The Anonymous Widower

Wales’ Inaugural Hybrid Train Service Launches On The Borderlands Line

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on Rail Technology Magazine.

These are the first two paragraphs.

Today marks a historic day for the Welsh rail sector, seeing the introduction of the first battery-hybrid trains used in regular passenger service on the Borderlands Line between Wrexham and Bidston, as announced by Transport for Wales (TfW).

The inaugural service for the Class 230 trains left Wrexham Central at 07:31, following months of testing and crew training.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go very well, as some trains were late and there were several rail replacement buses and cancellations.

I’m afraid, Vivarail’s ambitious project is starting to look like a heroic failure.

Could Stadler Rescue The Borderlands Line?

Perhaps the solution for the Borderlands Line, which is only 27.5 miles each way, is to ask Stadler for an estimate to extend Merseyrail’s Class 777 trains to Wrexham Central station.

• Trains would use battery power between Bidston and Wrexham.
• Passengers would not need to change trains to go between Liverpool and Wrexham.
• Trains would go round the rail loop under Liverpool, where they would charge their batteries.
• There may need to be some form of charging in Wrexham.

I’m sure the good people Merseyside and North Wales wouldn’t object, but the politicians in Cardiff might!

The UK-Wide Need For Self-Powered Trains

Consider.

• The UK needs a substantial number of two-, three- and four-car self-powered trains.
• A proportion of these trains will run on partially-electrified routes.
• 100 mph trains would be preferable.
• Some routes would need trains capable of using third-rail electrification.

They are also needed urgently.

Will Mark 3’s Save The Day?

Consider.

• The only Mark 3 electric multiple units still running or in a state good enough to be converted are the thirty-four three-car Class 320 trains and perhaps fifty four-car Class 321 trains.
• Class 317 and Class 318 trains are probably too old to convert.
• A Class 319 train is a very inferior train from a passengers point of view to the Class 321 Renatus.

As some of these like the thirty Class 321 Renatus have been refurbished and given AC transmissions, it might be a good idea to build a few prototypes and try them out on various routes to assess their quality, reliability and performance.

But this route would only give about eighty three- and four-car trains.

It wouldn’t supply any two-car trains.

Sadly, the twenty-four two-car Class 456 trains, which could have been converted have all been recently scrapped.

Are There Any Other Trains That Can Be Converted?

There are several fleets of modern trains, that might be available.

• Four-car Class 350 trains
• Four-car Class 360 trains
• Four-car Class 379 trains
• Four-car Class 386 trains

There may also be some three- and four-car Bombardier Electrostars.

Again, there is a shortage of two-car trains, except for thirty-nine Class 466 trains.

• They are Networkers.
• They were built in the 1990s.
• They were refurbished ten years ago.
• They are third-rail trains.
• They are not in bad condition.
• Their operating speed is only 75 mph.

But they would probably be a hard train to convert and would only be a stopgap.

Conclusion

I am led to the conclusion, that there is a large gap in the UK rail network for a two-car train with this specification.

• Battery-electric operation.
• 100 mph operation
• Battery range of at least eighty miles.
• Quality interior.
• Ability to run on 25 KVAC  overhead and/or 750 VDC third-rail electrification.
• Ability to add a third-car in the middle to create a three-car train.

Effectively, they would be a replacement for the Class 170 diesel trains.

April 3, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Borderlands Line, Class 230 Train, Class 320 Train, Class 321 BEMU, Class 321 Renatus, Class 321 Train, Class 456 Train, Class 777 Train, Electrostar, Mark 3 Coach, Rail Replacement Bus, Stadler, Transport for Wales, Vivarail, Wales, Wrexham Central Station