A Vivarail train has started to carry passengers in North Wales this morning, more than four months since the rolling stock conversion company went into administration.
Five Class 230 units had been ordered for the former Wales & Border franchise from Vivarail in June 2018, but they have not entered service until now because Transport for Wales has been dealing with technical faults on the trains.
The first battery-hybrid unit converted from former London Underground cars to carry passengers in Wales left Wrexham Central at 07.31. Similar units have been running in the Isle of Wight, but London Northwestern Railway withdrew its Vivarail trains from the Bedford to Bletchley line at the start of December, when Vivarail appointed adminstrators. Bedford-Bletchley services have been operated by rail replacement buses since then.
Vivarail has rebuilt the interior of the D78 cars, equipping them with toilets, power sockets, passenger information screens, WifFi, bike racks and air conditioning.
Transport for Wales’ chief commercial officer Alexia Course said: ‘We’re delighted that the first Class 230 train has entered service.
‘We’re committed to improving services between North Wales and the Liverpool City Region. We’ve already introduced brand new trains on services between Chester and Liverpool, and we’re planning to increase the frequency of services between Wrexham and Bidston, as well as providing a new direct service between Llandudno and Liverpool via the North Wales coast.’