The first Class 230/0 for London Northwestern Railway was unveiled at Long Marston on August 21, as the deal for three two-car trains was confirmed.
They will start running between Bedford and Bletchley from December, with testing to start in the next few weeks.
Vivarail unveiled 230003 in LNWR colours, while construction of 230004/005 continues.
West Midlands Trains Managing Director Jan Chaudry-van-de-Velde said: “I remember these trains from when they were on London Underground, but looking around the units there’s so much new equipment on board that they look and feel like brand new trains.”
Adrian Shooter, CEO of Vivarail said, “Both Vivarail and West Midlands Trains have worked tirelessly to bring this to fruition and I am delighted to show what we have achieved
“It is a proud day for me to see this first train roll out of our workshops and I am looking forward to seeing it at Bletchley depot in the near future.”
The LNWR ‘230s’ will have universal access toilets, USB sockets and ‘airline’ seats. They will be supplied as diesel multiple units, although there is the option to convert them to battery powered trains in the future.
Vivarail said the engines will automatically cut out in stations, while the lightweight aluminum bodyshells mean the trains use less fuel.
They will be maintained at Bletchley depot.
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AndrewJG8918 - 23/08/2018 13:52
The Class 230’s which will be operated on the Marston Vale Line (Bletchley-Bedford) will replace the Class 150 and Class 153/156 DMU units to be cascaded elsewhere or cascade both the Class 150’s & Class 153/156’s to Northern or Great Western Railway. Plus West Midlands Trains might order few more of the Class 230’s to operate them on the Coventry-Leamington Spa and Coventry-Nuneaton lines and to work alongside the former LO Class 172/0’s that are to be replaced by the Class 710’s in November on the Gospel Oak-Barking line.
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AndrewJG8918 - 25/08/2018 02:44
Sorry Class 150 and Class 153 DMUs. As Class 156 isn’t been used on the Marston Vale Line.
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Al - 05/09/2018 00:20
Class 156's have never been in this operators fleet for any line
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