The Vivarail D-Train is a family of multiple units remanufactured by Vivarail for the British rail network. They are converted from London Underground D78 Stock, originally manufactured between 1978 and 1981 by Metro-Cammell. Two versions have been produced: the Class 230 diesel electric multiple unit and the Class 484 electric multiple unit.
History In 2015, Vivarail purchased 226 London Underground D78 Stock carriages with the aim of converting them to multiple units.Viva Vivarail's D-train transformation Rail issue 771 1 April 2015 page 60 It was estimated that they would cost one-third of that of a new build train.The D-Train Revealed Today's Railways UK issue 166 October 2015 pages 48-51
Prototypes
A prototype was produced for testing and accreditation in August 2015. Modern Railways, December 2014. pp. 37-38.Vivarail begins testing on first converted D-Stock Rail issue 782 2 September 2015 page 6 The initial prototype D-Train was built as a three-car diesel-electric unit, which was completed in the summer of 2016, following which it underwent a programme of main-line testing, with the intention that it be used on a year-long trial service on the Coventry to Nuneaton line by London Midland.Vivarail wins backing to operate Class 230 DMU on Nuneaton to Coventry services The Railway Magazine issue 1385 August 2016 page 7 This was cancelled after the unit caught fire. This unit was first used in passenger service at the 2017 Rail Live exhibition, running a service from to the event location at Quinton.
The second prototype was built as a two-car battery-electric unit; although self-powered like the original, instead of a diesel engine to power the traction motors, this unit uses batteries that can be recharged from a charging point at each end of its journey. This unit was complete by the summer of 2018, and was put on a testing programme. In October 2018, it was taken to the Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway carrying its first passengers. This culminated in the battery powered unit running a distance of 40 miles using battery power alone, a first for a train in the UK, in January 2020.
A feature that has been reintroduced in these units include the passenger door open buttons. When first introduced in 1980 in unpainted livery the units consisted of door buttons on the exterior and interior pressed by passengers to open the doors. Upon refurbishment, the interior door buttons were removed and the exterior ones were panelled over. After conversion this feature was provided again similar to London Underground pre-refurbishment.
Orders West Midlands Trains The first full D-Train order came from West Midlands Trains, which procured three 2-car DEMUs for use on the Marston Vale line. These were operated under the London Northwestern Railway brand, with the first entering service on 23 April 2019,Class 230s make Marston Vale debut Modern Railways issue 849 June 2019 pages 86/87 but were since withdrawn and replaced with 150s.
Transport for Wales A second order for Class 230s came from KeolisAmey Wales, with five 3-car sets ordered. Although these are also Class 230s, rather than straight DEMUs they will be built as diesel/battery hybrid units, to be used on the Borderlands line, Conwy Valley line and Chester to Crewe line.
Island Line In 2019, South Western Railway announced an order for five 2-car D-Train sets for use by its Island Line operation on the Isle of Wight. These were ordered as third rail EMUs, becoming .
Pop-up Metro The Railroad Development Corporation has ordered at least one 2-car -variant to operate on the Iowa Interstate Railroad in 2021 as a "pop-up" metro service.
Great Western Railway In February 2022, Great Western Railway announced it had signed a deal with Vivarail to trial a fast-charging battery variant of the Class 230 for use on the West Ealing to Greenford branch line off the GWML. Trials were expected to launch in late 2022 to early 2023. Unit 230001 began passenger operations for the first time on the Greenford branch line on 31 January 2026, and is used for passenger services on Saturdays, alongside the 165 DMUs.
D-Train variants Class Operator Introduced Number Power Carriages Carriage Length (m) Door configuration Image Notes 230 Great Western Railway 2015 1 Battery-electric 3 (DM) (T) Sliding pocket Railroad Development Corporation 2018 1 2 Unveiled in 2018. Stored 2019 3 Diesel-electric 2 Transport for Wales 2023 5 Diesel-battery 3 484 Island Line 2021 5 DC electric 2
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