Class 230 units training/introduction on the Borderlands line: updates

[Pacef8]

No sign of a more frequent service yet then?

 

[Ribbleman]

No sign of a more frequent service yet then?

I think that was originally planned for December this year. Having all 5 units dedicated to the one route will make that possible, 4 in use and the other one spare, assuming staff are available.

 

[Caaardiff]

On a positive note the training runs and test runs seem to have gone well. No reports of any failures or issues so far.

 

[PHILIPE]

A movement from Long Marston today which I assume would be 230010 and the last one

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K28203/2021-02-26/detailed

 

[6Gtraincrew]

A movement from Long Marston today which I assume would be 230010 and the last one

www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/K28203/2021-02-26/detailed

Or maybe 009 coming back after being fixed

 

[DavidGrain]

A bit of a concern that it left Long Marston 39 minutes early and was 47 minutes late at Norton Junct. Am waiting to see a report at Worcester

 

[PHILIPE]

A bit of a concern that it left Long Marston 39 minutes early and was 47 minutes late at Norton Junct. Am waiting to see a report at Worcester

Just left Hereford having negotiated Worcester

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Or maybe 009 coming back after being fixed

What was the problem with 009 that required the mentioned attention?

 

[6Gtraincrew]

What was the problem with 009 that required the mentioned attention?

No idea what the fault was, but it went back on the 19th

 

[DavidGrain]

Did anyone have visual of it and can say whether it was 009 or 010?

 

[PHILIPE]

Did anyone have visual of it and can say whether it was 009 or 010?

I've just seen a shot of it at Wrexham on Twitter and it was 009 returning

 

[Bob Price]

Seema to be 009 https://twitter.com/gawuffy/status/1365570394728656897?s=19

 

[PHILIPE]

Seema to be 009 https://twitter.com/gawuffy/status/1365570394728656897?s=19

When these move the news and pictures is usually splashed all over the place but this one came in it's stocking feet. Perhaps COVID keeping people away

 

[The_Train]

Did 009 only go as far as Wrexham or all the way to Birkenhead?

 

[PHILIPE]

Did 009 only go as far as Wrexham or all the way to Birkenhead?

There was no movement shewn in RTT and nothing planned yet

 

[The_Train]

There was no movement shewn in RTT and nothing planned yet

Thanks very much

 

[Roger B]

The 2021 P5 book shows 230006 - 230009 as having been accepted by TfW. Does anyone know the acceptance date for each of them, please? (Apols if this info has already appeared on tis thread). Many thanks

 

[Bob Price]

Had my wrists slapped for linking an article. So here is a summary:
Alex Fortune, TfW’s rail project sponsor for the north of Wales hosted a meeting of backbench councillors in Flintshire.
Key points:

• Signalling is outdated with long block sections, needs sorting. Short sections = more trains.
• Ultimate aim is to have four trains an hour directly into Liverpool.
• December 2021 target to increase to two trains per hour
• Journey time target is to reduce it to an hour.

Major upgrades on cards for train services on ‘Cinderella Route’ from Wrexham to Bidston

MAJOR upgrades have been outlined for train services on a line dubbed the “Cinderella Route” which links north east Wales to the Wirral.

www.leaderlive.co.uk

 

[PHILIPE]

Ok this is interesting. Ultimate plan is Wrexham to Liverpool four trains an hour.

Major upgrades on cards for train services on ‘Cinderella Route’ from Wrexham to Bidston

MAJOR upgrades have been outlined for train services on a line dubbed the “Cinderella Route” which links north east Wales to the Wirral.

www.leaderlive.co.uk

4 x 230s and 1 Maintenance Spare.

 

[Bob Price]

Yep, but specifically mentioned Liverpool not Bidston

 

[PHILIPE]

Yep, but specifically mentioned Liverpool not Bidston

Didn't read the extract as I thought I've seen this before so failed to read the Liverpool bit. I think it be no more than an ambition at the moment because the locals have been campaigning for ages. 230s would not be suitable.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Ok this is interesting. Ultimate plan is Wrexham to Liverpool four trains an hour.

Major upgrades on cards for train services on ‘Cinderella Route’ from Wrexham to Bidston

MAJOR upgrades have been outlined for train services on a line dubbed the “Cinderella Route” which links north east Wales to the Wirral.

www.leaderlive.co.uk

Hinting that the current 50mph line speed is too slow. Not got a lot of wriggle room with their "brand new trains" have they.

 

[DavidGrain]

Has anyone seen anything about the range of the Class 230s running on batteries. They will have to run on batteries through the Mersey tunnels.

 

[6Gtraincrew]

Has anyone seen anything about the range of the Class 230s running on batteries. They will have to run on batteries through the Mersey tunnels.

One of them did the full length of the line using just batteries on a test run a few weeks ago.

 

[Brissle Girl]

Hinting that the current 50mph line speed is too slow. Not got a lot of wriggle room with their "brand new trains" have they.

With an average of only 2.5 miles between stops, would anything above 60mph really make much difference? (Accepted some will have fewer stops.)

50 to 60 reduces the journey time by 12 secs per mile. 60 to 70 is only another 8.5 secs. And you get the benefit for a shorter distance too, as you have the time taken to get from 60 up to 70.

So as is always the case, the first part of an increase in speed gives much more benefit than further increases beyond that.

 

[D365]

Has anyone seen anything about the range of the Class 230s running on batteries. They will have to run on batteries through the Mersey tunnels.

If the Wrexham to Liverpool via Bidston plan is serious, I'm sure a method of third rail operation could be worked out for the D-Trains

 

[krus_aragon]

If the Wrexham to Liverpool via Bidston plan is serious, I'm sure a method of third rail operation could be worked out for the D-Trains

The received wisdom at franchise award was that the 230s were a cheap stop-gap to show there was a case for faster/more frequent services, before buying proper (new) units that would be suitable for the Liverpool loop. (e.g. a bi-mode add-on order to Merseyrail's new fleet.)

I suppose a third-rail trial on the 230s might be something Vivarail would be interested in pursuing with TfW, but they're old enough that they'll need replacing in the medium-term anyway.

 

[D365]

The received wisdom at franchise award was that the 230s were a cheap stop-gap to show there was a case for faster/more frequent services, before buying proper (new) units that would be suitable for the Liverpool loop. (e.g. a bi-mode add-on order to Merseyrail's new fleet.)

I suppose a third-rail trial on the 230s might be something Vivarail would be interested in pursuing with TfW, but they're old enough that they'll need replacing in the medium-term anyway.

Absolutely agree, I'm just pointing out that it won't be a showstopper. Viva has experience with third rail; has been developing a third rail-based fast charging solution, and of course the 484s.

 

[Ribbleman]

Has anyone seen anything about the range of the Class 230s running on batteries. They will have to run on batteries through the Mersey tunnels.

They would not be permitted to run through the Liverpool Loop line as they carry diesel fuel, regarded as an unacceptable fire risk. Any future running through to Liverpool will require new stock, most likely battery equipped Class 777.

 

[L401CJF]

They would not be permitted to run through the Liverpool Loop line as they carry diesel fuel, regarded as an unacceptable fire risk. Any future running through to Liverpool will require new stock, most likely battery equipped Class 777.

I assume the Network Rail 73s that do the measurement run every 4weeks from Derby are allowed to use the loop line as its done in the late night / early hours outside of service hours?

EDIT : Diesel fuel aside they still wouldn't be allowed to use the loop line as the 230s have no cab end emergency doors, so an evacuation couldn't be carried out in the narrow loop tunnels.