Just a note to say that this thread is about the 230s with GWR. There is another thread here for discussion of potential future uses of the technology.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
GWR Class 230 Information, Movements & Discussion.
- Thread starter FGW_DID
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
230001 not running today (Saturday)?
According to RTT Realtime Trains https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:GFD/2026-02-14/0200-0159 the BEMU unit 230001 isn't running at all today (Saturday 14 Feb 26). The Greenford branch service appears to be operating all day with a two-car DMU no 165129.
At the grand launch two weeks ago, GWR indicated that the BEMU would operate the Saturday services. Does anyone know why 230001 didn't run today as planned?
According to RTT Realtime Trains https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/search/detailed/gb-nr:GFD/2026-02-14/0200-0159 the BEMU unit 230001 isn't running at all today (Saturday 14 Feb 26). The Greenford branch service appears to be operating all day with a two-car DMU no 165129.
At the grand launch two weeks ago, GWR indicated that the BEMU would operate the Saturday services. Does anyone know why 230001 didn't run today as planned?
D365
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 29 Jun 2012
- Messages
- 13,157
230001 was not planned to run today. This is due to a Network Rail possession. I’m fairly sure this has been discussed upthread.
tfw756rider
On Moderation
Exactly, my riding postponed from Sat 7/2/26 to Sat 21/2/26.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
Planner engineering work in the way of the sidings where 230001 is kept.
From this thread one week ago (07/02/2026)
And I think some other days.
The way to check is if the first service of the day is fed from Paddington then its a 165.
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Indeed. See Post 995. It should be running next saturday (21st Feb) but not the following two (28th Feb, 7th March)
RTT then shows the first train on the branch to start from West ealing every saturday from 14th March to 16th May , but from Paddington on May 23rd and 30th, but check RTT nearer the time, rather than relying on my post still being correct if you are reading this in three months time!
317 forever
Established Member
This suggests that on March 28th it is currently intended to be a 230. That is when I shall be in the area.
rivervale
Member
- Joined
- 28 Feb 2017
- Messages
- 26
Uphill is easy - get to 15 mph then stick it in cruise control (notch 2) and it will stay at exactly 15 mph regardless of the gradient
I will try this on Saturday
Ashley Hill
Established Member
So AiUI it’s not running tomorrow 28/2, is this still the case? Shame as I’m in London tomorrow.
You are correct, not running
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Cheers. Liquid entertainment it is then.
Ben Conlin
Member
- Joined
- 19 Aug 2018
- Messages
- 72
Any chance of it running today?
No, should be out next Saturday
-Colly405-
Member
It's just gone back to the depot...
Charging issues - Turbo out while they investigate
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Turbo still oput thios evening
It is the worst kind of fault to diagnose - an intermittent comms failure which stops the charging from happening. Some of the charges yesterday were successful and others were not. Maintenance Control soon decided, understandably, that it wasn't reliable enough so decided to substitute the Turbo back in. Investigations continue. Hopefully will be better next Saturday.
I commented on the previous page that after studying the patents I was surprised about the crudeness of the signalling method used to control lthe charging system and it's potential suceptibilty to RFI/EMI. That would lbe the first place I would look.
Ah yes, the system doesn't actually work like that. What was patented isn't what was eventually developed. Lots of changes to the interlock systems since then; reliance now on WiFi and optical sensors, not low frequency signals through the charging rails as was originally patented. Also, the patent had the charge rails being 'third and fourth rail' (like conventional LUL). The system as eventually realised didn't do it like that.
That doesn't sound much better, to be honest - WiFi isn't particularly great in contested environments where you can have mulitple APs fighting over channels (such as passengers stood on the platform with WiFi endpoints enabled on their phones), and optical sensors are not an ideal choice in external environments.
NFMI signalling would probably be the ideal option for Layer 1 this application and environment (and as it can securely carry audio they could have even used FSK or DTMF signalling for Layer 2), but it is not a cheap COTS solution.
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Just to be clear, what was eventually developed falls within the scope of the patent monopoly granted, which is defined by the patent claims (the bit at the end which actually defines the scope of the patent monopoly), although the arrangment actually installed at West Ealing differs in detail from the illustartive implemention depicted in the patent documents. The art of drafting a patent is to think beyond the thing the inventor has made to see what is essential to the idea and what is just the inventor's current (no pun intended!) way of implementing it. If the claims don't cover such variations, a competing product could use them without infringing the patent.
The main (broadest) claim simply refers to a charging rail (singular), a sensor, and a digital handshake process.
There is no limitation on how the sensing or handshake is done, or to a four rail system. These are covered in Claims 3 and 9, which are essentially back-up claims, to allow the patentee to fall back on a more limuited scope should his main claim be invalidated for any reason. (Both the presence of Claim 9, and the embodiment, make it clear that Claim 1, although only mentioning one charging rail, is not intended to be limited to arrangements with only one charging rail)
EPO - European Publication Server
I assume that on the first weekend of operation, there were no charging issues. Then, I would have expected a lot of competing demands for WiFi with all the excited first day users sending messages on their mobiles etc. Unless something has been changed?
Thanks. Must admit I find these patents very hard to follow.Just to be clear, what was eventually developed falls within the scope of the patent monopoly granted, which is defined by the patent claims (the bit at the end which actually defines the scope of the patent monopoly), although the arrangment actually installed at West Ealing differs in detail from the illustartive implemention depicted in the patent documents. The art of drafting a patent is to think beyond the thing the inventor has made to see what is essential to the idea and what is just the inventor's current (no pun intended!) way of implementing it. If the claims don't cover such variations, a competing product could use them without infringing the patent.
The main (broadest) claim simply refers to a charging rail (singular), a sensor, and a digital handshake process.
There is no limitation on how the sensing or handshake is done, or to a four rail system. These are covered in Claims 3 and 9, which are essentially back-up claims, to allow the patentee to fall back on a more limuited scope should his main claim be invalidated for any reason. (Both the presence of Claim 9, and the embodiment, make it clear that Claim 1, although only mentioning one charging rail, is not intended to be limited to arrangements with only one charging rail)
EPO - European Publication Server
data.epo.org
norbitonflyer
Established Member
After thirty years writing the things, it does get easier !
Basically a patent grants a temporary (max 20 year) monopoly on what is defined in the claims (which are the legal bit), and in particular the first claim, which has the broadest scope, in exchnage for a disclosure of how the invention might be performed. The disclosure forms the dual purpose of convincing the Patent Office that you know how to do it, and secondly to make the invention public to allow further developments to be made in that field, either under licence from the patentee during its term, or free to use after expiry.
Digression over - let's get back to West Ealing
wanderingriver
Member
I just tried to get the 11:10 but it isn’t running. The backup train is. 230001 is sat at platform 5 and has staff inside who look like they are working on something. The LED display on the front of the train says “GWR Test Train”
The 230 only runs in service on certain Saturdays
wanderingriver
Member
Oh that’s my bad then haha. Didn’t know that
Fault-finding to try and determine the root cause of why it had charging issues on Saturday.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
It's running and charging happily today, so far, touch wood.
Last edited:
317 forever
Established Member
I wonder whether it has been out today, and if not, whether it could be back by next Saturday.