Vivarail class 230 trains delayed

30th October 2018

Vivarail has informed London Northwestern Railway that there will now be a delay in delivering the Class 230 units that are intended for use on the Marston Vale line. Intended to be in service for the December timetable change, this delay means that services will continue to run on the line in December using existing rolling stock.

Both partners have worked tirelessly to bring these trains into service and express regret that unforeseen technical issues with the first unit have meant that this will have a knock-on effect to the remaining two trains.

Vivarail has expressed confidence that these issues can be overcome in a timely manner and that the three trains are expected to be ready for the New Year. They also thank London Northwestern Railway for their patience and help in resolving the remaining issues. Vivarail would also like to place on record that they take full responsibility for the delay and would therefore like to apologise to passengers on the Marston Vale line.

Jonny Wiseman, head of stations for London Northwestern Railway, said “We were disappointed to learn, from Vivarail, that the class 230 trains for the Marston Vale Line will not be ready for the December 2018 timetable change. We want to reassure passengers that we will continue to run the Bedford – Bletchley service with existing trains until the Vivarail units are available. The class 230 programme is an innovative scheme that will deliver many benefits to local rail users. We will continue to support Vivarail in bringing this new concept to the Marston Vale Line.”

Adrian Shooter, CEO of Vivarail, said, “My experience in the rail industry means I am fully aware of the problems that can occur when introducing new trains and that one unforeseen event can easily overturn months or even years of planning. That is the case here and at Vivarail we hold our hands up to that fact. However, I am confident that my team will deliver the finished trains with a minimal delay and allow London Northwestern Railway to bring them into service soon. I know that there is a great deal of anticipation to see the Class 230s in service and I am confident that the short wait will be worth it.”

Author: Darren Porter
Image: London Northwestern Railway/Vivarail