21.03.17
Business as usual: Vivarail begins testing of new battery train
If you were one of the many left saddened and disappointed when Vivarail’s test train caught fire over the festive period due to a fuel leak on one of the gensets, the company has some good news: its new test car, operated as a battery train, has completed its first successful run – sending a clear message to all non-believers that the D-Train is here to stay.
As Vivarail CEO Adrian Shooter wrote in the last issue of RTM, the test train’s fire incident was the result of a perfect storm that in no way should be seen as a threat to the project’s future. He explained that a number of simple changes could be made to “mitigate against anything like this happening again in the future”.
Soon after the incident, the company began building a new test car at its Long Marston base, the first version of which would operate as a battery train. Once this concept is proved, Vivarail said it can “easily change the modules to test it in any variation”.
Not long after that issue of RTM hit desks, Shooter’s team revealed that the battery-powered demonstrator has started to undergo testing at the Quinton Rail Technology Centre. Vivarail is now gathering the data needed to analyse the train’s range and performance.
“Development of the train, powered by two battery modules, has taken place in conjunction with our trusted colleagues at Strukton and Valence, and we are all delighted with the results so far,” the company said.
“Work only began at the beginning of the year but these first successful runs show, once again, our initiative and the team’s continuing drive to innovate.”
The future of the D-Train had been thrown into doubt after local partners in the NUCKLE project pulled out of a scheme that would’ve seen the upcycled vehicle alleviate pressures on London Midland services.
But its successful return has signalled that the D-Train project is not ready to be derailed just yet. As Shooter wrote for us, there is no magic bullet that will solve every need across the network, but the Class 230 does give operators new options for their fleet – and Vivarail is confident in saying that it is still business as usual.
(Top image c. Peter Tandy)