt - However I would rather it was based on fact and experience than preconception based on wibble. Each to their own.
Last edited:
Not been the greatest of starts for the 230's on the vale by the looks of it. But as others have said a lot is just familiarity for the crew and fitters. It's also the first time the concept has been in regular use.
They do look cheap from the outside , but if the regulars are saying they like and prefer them to the 150/153's then that's surely a step in the right direction
They do look cheap from the outside , but if the regulars are saying they like and prefer them to the 150/153's then that's surely a step in the right direction
Brissle Girl
Established Member
- Joined
- 17 Jul 2018
- Messages
- 2,616
Well if you post an opinion on here and don't expect it to be discussed or challenged then I'm not sure you really "get" the purpose of the forum. And I would agree that now many people have had the opportunity to experience the train first hand, I don't think your contribution/opinion adds much insight to the discussion. Oh, that's my opinion by the way...
Robertj21a
On Moderation
- Joined
- 22 Sep 2013
- Messages
- 7,518
Ridiculous comment.
DarloRich
Veteran Member
reliability has been acceptable and at least as good as the 150/153. We are well used to cancellations on the Vale.
I also disagree the trains look "cheap". What does an "expensive" train look like?
As daily users we think so!
yoyothehobo
Member
- Joined
- 21 Aug 2015
- Messages
- 553
You could really upset posters on this board by suggesting that you run 2 230s together with a 442 in the middle to create a nice new long train.
In all seriousness, it is people who are more knowledgeable about the railways who are concerned that is used to be a tube train.
The general public will only care about, comfort, reliability, sticking to the existing timetable (timewise) and maybe even allowing for extra services then they will not care whether it spent a lot of its life in a tunnel.
I look forward to trying one one day, may be good or rubbish but I will wait and see. Same way I am looking forward to my first trip on an Azuma next month.
In all seriousness, it is people who are more knowledgeable about the railways who are concerned that is used to be a tube train.
The general public will only care about, comfort, reliability, sticking to the existing timetable (timewise) and maybe even allowing for extra services then they will not care whether it spent a lot of its life in a tunnel.
I look forward to trying one one day, may be good or rubbish but I will wait and see. Same way I am looking forward to my first trip on an Azuma next month.
Harpers Tate
Established Member
- Joined
- 10 May 2013
- Messages
- 1,698
Had all the same problems back in the '80s when Pacers and 150s appeared in Botanic Gardens; late running, cancellations, railway staff standing around scratching various parts of themselves when coupling units, and so on.......
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
This:
Class 800 in GWR livery
Certainly not as good value, either!
More because of the method of procurement...- Status