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Post by Chris L on May 23, 2020 18:28:51 GMT
Government cash has been allocated to examine the re-opening of branch lines on the IOW.
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on May 23, 2020 18:33:10 GMT
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Post by philthetube on May 23, 2020 21:12:25 GMT
I'm pretty certain that the delay in appearing was more down to a change in the seat specification (and getting subsequent tests done) more than the toilet provider going down the pan! Pun Intended? |
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Post by pgb on May 24, 2020 7:30:42 GMT
I'm pretty certain that the delay in appearing was more down to a change in the seat specification (and getting subsequent tests done) more than the toilet provider going down the pan! Pun Intended? Yup! alpinejohn missed a perfect opportunity when he mentioned it, so I thought I would  |
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Post by alpinejohn on May 24, 2020 7:57:44 GMT
The news section on the Vivarail website now has an inside view of a TFW unit. vivarail.co.uk/first-trip-on-230006/One interesting point appears in the commentary which mentions the uits will be geo-fenced meaning those diesel generators will not be running in stations/ defined built up areas. As for the reverse beeching ideas it is worth noting the Isle of Wight reference is to reinstatement of branch "lines" plural. So not just Ventnor. As for reinstating the Abbey-Watford Junction route - the roads around Watford and St Albans suggest there is very little surpressed travel demand. So the only way this would make sense would be to upgrade the whole abbey line to twin track so it could provide a diversion route alternative to the mainline during engineering works. As for what is missing - yes Network Rail are throwing even more cash at Dawlish - but eventually the sea will win - so I was surprised not to see reopening the inland route on the list of possibles. Sadly I somehow doubt any of those re-opening ideas will come to pass in my lifetime. |
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Post by pgb on May 24, 2020 9:17:07 GMT
One interesting point appears in the commentary which mentions the uits will be geo-fenced meaning those diesel generators will not be running in stations/ defined built up areas. Probably a good thing that Hawarden Bank isn't a built up or sensitive area! Mind you, leaving Shotton will be quite interesting heading towards Wrexham. Also a bit of a shame that they're no longer going to be used on the Blaenau Branch, I was sort of looking forward to being able to go to work on them occasionally! |
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Post by Dstock7080 on Jun 1, 2020 15:09:10 GMT
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Post by spsmiler on Jun 1, 2020 18:46:30 GMT
Hmm, a shame but not a surprise.
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Post by pgb on Jun 2, 2020 7:08:15 GMT
[/i][/quote][/quote] On the positive side, they haven't said which year!  |
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Jun 3, 2020 18:52:12 GMT
The Welsh units are starting to be seen "in the wild":
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Post by pgb on Jun 4, 2020 6:58:55 GMT
The Welsh units are starting to be seen "in the wild": Didn't realise Evesham was "in the wild" |
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Post by alpinejohn on Jul 21, 2020 17:56:37 GMT
YouTube now has video of the first of the Transport for Wales unit arriving in Wrexham and Peter Tandy has a photo of the first coach in Isle of Wight livery outside the VivaRail paint shop so it looks like the production line is speeding up.
It seems the IOW unit still have the relatively narrow inter-coach door opening as they had when D Stock, whilst the Transport for Wales units have wider openings / connections which look similar to those on S Stock trains.
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Post by pgb on Jul 22, 2020 6:15:53 GMT
Hopefully this should appear with a link!
I've seen comments on there that the 230 will be at Wrexham for a few days as Birkenhead can't accept it on a weekday.
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Post by alpinejohn on Jul 22, 2020 13:03:44 GMT
Is this what you want pgb? The following video shows the first TFW Class 230 completing the 100 mile move from Long Marston to Wrexham in Wales - which I guess may be the longest ever trip a D Stock unit has ever managed completely under its own power.. For now it is occupying a rarely used platform at Wrexham Central. It is quite sad that the first thing they decide to do is run it onto a platform where the freshly painted sides will be scraped by masses overhanging vegetation. As for the Island Line coach, here is a link to the photo on Peter Tandy's website. www.petertandy.co.uk/165027_484_LM_180720I am not sure they have got the window masking quite right? |
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Post by pgb on Jul 22, 2020 15:18:33 GMT
For now it is occupying a rarely used platform at Wrexham Central. It is quite sad that the first thing they decide to do is run it onto a platform where the freshly painted sides will be scraped by masses overhanging vegetation. Doubt there will have been much choice on the matter. Path bid for, bid accepted. Providing it isn't out of gauge then it probably wouldn't have been flagged up. There are paths between Wrexham and Bidston (Birkenhead North) in the day plan for Thursday / Friday. How many will operate is a good question! |
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Post by bassmike on Jul 22, 2020 18:51:04 GMT
Where's the masses of overhanging vegetation?
