GWR Class 230 Information, Movements & Discussion.

[Woods]

There is no possibility of the TfW 230s with their diesel engines running through from Wrexham to Liverpool using the 3rd rail from Bidston. Passenger carrying vehicles with diesel tanks are not permitted through the tunnel system.

The TfW 230s would need a major upgrade to be able to charge their batteries from the 3rd rail, including probably new batteries. They don't currently have any 3rd rail pickup equipment; ex-D78 bogie-mounted shoebeams and shoegear could in theory be reinstated (like on the 484s), but a load of new equipment would also be needed on the underframe to essentially 'condition' the voltage and current such that the train's modern traction electronics can use it (also as per the 484 units). All that new equipment could take the place of the unreliable diesel gensets and fuel tanks, so that you're left with the traction batteries + third rail 'conditioning' electrical stuff, thus creating a 3rd rail + battery hybrid unit.

 

[Bob Price]

There is no possibility of the TfW 230s with their diesel engines running through from Wrexham to Liverpool using the 3rd rail from Bidston. Passenger carrying vehicles with diesel tanks are not permitted through the tunnel system.

The future for that line is a 777 variant with fast charging at Wrexham for and third rail from Bidston to Liverpool. Buat that is a few years off yet.

 

[sad1e]

Any updates on the 230 , i haven't heard anything about it running tests for a while. Is it still at reading for AC modifications?

Any ideas when it's going to be put into service?

 

[800301]

Any updates on the 230 , i haven't heard anything about it running tests for a while. Is it still at reading for AC modifications?

Any ideas when it's going to be put into service?

It’s at West Ealing today, might be out for some test runs later, HVAC system has had quite a bit of work done to it but I don’t know what it was like before so can’t really comment. Seeing as I’m one of the last few to be trained up I guess it will be going into service but when that is I don’t know, so many dates have been rumoured it would be pointless to give another one, from what I gather everything is ready to go, they just need to take the temporary table they have inside out and then I don’t see what issue there would be running it in service other than making sure the relevant drivers are competent

 

[FGW_DID]

Any updates on the 230 , i haven't heard anything about it running tests for a while. Is it still at reading for AC modifications?

Any ideas when it's going to be put into service?

Left Reading Wednesday morning to head back to West Ealing

 

[Alpine Rider]

RealTime Trains shows 230001 made several return trips from West Ealing to Greenford operated today. Data on individual trips suggest it operated on time.

 

[800301]

RealTime Trains shows 230001 made several return trips from West Ealing to Greenford operated today. Data on individual trips suggest it operated on time.

Will be out tomorrow as well

 

[sad1e]

Any ideas if it will be entering service with the December timetable change ?

 

[800301]

Any ideas if it will be entering service with the December timetable change ?

Unlikely, looking more like the new year

 

[rivervale]

Livestream of the world record attempt was posted by GWR on youtube for those interested:

 

[Snow1964]

GWR website today
Looks like battery train is not working, and no DMU is available either

Due to more trains than usual needing repairs at the same time between West Ealing and Greenford the line is closed.
Impact:
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until 10:00 01/12.
Customer Advice:
Alternative transport advice:
Within the Transport for London tap in, tap out zone consider using the following Transport for London services by travelling to Ealing Broadway on the Elizabeth Line, change for the central line to North Acton and change for central line to Greenford.
-
Transport for London buses between West Ealing and Drayton Green / Castle Bar Park:
>Transport for London bus route E11 West Ealing (Bus stop A, directly outside the train station), Drayton Green (Bus stop DM, approximately 4 minutes by foot from the train station), Castle Bar Park (directly outside the train station)
Transport for London buses between Southall and Greenford
-
Consider using Elizabeth Line services from West Ealing to Southall (2 stops, journey time 5 minutes):
>Transport for London bus route 105 Southall (Bus stop O, directly outside the train station), Greenford (Bus stop MM, directly outside the train station)
Journey time between Southall and Greenford on bus route 105 is approximately 40 minutes
-
See https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/ for more information
-
We're sorry for the delay to your journey.
-
We will update this message with more information when we have it.

