GWR Class 230 Information, Movements & Discussion.

[Peter Sarf]

When the D78 stock were taken out of service, what would have been the still-expected life time left of those units that were purchased by Vivarail if they had continued in LU service?

Also worth noting that the D78s had not long before gone through replacement (or was it refurbishment) of parts including the wheelsets/bogies/traction-motors - can't remember exactly what. They were in quite good condition, certainly nowhere near to life expired.

 

[Dstock7080]

Also worth noting that the D78s had not long before gone through replacement (or was it refurbishment) of parts including the wheelsets/bogies/traction-motors - can't remember exactly what. They were in quite good condition, certainly nowhere near to life expired.

Only the bogies were changed 2000-2002. Motors remained original until withdrawal.

 

[Dan G]

In an optimistic scenario in which the battery trial is a success and further conversions happen (did GWR's purchase of VivaRail assets include the other unconverted D-stock vehicles?) they would also be well suited to the Windsor, Marlow, and Henley branches. That would use up the three LNWR units and require one more for Greenford (plus a spare or two). I don't see them being useful for anywhere else, given the Oxford/Banbury locals require higher operating speeds, unless a batch were based in Bristol or Devon for the branches down there.

They would also potentially be used on the Cornwall branches. I think Devon or Bristol is less likely due to the length of the branch lines.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

They would also potentially be used on the Cornwall branches. I think Devon or Bristol is less likely due to the length of the branch lines.

I would not feel that the branch line to Newquay would be suitable. all of course seeing how the trial will turn out first.

 

[Kite159]

They might be suitable for the Severn Beach line, plus the shuttles to Filton Abbey Wood, assuming the trial works out and they are a success story.

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

They might be suitable for the Severn Beach line, plus the shuttles to Filton Abbey Wood, assuming the trial works out and they are a success story.

They’d need to be paired to work the Severn Beach line, even if curtailed to original branch format. Of course, the route is now extended to Weston-[not so]super-Mare.

Let’s face it, though. Any route that suddenly gets knackered and unreliable 70s D Stock conversions instead of whatever brand spanking new wholesale replacement being considered for Operation Churchward is losing out big time.

 

[D365]

Let’s face it, though. Any route that suddenly gets knackered and unreliable 70s D Stock conversions instead of whatever brand spanking new wholesale replacement being considered for Operation Churchward is losing out big time.

They're certainly not knackered (not sure where that idea came from), and in GWR's case, I don't believe they have any intention to fit/retain diesel power packs. For all intents, those were the weak links.

 

[The exile]

Let’s face it, though. Any route that suddenly gets knackered and unreliable 70s D Stock conversions instead of whatever brand spanking new wholesale replacement being considered for Operation Churchward is losing out big time.

The converse of that is that if the brand spanking new standard stock is to be universally suitable, then everywhere is going to have put up with vehicles short enough not to cause problems on branches such as Liskeard, Gunnislake and St Ives.

 

[Snow1964]

VivaRails administrators have provided a progress report confirming that GWR has purchased the Marston Vale Units for the princely sum of £60k deemed to be the scrap value. The leasing company had them in the books for £3.3m. TfW must be crying in their milk having expended £30m on their 230's.

GWR acquired 230001, the intellectual property, plant and stored unconverted vehicles for £1.4m.

As usual the only winner in these cases are the administrators who now expect to receive £0.9m.

Other interesting observation is that Strukton Rail had commenced legal proceedings against VivaRail for £15m reasons aren't explained but Strukton Rail were owed 1.3m when administrators were appointed but looks like the administration will terminate proceedings.

All in all a sad ending for the vision here but maybe GWR will keep the vision alive although i can't see any further D78's being converted this is now about proof of concept for battery and fast charge system. Im also surmising that DfT have approved expenditure so they can get a photo op to say they are working on solutions to decarbonise rail.

It seems that GWR now own 67 ex D stock vehicles plus the 2 pairs from Marston Vale line.

Not just Greenford line (which is the trial), GWR looking to convert a few units (initially 7 x 3car) to cover Marlow, Henley, Windsor branches too. Then move at least 5 class 165 units west.

Info from the Mark Hopwood interview with Modern Railways

GWR seeks opportunities to grow

Managing Director MARK HOPWOOD tells PHILIP SHERRATT there is plenty of potential to increase rail’s economic contribution

www.modernrailways.com

 

[DelW]

It seems that GWR now own 67 ex D stock vehicles plus the 2 pairs from Marston Vale line.

Not just Greenford line (which is the trial), GWR looking to convert a few units (initially 7 x 3car) to cover Marlow, Henley, Windsor branches too. Then move at least 5 class 165 units west.

Info from the Mark Hopwood interview with Modern Railways

GWR seeks opportunities to grow

Managing Director MARK HOPWOOD tells PHILIP SHERRATT there is plenty of potential to increase rail’s economic contribution

www.modernrailways.com

You're slightly late to the party , as the D78s and Marston Vale units acquisitions were confirmed in post #43 having been speculated on in earlier posts. Note also that there are three ex MV units, all now at Reading.

 

[Speed43125]

You're slightly late to the party , as the D78s and Marston Vale units acquisitions were confirmed in post #43 having been speculated on in earlier posts. Note also that there are three ex MV units, all now at Reading.