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Post by Colin D on Jul 22, 2020 20:24:19 GMT
Where's the masses of overhanging vegetation? It’s as the train is crossing over the points at 2:29 of the video. |
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Post by brigham on Jul 23, 2020 7:24:16 GMT
The vegetation does indeed foul the loading gauge.
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Post by pgb on Jul 24, 2020 6:38:11 GMT
Several pictures around from yesterday where 230 006 made at least one successful run along the borderlands line in rather damp conditions. All reported as good including stopping at Shotton in the wet!
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rincew1nd
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Post by rincew1nd on Jul 25, 2020 2:03:32 GMT
A friend of mine took a trip today to Bidston to see it:
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Post by pgb on Jul 25, 2020 13:35:34 GMT
My operating mind is getting the better of me. I wonder what the contingency plan is should it decide to sit down somewhere. Bearing in mind the non-standard couplings for anything that may operate that line. I know the LNWR ones have the ability to have a tow bar attached, so I'm assuming the same thing?
Still a shame they're not operating on the Conwy Valley - was quite looking forward to them!
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Post by alpinejohn on Jul 25, 2020 17:21:14 GMT
For now I am sure TFW(Transport for Wales) will just be happy to see these units settle in rapidly to the Borderlands Line.
Inherently this new Class 230 variant, demonstrates the versatility of the VivaRail raft power unit design.
It is interesting to see how rapidly UK bus operators are switching to fully battery powered buses. Certainly it suggests that battery technology has now matured sufficiently to be a reliable choice and the Class 230 Hybrids could find a niche role as a greener alternative to bridge the many non electrified sections of the UK rail network.
I suspect many Train Operating Companies will be watching to see how the TFW units perform, and it will be interesting to see whether further orders emerge either for hybrid units or for a fully battery powered Class 230 variant.
The Marston Vale line Class 230 units operate on a route already equipped with Over Head Line power supplies at both ends. If their current Ford diesel power packs continue to have problems in hot weather, then perhaps West Midlands Trains may replace the diesel power rafts, and instead they could bolt on some of the battery pack rafts which the TFW units are using, and fit a pantograph and suitable electrical control/charging equipment so they can operate a zero carbon train with all topping up of the batteries carried out during the normal end of route stops.
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Jul 25, 2020 17:33:30 GMT
Are the D stock body shells capable of having pantographs added?
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Post by Chris L on Jul 26, 2020 2:45:13 GMT
Are the D stock body shells capable of having pantographs added? It was mentioned in one of the early press releases but I think the recharging at terminals by track level units has overtaken the need to fit them. |
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Post by spsmiler on Jul 27, 2020 9:05:36 GMT
Are the D stock body shells capable of having pantographs added? It would be great to see one fitted, even if only as a concept trial - especially if the car involved retained its LU livery. |
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Post by Chris L on Jul 27, 2020 9:38:31 GMT
Are the D stock body shells capable of having pantographs added? It would be great to see one fitted, even if only as a concept trial - especially if the car involved retained its LU livery. It would only happen if a potential customer was out there. Vivarail are in business to make money and run a tight ship. The trains are now aimed at local lines and the operator would want their livery. |
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Post by Chris L on Aug 3, 2020 11:14:48 GMT
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Post by 35b on Aug 3, 2020 14:59:51 GMT
Indeed, and especially to see where their ideas for the future are. However, I’m still left with a “Jan tomorrow” feeling about their product, which will only be eased when they operate in public service and get off the bottom of the reliability tables. |
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Post by pgb on Aug 7, 2020 10:25:58 GMT
As a welcome break from staring at the computer screen yesterday, I decided a day out was in order. Funnily enough it happened to coincide with finding a timing run for a 230. It is very much like me - residing in Wales, but you can tell it's from London!
Speaking to one of the people involved with the project, they've been knocking spots of the 150s in terms of point to point timings. It'll be good to see them in service.
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Post by brigham on Aug 7, 2020 17:35:04 GMT
Are the D stock body shells capable of having pantographs added? It would be great to see one fitted, even if only as a concept trial - especially if the car involved retained its LU livery. A whimsical 'what might have been' if the Metropolitan had gone ahead with the Ganz system. |
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