Live Train Times and Journey Updates | Great Western Railway

See the Great Western Railway TrainTracker for live departure times and up-to-the-minute train journey updates.

www.gwr.com

 

[norbitonflyer]

GWR website today
Looks like battery train is not working, and no DMU is available either

Live Train Times and Journey Updates | Great Western Railway

See the Great Western Railway TrainTracker for live departure times and up-to-the-minute train journey updates.

www.gwr.com

Serrvice starts at 0900 accoprding to RTT, although the identity of the unit working it isn't shwon. Curiously, no ECS working is shown into West Ealing around that time, so it looks like the unit, whichever it is, was already there, notwithstanding GWR saying no unit was avaialbale earlier.

 

[reddragon]

165125 seemed to have failed at Castle Bar Park, now returning to the sidings at West Ealing.



since exited and heading west

 

[norbitonflyer]

RTT nowe showing everything cancelled until at least 1300

 

[pdeaves]

For clarity (given the stated thread subject), today's problems are nothing to do with the 230, except insofar as it hasn't entered passenger service yet to run the branch.

 

[Peter Sarf]

For clarity (given the stated thread subject), today's problems are nothing to do with the 230, except insofar as it hasn't entered passenger service yet to run the branch.

Except the obvious temptation some will have to speculate that the 230 could be pressed into service.
(not likely in this century with the rules as evolved these days)

 

[800301]

Except the obvious temptation some will have to speculate that the 230 could be pressed into service.
(not likely in this century with the rules as evolved these days)

Not likely as there is at least one driver that doesn’t sign it working today and there are still a few things that need to be done internally for the 230 to be in passenger service.

Ironically the turbo was failed due to a Battery Charger fault

 

[norbitonflyer]

The service is now running - it seems they've found a working Turbo from somewhere

 

[sad1e]

Unlikely, looking more like the new year

Any updates whether to this is confirmed or not ?

 

[sad1e]

Any ideas if it's planned to go into passenger service this new year?

 

[FGW_DID]

Any ideas if it's planned to go into passenger service this new year?

No idea about that but 230001 is due back to West Ealing on Monday. i think there’s a couple of days for GWR driver training / refresh and at least one day for the Rail Adventure drivers.

 

[Woods]

Any ideas if it's planned to go into passenger service this new year?

Can't say much, but all things being well, you may not have very much longer to wait.

 

[THC]

Platform 5 at West Ealing, 4pm today. A film crew got on through the rear cab door just as I arrived. Not long now.

THC

 

[317 forever]

Although I'm free the weekend of March 28th/29th, I so want to ride a GWR class 230 that I prefer to wait in case they enter service a bit later, such as at the start of the May timetable.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Although I'm free the weekend of March 28th/29th, I so want to ride a GWR class 230 that I prefer to wait in case they enter service a bit later, such as at the start of the May timetable.

They? There is only one

 

[sp503]

They? There is only one

A gender neutral pronoun maybe

 

[800301]

According to Realtime trains there is a set coming off West Ealing depot on the 31st instead of starting from Paddington, there is an ECS working timed as a 165 from Paddington to West Ealing depot shortly after, could it really be

 

[meld3]

On another forum, a GWR employee has posted:

"Saturday 31st January for the first day in passenger use (honest!)"

 

[pokemonsuper9]

On another forum, a GWR employee has posted:

"Saturday 31st January for the first day in passenger use (honest!)"

There is a STP 5G02 0520 West Ealing Emu Sidings to West Ealing that morning.
And instead of the first service running from Paddington it's starting at West Ealing forming from that.

I'd be keeping my eye on 2G02 0530 West Ealing to Greenford

Realtime Trains | 2G02 0530 West Ealing to Greenford | 31/01/2026

Real-time train running information for 2G02 0530 departure from West Ealing to Greenford on 31/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Peter Sarf]

According to Realtime trains there is a set coming off West Ealing depot on the 31st instead of starting from Paddington, there is an ECS working timed as a 165 from Paddington to West Ealing depot shortly after, could it really be

Well spotted. I hope it runs for more than just Saturday 31st as that will give me a chance to sample a 230 later in the week.
EDIT
Looks to be Saturdays only (there is similar for Satorday 07/02/2026).