New trains from old?

[whole diary]

[SandTEngineer]

I look forward to a trial trip on the Gunnislake branch in the new year.  Hope its better than the Pacer demonstrator that ran on there back in the 1980s

[PhilWakely]

I look forward to a trial trip on the Gunnislake branch in the new year.  Hope its better than the Pacer demonstrator that ran on there back in the 1980s

You mean the one that couldn't cope with the tight curves IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)   

[SandTEngineer]

I look forward to a trial trip on the Gunnislake branch in the new year.  Hope its better than the Pacer demonstrator that ran on there back in the 1980s

You mean the one that coudn't cope with the tight curves IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)   

You remember it as well then.........


Image (c)2015 SandTEngineer

[Chris125]

They've updated the exterior and interior visuals on their website with what appears to be the finalised design:

Interior

Exterior 1

Exterior 2

[Red Squirrel]

What a shame that 230 003 isn't going to 'Wise'...

[Chris125]

For anyone that missed the articles in October's 'Modern Railways' about these, they are now available as pdf files on RRDC's website.


Roger Ford: Class 230 Confounds Critics

Ian Walmsley: Shooter Misses Foot

[ChrisB]

Big files - warniong - 11.55mb the first, 3.66mb the second. Broadband only!

[Chris125]

You may find the following 9 minute video interesting - it's the 230 doing a circuit of their test track, accelerating up to the maximum linespeed (around 30mph IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)) around 6mins in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmRi6cDNY8

It certainly doesn't seem appreciably different or noisier than conventional D Stock at those speeds, with the traction motors the predominant sound.

[Surrey 455]

You may find the following 9 minute video interesting - it's the 230 doing a circuit of their test track, accelerating up to the maximum linespeed (around 30mph IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly)) around 6mins in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmRi6cDNY8

It certainly doesn't seem appreciably different or noisier than conventional D Stock at those speeds, with the traction motors the predominant sound.

As a grumpy middle aged git, it amazes me that the likes of Apple and Google allow people to take videos in portrait mode. If I had my way, I'd issue a software update forcing phone users to turn their phones 90 degrees so that only landscape videos could be made. The phone gyroscope would prevent any attempt to film in portrait mode.

Portrait photos would still be acceptable though.

[grahame]

As a grumpy middle aged git, it amazes me that the likes of Apple and Google allow people to take videos in portrait mode.

Don't look at this video then.   For the rest of you, it's heart-warming ... enjoy!

[Surrey 455]

Don't look at this video then.   For the rest of you, it's heart-warming ... enjoy!

Ahhh, Its a video of a man showing everyone else how to hold your phone to take a video 

[ray951]

These are going to be operating on the Coventry to Nuneaton line for 12 months later this year, so no visits to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) territory.
Further details here http://www.vivarail.co.uk/class-230-to-enter-passenger-service-this-year/

[RichardB]

These are going to be operating on the Coventry to Nuneaton line for 12 months later this year, so no visits to GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) territory.
Further details here http://www.vivarail.co.uk/class-230-to-enter-passenger-service-this-year/

This strikes me as a very good move - not too far from Long Marston so Vivarail can be close at hand.  I'll go up for a trip when they start.

[IndustryInsider]

This strikes me as a very good move - not too far from Long Marston so Vivarail can be close at hand.  I'll go up for a trip when they start.

Agree completely.  One of several excellent candidates for these trains as it has a 45mph top speed, is of reasonably short length and has three intermediate station stops.  The capacity of the three car train over the current (usually) one car Class 153 will also prove useful in allowing for growth on the route from the two new stations.

[grahame]

From Transport Xtra

D-Train hire will cost just £500 a day, says West Midlands

02 September 2016
 
West midlands Combined Authority has revealed details of the financial deal that will see a former London Underground train trialled on the Coventry-Nuneaton line, the first passenger-carrying trial of the vehicles.

The Class 230 ‘D-Train’ has been developed by Vivarail using refurbished London Underground District Line surface stock built in the 1980s.

Works out at around £180k per annum per train.