The D-Train is a family of multiple units built by rolling stock manufacturer Vivarail for the British rail network. The units are converted from London Underground D78 Stock, originally manufactured betwewen 1978 and 1981 by Metro-Cammell. The conversion re-uses the D78's aluminium bodyshells with new interiors. It runs on the same bogies but these are rebuilt to as-new standard by Wabtec and fitted with brand new 3-phase ACinduction motors sourced from Austria. It is proposed to run 75 units of two or three cars per unit. Including prototypes, four variants have been produced or ordered: diesel-electric, battery-powered, diesel/electric hybrid and third-rail DC electric. During August 2016, a prototype was produced for testing and accreditation; the type was planned to be prepared to enter passenger service during the following year. During July 2016, it was announced that the prototype was to be tested in mainline service on the Coventry to Nuneaton Line over a 12-month period with operator London Midland; however, this trial deployment had to be postponed after the prototype was damaged by a fire and could not be repaired quickly enough. During October 2017, West Midlands Trains announced that it would procure three 2-car D-Trains for the Marston Vale line, and the first unit entered service in April 2019.. A small number of third rail versions are being supplied for operations on the Isle of Wight.
Prototypes
The initial prototype D-Train was built as a three-car diesel-electric unit, which was completed in the summer of 2016, following which it underwent a programme of main-line testing, with the eventual intention that it be used on a year-long trial service on the Coventry to Nuneaton line by London Midland. This however was cancelled when the unit caught fire. This unit was first used in passenger service at the 2017 Rail Live exhibition, running a service from to the event location at Quinton. The second prototype was built as a two-car battery-electric unit; although self-powered like the original, instead of a diesel engine to power the traction motors, this unit uses batteries that can be recharged from a charging point at each end of its journey. This unit was complete by the summer of 2018, and was put on a testing programme; this culminated in the battery powered unit running a distance of 40 miles using battery power alone, a first for a train in the UK, in January 2020.
Orders
West Midlands Trains
The first full D-Train order came from West Midlands Trains, which procured a trio of 2-car DMUs for use on the Marston Vale line. These are operated under the London Northwestern Railway brand, with the first entering service on 23 April 2019.
A second order for Class 230s came from Transport for Wales, with five 3-car sets ordered. Although these are also Class 230s, rather than straight DMUs they will be built as diesel/battery hybrid units, to be used on the Borderlands Line, Conwy Valley line and Chester to Crewe line.
In 2019, South Western Railway announced an order for five 2-car D-Train sets for use by its Island Line operation on the Isle of Wight. These were ordered as third rail EMUs, becoming.
