No, when we have contributors who live on the route and have direct experience of what has actually happened, that is the opposite of anecdotal.
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Class 230 units training/introduction on the Borderlands line: updates
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Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
It is almost a month since the last posting appeared on this thread. Any movement matters to report?
D821
Member
All three units are still sat in and outside Birkenhead North, I don't think they've moved.
Zontar
Member
I think it's a case of hurry up and wait.....
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Wyrleybart
Established Member
So are the other two at Crewe, or Chester then ? There are five altogether I believe, but you need at least two of the five to be in a fit state to try and run one, so if it fails, the second can rescue it.
One of them is at Crewe, and has been for several months. Looks like one is hiding out somewhere!!
Class360/1
Member
Thank you for posting, really helpful
Bob Price
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Training and testing to start again according to a post on Deeside.com. According to the article linked below they are 'aiming to get them into service by the end of the year'. It looks like they are persevering with them despite what others may say.
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D821
Member
It looked like they had one ready to go put the other morning from Birkenhead North. First time I've seen them move in weeks
Pete_uk
On Moderation
Training and testing to start again according to Deeside.com. Aiming to get them into service by the end of the year.
What year?
(Sorry but I had to)
Baxenden Bank
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Peter Sarf
Established Member
My money is on the 231s entering service before the 230s and TfW then losing patience. For now the 230s are merely being given a fair (last) chance. Sad to say.
craigybagel
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There is a target date for their introduction currently being worked towards.
TheSel
Member
... and there are several target dates for their introduction currently fading further and further into history.
craigybagel
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Very true. However my point was that the aim is still to get them into service, preferably by this particular date. They haven't been given up on yet.... and there are several target dates for their introduction currently fading further and further into history.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
Will this thread be running a sweep on what problems will be next to occur?
Baxenden Bank
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Every year I set a target to lose some weight. Every year I fail. Every following year I set a target..... rinse and repeat. I haven't given up yet either!
Invincible
Member
Looking up the trains https://www.focustransport.org/2020/07/class-230-vivarail-train-arrives-in.html
"The three car trains are electrically powered, with two lithium-ion batteries in the two driving vehicles and a diesel genset in the centre car. The gensets are 'eco fenced' which means that they are programmed not to run whilst the train is in stations or other designated built up areas"
So now they have fine tuned the setup on the battery they will be keen to get it working in a hybrid mode.
It has been in the past diesel engines have been kept on tickover rather than being shut down and restarted, but noticed it once on a hybrid bus (where the power is less than a train).
"The three car trains are electrically powered, with two lithium-ion batteries in the two driving vehicles and a diesel genset in the centre car. The gensets are 'eco fenced' which means that they are programmed not to run whilst the train is in stations or other designated built up areas"
So now they have fine tuned the setup on the battery they will be keen to get it working in a hybrid mode.
It has been in the past diesel engines have been kept on tickover rather than being shut down and restarted, but noticed it once on a hybrid bus (where the power is less than a train).
Just a gentle reminder that posts of a speculative nature are welcome but must be posted exclusively in the speculative discussion forum please; this thread is not in that section and is for actual updates only please.
Many thanks.
Xenophon PCDGS
Veteran Member
In such a matter of the very poor performance of Vivarail and its products over the years, postings such as the one that I made were fully deserving of the jest intended and I assumed that most people would have seen it for the jest it was.
Is a sense of humour in such circumstances no longer allowable on this website?
Bob Price
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More testing on the line as this video of 230007 shows taken today.
Baxenden Bank
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Like a sound check.
Testing, testing, one two, one two, two two two.
The roadie never gets to three.
Testing, testing, one two, one two, two two two.
The roadie never gets to three.
anthony263
Established Member
230007 and 230009 both be out testing today I saw posted on the local Facebook group.
It just be nice to get these things to work
It just be nice to get these things to work
Zontar
Member
Is there way the new fast charge system that vivarail have just launched be retro fitted to these units? That would remove the thermal issues
D821
Member
They would only be able to charge up at Bidston unless they started putting third rail at other points on the route.
Zontar
Member
Yes, but presumably be able to hold enough charge for a return trip?
krus_aragon
Established Member
Given the short turnaround times at Bidston, the high current you'd have to feed into the batteries (to give enough power to make it to Wrexham and back) would cause its own thermal issues.
A solution could be to install at Wrexham Central a similar charging mechanism that's being installed at West Ealing for 230001. That way you're charging at both ends - although the tight turnarounds at WXC in the current timetable (no pun intended!) probably rules that out.
Invincible
Member
But the hybrid diesel/battery setup for Wales is just so the diesel can be switched off in "stations or other designated built up areas" so charging the battery under diesel or braking is fine for the line. Hopefully the thermal issues are now resolved.
Class 230 Vivarail Train Arrives in Wales
Passengers are getting a glimpse of the new Class 230 train that will finally be running on an important North Wales commuter line. Transp...
Will be interesting to see how well the fast charge setup works for GWR on the short West Ealing to Greenford line later this year, and if it will be suitable for other lines (Slough Windsor?)
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