Press release -
Vivarail to supply new trains for the Marston Vale Line
Vivarail, the designers and manufacturers of the Class 230 D-Train, has entered into an agreement with West Midlands Trains to build three new D-Trains for use on the Marston Vale line between Bedford and Bletchley.
These will be the first trains to be introduced within the new franchise and will demonstrate West Midlands Trains’ commitment to providing high quality rolling stock throughout their tenure. The new trains are scheduled to begin operation in 2018.
Vivarail’s CEO, Adrian Shooter, said “This is a big day for Vivarail. We have invested considerable time and money to bring our innovative D-Train to this point and we are delighted to be working with West Midlands Trains to introduce them into passenger service.
“As a West Midlands based company it will be extremely gratifying to see our trains running on local lines and we look forward to passenger feedback. Our trains will be built to the high standards West Midlands Trains has committed to and will provide the flagship service for the region.
“We congratulate the team at West Midlands Trains on their successful bid and look forward to working with them over the coming months.”
West Midlands Trains’ customer service director, Andrew Conroy, said “We are investing in almost £700 million of new trains for our passengers. The class 230s will be the first of over 400 extra carriages we are adding to our network. These trains are ideal for Bedford to Bletchley route. I am sure our passengers will welcome the new look and feel of the carriages and the extra space. When the new trains come on stream in December we will also be adding extra early morning and late-night services on the Marston Vale line Monday to Saturday.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
About Vivarail
Vivarail was formed in 2012 to produce a new type of rolling stock designed specifically for regional routes: the D-Train.
The company is headed by Adrian Shooter CBE, previously Chairman of Chiltern Railways. Vivarail is based at a rail-connected site in central England with full manufacturing facilities and a 3km test track.
Vivarail is privately funded.
About the D-Train
The D-Train is a cost-effective solution to the need for new rolling stock and is designed to keep both upfront and running costs to a minimum. The D-Train uses the best of modern technology and is specifically designed to appeal to passengers and operators alike. Innovative systems and high tech equipment, such as the advanced RCM system, ensure the trains are able to be customised to suit different route requirements.
The trains are designed to accept power modules which can be diesel, battery or, in the future, hydrogen fuel cells. Vivarail is leading the UK market in battery technology and will introduce its first production battery vehicle in Spring 2018 – fully approved and ready for passenger service.
The D-Train meets all current standards up to and including the 2020 PRM-TSI regulations.
For further information about Vivarail contact 01789 721922
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Notes to editors
For further information on West Midlands Trains, London Northwestern Railway or West Midlands Railway call our newsroom on 03300 955150.
About West Midlands Trains
West Midlands Trains Ltd. will be running the West Midlands rail franchise from 10 December 2017 until 2025/6. Abellio has a 70.1% share of the company, East Japan Railway Company (JRE) and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) own the remaining 29.9% in a 50:50 split.
About Abellio
Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. Every day our people provide rail, bus and tram services to 1.7m customers across the UK, Germany and in the Netherlands. In the UK we operate buses through Abellio London, as well as ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, and Merseyrail in a joint venture with Serco. In Germany we operate Abellio Deutschland, serving communities in North Rhine Westfalia, Saxony, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Hesse and Thuringia. Our role in transport extends beyond the journey from a-to-b. With our international heritage and our policy of sharing best practice, not just amongst ourselves, but across the wider transport industry, we provide thought leadership and truly innovative ideas which make a positive contribution to the communities we serve. For more information on Abellio visit www.abellio.com
About Mitsui
Mitsui is one of the most diversified and comprehensive trading, investment and service enterprises in the world with 139 offices in 66 countries as of March, 2017. Utilising our global operating locations, network and information resources, we are multilaterally pursuing business that ranges from product sales, worldwide logistics and financing, through to the development of major international infrastructure and other projects in the following fields: Iron & Steel Products, Mineral & Metal Resources, Infrastructure Projects, Integrated Transportation Systems, Chemicals, Energy, Food Resources, Food Products & Services, Consumer Services, IT & Communication, and Corporate Development Business. Mitsui is actively taking on challenges for global business innovation around the world. For more information, visit www.mitsui.com.
About JR East
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) was established in 1987, when Japanese National Railways was divided as part of a package of railway reforms. JR East’s railway business covers a 7,500 km (approx. 4,660 miles) network in the eastern part of the Japanese main island, including Tokyo Metropolitan area, and provides transportation services, comprising urban, suburban and high speed operations, for 17 million passengers on a daily basis. JR East also undertakes non‐transport commercial activities, which account for more than 30% of the total revenue of JR East Group. JR East contributes to passengers and communities it serves by delivering high degrees of punctuality, reliability and comfort and also continues to pursue higher levels of safety and service quality through technical innovation. For more information, visit www.jreast.co.jp/e.
