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Creation of class 230 DEMUs from ex-LU D78s by Vivarail

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SpacePhoenix

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edwin_m said:
There are some pretty tight curves around Calstock too.

Assuming the 2-car version of the D78 is chosen, I think this has 50% axles motored with electric transmission so probably more sure-footed than a 153.
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If they do go for a 2 car version, could they take over on any route that currently uses class 153s?

Would a 2 car version be usable on that GW branchline London way (can't remember the name of the branch)
 
superalbs

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SpacePhoenix said:
If they do go for a 2 car version, could they take over on any route that currently uses class 153s?

Would a 2 car version be usable on that GW branchline London way (can't remember the name of the branch)
Click to expand...

Reading to Basingstoke?
 
61653 HTAFC

61653 HTAFC

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SpacePhoenix said:
If they do go for a 2 car version, could they take over on any route that currently uses class 153s?

Would a 2 car version be usable on that GW branchline London way (can't remember the name of the branch)
Click to expand...

superalbs said:
Reading to Basingstoke?
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I think SpacePhoenix meant the Maidenhead-Bourne End-Marlow branch...

EDIT: beaten to it by the member in question!
 
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superalbs

superalbs

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Oh. Well maybe Reading-Basingstoke would be a good use of them. Doubt the speeds on the route are that high, or are they?
 
61653 HTAFC

61653 HTAFC

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superalbs said:
Oh. Well maybe Reading-Basingstoke would be a good use of them. Doubt the speeds on the route are that high, or are they?
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Don't know about speeds, but there's a lot of heavy freight and hourly XC services... Not sure you'd want D78s mixing with all that!
 
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furnessvale

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61653 HTAFC said:
Don't know about speeds, but there's a lot of heavy freight and hourly XC services... Not sure you'd want D78s mixing with all that!
Click to expand...

Given rail safety systems, a darned sight safer than minis mixing it with 44 tonners on the M1, I would have thought.
 
kieron

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61653 HTAFC said:
Don't know about speeds, but there's a lot of heavy freight and hourly XC services... Not sure you'd want D78s mixing with all that!
Click to expand...
I don't think there will be much of a market for them if they can't run on their own on the same lines as freight trains.

Putting the first ones somewhere where there won't be many knock-on delays for if they fail in service seems sensible, though.
 
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colchesterken

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As a short term fix could they help out on GOBLIN ?
After all in their past life the 78s loved crowds, they could take over the whole thing until the sparks come, freeing up the 100 mph cl 172s for more suitable work after all the speed limit is 45 mph on GOBLIN
 
61653 HTAFC

61653 HTAFC

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kieron said:
I don't think there will be much of a market for them if they can't run on their own on the same lines as freight trains.

Putting the first ones somewhere where there won't be many knock-on delays for if they fail in service seems sensible, though.
Click to expand...

The optimum routes would be where (a) as you say, there's not much that'll be delayed, at least while they're "bedding in", (b) linespeed is fairly low, and (c) there's less (not necessarily non-existent) conflict with heavy freight- they'll have to meet certain standards for crashworthiness and the risks of collision anywhere is fairly low, but it's all about minimising those risks anyway.
 
D365

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http://www.vivarail.co.uk/prototype-test-ride-17th-august/


17-8-4.jpg


Looks like this thing all over again!:

gallery_6731_93_106437.jpg
 
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ainsworth74

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I'm not usually one to moan about how a train looks. But that is totally hideous!
 
Peter Mugridge

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ainsworth74 said:
I'm not usually one to moan about how a train looks. But that is totally hideous!
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It's not the worst I can think of, but I'd better not state what I have in mind otherwise this thread will turn into a repeat of recent threads on good and bad looks...!!

( I'd agree it's not exactly the best either! )
 
fgwrich

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I... Don't actually mind it. For a start I feel it looks better than most of the uninspired Bombardier products - and looking at those photos, it's not in the refurbishment phase just yet, I suspect just those photos are from a test run to show off it's new technologies, with the exterior changed to show some of the proposed plans for these units.

The only thing Id change though - Make those lights look a bit better, emphasise them like the Merseyrail 507/508s do.
 
61653 HTAFC

61653 HTAFC

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ainsworth74 said:
I'm not usually one to moan about how a train looks. But that is totally hideous!
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D-stock was never the prettiest, but they've somehow managed to make it look even worse, and the lines of that livery really show it up to be "mutton dressed as mutton"...

But being class 230, I'd like to propose the nickname "Dentists" for these units... ;)
 
HSTEd

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Why is it so plasticy.

Couldn't they have got a matte finished aluminium front panel?
 
Chris125

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HSTEd said:
Why is it so plasticy.

Couldn't they have got a matte finished aluminium front panel?
Click to expand...

It's a prototype, presumably for testing purposes - as a result it appears to have a vinyl wrap rather than a paint finish, no major changes to the interior or doors, no headlights/obstacle deflector and it's missing the strengthening below the windows that the crash unit had.
 
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Bletchleyite

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swt_passenger said:
A basic rectangle for the yellow warning panel would have looked a lot less weird...
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Yes, it's (a) the shape of the yellow panel, and (b) the horribly clashing green that knackers it, I think. The Southern liveried one upthread looks nicer because the lines of the unit are followed better.
 
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Camden

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If you look at the bottom of the post it says "The UK's greenest train...". I'm assuming this isn't just about the colour but a selling point of its "green" credentials, and so I wouldn't be too upset about the decals as it's obviously just to tie in with that. I don't think it looks too shabby, but the red is nicer.

Is it just me, or do the trains look higher off the ground now?
 
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