Last weekend, I finally got round to travelling on the UK's only BMU. It currently runs on the Greenford branch on
Saturdays only, replacing the normal 2-car 165 that operates on weekdays.
I believe that GWR is likely to start running
the BMU on weekdays as well soon, as the battery trial is apparently going very well.
A few observations:
- This unit was Vivarail's very first demonstration prototype. As such,
it showcases various options for converting LU
D-stock cars into mainline regional trains, intended as Pacer
replacements. As such, it's a bit like walking round an
Ikea showroom, with various lounge furniture permutations on display,
rather than being a coherent, consistent train.
GWR has cleaned it up, but the layout is as Vivarail built it in 2017.
So, it is, if anything a showcase for the Pacer
regional railway replacement that Vivarail hoped it would become, not a branch line special. For example, it has a large
accessible toilet on a service that lasts just 11 minutes.
- It started out as a DEMU, but when that variant proved both troublesome
and unpopular, it was converted to battery
operation. This was fairly easy, as the Ford-sourced diesel power units
were mounted on slide-out rafts. As a battery
unit, it runs very smoothly and quietly, and holds a world record for endurance, but I believe that batteries are
inferior to what further conversions would get.
- It first saw passenger service as a BMU in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow. So far, there have been no other takers for class
230 BMUs.
- The big change now is that it is also a showpiece for Vivarail's
innovative battery bank fast chargers. This is the
aspect of the Vivarail technology that is now of most relevance, rather
than converting GWR's large but mouldering
stockpile of derelict D-stock bodies. A few more may be converted for
GWR's shorter Thames Valley branches which don't
have room for longer trains, but we'll certainly seeing more of the
battery bank rapid chargers.
- Any future class 230 battery units for branch lines are very unlikely
to be fitted out like this rolling showcase
unit. They may only be two-car, and probably won't have the toilet.
Some photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/albums/72177720333634939
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Last weekend, I finally got round to travelling on the UK's only BMU. It
currently runs on the Greenford branch on
Saturdays only, replacing the normal 2-car 165 that operates on weekdays.
I believe that GWR is likely to start running
the BMU on weekdays as well soon, as the battery trial is apparently going very well.
A few observations:
- This unit was Vivarail's very first demonstration prototype. As such,
it showcases various options for converting LU
D-stock cars into mainline regional trains, intended as Pacer
replacements. As such, it's a bit like walking round an
Ikea showroom, with various lounge furniture permutations on display,
rather than being a coherent, consistent train.
GWR has cleaned it up, but the layout is as Vivarail built it in 2017.
So, it is, if anything a showcase for the Pacer
regional railway replacement that Vivarail hoped it would become, not a
branch line special. For example, it has a large
accessible toilet on a service that lasts just 11 minutes.
- It started out as a DEMU, but when that variant proved both troublesome
and unpopular, it was converted to battery
operation. This was fairly easy, as the Ford-sourced diesel power units
were mounted on slide-out rafts. As a battery
unit, it runs very smoothly and quietly, and holds a world record for
endurance, but I believe that batteries are
inferior to what further conversions would get.
- It first saw passenger service as a BMU in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow. So
far, there have been no other takers for class
230 BMUs.
- The big change now is that it is also a showpiece for Vivarail's
innovative battery bank fast chargers. This is the
aspect of the Vivarail technology that is now of most relevance, rather
than converting GWR's large but mouldering
stockpile of derelict D-stock bodies. A few more may be converted for
GWR's shorter Thames Valley branches which don't
have room for longer trains, but we'll certainly seeing more of the
battery bank rapid chargers.
- Any future class 230 battery units for branch lines are very unlikely
to be fitted out like this rolling showcase
unit. They may only be two-car, and probably won't have the toilet.
Some photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/albums/72177720333634939
Thanks, being picky the Southend Pier Railway also has a couple of BMU
trains but they donrCOt seem to have worked very well and arenrCOt used ,one of
the older Diesel sets stands in and as the other Diesel set was scrapped
any issues with the surviving one means the Railway service is suspended.
GH
Marland <gemehabal@btinternet.co.uk> wrote:
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
Last weekend, I finally got round to travelling on the UK's only BMU. It >>> currently runs on the Greenford branch on
Saturdays only, replacing the normal 2-car 165 that operates on weekdays. >>> I believe that GWR is likely to start running
the BMU on weekdays as well soon, as the battery trial is apparently going very well.
A few observations:
- This unit was Vivarail's very first demonstration prototype. As such,
it showcases various options for converting LU
D-stock cars into mainline regional trains, intended as Pacer
replacements. As such, it's a bit like walking round an
Ikea showroom, with various lounge furniture permutations on display,
rather than being a coherent, consistent train.
GWR has cleaned it up, but the layout is as Vivarail built it in 2017.
So, it is, if anything a showcase for the Pacer
regional railway replacement that Vivarail hoped it would become, not a
branch line special. For example, it has a large
accessible toilet on a service that lasts just 11 minutes.
- It started out as a DEMU, but when that variant proved both troublesome >>> and unpopular, it was converted to battery
operation. This was fairly easy, as the Ford-sourced diesel power units
were mounted on slide-out rafts. As a battery
unit, it runs very smoothly and quietly, and holds a world record for
endurance, but I believe that batteries are
inferior to what further conversions would get.
- It first saw passenger service as a BMU in 2021 at COP26 in Glasgow. So >>> far, there have been no other takers for class
230 BMUs.
- The big change now is that it is also a showpiece for Vivarail's
innovative battery bank fast chargers. This is the
aspect of the Vivarail technology that is now of most relevance, rather
than converting GWR's large but mouldering
stockpile of derelict D-stock bodies. A few more may be converted for
GWR's shorter Thames Valley branches which don't
have room for longer trains, but we'll certainly seeing more of the
battery bank rapid chargers.
- Any future class 230 battery units for branch lines are very unlikely
to be fitted out like this rolling showcase
unit. They may only be two-car, and probably won't have the toilet.
Some photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/recliner/albums/72177720333634939
Thanks, being picky the Southend Pier Railway also has a couple of BMU
trains but they donrCOt seem to have worked very well and arenrCOt used ,one of
the older Diesel sets stands in and as the other Diesel set was scrapped
any issues with the surviving one means the Railway service is suspended. >>
GH
The platform mounted charger emergency stop button looks like a hostage to >fortunerCa.
The trains are much nicer inside than I imagined.
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