GWR Takes Over Battery Train Project
The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail News.
This paragraph outlines the takeover.
Great Western Railway has bought equipment from battery train manufacturer Vivarail, which went into administration in December. The purchase has included rolling stock, FastCharge systems and other items. Nine former Vivarail staff have also joined GWR, as it continues to prepare for using a battery unit on the West Ealing to Greenford branch. GWR engineering director Simon Green said: ‘There have clearly been some setbacks that mean we will need to review the existing plans and timescales, but we will continue to work with Network Rail and the Department for Transport to get the project back on track.’
This sounds a very sensible action to me.
- GWR take control of the West Ealing project.
- GWR’s sister company; South Western Railway, probably will get the support they need for the Vivarail trains on the Island Line.
- It may lead to First Group companies using more Vivarail trains on other lines.
I also suspect the deal will mean that the remains of Vivarail has more of a future and someone will buy it, to continue development.
The original press release is on the First Group web site and it is entitled Fast-Charging Battery Trial To Resume After GWR Agrees Deal To Purchase Vivarail Assets.
The Anonymous Widower 
That’s interesting. I suspect, though, that they’re more interested in developing the fast charge system rather than the trains.
Comment by Peter Robins | February 16, 2023 |
Well thats good to hear as Vivarail owes 3.9m to its suppliers some of which are small firms who were supporting them. RDC have lost the millions they put into the business as well so the only people coming out of it well are the administrators who reckon it will cost c800k to deal with the fall out leaving nothing left for anyone else. Personally i thought they had a good product and vision but they were effectively done for when the govt and the regions decided they didn’t want cast offs anymore from London. This was a cost effective way of providing a lightweight eco friendly product for branch lines that could have kept mtce costs down. Real shame but I hope poor Adrian Shooter was still proud of what he achieved. OK he wont be seen as Brunel but he will be up there with key people that shaped the industry.
Comment by Nicholas Lewis | February 16, 2023 |
I just took a look at the administrator’s proposal https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08661726/filing-history and it seems (p18) that all V’s tangible assets are under offer. This GWR one seems to be the first to be made public. I see V has 82 carriage shells, which were in the process of being scrapped.
Comment by Peter Robins | February 16, 2023 |
Thanks for the link. I think it’s pretty conclusive that apart from GWR’s interest in the vehicles and any hardware for the charging system for the West Ealing project plus the IP for the fast charging system, the only other assets will be the plant and machinery.
I just wonder what will happen to the RDC vehicles in Pennsylvania, the TfW cars and those on the Marston Vale line.
Comment by fammorris | February 16, 2023 |
In this post, there is an interesting quote from Mark Hopwood.
He is now the boss at GWR.
With respect to the Fawley Line, he says this in the post. “But I don’t think this is the time to use old diesels.”
I wouldn’t be surprised to find out, he’s had a drink with the boss of Eversholt, who have some rather nice Class 321 Renatus, they might like to shift.
Comment by AnonW | February 16, 2023 |
TfW owns their cars, and, as I posted in another thread, they’re currently thinking about how/whether they can use them, perhaps together with some 197s on Wrexham-Bidston.
Marston Vale are still using bus replacements. I’ve no idea what’s going to happen with their units. No doubt this will be revealed in due course.
As you say, it is all a bit sad. There was a lengthy obituary for AS in the Times recently, quite a time after his death. I was wondering if the delay was due to his choosing assisted suicide.
Comment by Peter Robins | February 16, 2023 |
Given that virtually every other obituary of Adrian was published within 8 days of his death I guess The Times just wanted to have the stage to themselves.
Comment by fammorris | February 17, 2023
Thanks for the link. I think it’s pretty conclusive that apart from GWR’s interest in the vehicles and any hardware for the charging system for the West Ealing project plus the IP for the fast charging system, the only other assets will be the plant and machinery. A sad end.
I just wonder what will happen to the RDC vehicles in Pennsylvania, the TfW cars and those on the Marston Vale line…..
Comment by fammorris | February 16, 2023 |