Surely its them looking to convert the D78s into 7x3 car sets of battery units for various Thames valley branches thats the focus of that post?

That seems to me to be relatively new information.

 

[DelW]

Surely its them looking to convert the D78s into 7x3 car sets of battery units for various Thames valley branches thats the focus of that post?

That seems to me to be relatively new information.

That's true, the Thames Valley branches had been suggested (e.g. post 82), but this may be the first time that that plan has been confirmed, if it has - the MR article has a paywall, so I don't know any more than the summary in post 99.

 

[Snow1964]

That's true, the Thames Valley branches had been suggested (e.g. post 82), but this may be the first time that that plan has been confirmed, if it has - the MR article has a paywall, so I don't know any more than the summary in post 99.

Didn't come up for me behind a paywall, just a free introductory read, and this is relevant section

After that, a second phase could see the technology rolled out on the other Thames Valley branch lines with a fleet of three-car units, and as well as progressing the Greenford trial the transferred Vivarail staff have been carrying out simulation and modelling work to explore the capability of battery units.

With one unit each for the Windsor and Henley branches and two for Marlow, plus the Greenford unit and maintenance and operational spares, Mr Hopwood foresees a fleet of 7x3-car battery ‘230s’ in the Thames Valley, which could release five Turbo DMUs for use in the West of England. This would require investment in fast charge equipment at Slough, Bourne End and Twyford, and while on the Greenford trial the fast charge equipment will be powered from an external supply, Mr Hopwood says

GWR is looking into linking up to the overhead wires for the fast charging equipment on other branches. GWR’s acquisition of 67 redundant ‘D’ stock vehicles attracted headlines in the national media earlier this year – Mr Hopwood says the administrators were keen to offload the stock along with the spares and intellectual property for the fast charge system, although there is not presently a plan to use them all.

 

[DelW]

Didn't come up for me behind a paywall, just a free introductory read, and this is relevant section

Thanks for supplying those extra details, very interesting stuff. I hadn't seen the suggestion about charging using power from the OHLE before.

Maybe I'd already used an introductory access on an earlier MR article, as if I follow the link I just get the first two paragraphs then:

Want to read more?​

This is a premium article and requires an active subscription.

 

[JN114]

So it’s an MD wishlist item, nothing confirmed.

 

[jimm]

So it’s an MD wishlist item, nothing confirmed.

GWR needed DfT permission to acquire the various 230s and other assets from Vivarail's administrator in the first place, so if the Greenford trial is a success - and the current Government wants a quick gain on cutting diesel operation to shout about before the general election - then authorisation of work on trains and related infrastructure for the Thames Valley branches could happen quite quickly.

It's going to be a case of wait and see, given that the trial is not slated to start until December anyway, according to the Modern Railways report.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Any chance of a guilty verdict being reached on conclusion of the Greenford trial...

 

[DelW]

Any chance of a guilty verdict being reached on conclusion of the Greenford trial...

Surely "guilty as charged"

 

[Watto1990]

I spotted some vans belonging to Fuse Rail (https://fuserail.com/) who describe themselves as Electrical and Conductor Rail specialists parked next to the bay platform at West Ealing this morning - has work started on installing the charging equipment?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I spotted some vans belonging to Fuse Rail (https://fuserail.com/) who describe themselves as Electrical and Conductor Rail specialists parked next to the bay platform at West Ealing this morning - has work started on installing the charging equipment?

They do definitely seem like the people for it and I can't think of what else they might be doing there, I don't think any signalling or lights are needed.

 

[Shrewbly]

Did a 230 really make it up the Lickey incline today - 5Q68 Long Marston to Barnt Green??

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Did a 230 really make it up the Lickey incline today - 5Q68 Long Marston to Barnt Green??

Well it appears so, also I feel like the big hill is a good test for anything.

 

[TurboMan]

I spotted some vans belonging to Fuse Rail (https://fuserail.com/) who describe themselves as Electrical and Conductor Rail specialists parked next to the bay platform at West Ealing this morning - has work started on installing the charging equipment?

Yes, they're starting to install insulators, cabling etc. before installing the charging rails over the next few weeks as and when possessions allow. It'll all be electrically dead until the battery banks are on site and connected which is still a little way off yet.

 

[Jacob Porrett]

Well it appears so, also I feel like the big hill is a good test for anything.

Did a 230 really make it up the Lickey incline today - 5Q68 Long Marston to Barnt Green??

It was actually 799201 according to Railcam. Hydrogen Demonstration unit.

 

[Invincible]

It was actually 799201 according to Railcam. Hydrogen Demonstration unit.

There is a speculative thread on Hydrogen trains. Guess Barnt Green is closer to the Uni so they can have access to 799201?

Good to hear of a bit of progress on the fast charging 230 project in Ealing.

 

[800301]

Prep work for the charging rails has now been installed at West Ealing bay

 

[A7rud]

Can some kind soul ID the 3 x class 230s at Reading?

 

[Siemens Staines]

They are the three former Marston Vale units; 230003-005

 

[TurboMan]

230004 was running round Reading depot yesterday under its own steam.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

230004 was running round Reading depot yesterday under its own steam.

Is that yet another traction mode that the Class 230 units now have branched into?