British Rail Class 231
British Rail Class 231 FLIRT | |
---|---|
In service | 2022 (planned) |
Manufacturer | Stadler Rail |
Built at | Szolnok, Hungary (bodyshells) Bussnang, Switzerland (final assembly) |
Family name | FLIRT |
Replaced | |
Constructed | 2021 - |
Number under construction | 11 units to be built |
Formation | 11 x 4-car units |
Fleet numbers | TBC |
Capacity | 171 fixed seats 31 tip-up seats Standing capacity 221[1] |
Operator(s) | Transport for Wales |
Depot(s) | Cardiff Canton TMD |
Specifications | |
Train length | 80.7 m (264 ft 9+1⁄8 in)[2] |
Width | 2.72 m (8 ft 11+1⁄8 in)[2] |
Height | 3.915 m (12 ft 10+1⁄8 in)[2] |
Floor height | 0.96 m (3 ft 1+3⁄4 in)[2] |
Doors | 2 per side (end cars) / 1 per side (middle car(s))[2] |
Maximum speed | 90 mph (145 km/h)[2] |
Power output | 1,500 kW (2,000 hp)[2] |
Acceleration | 0.9m/s^2[2] |
UIC classification | Bo'2'2'2'2'Bo'[2] |
Multiple working | Within class and with Class 756 |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
The Class 231 FLIRT[3] are a class of diesel-electric multiple unit which are being built for Transport for Wales by Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler Rail.
A total of eleven four-car units are to be built.
History[]
The current Wales & Borders rail franchise, operated by KeolisAmey, commenced on 14 October 2018. Although KeolisAmey was removed as the franchise operator and replaced by an operator of last resort, the Welsh Government, the scheduled full fleet replacement will still commence,[4] with a batch of eleven brand new diesel-electric multiple units set to join the fleet in 2022.[5]
The units began testing in Switzerland in July 2021 and in November 2021 the first 2 units were delivered to Cardiff Canton depot.[6]
Operators[]
Transport for Wales[]
When built, Transport for Wales' Class 231 units will operate services between Maesteg and Cheltenham Spa as well as Cardiff Central and Ebbw Vale.
Fleet details[]
Class | Operator | Number | Year built | Cars | Unit nos. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Class 231 | Transport for Wales | 11 | 2021 | 4 | 231001-231011[citation needed] |
Notes[]
References[]
- ^ "Table 2C - Rolling Stock Minimum Requirements and Specifications - Suburban Service Type" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "FLIRT Diesel Electric Multiple Unit" (PDF). Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ @tfwrail (2 December 2019). "The diesel-electric Metro trains that will run on the Maesteg, Ebbw Vale and Cardiff-Cheltenham lines from 2022 will be Class 231" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "KeolisAmey reveal new-look Wales trains and services". BBC News. BBC. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
- ^ Barry, Sion (4 June 2018). "How Wales' railways will be transformed with new stations, trains and jobs through investment worth billions". WalesOnline. Cardiff: Reach. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
- ^ "New FLIRT trains for Transport for Wales begin testing in Switzerland".
- British Rail diesel multiple units
- Stadler Rail multiple units
- Train-related introductions in 2022