Passengers are getting a glimpse of the new Class 230 train that will finally be running on an important North Wales commuter line.
Transport for Wales (TfW) have brought one of the five three car battery-operated Class 230 D-Trains from Stratford-upon-Avon-based Vivarail to Wrexham for gauging trials.
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| The Class 230 (left) alongside a Class 150 which it will replace on the route Photo © George Jones |
The three-carriage trains, which use the bogies and aluminium bodyshells of withdrawn London Underground trains, were due to have entered service on the Wrexham to Bidston line last year, but their introduction was postponed after "slippage" with the conversion and testing programme.
A new launch date of last December was also missed.
The train arrived at Wrexham General station on 22nd July and was stabled in the bay platform alongside a Class 150 diesel unit which it will replace in service. The bay platforms are where the new trains will be serviced overnight when in service.
The three car trains are electrically powered, with two lithium-ion batteries in the two driving vehicles and a diesel genset in the centre car. The gensets are 'eco fenced' which means that they are programmed not to run whilst the train is in stations or other designated built up areas.
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| The first two completed Wales and Borders trains outside together for the first time. 230006 has been undergoing extensive testing on the Cotswold line to ensure all the systems are working |
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